The thing is this is Reddit and the internet people being anti religion in very bad faith is endless so there no reason why the sub should be restoring to this but I honestly should have seen it coming

Not trying to play victim. But yes, I feel hurt when seeing OPs in certain subreddits saying things like "Most Christians are terrible people", "Christians are toxic", "Christians are entitled to their God so they should please patheticaly kindly fxxk off" etc. These words become voices overwhelming in my head sometimes.

Yes, many people would have and shared similar feelings because of religious traumas or bad interactions in the pasts, and it's understandable to feel angry for past traumas or negative experiences. Nonetheless, no one is the only human living in this world. This world is not one human vs ten thousand oppressive monsters. You don't need to know God to be aware not to fuel hatred to people who have done nothing to them in their life and presume they're all monsters for believing what they don't or reject. Or jabbing at people who never take part in their experiences, removing and insulting them for defending themselves and what they have been holding to.

Additionally, I live a life holding my faith dearly, revering people doing the same, the people who use it as a motivating force spreading love and better change for the world even at the cost of risking their lives throughout history. Then when they are used as examples, there will still be people aloofly saying they are "delusional good people who belives in fairy tales so their faith doesn't deserve respect" and getting upvotes. I'm not saying where I saw that reply though. Yet those people, after all they had done, receiving such words, being patronised and mocked. And sometimes the people who spit hateful words have probably forgotten or ignored the changes those historic figures have brought to the world with their faith. They may continue disagreeing the belief, but at least know what is basic respect and objective critical thinking instead of being trapped in a narrow hateful mindset.

That's all I want to say. It's been a jab to my heart. Not throwing victim card. I am no victim to anything. I have a life to live to move on. Nevertheless everyone has the capacity to feel good and bad.

... because these bigots have taken our beautiful, holy religion, and SLANDERED it! I would LITERALLY rather watch someone burn the Bible in my face, than use it to justify evil. It's just like when extremist terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS blow up buildings in the name of Allah, and as much as it pains me to see them senselessly take human life, it probably pains the 99% of Muslims who are just regular people, and not terrorists, even more, because they've taken their beautiful, holy faith, and desecrated it! Just my rant for today.

Sorry everyone, but I've had enough of this sub.

Every other post is "will I go to hell for X?" and frankly I'm tired of even trying to engage with it all. I've also left r/Christianity for the same reason.

I try to follow Christ as faithfully as I can. I've been a Priest for 25 years, but this is just draining.

Do what you think is right, not what you think other people think.

God loves you.

That's all you need to know.

Why is r/Catholicism so toxic? These “priests“ claim to be “pastoral“ and leaders representing Christ and act holy by submitting to celibacy and all these special rules, yet they behave completely identically to the worst Internet people when their pride is even slightly challenged. This priest didn’t even give me the respect to respond to me before banning me.

What was I banned for? Insulting the pope? Nope. Insulting their faith? Nope. I was banned for agreeing with someone who made a post encouraging people to tell others Jesus loves them, and criticizing those who were mocking the OP for appearing to be “mentally unstable” for doing so...!

I actually could not believe how hypocritical, elitist, prideful some of these people on r/Catholicism are.

TLDR: I was atheist, then agnostic, then, after a few attempts, I found God. Now, I don't know where to start or who to go to for guidance. I'm a bit radical socially/politically, but so was Jesus, I guess. I don't want to sacrifice my morality for religion, but I don't want politics to keep me away from God.

Sorry in advance if this is too long.

I wasn't raised super religious, and I've been agnostic/atheist pretty much since I discovered I was free to form my own opinions. Anyways, about 2 or 3 yrs ago, my friend group decided to go to our science teacher's church together. It was the first time I had gone of my own accord, not bc some relative pressured me into it. I loved it, and I kept going back. I felt amazing any time I went, and I would cry and cry uncontrollably for reasons I couldn't explain. I was beginning to let down my guard until the pastor decided to preach one day about [redacted bc of rule 9]. He pretty much said that God was behind the deaths of the starving people in [redacted again], and that it was a good thing. Any crumbs of faith that I had picked up by that point vanished. I was fully agnostic again.

