Why I’m Not a Christian Anymore: A Response

"I believe, if god is who god claims to be, there isn’t going to be a judgement day--just a day of welcoming. A day where god holds each of us in god’s arms and cries with us--tears of joy, tears of sadness, and tears for the coming love story."

In the month or two since I posted about my (lack of) Christian faith I’ve received a lot of responses.

• Responses of support and understanding
• Responses of concern and frustration
• Stories of personal journeys to find Christ
• Long (and loving) conversations with my Grandmother over what we both believe
• I’ve been sent articles and undergrad papers
• Responses by from those who agree with everything I said EXCEPT my conclusion
• I’ve talked and listened and learned and slowly clarified my position further

I’ve done ALL of this among people who love me, and that makes me smile. Because from the first day I posted on this subject until now, it’s all been about love. Isn’t that what faith is supposed to be all about?

These conversations have also led me to want to clarify some parts of my belief system that I sense weren't clear in Part 1:

1. I hope it’s all true: The whole story, god, Jesus, their love for humankind. I hope it’s all true. I hope heaven exists and that I end up there with all of you: You’ll find I never said otherwise. I just think there is goodness and value in humankind outside the story of god and jesus, and that good work is worth it even if the whole story isn't true.
   
   
2. I don’t believe what we do on this earth matters in the pursuit of heaven: Call me a universalist, but I believe, if god is who god claims to be, there isn’t going to be a judgement day--just a day of welcoming. A day where god holds each of us in god’s arms and cries with us--tears of joy, tears of sadness, and tears for the coming love story.
   
   
3. I believe what we do on this earth still matters, even if it doesn’t impact an afterlife: Why? Because I believe love is worth it. I believe caring for each other is worth it. I believe, even if we are simply dust to dust with nothing coming after earth, that having a positive impact on this world is worth the blood, sweat, and tears.
   
   
4. I believe the concept of original sin and the bloody need for the cross has been one of the most dangerous concepts the church has ever created: The idea that god required blood and violence for our salvation has had a brutal impact on humankind. Violence is a human trait, a human creation, not one of god. I believe it is us, humanity, who couldn’t stand the goodness of Jesus and had to murder him. Not an angry, violent god who required his death for our imperfection. For centuries we’ve blamed our bloody mess on god, and it’s time for it to stop. It was our murder, not god’s, and it’s time to own up to it.
   
   
5. I also believe we’re ALL GOOD: Even as we’re capable of great evil, I believe there is overwhelming goodness within us all--right down to our core. Goodness placed there by a loving god. Why do I believe this? Because, if we are the image of god, how could we be bad? If I’m being honest, I believe we’ve been told we’re bad not because we are bad, but because it kept us in line. I’m tired of that story. You are good, now choose for yourself whether or not it was a god who put this goodness within you.
   
   
6. I believe the Bible is a nice story, an ugly story, and a story written by a bunch of old white men: It’s theology. Not the word of god, and we could do more to positively impact the world by stopping the ridiculous, literal reading of the Bible than just about anything else in Christendom. Homosexuality is not an abomination. Slavery is NOT acceptable in any form. And women shouldn’t be subservient. Those were cultural mores, NOT THE WORD OF GOD.
   
   
7. Side note: I don’t understand how someone can be a Christian and a Republican, especially considering the current President. What could be more opposite from Jesus than fiscal conservatism, trying to take away health insurance from the poor, and trying to build a wall to keep out the wretched and downtrodden? Aren’t those things the exact opposite of what Jesus suggested?
   
   

I have more points, but I’ll leave it there for today.

The last thing I’ll mention is I’ve had a lot of friends say they acknowledge what is wrong with the Christian church, but still feel it’s important to be a part of it.

I think that’s fine. I don’t expect everyone to walk away from their faith. It was a painful, complex decision for me, and one I believe has to be extremely personal.

What I will say is this: if you can acknowledge what is wrong with the church, what will you do to change it? Those within the church know better than anyone what isn’t right, so do something about it. Have a big impact.

Because that’s what this world and the kingdom of god (may it exist) need most: people who are trying to having an impact. One day, one heart, one person at a time.