Why I Left Christianity

I was raised Christian, specifically Catholic. I went through the sacraments and tried my best to believe in the faith. I have always believed in God (because it is the only logical conclusion to the question of existence), it was just that I found so much fault with dogma.

The doctrines of Christianity are based in the Bible. The problem I have with the Bible is that its origins are so ambiguous and disjointed. The original texts of the gospels are long gone, with only second-hand copies barely themselves surviving the hands of time. And the Good Book itself, if one reads it honestly and objectively, is choppy in substance and chronology. I also take issue with the necessary assumption that all of the original authors were inspired by God. To believe whole-heartily in the Bible isn't a leap of faith, it's a leap of faith off of the leap of faith of others twice removed.

While doubt itself is the foundation of faith (otherwise, it would be fact), my relationship with God could not thrive while it rested in having to have faith in the faith others found in other people. The distance between myself and God felt too great, as well as overwhelmingly artificial and man-made.

This is not an attack on Christianity, as the same issues apply across the board with all organized religions. The human input which made these religions "organized" is the exact thing that creates so much distance between oneself and God, not only for myself, but for a lot of people. Traditions and rituals are wonderful and enriching, provided they truly provide a vehicle to feel closer to God, and are not simply followed because "that's just the way it is done" or "because the Bible says so."

If a faith cannot sufficiently field the question of "why," particularly when it comes to its own dogma and rituals, then there is a problem. If a faith fears the questions posed via the various fields of science, rather than embraces all that is science (as God is Truth, and science is simply the pursuit of truth), then there is a problem. If the majority of one's time is spent in insuring one is following all of the rules, rubrics, and traditions of a faith and not focused on the Joy that is God, there is most definitely a problem.

Am I against organized religions? Absolutely not. The above are just problems I had with them personally and why they could not work for me with the kind of relationship I want with God. I adore all good people of all faiths who try to live God-centered lives. I am extremely happy for those who can find deep and meaningful connections with God through organized religions. Faith is always a personal journey; sometimes your path parallels the path of others and sometimes it does not. My path does not, which is why I left Christianity. God be with you on your journey, no matter your path to God.