Breaking Free: 7 Brutal Truths That Made Me Walk Away from Religion

Disclaimer: This is just my personal perspective, and I fully respect everyone's religious beliefs. My aim isn't to offend, but rather to share my own journey.

Religion has played a huge role in human history, shaping cultures, morality, and traditions. However, for me, certain aspects of religious teachings and structures led me to walk away from it entirely after being raised in a Christian household. Below are seven key reasons why I stopped following religion and hopefully not 7 - reasons to get me kicked out of the house.

1. Contradictions Within Religious Texts

One of the biggest challenges I faced was reconciling contradictory teachings within religious texts, especially the Bible. Here are two contradictions that stood out to me:

The Nature of God:

- Exodus 33:20: "No one may see me and live."

- Genesis 32:30: Jacob says, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

The Silent vs. Speaking Women at the Tomb

The women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples (Matthew 28:8).

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others (Luke 24:9).

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:8)

These inconsistencies made it difficult for me to accept religious texts as entirely reliable sources of truth.

2. Treatment of Women in Religious Traditions

Historically, many religions haven’t exactly been champions of gender equality. Whether it’s confining women to strict roles, limiting their autonomy, or outright oppression, the messaging often feels like a centuries-old rulebook that forgot to update itself. Meanwhile, modern society has been sprinting forward, and some religious institutions are still stuck debating whether women should have basic rights—like it’s a philosophical riddle instead of common sense. Watching these groups cling to outdated ideals made me start questioning how much moral authority they really had. After all, if your wisdom hasn’t evolved in hundreds (or thousands) of years, maybe it’s time to hit “refresh.”

3. The Problem of Evil

If God is perfect, all-powerful, and loving, why does evil exist at all? Many religions argue that darkness is necessary so we can appreciate the light—but that logic feels more like an unnecessary plot twist than divine wisdom. It's like saying arsonists exist so firefighters have a purpose. Some claim that evil stems from free will, but if the universe was designed by a flawless creator, why allow room for cruelty in the first place? At some point, the excuse-making felt less like a grand philosophical answer and more like trying to justify a broken system instead of questioning why it was built this way.

4. Animal Suffering and Moral Justification

It’s easy to justify human suffering by saying there’s compensation in the afterlife—but what about animals? Wild creatures endure brutal conditions, disease, and predators that don’t exactly play fair. The idea that their suffering somehow gets balanced out post-mortem feels about as comforting as someone wrecking your car, covering the repair costs, and expecting you to be grateful.

And then there’s the unsettling issue of innocent children being caught in the crossfire of divine punishment. Take the death of Egypt’s firstborn sons during the tenth plague (Exodus 11:5). It wasn’t just a message—it was mass tragedy, hitting families who had zero involvement in the conflict. If justice is supposed to be precise, this felt more like dropping an atomic bomb to settle a neighbourhood dispute.

5. Religion vs. Science: Making Up Facts vs. Changing the Story to Fit the Facts

One of the biggest distinctions between religion and science is how they approach facts.

- Religion often presents stories that explain the world, but when evidence contradicts those stories, explanations are adjusted to maintain belief.

- Science, on the other hand, constantly evolves. If new evidence emerges, theories are changed to reflect reality rather than forcing reality to fit preconceived ideas.

For me, the ability to admit when something is wrong and adjust accordingly is a much stronger approach to truth.

6. Religious Indoctrination and Lack of Proof

Most religions demand unwavering devotion, often starting with childhood indoctrination that makes questioning doctrine feel as rebellious as sneaking vegetables off your plate. This approach doesn't exactly encourage independent thinking—it's more like being handed a script and told, "Stick to the lines, no improvisation allowed!" And despite claims of absolute truth, there's a noticeable lack of receipts. Faith may be the backbone of religion, but for me, building an entire worldview on something without concrete proof felt a bit like betting your life savings on a horse named "Blind Trust." Exciting? Sure. Wise? Not so much.

7. Eternal Damnation vs. True Love

One of the hardest things for me to accept was the idea that a loving God would condemn people to eternal suffering simply for not believing in Him. It’s like being invited to a dinner party where the host says, “Love me, or I’ll lock you in the basement forever.” That’s not love—it’s a hostage situation. If someone truly cares for you, they wouldn’t punish you infinitely for daring to ask a few questions. The concept of eternal damnation started feeling less like divine justice and more like an extreme version of "Agree with me or else!"—which sounds more like the plot of a psychological thriller than an expression of unconditional love.

Leaving religion was a deeply personal decision—kind of like finally admitting that pineapple DOES belong on pizza (or doesn’t, depending on how spicy you like your debates). I get that faith brings meaning, comfort, and guidance for many, and I respect that completely. But for me, a mix of existential curiosity, eyebrow-raising contradictions, and a preference for figuring things out without an instruction manual nudged me toward a different path.