ADVERTISEMENT

There are certain things that, if we value peace and quiet, we don’t talk about. Namely the holy trinity of topics which are musical taste, politics, and religion. But here we are, talking about religion.

But instead of preaching, the lovely people of Reddit are sharing stories of experiences that made them drastically rethink the whole concept of faith, losing it in the process.

In particular, this thread has been going viral lately after someone asked folks to share what exactly ruined religion for people, and getting over 48,600 upvotes with nearly 39,000 comments along the way.

So, sit back, relax, and read through the frustration that is losing one’s religion in our curated list of the best answers below. And while you’re at it, poke that upvote button, comment your own opinions and stories and whatnot, and consider checking out any other question from Reddit that we’ve discussed here.

More Info: Reddit

#1

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group As a kid, it was boring. As a teen, it brought nothing into my life. As an adult, it's hard to ignore all the corruption, greed, sexual improprieties and contradiction.

Ultimately, if there was a god, this is the best it can do? I'm not impressed.

Goldy84 , elPadawan Report

Add photo comments
POST
master_minds9_1 avatar
DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to agree with your sentiments. I always wonder the same....especially like, why are babies born with diseases and pain? They did nothing to deserve that....why are children being killed daily? They have done nothing wrong.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group People using it to justify their hate.

OkTurnover4202 , liakapelke Report

Add photo comments
POST
isaiahhekhuis avatar
Bazinga
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a serious issue. In no place in the bible does it say that being homosexual is a sin, but many people look for excuses for their biases

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group So many things but the final straw for me was my church asking a homeless man to leave and not come back. He would sit and listen to the sermons never bothered anyone and always sat in the very back. I confronted my youth group leader and she defended the preacher.

chaoz2030 , Joe Cosentino Report

#4

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group When I was 6 years old, the pastor gave a letter to my aunt to give to my mom saying that we were not donating enough money to the church. So we stopped going, and I have never been to church since.

nicklee803 , It's No Game Report

#5

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group The expectations for women to be subservient to men and have no further aspirations than “wife and mother”.

givemeyourking , denisbin Report

Add photo comments
POST
gangsterghost avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religion really screws with women's rights. I was told once, by a chauvinist Christian that women have different rights, but they are still equal rights.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group I worked at a restaurant near a church on Sundays. Rudest bunch of people ever.

Draginia , Sean MacEntee Report

#7

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group It quickly became evident that many people who call themselves religious, only do so to feel morally superior to others around them, and then use that superiority to try to control everything they can.

Peetwilson , Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha" Report

Add photo comments
POST
nikkisevven avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which is morally superior, though? Subsuming morals that have been imposed on you by a church, or developing your own morals based on the idea that you should treat others the way you would like to be treated in similar circumstances? The latter actually requires self-reflection and thought, and can be modified as the times change. The former merely requires blind obedience and, apparently, judgment of others.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group As a kid, someone explaining to me that my dog that just passed away wouldn't be in heaven. I'd never see him again. Because dogs can't accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. So he was going to hell.

Pretty much done with it after that.

BoredBSEE , Mike Bonitz Report

Add photo comments
POST
jelena-hegedis avatar
Jelena
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, it was a claim that animals have no soul. and I am absolutely sure that they have it, both reason and soul, and more than some people.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Being told it was gods plan after my mother suffered through chemotherapy, and still passed away. I have no interest in a god who’s plan includes cancer

Zayt08 , Peyri Herrera Report

Add photo comments
POST
marmotarchivist avatar
MarmotArchivist
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sayings something like this to someone who lost their mother. This makes me want to punch them in the face.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group When I realized the Bible wasn't written by God/Jesus and it was written by man and was written like 200 years after Jesus's death. Like I can't even 100% trust the word of a good friend who heard something from someone else in 2022, let alone some game telephone from 2000 years ago.

Greenlawn11740 , Alan Levine Report

Add photo comments
POST
nikkisevven avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, rules that would have made perfect sense for the protection of a tribe in the Bronze Age (most of Leviticus) make absolutely no sense in the modern world. We can eat shellfish now, because we have freezers. We can get tattoos and piercings, because we have autoclaves. And so on.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group There’s a short period of time where most of the religion started. Everything prior is mythology and everything after is a cult. Hmm, how convenient.

BigBadBootyDaddy10 , olavXO Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the biggest problem with traditional religions. They originate in ancient times, brutal, violent and sexist. How is it logical to follow rules that were developed thousands of years ago in a very different society? I dont need bronze and iron age people to tell me how to behave, how to dress, what to eat or whom to love.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Going to a megachurch.

