Leaving my religion? - Page 2

[Niamh]

exmormon.org was a very angry site back when I left the church (five years ago). It may have calmed down by now, but maybe not...

That anger was cathartic and necessary when I first left (and, among some small-minded people there you will find some amazing brains with irreplaceable resources), but it got to be too much for me as I moved out of the angry stage.

I'll pm you a smaller ex-LDS forum for those who still have family members (either immediate, like spouses/children, or extended) that are Mormon. It's much calmer and level-headed and very, very intelligent people post there.

A church as all-encompassing as the LDS church is very hard to break with. I wish you peace in your journey.

[AngelBee]

: for you

[greenmamato2]

I am going through this myself. Hubby and I were "born into" a conservative Christian faith. We have known it since we can remember. Its what our parents taught us and we went to church our entire lives. We even served in the ministry a bit. But, like you, it simply cannot be true *to me* - based on what I know to be truth. I want it to be, and I've BEGGED God to help me find him again, to feel that closeness, to understand, to find peace if not understanding, and NOTHING. This has been the state of my life for the past 6 years (seeking, and getting more discouraged). The past 8 months have been especially hard since I also faced a personal tragedy that really shook my world, and made me evaluate things even closer.

Hubby and I made the decision about 2 weeks ago that we both felt disconnected from our faith, despite our trying so hard to regain it. We also both felt that we were being led into a different direction than we'd ever expected.

I have to tell you, I was SCARED STIFF to move away from my religion. What if I was wrong? Would I go to hell? Would my heart be hardened?

I basically had to push through those fears and I have armed myself with the simple idea that those who seek truth will find it, and if the Christian God is that truth, then I will be led back that direction, into the arms of the Father. The story of the prodigal son has been a big help to me. Even if I'm wrong, I am not going into this to be rebellious... I'm trying to find meaning for my life that did not fit before... if I come back to Christianity, like the father in the story, God will welcome me back (and he will you, too).

That said, as the fear has faded (slowly fading more every day), the sense of freedom and hope have blossomed and for the first time in YEARS I am feeling genuinely happy, and not burdened by my guilt (over not feeling that connection with God, over questioning, etc), and not burdened anymore by the rules for understanding life that existed before in my Christian faith.

I'm starting to see, that maybe there are many ways to get to the same destination, and we all have to find that which speaks to our lives and our souls.

It is hard to let go, but doing so has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

If you want to talk more about this, I'll be happy to answer any questions you have for me.

Best wishes!