Has anyone here lost their religion or faith after years of believing in something?

[Thinkzalot]

Do you find yourself at peace because the burden has been lifted or still worried about what may be waiting in the afterlife if there is one? Because many religions use scare tactics and psychology ie. Heaven if your good and hell if you're bad etc.. Do you feel guilty? Or have you happily turned your back and can honestly say you don't ever think you may be making the wrong choice?

[Prudentia]

There is no problem here, the afterlife is a place we have all been to many times before. Enjoy your days here in this life and if it is not so good, and you are, next time around will be better.

[RATTER15]

I changed my beliefs at the age of 11, I have never looked back, I find it totally reassuring that I am totally responsible for my own actions, I live off my own moral standards, I don't need any god or religion to help or support me.

I have a totally stress and guilt free life and confident that when I or my loved ones die, it is the very end of the line, that I see as a good thing, no heaven, no hell! :-)

Just peace :-)

[tiggerblue10]

Although never practicing, I turned my back on Islam a long time ago. I don't regret it and have no need for any religion.

[Thinkzalot]

We have been to the afterlife many times before? next time around will be better. Are you talking about reincarnation prudentia?

Ratter and tiggerblue was there any particular reason you can remember for leaving your religions?

[askyourgran]

I have to admit I followed my childhood beliefs until I read some of the debates on here, and that made me query what I thought was the truth. However, the cold reality of no afterlife or loving kindness of God is a very depressing thought. I prefer to think there is something or someone who could bring about all the wonders of nature etc. it surely couldn't be accidental to create something like a puffin for instance, or a beautiful flower. Comfort blanket maybe.

[RATTER15]

Yes a very good reason actually, I went to bible study and learned about the bible, from then on common sense took over.

[Thinkzalot]

Exactly askyourgran, religions seem to bring about many problems but then maybe would a completely godfree society? I still believe that the truth is out there somewhere, but what exactly I don't know.

[boxtops]

Although born into the CofE, I changed my perspective several times through my life (so did most of my family) - we were lucky to be able to explore faiths in a multicultural perspective, and to make up our own minds. Several of us changed affiliation over the years, and most try to take the best bits of what we learned. One of the major eye-openers for me was the common ground in nearly all of the religions, which makes it so much more sad many adherents just don't see how similar many of them are in their basic beliefs.
Gran - I love that - only someone with a great sense of humour could design a puffin.

[Prudentia]

I am talking about reincarnation, I am aware of a few of my past lives, Jeffery Iverson wrote a very good book on the subject many years ago, studying the work of arnold bloxham, if it is still in print and you are genuinely interested, it would be worth you while to read it.

[tiggerblue10]

My parents were never practicing Muslims so we never did anything religious in our household. We ate pork, didn't pray to Mecca and never fasted during Ramadan so I never really learn't the ways of Islam. It was not really hard to turn my back on it as I never grew up with it.

[boxtops]

I think there are probably loads of people like you Tigger, nominally of a faith but not practicising it. I have Jewish friends who like a good bacon sandwich.

[tiggerblue10]

Ooooo you can't beat a good bacon sarnie with a fried egg and ketchup Box.

[Marijn]

I have lost my religion, and sometimes feel a big burden has been lifted, and sometimes feel very worried that I have done the wrong thing and will suffer for it in the after life. Therefore I would be happy to know there is no after life , if that could be proved.

[Marijn]

Actually "lost" is not the right word for me. Mine was a conscious decision, i.e. I rejected it.

[tiggerblue10]

How can anyone prove that there is an afterlife?

[tiggerblue10]

There is nothing wrong with being an atheist. Its just a personal preference.