They received over 1 mil in donations every weekend and spent it on elaborate props and videos rather than helping the community in any meaningful way.

LiterallyCasey , Dennis Jarvis Report

Add photo comments
POST
kona4me avatar
Kona Pake
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the elaborate props and videos include the Learjet, the Bentley and the weeklong retreat at European resorts?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group The lack of compassion and rejection of science

PikesPique , Kosala Bandara Report

Add photo comments
POST
gangsterghost avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have noticed science is only accepted if it supports the religious worldview in some way. Any other science is to be dismissed.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group I was 6 years old in a Saudi elementary school. There was this one Christian Bosnian kid whose dad was a butcher, he was incredibly kind and often gave me delicious smoked meat sandwiches.

The thought of him going to Hell as a non-Muslim was illogical, and made me question religion for the first time.

Svstem , Bernard Spragg. NZ Report

Add photo comments
POST
jamiesterling avatar
Jamie Sterling
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was 12, I was told you had to believe in Jesus to go to heaven. I asked what about the other people in other countries that never even heard about Jesus. I was told they weren't going to heaven. My God wouldn't keep good people out of heaven just because they didn't know about Jesus. Goodness and kindness get you into heaven, not Jesus or religion in my belief system. I'm a nurse.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group The non-answers to all my questions as a kid. "You just have to have faith" is a dumb way to respond to an inquisitive mind.

my_d**hurts , shay sowden Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group I started caring about what is actually true.

All the contradictions of every religion melt away when you can simply acknowledge all religions are man-made.

junkmale79 , Henri Sivonen Report

#17

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Religious people.

TheGoodJudgeHolden , prayitnophotography Report

Add photo comments
POST
vaelyn avatar
Enlee Jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of the most vile and bigoted people I have known would call themselves “good Christians” with a straight face. It seems like half the people I went to high school with wound up being ultra right-wing zealots who believe everything they read on Breibart.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group My dad had cancer for 10 years and then he passed away when I was 14 years old. I thought I was having a good heart to heart with my small group leader about it.

She asked if my dad was "a man of God" because she wanted to make sure he isn't "burning in Hell"

Who the f**k says that to a grieving child? So completely insensitive. It took me several months to fully realize the weight of that conversation with her before I left religion altogether.

Jazzlike_Log_709 , tripleigrek Report

Add photo comments
POST
izzycurer avatar
Izzy Curer
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Setting aside the obvious reasons for why this was terrible, what, exactly, was the mf point in asking this? Let's assume for a moment that hell exists. What could be done about anything at that point? What could the kid do? What could the group person do? Nothing.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group My mother. She instilled some serious shame into me under the guise of God. Some things she said:

-Not allowed to believe in Santa because that takes credit away from God. Santa was actually a hand of Satan trying to corrupt me

-Not allowed to believe in the Easter Bunny because it was also a hand of Satan trying to corrupt me away from Jesus.

-I wasn't allowed to feel pride in my accomplishments because it's a sin

-I was a d**khead because my dad got me fully vaccinated as a child and that is against God's plan

-Hollywood is operated by Satan so I wasn't allowed to watch movies or shows (especially Disney)

-Harry Potter was an absolute no because witchcraft is an affront to God

-Scientists should not be trusted under any circumstances

-My rare genetic condition was part of God's plan and I'd understand some day

-Not allowed to say "damn" because it's an affront to God

-etc

That combined with her regular, not religious abuse has left me struggling a lot with my religiosity.

dayna29 , jrsnchzhrs Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#20

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Sermons alternated between asking for money, telling us LGBT people were bad, or telling us we were all worthless sinners without God.

Left church every Sunday feeling like s**t. One week, I just decided I'm not going back.

I don't miss it.

