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Those seem to be common complaints former Catholics have and reasons why they left the church myself. Now I recognize actions of fallen men do not contradict religion or its institutions.

I grew up Catholic and for similar reasons drifted away from it. Spent many years as an agnostic during and after college. A few years ago I started to become more conservative and between that and Bitcoin I found myself coming back into the faith. Initially it was more from a mainstream Christian or evangelical angle, but I’m becoming more and more convinced I should return to the Catholic church as of recent. Frank Turek helped answer some questions I had regarding the existence of God and Trent Horn has helped dispel many of the myths and criticisms about Catholicism and he makes a compelling case for it as well. Both gentlemen have great debates and content on YT. Oddly enough ChatGPT is really good at answering questions about the Bible and explaining all the typical complaints about Catholicism like infant baptism, confession, etc.

Earthl 3mo ago

Thank you for sharing. Yes, these were mainly triggers that led me to eventually leave the church.

I have grown up, and I have realised that I could actually come back aware of what is behind the curtain (or the priest in that case)...

But the reason I will not do that is the impact the church and my catholic education had on me. It made me feel divided, separated from God and from myself, separated from nature, and cut me off from other spiritual traditions that were despised in religious class (when not erased by the church in history).

It took me a long time to find that back and I am still struggling for this. I re-learn to trust my guts and feelings, to live my life more connected to my intuitions, my heart and the divine. Reading about Jesus helps me for this but the church (and institutionalised religion in general) does not.

I need to draw my own spiritual path and share with others the fundamental message of all religions, which is always Love.

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Discussion

DRE 3mo ago

I can’t speak for your specific experience with your local catholic school or church. I would just note that if you believe Jesus was who he said he was then you can’t take the Church of religion. Religion being the act of inclining the will to render to God what he deserves. The church being an institution and organized as a result is a strength not a weakness as we must be united. We can’t pick and choose what we like from the Bible if we believe in God. The Church is the body on Christ on earth.

Earthl 3mo ago

I disagree. The Bible itself is subjected to diverging interpretations, amplified by translations, cultural and personal biases, etc.

For that I may be called an heretic and some people in various spaces and times would have me killed in order to "achieve" unity.

But we can choose to be united, right now, in Love. ❤️