u/littlesunshine-0

A few days back, I told an old friend that I met in church and have known for years that I’d officially left Christianity. She’s only the third Christian I’ve told.

Yesterday, she messaged me this long text describing how her chronic condition has worsened and how much pain she’s in. She finished by saying “I’m not sure if you’re comfortable with prayer, but if you are, please pray for me.”

And all I’ve honestly been able to think is, why would I pray for her?

Prayer is this concept of pleading with god to intervene on a situation (or, as I grew to believe in later years of my faith journey, and “invitation” to draw him near to you). It’s begging him to finally answer something I’ve been asking for years - to take my dear friend’s pain away.

He’s heard these prayers and he hasn’t done a thing about it. Why would I pray to someone like that? Why would I humble myself before him and beg him to change something in hopes that he’ll humor me?

Hey all,

I was raised somewhere in Protestant and Baptist territory, by parents who came from really abusive Christians and had made an effort to make our family’s experience better. I love my parents and have a really good relationship with both them and my brother, and because of this I literally tell them anything.

Fast forward to now: I’m (20f) progressing in my deconstruction. I have a friend that I’m really close with who’s going through the same thing, albeit a few years ahead of me in the process, and it’s the first time I’ve had someone truly understand what I’m going through. I usually tell my parents every update on my feelings and faith experiences but since I’ve reached a point of not believing anymore I’ve just… stopped. I can’t bring myself to tell them or even my brother how I’m feeling. The first time I considered leaving the faith then returned (a few years back), my mom made so many comments about how God had answered her prayers to not let the devil have me. That if nothing else, she constantly prayed I’d keep my faith and wouldn’t leave. I just can’t bear to break her heart by telling her and my dad, and I know if I tell my brother he’d panic and try to save me. I’m starting to have nightmares and keep feeling like I’m lying to everyone, I’m still attending church and praying with them like nothing’s changed but everything has.

On top of that, they know the situation of the friend I mentioned before but have no idea that I’m falling in love with him and am now in pretty much exactly the same boat as him. All that they know is that, as of my last talking to them, we’re “unequally yoked” but that I’ve continued talking to him as friends. I don’t know how I’d break this news to them either, should he and I’s relationship progress

All of this is weighing so heavy on my heart and I’m just in this constant state of anxiety and depression. I move out in less than a month but I’m terrified they’re going to figure things out once I get to my new school and tell them I’m not seeking out a church. Does anyone have any insight or relatable experiences they can share?

I’ve been back and forth about what I believe after having been Christian for my whole life.

I can’t just choose to be ignorant now that I’ve started really doubting, but with that comes this paralyzing fear and panic that I’m going to be wrong and end up going to hell.

On top of that, literally my entire family is Christian and to leave the faith would uproot everything. I just am panicking and I can’t shut my brain off :/

Hey guys, just coming to share my experiences and maybe relate/get some advice.

I’m in my early twenties. I was raised Baptist Christian and experienced a lot of spiritual abuse at my church growing up, leading to my family leaving. My parents have always been very supportive and genuinely “good” Christians, which is a major reason I think it’s taken me so long to truly question my faith.

Since starting college I’ve made a lot of friends with atheists, agnostics, members of the LGBT+ community, etc. I just keep coming back to the question of why?

Why would God create us with so many differences in beliefs and values and sexualities when there’s only few “right” answers? What’s so wrong with being different, queer, etc? What about people who were abused from the beginning and never had support to figure themselves out?

Why would a loving God create us knowing we’d sin, and that our only form of salvation is to worship Him blindly?

I’m just struggling here. And it’s difficult because my entire family is religious. To deconstruct would to change my life completely. That’s where I’m at!

This feels so stupid to ask. I’m a female, 18-24 age range, and I get these sudden strong waves of depressive feelings when I masturbate. I get horny and sometimes it’s good, but sometimes I don’t even finish cause emotionally I feel so strange. What is the reason for this?

I’ve been attempting to get back into somewhat healthy eating after kind of just eating whatever my body feels like and it’s been such a struggle. I’m packing in protein/fiber and hydration but the cravings are unreal! I’m also a PCOS girlie and have not had my period since before my surgery, which may also be adding to it? Just curious if anyone else has experienced this!