IngsocInnerParty , Ivan Narmanev Report

#21

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group I was like 15 and playing an instrument in the “worship band” for the most popular “youth group” in the area (which is a verrry Christian area). At one point the pastor dude was praying and the musicians were behind him waiting to play when he was done. The whole room (200+) had their heads bowed as dude was praying. Then his prayer went into the whole “here’s what you pray if you want to become a Christian right now” yada yada yada.. then at the end he says

“Ok everyone keep your heads bowed, eyes closed. Now if you just prayed that prayer with me I want you to look up - everyone else keep your heads bowed- but if you just now gave your life to Jesus look up at me or raise your hand so I can see you”

I’m behind him, and facing the crowd who have their eyes closed so I decide it’s safe to take a peek. I discreetly look up and notice that exactly ZERO people in the crowd are looking up at him. Every single person still has their head bowed, eyes closed. (Which is fine, I mean maybe they were all already Christians?) However, as I’m looking at nobody responding, Mr Pastor starts saying “ok I see you there”, “oh I see another over there, Amen” “and you back there, praise god”. “Yes I see you over there, amen come find me afterwards”. It was perplexing to see him lie to so many people like that. And this wasn’t some nobody youth pastor, he was like quite legit having written books and being mentioned in national articles and stuff
TLDR; an acclaimed youth pastor tried to make it seem like his prayer had converted several people, when I could clearly see it had not

timcooksd**k , Tony Alter Report

Add photo comments
POST
nikkisevven avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always get a chuckle when I see Christian tattoos, since Leviticus strictly forbids them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group The fact that there are multiple but I was taught that only ONE is correct

Delicious_Toe_8104 , Adrian Scottow Report

Add photo comments
POST
gangsterghost avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact. All religions cannot be right. However all religions can be wrong.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group The fact that if you're not in my religion, you're kinda f**ked in the afterlife. I didn't choose my religion, so what makes me so special?

Final_Ad_6862 , Ángel M. Felicísimo Report

Add photo comments
POST
kedgley68 avatar
K- THULU
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course condemning a non believer to hell is pretty well the same as condemning them to narnia or the magical world of oz. I'm not really scared of a made up destination...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group My parents pulling an exorcist on me. On their own. Screaming at me that I wasn’t their son but that there was a demon inside of me...

And more but that is the main thing tbh that has made me more an ant-theist than just an atheist

Mere-Thoughts , Daniel Borman Report

Add photo comments
POST
gangsterghost avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What had the child done to make the parents think an exorcism is needed?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Honestly having to go to church as a little kid. Felt like an endurance test every Sunday to just get through it. Like, dude I’m 6 I wanna play with my action figures or be outside or game. I don’t wanna fight the fidgets in the pew listening to adults breathy sing to tired hymns while I just want it to end so I can go be a kid on the weekend. Then as I got older all the obvious reasons you see everywhere, the contradictions, violence, stupidity etc

_BluLeaf , Amanda Slater Report

Add photo comments
POST
krisdargan avatar
Who Panda 420
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They did make it really tough on children. Some Churches had fun Sunday School or catechism classes but then you had to sit through Mass afterward. It felt like the worst punishment to sit still and be quiet for so long.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group There was never an answer.

I wanted to believe desperately.

I wanted to and I begged God to allow me to be doubtless. I tried and tried and tried to make it work. To make it fit.

I asked questions. I wondered. I pondered. I just got to a point where there were no more answers. No one had an answer that made sense.

Nothing that the next person couldn’t alter or contradict. Nothing that was ‘set’ or ‘fixed.’ It was all up in the air and I just needed more faith.

I tried. I really did. But my mind just won’t allow it anymore.

Vintagepoolside , mr.urganci Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's exactly how I feel. I ask a question, get answers but the answers end up giving me more questions. It just goes on and on and a lot of the time the answers don't make sense or just not logical etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Being told I was going to rot in hell every time I made a simple mistake

Goldenpearl01 , leKorbo.be Report

#28

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Having to confess my “sins” as a 10 year old.

jk10102 , flowizm Report

Add photo comments
POST
moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't you just make up random s**t? That's what I did. The penance was always the same, which made it even more funny.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group Religious leaders ruined religion for me

Formal-Bat-6714 , Henry Burrows Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly. Like the new Pope pretending to be modern as a way to gain followers but then refusing that women get any power in the catholic church (f*****g sexism) and calling people that have no children selfish.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

30 Things That Shook People’s Faith In Religion, As Shared In This Online Group former catholic, current atheist here. i am fortunate enough to not have had any severely traumatic experiences involving the church. but, i grew up in the church and i used to love to sing the hymns. as i got older i started to realize what the words i was singing meant. i really didn’t like how some of the hymns/songs called us as people “nothing” compared to god. i don’t really agree with devaluing and trivializing ourselves and our problems as part of worship. that is what really did it.

g_miller13 , denisbin Report

Add photo comments
POST
mayacoronado avatar
Florence
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i agree, telling me i’m a worthless sinner compared to ThE lOvInG jEsUs ChRiSt really f****d with my already bad mental health

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu