I left the church and organized religion for many reasons, decades ago.

Being attacked by Christians is extremely painful.

But it is lack of understanding of three key concepts where the problem lies.

We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.Rom3.23
We are saved by Grace through faith alone. Eph 2. 8-9
We must forgive those who trespass against us. Mat 6.12

I stood excluded in the wilderness, alone, for twenty five years, until I came to terms with this.
It is extremely difficult to be a Christian in isolation. We need to praise and thank God together together, prey together, listen to His word together, support each other.

I had been a carer. When my first marriage collapsed, I was given the silent treatment and told I was not welcome. My wife had a twenty three year old boyfriend.

Unmarried, local vicars would not bury our daughter. We married but the local vicar would not have remarried couples in his church.
So again excluded.

It is God’s Grace that brought me back. And yes, I had to forgive these people. I am no better than them.

I feel the same in many ways, but feel a need to be part of a community. My religions ability to survive despite the number of times we were attacked, the rich heritage holds me in.

We're 100% on the same page. Everything you said is exactly how I feel. 🫂

Loving/blessing your enemy is a definite challenge in one’s own strength but I have found when I use my faith I always learn more than I could have any other way.

I'm probably one of the least judgemental yet still the most anti religious person on here.

I suppose that goes along with being somewhat antisocial.

Even from childhood, church never felt close to god or even remotely spiritual to me. I’ve never felt judgment hang heavier in the air than inside a church.

Yep. 👍

I find that revenge is more of a motivating factor for me than other “carrot” rewards. Bless my enemies — they keep me going.

I can’t stand the churches, I feel they keep people weak minded and distracted.