losing your religion

• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
  
  Anyone go thru this?
  
  I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..
• raiderbuck

  Is it because of rap music?...just kidding.
  
  But in all seriousness, I feel 100% the same way as you. With the exception that I grew up in a Baptist church. Organized religion just isn't part of my life anymore. I no longer really talk to the friends I had when I was attending church events, and barely hang with my gospel choir friends from college. Yes, I was in choir, cue the jokes. I don't really align myself with the beliefs of my old church and I've grown to really open my mind to other beliefs and values. My wife didn't really attend church growing up, but she attended catholic school her whole life. There are things that she was never exposed to because of her catholic school upbringing and I can't help think that what if our kids go through the same thing? Seriously, a month ago she had no idea that there were stars larger than our Sun. I almost fell on the floor.
  
  My wife and I haven't really discussed how we'll introduce religion to our kids. We don't go to church, but we still want our future kids to have some kind of Christian values. I still pray before flying on airplanes, and we say grace before dinner. But lately those have become more of a superstition than actual faith, you know?
• sleeper

  

  Stop taking your kids.
  
  Religion is for the poor and stupid. Is that what you want for your kids? To grow up poor and stupid? My kids will never go to church, at least from my own doing. If they grow up and want to worship some shitty god, by all means go right ahead. But it will be a cold day in hell before I ever step foot in a church to worship anything.
  
  TL;DR: Religion is garbage.
• sleeper

  

  raiderbuck;1791629 wrote:My wife and I haven't really discussed how we'll introduce religion to our kids. We don't go to church, but we still want our future kids to have some kind of Christian values. I still pray before flying on airplanes, and we say grace before dinner. But lately those have become more of a superstition than actual faith, you know?

  LPT: You don't need religion to teach your children values.
  
  Another LPT: Praying on airplanes does nothing unless you value a false sense of security.
• Automatik

  

  I stopped at age 16 right before confirmation stuff started. I couldn't fake it anymore. My mom took it rather hard, but she got over it. I didn't feel guilty at all, it was actually very refreshing.
  
  I won't take my kids to church. I'll let them discover their own path.
  

  sleeper;1791632 wrote:LPT: You don't need religion to teach your children values.
  
  Another LPT: Praying on airplanes does nothing unless you value a false sense of security.

  The teaching morals/values cop out is all too common. I agree completely. You're a fucking parent...so PARENT.
• raiderbuck

  sleeper;1791631 wrote:Stop taking your kids.
  
  Religion is for the poor and stupid. Is that what you want for your kids? To grow up poor and stupid? My kids will never go to church, at least from my own doing. If they grow up and want to worship some shitty god, by all means go right ahead. But it will be a cold day in hell before I ever step foot in a church to worship anything.
  
  TL;DR: Religion is garbage.

  sleeper;1791632 wrote:LPT: You don't need religion to teach your children values.
  
  Another LPT: Praying on airplanes does nothing unless you value a false sense of security.

  Thanks, your sage wisdom is unparalleled.
• sleeper

  

  raiderbuck;1791634 wrote:Thanks, your sage wisdom is unparalleled.

  You're welcome.
  
  Now we just need Con_Alma's opinion on this.
• Con_Alma

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1791627 wrote:I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
  
  Anyone go thru this?
  
  I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..

  They can experience it for themselves. Don't be so hard on yourself. There's no reason to feel guilty for not taking or exposing your kids if you truly don't believe in God.
• Con_Alma

  sleeper;1791635 wrote:You're welcome.
  
  Now we just need Con_Alma's opinion on this.

  Done.
• sleeper

  

  Con_Alma;1791646 wrote:Done.

  Thanks dude!
• Heretic

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1791627 wrote:I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
  
  Anyone go thru this?
  
  I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..

  From my experiences growing up, I'd say that if church isn't your thing, the best thing to do is simply give them the opportunity to go if they have an interest in it, but not to try forcing them into it. That was kind of annoying to me as a middle-school age kid.
  
