Have you ever denounced or changed your religious affiliation? If so, why?

I was raised in the Catholic Church but a few years ago I decided to identify simply as a "Christian". I hadn't previously been aware that Pope John Paul II kissed a koran. As well, Pope Francis' participation in politics demonstrated to me that he was not on the same path as Jesus.

 

No, I have never changed my religious affiliation.
And I do not plan to do so.

 

I wonder whether anybody on earth can safely say that he/she is on the same path as Jesus.

 

From 1967 or '68 I was an Atheist.....
in 1972 or 1973 Evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong got me out of Atheism and I was happy in the Worldwide Church of God until 1991.......

Then after reading near death experience accounts and figuring out that the Soul Sleep doctrine was terribly in error.... I knew that I had to get myself kicked out of the WWCG and the branch off Philadelphia Church of God within just over one month......

 

I was born into a Baptist family. Attended Sunday school and church every Sunday. In grades 7-12 I was sent to a private school where there were church services 6 days a week. I'm grateful for the strong introduction I was given to religion because it makes it all the easier for me to say I am now an atheist.

 

I am on a very, very, very different path than Jesus......
but I am thankful that I ran into some near death experience accounts that adds some details on the flavour of what he actually taught.






www.thomastwin.com/

 

Of course there are. The path may have distractions, some stops and starts, but as long as we repent and continue moving forward to the tree of life, we are on the same path.

 

Why didn't you just write a letter having them take you off their rolls?

 

The Father is not the Mother... You can't tell the difference between male and female? Good Grief. The Gospel of Thomas is a fake book.

 

I was born and raised a conservative Jew. Throughout my early life I had spiritual experiences that I knew Jesus is the Messiah. The Son of God who atoned for our sins. This started at age 10. I had 3 experiences of seeing what I call "the event horizon" in which I learned later was a veil over our minds placed there at birth so we would have to live by faith, learn by faith and make decisions by faith. It was like a dome was being lifted off my mind and I could see a circle of bright light. I felt comfort and learned knowledge. I later learned I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost. This was not a near death experience. I was quite awake praying and I was completely conscious at all times. One experience came when a good friend of mine was possibly dying from an overdose of barbiturates mixed with alcohol attempting suicide. At the hospital parking lot, while in my car, I asked God to spare her life and if he had a Son, Jesus Christ, I would follow Him. That was October 31st, 1972. It took me 5 more years and a couple more of the same experiences before I stopped fearing what my family would think, say and do. I was baptized in 1977 with one who had true authority to baptize, confirm me a member of His Church and give to me the Gift of the Holy Ghost. By the way, my friend back in 1972 survived against all odds. The amount ingested was enough to kill 3 elephants.

 

Yes, baptized and raised LCMS. I no longer believe the story. Not sure I really ever did. To many questions that were never answered with any logical sense.
I just simply don't practice and don't think their is the entity as described in the bible. Or should I say entities, as that god changed from OT to NT.
And changed covenants. Something an omni all being should not have to do.

 

Jesus Christ didn't come to change anything. He came to fulfill the OT. The two parts of the Bible are one continuous story of truth and reality. It was part of the Plan from the beginning. Adam fell and thus put humans into a state of sin. Jesus came to fulfill the promise made to the fathers of the OT to be that final atonement for our sins. By doing so, many of the commandments were no longer viable and necessary. But, covenant making is still necessary ordinances work to divide the repented from the unrepented like baptism. Although, Jews did use water for cleansing centuries before as Moses prescribed to cleanse oneself of leprosy. The inner-ordinances of the priesthood were established and thus the Melchizedek Priesthood was established. And, much more. Anyways, you are incorrect in your ideas.

 

Adam didn't fall. He followed the omniscient one's plan.

 

My family actually converted to Catholicism when I was a child before that we went to the Presbyterian Church but not regularly so I wouldn't have called us Presbyterian.

When I converted to Catholicism had no idea about Catholicism I didn't know there was a Vatican or a pope or any of that. I never cared for the rules that the Catholic Church stated was part of Catholicism like birth control and things like that so was I ever really Catholic in the sense of that I ever drink the Kool-Aid no.

When I found out that the clergy for at least 500 years of their history has a notorious reputation for being child molesters and protecting child molesters from prosecution I found myself doubting everything regarding Catholicism. Then when I found out I was gay and the clergy who is notorious for sleeping with children all across the world across five centuries at least I had enough.

It was the utter and total hypocrisy of the organization that made me renounce it.

I didn't renounce my Christian faith but I do take issue with churches and organized religion trying to speak for God and it's odd how this God that nobody has ever seen never fails side with whatever church is speaking for him.

I take jesus's words with regard to church to the heart wherever his followers are talking about Christianity or his teachings that is where the church is.

 

Read Romans 3:23 no you can't. Everyone falls short that's the whole point of salvation if you're a Christian.

 

Forgive the personal question but are you LDS?

 

I doubt this "of course".

 

Not exactly. I have always been a 'non-denominational Christian.' But over the past decade, I have renounced any form of 'religious leadership.' When I attended a church, it was under the assumption that the pastor and the elders had some sort of holy authority. Now I (and God of course) am the only authority in my spirituality, and anyone claiming a stake in that relationship is likely an enemy. I'm not sure if that constitutes a 'change in religious affiliation' or not... I still consider myself devoutly Christian.

 

It does seem a little silly to leave an entire religion simply because the leader has some problems. Catholicism isn't just all about the Pope.

Imagine denouncing and leaving an entire country simply just because there were several things you did not agree about with its President.

Was it the Church's beliefs you had problems with, or just what the beliefs or behaviors of the Pope seemed to be?

 

Very true!
There is more to the Catholic faith than just a Pope.

 

No, he fell. He was sent packing out into the world and all things would not just multiply perfectly. A change in DNA brought corruption of the living things and death into the world due to breaking one of the commandments. He kept the other to multiply and replenish the earth with human beings thanks to Eve. This "fall" brought death and the atonement brings back "rise" to life.

 

Would that make any difference the way I answered the question? The New Testament is full of instruction to repent. The tree of life isn't just LDS verbage, But, yes I am.

 

No, I have not changed. Born into a Methodist family and 75 years later still a Methodist.

 

No it wouldn't it's just what you expressed there seems to be one of the things that sets the LDS apart from other religions. It was just curiosity.

 

Once baptized, you are on the path to the Kingdom of God. No one can enter unless baptized. So, once baptized, you are on your way...