Hi

[Jesus Pipes]

Hi, I am in an awkward situation. I have had my fill of religion and wish to, for want of a better term, 'leave Christianity.' I have lost my faith but am finding that last step of 'dechristianizing'(is that a word?) to be difficult. I have still got a bible on my bookcase and a statue of jesus on my locker. Why? I don't know what to do with them. I hope you all don't think i'm a jerk! lol

I am going to get tore up here, but I have some different advice. There is obviously some reason why you lost your faith; maybe you see that the bible is full of contradictions, maybe it's the intolerance and hypocrisy of religious people, or the corruption in the churches, or that most everything about religion seems bat shit crazy. All valid.

Organized religion has caused a lot of people to turn away from their faith. All these made up rules and policies and spouting of hate and intolerance towards people who are different or do not share their believes would make many sane people turn away. Religious people are some of the most intolerant people (you will prob seem some atheists here in a bit too), but to be religious you do not have to be a part of a religious organization.

Whether he was man or more, Jesus preached that you could have a loving relationship with God without the hate and persecution of others that did not share your same faith. He was a kind and accepting person to all others regardless of how they lived their lives. There is a lot in the bible that says the opposite, but in the bible, there was never mention of Jesus hating. Religion doesn't have to be a bad thing. The way that Jesus taught religion and how to practice your faith is a good thing. If you follow his teachings, you will be a better person to those around you.

Atheists will tell you that Christians are idiots and Christians will tell you that Atheists are idiots, so either way whichever path you follow, someone is going to think you are an idiot. Just remember, it is impossible to neither prove or disprove the existence of a higher power.