  Right now, my mom is big into her church, but not so much when I was young (didn't really get into it until around when my dad passed away a bit over a decade ago). Back when I was a small child, I remember going to Sunday school with friends a few times and doing vacation bible school or whatever that thing's called in the summer with friends and it was fun. When I got to middle school, my parents decided I had to do confirmation class because it was "good" to be a member of a church. I had no real interest at that time, but had to do it. After that was done, at least I had the choice of whether I wanted to keep going and I didn't. I just remembered it sucked and just ate up time in which I had other things I wanted to do because I had to go to confirmation class, I had to go to church, I had to go to Sunday night youth activities, and so on. After that, I went back to that church once for their high school graduate recognition Sunday and, when I was married, I went to a different church with my wife at that time a few times, but never got into it.
  
  Maybe I never would have gotten into it anyway, but on the other hand, the fact I was forced to go for a period when I had no interest could have soured me on the whole thing to the degree I have no interest in even considering it. For that reason, I wouldn't have them go unless it's something they personally have an interest in, especially considering how many activities there are for parents to get their kids involved with. Better to let them find the ones that suit them instead of shoehorning them into one primarily because of some vague sense of obligation.
• MontyBrunswick

  

  [video][/video]
• MontyBrunswick

  

  Go to church every Wednesday and Saturday! this generation needs it more now than ever
• sportchampps

  My dad grew up in a Christian school taught by nuns but my parents raised me and my brothers without ever taking us to church. I haven't ever been curious about it and pretty much hate most things about it. I also choose to believe someone created everything but no organized beliefs.
  
  The only thing I feel like I missed out on is being able to answer religious questions on Jeopardy.
• QuakerOats

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1791627 wrote:I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
  
  Anyone go thru this?
  
  I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..

  
  Some people move away from Church for a while; often they return later. But I am sorry your kids are missing out.
  
  Good luck.
• OSH

  

  I started going to church in 7th or 8th grade. Committed my life to Christ around 8th grade to 9th grade. Major part of my life then all the way through now. I started out in the United Methodist Church, but have attended all sorts of denominations through the years.
  
  After college, I quit going to "church." Even through college, I was highly critical of how "church" operates. Not a fan of the setup and get extremely bored sitting around listening to people tell me how I should be "worshipping." Haven't lost my faith, just lost the organized part. In 2011, or so, my wife and I joined a house church. It was one of the best things for us as a young married couple. I wish I could go back to those times.
  
  My faith is extremely important to how I live my life. Several things I need to increase, such as daily reading and prayer. My wife has started daily prayers with our girls. I don't miss the organized religion, but I do miss more intimate settings to learn and grow with other persons. Most people don't want to commit to a house church because it requires too much work for one's faith. It's much easier to go sit for a couple hours a week and let someone else do one's faith for them.
• Automatik

  

  MontyBrunswick;1791655 wrote:this generation needs it LESS now more than ever

  FTFY
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  MontyBrunswick;1791655 wrote:Go to church every Wednesday and Saturday! this generation needs it more now than ever

  No, it's the opposite. Religion is totally outdated.
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  Also, Fuck every athlete who thanks Jesus or God when they do well.
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;1791627 wrote:I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
  
  Anyone go thru this?
  
  I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..

  Themselves and if you don't believe in god why would you want your kids to experience church? Especially a Catholic church.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Raw Dawgin' it;1791671 wrote:Themselves and if you don't believe in god why would you want your kids to experience church? Especially a Catholic church.

  Why do catholic boys always have their hair parted down the middle?
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  Commander of Awesome;1791672 wrote:Why do catholic boys always have their hair parted down the middle?

  lol lets hear it...
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Raw Dawgin' it;1791677 wrote:lol lets hear it...

  It's a better visual joke, but that's the priests hands move from center of head out while getting blown.
• sleeper

  

  QuakerOats;1791661 wrote:Some people move away from Church for a while; often they return later. But I am sorry your kids are missing out.
  
  Good luck.

  What are they missing out on?
  
  Religion is dying. Time to accept the fact that it's entirely made up! Sorry reality is here.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  Raw Dawgin' it;1791671 wrote:Themselves and if you don't believe in god why would you want your kids to experience church? Especially a Catholic church.

  Feels like I'm making that choice for them