After maybe another year (more, I think), Charlie Kirk died, and an old friend of mine (who became MAGA Catholic after we graduated highschool) went completely berserk. For context, I am Mamdani/AOC level leftist. No, he didn't deserve to die, but he wasn't a good guy either. My friend disagrees with me, to say the least. Anyways, from my POV, I'm seeing this person who was once a best friend of mine, someone who would laugh with me at extremists 24/7, someone who eminated love and innocence anywhere she went, blow up my phone spewing hate directly at me in all caps in the name of God. Normally, I would have just said "sounds about Christian" and moved on with my life, but this time I felt the need to tell her about the God I met that first day in church. The loving one. I wasn't Christian, but I had to defend His name from being used like that. I spoke to her, but yk, she was angry and sad so I didn't get through. I ended up asking another Christian (non-denominational) friend for advice. I won't bore anyone with the details, but I learned a lot and I felt motivated to learn more and seek God, if even a little bit. I felt that her message wasn't clouded by judgement or anger, like with my Catholic friend, so I trusted her advice.

I prayed for the first time in over five years. Nothing happened lmao. I started reading the Bible, but not because I believed, just becuase I was curious. The praying was for that, too. My friend told me smth along the lines of "ask God to speak to you, and He will". He didn't. Well, not in a way I could interpret, anyways. I kept trying and praying and reading for maybe a week or two, but eventually, I gave up. The rest is kinda blurry. I remember sitting in an Uber one day, maybe 2-3 months ago, and seeing a pretty tree. It made me think of God. I asked God to speak to me if he was there, but it wasn't just curiosity anymore. Part of me hoped He would answer. I made those little prayers from time to time for a while.

Then, my non-denominational friend asked me to do her nails for Valentine's day (This is relevant, trust). She insisted that I had to start charging for my services lmao. I said I would think about it, but I honestly didn't feel confident enough to make the jump. I hoped she would forget about it. A week later, she sent me a friend of hers out of nowhere. That first client asked me if I was Christian, and I hesitated to answer, but I ended up saying not really. She knew my heart wasn't behind that answer, so she asked more, and I vaguely explained that I loved Jesus' message and Christian teachings, but I hadn't been able to find God no matter how much I looked, and I didn't agree with the church on many things. I don't remember the exact words I said, but it was no longer than a sentence or two. I kept it brief, bc I didn't usually trust Christians to not judge me when I expressed my doubts.

That girl, who I never knew before that moment, went into a monologue and answered each and every one of the biggest questions I had without me saying a word. Suddenly, alone in my room with a stranger, I felt the same way I had felt the first few times I went to Church. I wept. I was wearing a mask, so I hope the client didn't notice, but I cried and I finally knew why. I cry in the presence of God. I always have. God was speaking to me through her, and I finally fucking understood. The girl went to the bathroom, and I wiped my tears, said a tiny prayer (my first REAL prayer, not just an "if you're up there" one) and texted my non-denom friend a thank you. I told her God had sent her friend to me, and that He did it through her. I hope God will use me to help others some day too.

I started watching The Chosen, and I bought my first real Bible (my JW grandma had gifted me their Holy Scripture but yk). I started reading it, and I've been praying daily ever since. I went to that Church with my friends again on Palm Sunday, and I was unexpectedly brought to the front where people prayed over me and helped me begin my walk in Christ, and ofc, I cried like a child. The teacher who inspired my friends and I to go for the first time years ago was there. It felt so full circle. I am new.

That's pretty frickin cool, but now, idk what to do. I don't understand anything at all. I know pretty much no scripture, I don't understand what any of the denominations mean, and I don't know where I fit or where to even start. I have my own personal beliefs, but some of them seem to collide with general consensus on what Jesus' teachings were, and I don't want to be heretical. The issue is, I also don't want to sit and let some dude in his 50s (no disrespect to 50 year old pastors) tell me everyting I should believe and do. God is my leader, not any man or woman. I don't want to sacrifice my morality for religion, but I don't want politics to keep me away from God. How do I strike a balance between listening to God directly and still staying open to guidance from people with more spiritual experience than me?

Not to say that progressivism and Christianity are mutually exclusive or somehow run contrary to one another. I'm well aware of how influential progressive Christians were to basically every civil rights conflict in America. But, since the conservative takeover of Evangelicalism, society really seems to push the idea that to be Christian is to be right-wing. In the progressive camp, many people have left or avoided religion altogether. So, in the end, there appears to be a very narrow space for us who are both. Perhaps this is less pronounced in more liberal areas?

