Hats Off to Those Who Leave Toxic Branches of the Faith


While leaving the faith is more common now that is has been since the last half of the 1800's, it still is not easy for some. Their social life and family life centers of belief in strange ideas and to express disbelief is to be a stranger among all those you know and depend on. People who are able to do this deserve our admiration. 

In both the atheist groups I have been involved in there is a steady stream of new people wanting to meet and make new friends because they have walked away from their old lives. This happens even among clergy. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has an on line group of practicing clergy who are no longer able to believe but are trapped in a career they cannot leave and sometimes in such a marriage as well.

We have to remind ourselves deep faith is a system. First, the system tells you you are a sinner. Then it tells you it has the only path out of your sin. Believe and your sins will be forgiven. Leave and you will be saddled forever with your sin. Oh, and a tithe is necessary to stay in good standing. The system entraps people. To consider leaving has to be traumatic. 

There always been religious sub groups who used religion to promote something they themselves were interested in. The church I grew up in was something like that. It had a list of sins a mile long, new ones added as needed. I don't recall scripture being quoted much. But sin was the topic of interest.

My impression is prohibition was like that. Religion was the "front man" used to justify the real issue. The real issue was alcohol. Rid the country of alcohol and all would be well.

Currently, I think anti abortion qualifies. Religion is the front organization, anti abortion is the issue of primary interest. Power over women is the biggest part of it.

Gay marriage was and still may qualify. Why would a group leave the parent denomination over this one issue, whether or not its preacher, or some future preacher, is gay? The gay preacher, or gay people are the issue. Whatever else the denomination is about is not as important. 

Leaving these toxic groups is something like moving to another country where a different language is spoken and people talk of things different than where you came from. Power to such people. 


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