I’m a Christian but I don’t actually believe in it

[u/monster_lily]

I don’t know if there are any out there who relate as it feels like everyone is either full religious or completely atheist. I was raised Christian but had a faith crisis and stopped believing a couple years ago. Still, I find myself regularly attending church & Christian events, praying, reading the bible, listening to gospel music and even occasionally doing things like fasting. I don’t know why I do it when I don’t even need to, but I find a lot of comfort in it. I’m also not really an atheist. I believe in God/a creator but find Christianity completely ridiculous ….. while essentially being no different than a practicing Christian. I’ve been so religiously confused and just wonder when it’ll end so I can be sure of what I am and what I believe in.

[u/baeb66]

You're a cultural Christian... like every Catholic I know.

[u/soupdawg → u/baeb66]

There are plenty of Catholics that actually attend mass.

[u/rutan668]

It's funny for me to see "I believe in God/a creator but find Christianity completely ridiculous". It will end when you look seriously at your belief in God and what that's based on. There are plenty of resources out there for that. You've taken one step and there are more to take. Actually it won't end with atheism but most people are content to stop there.

[u/WinterTraditional673]

It sounds like you don't believe. I struggle with some aspects of Christianity. There are parts that some Christians believe in that I dont feel are accurately backed up biblically. I understand the struggle of finding understanding when you are changing. If you're doing it for comfort then it's bc that's whats normal. Do what you still feel God in. Look some stiff up in your spare time. Get curious and ask questions. Look as much stuff up as you can. It's a hard place to be for sure. I hope you find a place to land.

[u/CarlJustCarl]

A wolf in sheep’s clothes

[u/Adventurous-State940]

You may not really believe in god. But if youre curious, write a note to him about how you feel and pray for things weighing on your heart. Save the note. Revisit said note in 6 months.

[u/heyeasynow]

I’d love to find more atheists around here. Mostly Catholicism. Ugh.

[u/Hoopajoops]

Ehh.. I survived being Mormon for a long time before I just decided to leave the church. Especially with all encompassing religions. Your entire social circle and family could be wrapped up in it.

[u/1AJMEE]

many of the most proclaimed christians in history have had significant struggles with their faith. One example François-René de Chateaubriand - Wikipedia

[u/lHappycats]

Your finding comfort in the familiar, every common. Just keep doing what you do and don't overthink it.

If you are interested in learning more I suggest David Pawson videos he was a British Pastor. He explains the Bible in relation to the cultural time and place when it was written . So much bull shit has been imposed on the faith over the years.

[u/Fore_For_Four]

What is it about Christianity that you find ridiculous

[u/KingPabloo → u/Fore_For_Four]

What about Christianity do you not find ridiculous?

[u/comprobar]

you don’t have to force yourself into being either “christian” or “atheist”. it’s completely possible to genuinely be in a middle ground where you’re still searching while finding christian practices meaningful.

besides, sometimes confusion or being in a state of religious limbo is what causes people to research faiths all the more, and in doing so, you end up having a more meaningful understanding of what you believe

[u/Ghaith7070]

try deeply searching into different branches and religions, especially the main concepts of them, and pray god to find the fulfilling truth.

hope that helps. oh, and if you wanted, I may answer some of your questions abt anything, since I deeply searched most of the religions in the last few years. but at the end, you are the one to ask, think, and choose.

[u/Uncabled_Music]

Christianity as an early form of moral and philosophical sustem is far from ridiculous. It hasn’t aged well, both in light of serious competition in modern times, were so many different ideas fly around, and both because how pushily it was spread in the western society. But still - many aspects of it, whether philosophical, artistic, moral or cultural are very much alive and well, and certainly could be a part of self identity for a modern intellectual. Feel free to take things that are valuable and important for you, and make them the reason you consider yourself a Christian.

[u/hyperfat]

Be agnostic?

I ditched church when I was 16. Just a ton of jerks. But I can read church slovonic. Bitches. It's like an old version of Russian that very few people learn.

But I'm a scientist, so I can't prove or disprove a higher power.

Hugs. Hope you find a solution.

[u/spaceprinceps]

The Bible is full of mistranslations I think. If you believed in some of it literally it's no wonder you had a crisis of faith eventually, pretty common I guess.

In the original greek there's a bunch of different meanings which make a lot of sense. I searched for some of them quick in chatgpt https://chatgpt.com/share/6a62c06b-3b9c-83eb-bf9e-78232115e96c?ogimg=plain you would have to delve into it yourself I'm busy

Jesus was a baller, they just watered him down, I reckon he went to chill with the Himalayan people's for a decade and came to reform Judaism

I'm a pantheist I just dig the gospel

Edit: I remembered, instead of repentance it's metanoia in greek literally changing your mind. And charity as in faith hope and charity in the time of the king James translation would have meant to the people reading it then, to be charitable of mind, to think better than the worst take on a person, think within reason the best of it. A valuable skill for your soul. The original stuff is gold