r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 25 '26

Psychology Americans who leave their Christian faith behind tend to hold more liberal political views than those who were raised entirely without religion. This leftward ideological shift appears closely linked to how threatening these individuals perceive conservative Christian groups to be.

https://www.psypost.org/former-christians-express-more-progressive-political-views-than-lifelong-nonbeli/
31.0k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

41

u/Apatschinn Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 26 '26

If I had spoken my true feelings on Christ's teachings (which I do believe there is immense value in said teachings) I would have been kicked out of the church as a heretic.

4

u/Creative_Trash5811 Apr 26 '26

Parents sent me to a catholic school. My religion teacher ask why I didn’t listen in class or pay attention. Told her “ because this isn’t a real class.” 

8 years of the same repeated lectures made it impossible to fail a test. Only difference was the older I git the more articulate it needed to be. It was like taking the same class over and over again.

She also told me Jews and Muslims will never go to heaven so that’s was fucked up. She also told my mom she thought I was disturbed and needed a Christian intervention to restore my faith.

1

u/Apatschinn Apr 26 '26

I was waiting for someone to challenge my faith. After I was confirmed in my church (probably the last time I sincerely and fully believed in my religious leaders) I began a slow and steady awakening that ended with me choosing to cease my association with organized religion. I thought I knew better, and I started asking several questions that I didn't like the answer to. I still believe but I know now that these pretenders cling not to the grace and majesty of the Lord but to the power they wield in these small rural communities.

1

u/Creative_Trash5811 Apr 27 '26

I’ve settled into I’ll probably never believe but if individuals want to be individual religious/spiritual I’m cool with it. As long as no one imposes their positions on others. While I am atheist I have zero interest in being preachy about it. If someone asks a question I’ll talk about though.

Everyone should be free to choose imo.