What would make you lose your faith – or what caused you to lose it?

[naomi24]

Does anyone watch Four Thought TV? I watch it when I’m cooking dinner. It’s a five minute slot at the end of the 7pm Channel 4 news, described by the programme makers as a “series of highly personal short films, broadcast daily, reflecting on a broad range of religious and ethical issues, and aspects of our spiritual lives. These films challenge some traditional views, providing a platform for both scepticism and devout religious beliefs.”

This week’s topic is ‘Reasons for losing your faith.’ Last night a Science teacher, a former Muslim, said when he was at school, he could never accept that the non-Muslim children were going to hell, but the defining moment came for him when he ate bacon for the first time and realised that he was responsible for leading his own life.

Tonight we had a Roman Catholic who, during his childhood, had held great affection for a particular priest, and had held him in very high regard, only to discover years later that the priest had been a paedophile.

So, what would make you lose your faith – or what caused you to lose it?

[gness]

Being brought up by strict Roman Catholic parents and taught by nuns contributed to my loss of faith. The church has done nothing since to change my mind.

[bundleone]

I never went to church again after leaving my catholic school, I think it's like being brainwashed, you believe in god because you are taught to beleive from the start of your life, I doubted from my teenage years and have never gone back.

[HowardKennitby]

I am more or less certain that I never had any faith.
I had a typical Scottish upbringing in which I was taken to church. Nobody ever explained or tried to justify this to me or tell me what I could expect to gain from it.
Eventually I grew up, my brain started working, and I came to the conclusion that that there was nothing to believe in.

[micmak]

I was brought up in the catholic faith where the nuns said if I went to the seaside on Sunday and missed mass I would go to hell. Very scary for a 7 year old. I cried one Sunday when told we were going to the seaside. My father went crazy when told why I didn't want to go. Faith ha. The only faith I have is in me.

[mibn2cweus]

The realisation that embracing faith came at an inestimable cost . . . the abandonment of hope.

[gness]

Same here micmak. We were told we must never let the communion wafer touch our teeth. It was to dissolve on the tongue. Unfortunately I had a very small mouth and two of my back teeth grew in the roof of my mouth, resting on my tongue. You know how long it takes the wafer to dissolve! For about three hours every Sunday I wandered around with my mouth hanging open like someone doolally.

[paddywak]

I too was brought up as a catholic Sunday School, first communion, confirmation, alter boy, the whole lot. The day I left school and started work was the day I stopped going to church apart from weddings, christenings and funerals that is.

[gness]

They lost a lot of us didn`t they?

[micmak]

Paddywak, I also stopped going when my parents stopped sending me. The priest was round to our house in a flash. Still didn't go again though.

[paddywak]

Funnily enough micmak, my greatest supporter was my uncle who was a priest. He always said, if you only went once and meant it you it counted more then the thousands of times you were forced.

[boxtops]

we went to Sunday School because it was expected of us, not out of any faith conviction.

[micmak]

I understand that Paddywak. A relative of my father was also a Priest. When he was ordained he came to bless our house. As I was only a child I can't remember the year, but it was in the 50's

[keyplus90]

Whatever the reason that Muslim science teacher gave up Islam for has nothing to do with the reason he said he gave that why Non Muslim children would go to hell. That shows me that he was supposed to be Muslim but did not know even about the basic of Islam. Islam clearly says that no child will ever go to hell does not matter what religion they believe in or are supposed to believe in due to their parents religion or whatsoever. So there might be other reasons as this one does not make sense.

[Davethedog]

As I said I have said before the reason I lost all faith was Aberfan. I am a Londoner and I was 11. I don't think in my life anything has affected me so profoundly. No person of religion could ever explain to me, why "god" did what he did in a small Welsh mining community.

Keyplus do you know the science teacher? Can we also add psychic to your wonderful sense of self. Your not only casting an opinion that has no foundation you are trying yet again to hijack a thread to your own agenda.

[rowanwitch]

Aparently my attitude when very young wsas why should I believe in that its stupid... I don't think I ever believed in Jesus or god or a devil I believed in crocodiles living under the bed when I was very little thats about as far as faith went for me

[Nibble]

it helped when I learned to think for myself.... Faith & Logic = incompatible.. stupidity & gullibility = fervent fundamentalsim.

[rowanwitch]

Except for the apotheosis of course

[Gavmacp]

I often read on this subject people saying 'intelligent' or 'think for myself' etc. And I would love to belief that but the recent panic buying of petrol demonstrates to me that people do not.

[Davethedog]

Gavmac it was only the Theists :-)

[naomi24]

Keyplus, There’s no reason he should claim to have been Muslim if he wasn’t. I’ve just watched it again, and he said ‘when they die’, so I assume he was talking about his classmates as adults. He also explains his other reasons for leaving Islam.

Here you are. Watch it for yourself. It’s only a couple of minutes long.

http://www.4thought.t...m-shaha?autoplay=true

Dave, // Gavmac it was only the Theists :-) //

Like it. :o)