Why I Lost My Faith: A Chill, Honest Explanation

Why I Lost My Faith: A Chill, Honest Explanation

Faith is a deeply personal journey, and everyone finds their way through it differently. Some people find strength, comfort, and community in their beliefs, while others, like me, find themselves questioning and eventually moving away from it. I want to share why I lost my faith, not to judge anyone but just to explain my own experience. After all, faith means something different to everyone, and I fully respect anyone’s choice to believe—or not believe.

The All-Or-Nothing Question

When I was growing up, I thought of the Bible as a solid guide for life—a rulebook of sorts that was supposed to show us right from wrong. But as I got older, I started wondering: either everything in the Bible is true, or everything is up for debate. And if everything’s up for debate, then how can we rely on it as the absolute word of God?

If the Bible truly came directly from God, it would feel like we should follow every part of it, no questions asked. But, in reality, most people don’t follow every rule in the Bible word-for-word. People tend to skip over certain parts or interpret them in a way that fits their life today, which makes sense given that the Bible was written thousands of years ago for a different world. But that also raises questions. If we’re allowed to pick and choose which parts are “true” or “relevant,” then how do we know what’s genuinely from God and what’s just an old tradition?

Picking and Choosing

Let’s look at some of the Bible’s rules that seem, well, a bit out of place today. There are verses about not wearing mixed fabrics, rules on keeping the Sabbath, and others about dietary restrictions like not eating shellfish. Most people today would say these rules don’t apply anymore or that they were meant for a specific time and place. But if we’re setting some rules aside because they feel outdated, aren’t we just applying our own opinions to it?

If we have the power to decide what parts we follow, then isn’t that our judgment and not a message directly from God? It felt to me like faith became a lot more about personal choice and interpretation than following one universal truth. And if that’s the case, then how is it different from any other kind of moral guide?

Does It Come Down to Morals?

A lot of the Bible’s teachings are about love, kindness, forgiveness, and other values that almost anyone would agree are important. But it made me wonder: if these teachings were from God, why are there so many variations in how people interpret them? If it’s all just about being a good person, can’t we get that from anywhere?

Eventually, I started feeling like faith was more about each person’s choice of what’s right and wrong rather than a single truth for everyone. And if it’s about personal choice, then that meant my faith was starting to feel more like a subjective thing rather than a set of universal truths.

My Journey, My Choice

So, over time, I lost my faith—not because I don’t believe in goodness, love, or even the possibility of a higher power. But I started feeling that if I could choose what I believed in the Bible, then it was just my own moral compass guiding me, not the Bible itself. I came to the realization that I could still be a compassionate, kind, and respectful person without relying on a specific faith.

I understand and respect that everyone is different. Some people find incredible meaning and strength in faith, and I think that’s a beautiful thing. For me, though, my path has led me away from it. I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, and I have no regrets about this journey.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a believer, a questioner, or somewhere in between, faith is a personal experience. I’m not here to judge or change anyone’s mind—just to share where I ended up. For me, stepping back from faith helped me feel more grounded in who I am, but I also know that for others, faith is the very thing that gives them strength. And in the end, I think what matters most is that we all respect each other’s paths, whatever they may be.