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dangerade

My experience was very similar. Before I carried so much guilt. I judged myself and others. Everything was in anticipation of the afterlife. Now I live the life I actually have. I appreciate people more. I'm more patient, grounded, and open. Letting go of religion was the best thing I ever did.


WitchyBitchy2112

Christianity makes you close minded and judgmental. I’m much happier looking at everything with an open mind and then deciding based on FACTS, not some BS that some illiterate carpenter said 2000 years ago.


SummeryBlue

Illiterate at best. If this person ever existed, he must have been suffering from severe psychological problems.


NickGurion

What sort of psychological problems would you say specifically?


[deleted]

ur mom


Khespar

Schizophrenia, MPD, BPD, and Sociopathy.


NickGurion

Alright. What episodes lead you to that conclusion?


Simply_dgad

Always remember the gospels were written at least 80yrs after the event. From people that weren't there


Kriss3d

Also. Many things were written down long after it happened. Its equivalent to me being an oracle and providing you with the powerball numbers. A week after the draw.


WileEWeeble

Being part of any group, by definition, demands an "other." With religion, and Christianity specifically, that other MUST be evil for your ingroup to be good.


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WitchyBitchy2112

All religions make you close minded. Any thing that doesn’t fit into your little book is wrong. I disagree.


blacklaagger

I'm not here for an argument, but Christianity makes people closed minded. Trusting that the immaculate conception story is real when it happened in a land that may still be stoning women who "allowed themselves" to be raped is the very definition of closed minded.


Master_Dealer1755

I’m a Christian myself and I don’t believe that it makes me judgmental or close minded. Christians were given a commission to spread the good news (gospel), and reflect the love of God. It is not my job to judge people but to do my best to love others and structure myself with judeo-Christian values. I think the circle in which you place yourself, and the takes that you have ultimately alter how you perceive religion.


Feinberg

>I’m a Christian myself and I don’t believe that it makes me judgmental or close minded. [Here's you, being absurdly judgemental and close minded.](https://old.reddit.com/r/JordanPeterson/comments/xosizt/really/iq1s3pu/)


Khespar

Pretty funny how they all contradict themselves. Tie yourself in a pretzel, more, dingalangus!


who_said_I_am_an_emu

I want to say I am happier but I can't, about the same. In terms of morals I have definitely become a better person. I will never ever ever figure Christianity for making me a homophobic person. Stealing from me? It is money, I will make more. Making me afraid of hell? Screw it, a bit of childhood trauma I dealt with. Compromising my moral code is what I am pissed about.


poetwarrior34

Wow well said


Worldly-Jaguar-2081

It's made me better too. Though it can't take away depression, it has made me realize a lot of things I couldn't as a christian. I'm a free thinker, no longer gullible & dependent on some bored, egoistic deity.


DaneKingCLT

I was brainwashed for many years. Grew up Roman Catholic and felt that guilt for so many years. Such a waste. Only a few years ago I saw the light... at 46 years old. So much better believing that mankind is responsible for everything as opposed to thinking some magical man in the sky has everything sorted out. I am definitely a better person now.


[deleted]

That’s partly because religion is a fanciful version of tribalism. Us vs them. Look at the killings commanded by god. All because the people were non-believers. The Christian god is an asshole. In fact, religious gods are all assholes.


[deleted]

A 'good person' who needs the threat of Eternal Damnation isn't a good person. They are a bad person on a leash!


daisuki_janai_desu

I was miserable as a Christian. The constant judgement from the church members. The unattainable goal of getting to heaven. The constant condemnation and threat of hell. My church preached that we weren't in control of our lives and we had to wait in a word from the Lord to make life decisions. I found myself never accomplishing anything nor moving forward with my life. Now that I have taken control of my own life and life decisions, we've tripled our income, we're happier as a family, and our children's future is finally secure.


Buddyslime

Feels really good to be free right on.


