I left Catholicism, because, I got to the point where I did not believe in any of it anymore, and the Catholic hierarchy did not seem like they believe in any of it, nor did the Church's theologians (who like to question every single belief of the Church) believe in any of it, and my fellow churchgoers seemed like it was pro forma ritual for them, something that Mom & Dad did. Plus, Catholic schools come across as being whites-only, middle to upper class private schools which simply exclude atheism, as contrasted with embracing Catholicism.

My wish for this thread is not to discuss Christian, Catholic and/or atheistic apologetics, but to see why former Christians left Christianity.

I left Catholicism because I wanted to do bad things without having to pay the spiritual consequences, and also, I was salty about all my friends going to college and leaving me behind.

(October 4, 2022 at 7:07 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

Moderator Notice
Just FYI for Jehanne: You cannot limit thread participation. In other words, 'For former Christians only' isn't going to work. Anyone may respond to any thread.

Boru

That's fine. I only ask that folks stay on-topic (or, at least try to). If someone wants to talk about the 2023 Supberbowl hall-time show, they can, but, it's rude.

(October 4, 2022 at 7:03 am)Ahriman Wrote: I left Catholicism because I wanted to do bad things without having to pay the spiritual consequences, and also, I was salty about all my friends going to college and leaving me behind.

That "explanation" is certainly unique, and explains why the posting rate on this board is in decline. Seriously, Ahriman, we're you ever Catholic, in that you were Baptized or Confirmed as a Catholic??

(October 4, 2022 at 7:13 am)Jehanne Wrote:

(October 4, 2022 at 7:07 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

Moderator Notice
Just FYI for Jehanne: You cannot limit thread participation. In other words, 'For former Christians only' isn't going to work. Anyone may respond to any thread.

Boru

That's fine.  I only ask that folks stay on-topic (or, at least try to).  If someone wants to talk about the 2023 Supberbowl hall-time show, they can, but, it's rude.

The Serious tag is meant to avoid derailing. If it doesn’t, offenders will be thread banned.

I don’t consider myself a former Christian, as I don’t recall a time when I truly believed. Even as a child, when I was required to attend Mass and Sunday school, I always felt it was a lot of nonsense.

Boru

(October 4, 2022 at 7:15 am)Jehanne Wrote:

(October 4, 2022 at 7:03 am)Ahriman Wrote: I left Catholicism because I wanted to do bad things without having to pay the spiritual consequences, and also, I was salty about all my friends going to college and leaving me behind.

That "explanation" is certainly unique, and explains why the posting rate on this board is in decline.  Seriously, Ahriman, we're you ever Catholic, in that you were Baptized or Confirmed as a Catholic??

Yes, I was baptized and confirmed, and went to Catholic school.

(October 4, 2022 at 7:03 am)Ahriman Wrote: I left Catholicism because I wanted to do bad things without having to pay the spiritual consequences, and also, I was salty about all my friends going to college and leaving me behind.

If you wanted to avoid spiritual consequence for bad deeds, you should have remained a Catholic. The whole confession/absolution thing is kind of a ‘Get Out Of Hell Free’ card.

Boru

(October 4, 2022 at 7:24 am)Ahriman Wrote:

(October 4, 2022 at 7:15 am)Jehanne Wrote: That "explanation" is certainly unique, and explains why the posting rate on this board is in decline.  Seriously, Ahriman, we're you ever Catholic, in that you were Baptized or Confirmed as a Catholic??

Yes, I was baptized and confirmed, and went to Catholic school.

Do you still attend Mass?

(October 4, 2022 at 7:27 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(October 4, 2022 at 7:03 am)Ahriman Wrote: I left Catholicism because I wanted to do bad things without having to pay the spiritual consequences, and also, I was salty about all my friends going to college and leaving me behind.

If you wanted to avoid spiritual consequence for bad deeds, you should have remained a Catholic. The whole confession/absolution thing is kind of a ‘Get Out Of Hell Free’ card.

Boru

That is not what Catholic theology teaches, not in the slightest. In Protestant Christian theology, one has neo-Calvinism ("Onced Saved, Always Saved") versus Arminianism, which believes that an individual, once saved, can lose his/her salvation.

The Church makes a distinction between venial versus mortal sins, and the simple act of confessing one's sins does not necessarily remit those sins.