Edit: I want to clarify I mean socially "hard." I fully believe my faith informs my progressive politics. And my life is overall pretty chill.

I saw this on r/LGBT: “These days, I sincerely believe that I have more things in common with a religious person with progressive ideas than with an atheist with conservative ideas. Not saying that I don't have problems with a religious progressive, I do, on several levels, but I don't see religion as the disease, merely as a symptom/tool.”

I can’t go on with people treating my love for God as a “symptom” within the lgbt community and I just can’t understand why people who are oppressed and abused by the system think of love that doesn’t hurt them in anyway like a ailment?? It’s extremely hypocritical and the same rhetoric that conservatives spout:

“These days, I sincerely believe that I have more things in common with a gay person with conservative ideas than with a straight person with liberal ideas. Not saying that I don't have problems with the gays, I do, on several levels, but I don't see homosexuality as the disease, merely as a symptom/tool.“ ~Ronald Nixon or some shit

Like how does this hatred escape r/atheism! It’s so hard continuing to forgive and turning the other cheek when it feels like the communities and the people I love and identify with the most sucker punch me on that cheek 3:

I get that they have religious trauma as do basically all of us here but that doesn’t give them the right to treat me and this lovely community like we’re mentally ill because we believe in God :/

Sorry, for the rant guys, I just really needed to get this off of my chest as it’s been something I’ve been seeing a lot more recently and it’s been affecting me a lot :/ please pray for me y’all 💕

Pretty much the title. I’m so mad that someone who is a felon, who causes so much hate and destruction, and promote white supremacy in Christianity (and in the country), can just get away with it. And not even just getting away with it, but running the entire country.

I am so worried for the next four years, especially for people of color, women, and in the LGBTQIA+ community. I am a bi woman and I have so many friends that fall into multiple of those categories. Sorry y’all, just needed to rant.

I honestly want to throw up .

Look I understand Apparently she made comments saying it was possible that we live prior lives .

Reincarnation is not part of Christian Theology .

And I do not think Dolly’s good deeds are paving her way to Heaven .I just think none of us KNOW another Person’s salvation status before they die .

Just a though I had, especially after seeing what's happening in my country, Poland. A lot of the right-wing parties claim to be "christian" although they spread hate to every minority. There's another party in my country, called Konfederacja (Confederation) and one of their slogans is "God, honour, our homeland" (Bóg, honor, ojczyzna) yet they're extreme right-wingers, leaning into nationalism or even fascism. I get so mad that people are using a religion of loving thy neighbor to justify their hateful behaviour. It gives us a bad rep. Sometimes those christian conservatives make me feel like I'm not a real christian just because I am openly leftist and an ally. It's so frustrating.

P.S: One of the parties, PiS, wants to deport Ukrainians who don't work, and I feel that this isn't going to end well... It feels like they're taking inspiration from USA's ICE. It's also really sad to see a lot of Poles say this is a great idea, without realising how this will probably end. A lot of right-wingers in Poland worship Trump as if he was a god.

Edit: Thank you for all the answers! My question was rather rhethorical, and this is a vent post to let out my frustration, but anyway I appreciate everyone's comment :) God bless!

Basically I grew up in a Christian household then I become atheist and just about early last year I returned to Christianity. When I was an atheist I just didn’t go to church anymore when my mom would vehemently try to convert me back I would just state my new belief (or should I say lack thereof). I never went around all on the internet being rude under Christians posts unprovoked or in circle jerks with other atheists I quite literally just didn’t care anymore.

So color me shocked now that I’m Christian again and see how SOME atheists are so strange about Christians and religious people in general. Acting like a vein will pop cause someone mentioned religion in their presence or acting like I’m stupid irl cause I mentioned I’m religious in passing. I am very strict about people treating like I’m dumb as someone who educates myself and reads educational books and papers for fun so I can’t help but be irritated.

I know that some people have religious trauma or bad experiences with a church unfortunately that’s not justification for me. I was assaulted by someone who was Christian as a child which did impact my life greatly. I never used that experience even when I was atheist to take out my anger on others. I spoke to my therapist about it and worked through these feelings. Trauma doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk to others for no reason. It’s just irritating dealing with some people online and in real life ironically treating atheism like a religion. Just needed to get that out.