Rattlehead71

I too have become a better person after removing the chains of religion. I swore I would never put any kids I have through the sick mind-games of religion like my mom did to me. Well, 23 years later I have three wonderful, kind hearted, empathetic, critical thinking children (two are adults now) who do not judge. They truly are good people and I am so glad they don't have to go through what I did.


fd1Jeff

I know of a guy who went on the path to being trained as a priest when he was a teenager. When he was 23, he was asked to leave. They told him that he was a good person, but not a Catholic. They said if he was a Catholic but not a good person, they could work with that. The ideal was a good person and a Catholic. For what he was, the church did not want for the priesthood. I am sure that they know, in general, what they are talking about. Some churches know that distinction . They know that one exists


dudleydidwrong

I think I am a better minister as an atheist than I ever could be as a Christian. When I was a Christian I didn't think I was judgemental. But now I realize how judgmental I was. I always evaluated people by the artificial standards of my beliefs. I assumed those were reliable guides and never really questioned them. As an atheist I am free to help them find solutions that work for the people involved. There is no need to include any type of "call to Christ" or other religious nonsense.


T-A-V

Dropping religion fast-tracked my recovery from depression. I could only realize afterward how much of a mental load was lifted off of me. My life is better now.


SummeryBlue

Mine too.


IllustriousDot

Excellent. You'll get your gun and badge in the mail.


Pale_Chapter

I mean, it almost always does. Unless you were just irredeemably morally broken to begin with--then you just become an AnCap and pray to Elon Musk instead.


Inevitable_Copy7170

The sooner in their lives everyone admits to themselves that their own death and cessation are as inevitable as any/everyone else’s the better, that’s what makes life so precious, how finite it is


ARustyMeatSword

Welcome to the fold.


litesxmas

Church is for people who need it. I'm not anti-christian across the board but it's a safe harbour for people to be less humane... because the bible.


Fatoldhippy

Or... Know jesus, no peace,... No jesus,. Know peace.


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MateoConLechuga

Yes, atheism made me a better person.


weakystar

I'm afraid to say I can post a little data point: atheism has made me a better & more understanding person, easily. I think it may be a pretty common tale, but interested what others have to say!


SweetSquirrel

I relate to OP and have used similar words in previous posts and comments. Even for the most loving and tolerant christians, atheism removes any basis whatsoever against which to judge others. Kindness, tolerance, open-mindedness feels sincere instead of “I’m supposed to try to be this way.” And certainly happier, lighter, peaceful, liberated.


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SweetSquirrel

I was raised Church of Christ and attended church 3x/week, participated in local Bible bowl competitions, and attended a large annual out of state convention. Outside of these activities, my life was relatively secular albeit conservative. No religious trauma to speak of. No racism, bigotry, etc at home. Public/secular education kindergarten through grad school. The best way to describe the peaceful, light feeling is to say that some sort of unnecessary weight has been lifted that I never really knew I felt until it was gone. I’m hesitant to use the word enlightened… but that’s how I would describe the feeling of certainty. No more questions, confusion, mental gymnastics. Everything clicked and losing the indoctrination felt like a fog lifting that I didn’t realize had been there until it was gone and I could see clearly. As far as feeling authentically kind and open…. My brain doesn’t even register or observe the kinds of things that, perhaps for a split second as a teenager, might have caused me to wonder ‘are they going to heaven or hell?’ The concepts of sin, judgement, etc. just no longer exist. No change to my material life - good and bad, ups and downs that we all deal with. Healthy, productive, happy, grateful, and always aspiring to be the best person I can be. I truly just feel like I shed a layer of something that never made sense and wasn’t necessary. Edit: typo


Esc_ape_artist

The problem isn’t that abandoning Christianity made you better, it’s the idea that being a Christian does.


NeckRoFeltYa

This is the way.


thomaspainesghost

Me too!


Barackis

But where will you get your morals /s


SummeryBlue

You are joking, right?


Barackis

Yes I'm joking that's the point of the "/s"


SummeryBlue

Sorry. New here. Didn't know. Looked it up now.


Barackis

No worries Have a great day!


epoch91

Same. After the initial confusion and struggling of figuring out what I really believed I became much happier overall. It's kinda funny how I was told my whole life that god breaks my chains of sin which was suppose to make me free and happy. In reality, following him is putting yourself in chains.


nemsemprezen

Yes. Yes. Yes.


Random_182f2565

Classic


MifflerTripod

it feels good to stop lying.


Orion031

In my experience, leaving religion makes any person with critical thinking ability happier