Comments on: The Great Pretender http://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender "Dear Church..." - stories from those that have left Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:55:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Malikhttp://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-476 Malik Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:59:49 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-476 <strong>Malik...</strong>an interesting take on a fun subject.... Malik…

an interesting take on a fun subject….

]]> By: heyrickhttp://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-83 heyrick Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:47:03 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-83 Eric,Most of my life I was scared to talk about God without holding on to some belief system or denominational doctrine because I feared the consequences (i.e. backsliding, hell or trials). Since I've come to know God (love & grace) intimately it doesn't scare me to consider any thought or idea about God. I think others (like your mom) feel the same way...until they rest in the love and grace of God they are scared to venture outside the lines of their current belief system.Life outside the lines is so free and good...and we know...only God is good. :)Have a blessed day!Rick Eric,

Most of my life I was scared to talk about God without holding on to some belief system or denominational doctrine because I feared the consequences (i.e. backsliding, hell or trials). Since I’ve come to know God (love & grace) intimately it doesn’t scare me to consider any thought or idea about God. I think others (like your mom) feel the same way…until they rest in the love and grace of God they are scared to venture outside the lines of their current belief system.

Life outside the lines is so free and good…and we know…only God is good. :)

Have a blessed day!

Rick

]]> By: doubtingjonashttp://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-61 doubtingjonas Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:59:58 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-61 Living a lie like that, not being true to yourself and the people around you, must have been very strenuous. I'm glad you're able to be more authentic now!Good luck on your future journey! Living a lie like that, not being true to yourself and the people around you, must have been very strenuous. I’m glad you’re able to be more authentic now!

Good luck on your future journey!

]]> By: markrsmith83http://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-60 markrsmith83 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:53:49 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-60 Fair enough. I wish you well. Fair enough. I wish you well.

]]> By: ericfhttp://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-59 ericf Sat, 03 Mar 2007 03:59:43 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-59 I don't think I can ever go back. If there was any reason, I would have found it by now. I did my fair share of checking out other churches while I was in college. I think I had a few friends confused because I was up almost every Sunday morning to go and try some service. I also attended a weekly bible study with a good friend of mine. I went as an open but respectful non-believer. And I guess a lot of people didn't know how to take that and I never bothered to explain it to them.I don't think God's out there for me anymore. And, frankly, I'm not motivated enough to go looking. I'm past the pain issue and actually hold an appreciation [read "understanding"] of the motivations of the people who caused such events in my life. Even the really crazy stuff, I understand now. I left most of that out because it borders on the unbelievable unless you were there to actually see it.I've found Buddhism (in its atheistic/naturalistic form) to hold meaning for me and provide me with the tools to understand and process my past. But, as much as I know I am ever-changing, I also know I won't go back that route.It's also important to note that I am not an unbeliever because of the things I experienced in the church. My lack of belief came before that. I didn't leave because I was hurt or found fault with the people but, rather, because I found fault with the doctrine. I don’t think I can ever go back. If there was any reason, I would have found it by now. I did my fair share of checking out other churches while I was in college. I think I had a few friends confused because I was up almost every Sunday morning to go and try some service. I also attended a weekly bible study with a good friend of mine. I went as an open but respectful non-believer. And I guess a lot of people didn’t know how to take that and I never bothered to explain it to them.

I don’t think God’s out there for me anymore. And, frankly, I’m not motivated enough to go looking. I’m past the pain issue and actually hold an appreciation [read "understanding"] of the motivations of the people who caused such events in my life. Even the really crazy stuff, I understand now. I left most of that out because it borders on the unbelievable unless you were there to actually see it.

I’ve found Buddhism (in its atheistic/naturalistic form) to hold meaning for me and provide me with the tools to understand and process my past. But, as much as I know I am ever-changing, I also know I won’t go back that route.

It’s also important to note that I am not an unbeliever because of the things I experienced in the church. My lack of belief came before that. I didn’t leave because I was hurt or found fault with the people but, rather, because I found fault with the doctrine.

]]> By: markrsmith83http://lettersfromleavers.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Flettersfromleavers.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F02%2F28%2Fthe-great-pretender%2F&seed_title=The+Great+Pretender/comment-page-1/#comment-57 markrsmith83 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:58:22 +0000 http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/28/the-great-pretender/#comment-57 I feel your pain. While church hasn't ever driven me nearly to a nervous breakdown, I have experienced some real "brain pain" about the church.I hope that you will leave open the possibility of returning someday. God will always take you back. Perhaps after the pain that you are experiencing has diminished you could try a different Christian tradition that fits you better. Or not. It's up to you.I care about you either way. I feel your pain. While church hasn’t ever driven me nearly to a nervous breakdown, I have experienced some real “brain pain” about the church.

I hope that you will leave open the possibility of returning someday. God will always take you back. Perhaps after the pain that you are experiencing has diminished you could try a different Christian tradition that fits you better. Or not. It’s up to you.

I care about you either way.

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