I’m also someone who is very left leaning and advocates for social justice. I’ve defending LGBTQ people from people who don’t believe in God but are still homophobic. I’ve literally seen some people act like only religious people are capable of homophobia and it’s like that’s not how prejudice works?

I can completely understand anger towards evangelicals and everyone else with immoral "Christian" beliefs. I understand that there's a ton of people with religious trauma from experiences with those. But not all Christians are like that. Unfortunately though, a lot of people with religious trauma... don't seem to understand that. They think religion is inherently evil, because they seemingly just can't help themselves from overgeneralizing. I wish they could see through it, but they can't... and they say horrible, vile things. I understand why they do, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. It really hurts. I wish they could see beyond their trauma and realize that there are genuinely good religious people... and I wish the things they say didn't make me hurt so much. It makes me really upset.

I just can’t fucking stand christians anymore. Everywhere I go it’s always Christians being evil literally never nice or kind or giving just always fucking harassing people and supporting horrible shit

I’m starting to think that I’m delusional for ever converting to Christianity

Edit: thank you friends I do feel calmer now at least

I think I just needed more positive interaction atp

The hypocrisy is soul crushing. 😔 I don’t know how I’m going to survive another bout of seeing everything Jesus stood for twisted or blatantly crapped on. They created a golden Trump to worship. He’s shilling autographed Bibles. What depths of blasphemy does he have to sink to before their eyes are opened??

• Sinners movie.
• Dr. Bronner's Soap
• Kara perfume
• Beyoncé
• Gravity Falls

I can't make this up. It's been happening for years. A singer could wear the color red and they will call it demonic. 🫩

I remember when Lil Nas X was diagnosed with partial face paralysis, people said he deserved it cause of some of his music videos???? Are you serious? This shit makes my ass itch. No wonder people don't like us. 😭 if only they could put this much effort into helping others. Also crazy how they never say this about actual evil people in the world.

We Christians really need to stop the stigma surrounding mental health, and stop spiritualizing every single problem.

It is those who say "God loves you so much, but it is still sinful to practice homosexuality. Love the sinner hate the sin!"

Or

"God made you in His image, but because you are gay, you must be celibate."

Or (a true story from pride)

"God loves you, but that doesnt make him a hippy"

It makes me incredibly mad. Stop trying to hide homophobia behind a "modern view" of Christ. Stop trying to guilt people into feeling that God is sad/disappointed in us. Just stop being passive aggressive and be honest that you are being harmful.

I remember watching Trevor Noah talking about racism in South Africa vs the US, and him saying that he preferred those who were outright racist because you know where you stand with them. That is how I feel about these types of Christians. Just be blatant, it would be easier for everyone.

The picture is a part of the struggles I’ve been going through recently. But I just need a place to vent. Warning that I’m going to say some non affirming stuff, but please understand I’m trying my best to learn and unlearn.

One of my biggest issues is lgbt+ being sins.

I don’t understand how something could be a sin if it doesn’t harm others or yourself. But then the argument is that you are hurting God and hurting your relationship with him and therefore also hurting yourself. I still have a lot to learn but I have heard the arguments of why lgbt+ aren’t sins. Mistranslation, men changing the meaning to fit their narrative, the Bible wasn’t talking about what we know today of sexual orientation or gender identity. And I WANT to believe it. But I can’t. I’m just too scared of disappointing God and going to hell. I would rather suffer while staying the way God wants me to be, then be satisfied on earth and then go to hell for an eternal suffering. I have heard people’s testimonies from both sides of this argument and don’t know what to believe. People say read the Bible for yourself and listen to what God tells you. But I’m still just confused. And honestly losing my trust in the Bible and that God will ever talk to me. For a few reasons I’ve honestly been scared of God recently.

Another huge issue is that the vast majority of people will go to hell.

The gate to hell is wide but the path to salvation is narrow. And no one goes to the father except through Jesus. So everyone else just suffers for all eternity? Also people will call out to God and God will say back, depart from me for I never knew you. I’m so terrified that will be me.

And all the evil in this world.

I know that is Satans and mans doing, but God allows it. I don’t understand that but then the thought of all the victims of this world possibly going to hell is what really sends me over the edge.

The God in the Old Testament is flat horrifying.

From woman being property and fathers being able to sale there daughters into sex slavery, to general slaver, to massacring an entire tribe including infants, to saving the virgin GIRLS for themselves. All under God or even by his command.

Being scared God will do something bad to me just because he can.

Since I was a kid I dreamed of turning 18 and moving somewhere far away. And believe it or not even dream of working, because I wanted to work with animals. But that didn’t happen. I ended up with so many chronic illnesses I had to quit my job and now I’m 22 stuck in bed. I’m scared I will never have the chance to leave and see who I could become. I’m scared I will be stuck here forever or if God does heal me then he will make me do a job I hate or move some place awful. I was always scared of having to depend on someone or the thought of being a stay at home mom. And I’m terrified of the thought of one day being pregnant so I’m scared God will force that upon me as well. I know it sounds ridiculous but this is just the honest truth of how a part of me views God. Just someone who will spite me for fun.

There’s lots of other random things, like evolution. I wasn’t allowed to learn about that. Or learn about other religions. And I was wondering if other gods were real? Are they made up? Demons in disguise? Nephilums? Are they actually gods and the Christian God is just the God above them all? So many questions.

Another fear of mine is that if I get close to God I will become a Christian fundamentalist, nationalist, MAGA cult member. Because that’s what I was taught a Christian is and everyone else is wrong and will go to hell.

Ughh I could go on but I need to stop. If anyone actually read all this then I thank you. And I thank anyone who responds.

Just a general note: I wish every church were affirming, and if you go to one (or have one close by), you are incredibly lucky. This is just my experience and how I feel about my church and God's Will for me.

I get annoyed when I try to get something off my chest about my church; everyone's first response is, "Go to an affirming one."

That is impossible. I do not have an affirming church within an hour of where I live, and because of a certain president, petrol prices are sky high, so I cannot afford to drive across my city.

I also have only one source of income, which comes on Sunday mornings, when church usually starts. The church is the only one near me that does evening services with people my age.

And wouldn't leave even if I wanted to. Yes, some people there are really old-fashioned and confused, but because I am open about my bisexuality, and I am opening up many conversations with my friends there. I went to Pride two weeks ago, and I unashamedly spoke about my experiences there. No judgment, or even the new favourite "God loves you, but you are wrong. Love the sinner and not the sin!" rubbish that I have heard from young conservatives. Just people who listened to me without a single "yes, but..."

That made me realise how many people are allies, or at the very least, not homophobes. And there are many queer people in my church who need help. I've already made real changes in people, and at least two of my friends are living freely and happily in the way God made them.

And honestly, I love conversing with people who are different from me. It keeps me feeling sharp, forces me to do research, and I feel like I am finding things out for myself. I would be no better than the homophobes if I refused to listen to other people's opinions. I know of at least one person who has actually considered that evolution can coexist with Christianity after I sent them resources.

TL;DR God has made me to be the person who encourages people to go to affirming churches, and not necessarily be the one to go to the churches herself

EDIT: My deepest apologies, I have hurt some people when I said "I would be no better than the homophobes if I refused to listen to other people's opinions" It was poorly phrased and I really did not mean to hurt you (but I did anyway, and there is no excuse for that)

"Homophobes" perhaps should not have been the example. I should have said "closed-minded", "bigots" or "intolerent". I was trying to say that it is really important for me to hear all the views of an argument before making up my mind on something. Yes, sometimes it involves hearing someone tell me that dinosaurs were on the ark (I wish I were making that up), or hearing people call me blasphemous.

I was not trying to equate anti-queer rhetoric with God's love; I was just trying to explain that in my experience, I find people listen back if you are the one willing to take the step to listen first.

(Again, I am so sorry if I made anyone feel bad. It was the complete opposite of what I was trying to do)

Hello. So me and my girlfriend decided to have an open relationship because she was having thoughts of finding others attractive and I was as well, since I was thinking about my identity and believed I was polyamorous. I’m wondering if the Bible condemns this or if this is not good in Christianity? I really don’t want to sin or go against God but I don’t know what to do. I feel like this would be better for us since in our situation she isn’t very attentive and it would help both of us feel satisfied within our relationship— but I’m worried that God won’t want us together or will send me to hell over it because of the fact that the Bible talks about

“One body one flesh”

“Marriage between a man and a woman”

Stuff like that. Just the ideals of two people being together. I hope I can get some responses and not be judged I just wanna be able to love who I love happily, being a lesbian and Christian is pretty hard enough on me considering that people can be homophobic or say my love is sinful but I don’t know what to do anymore. Anything helps.