My whole life I have been raised by the evangelical way of thinking when it came to Christianity. However, I have decided to leave it. Most would think it's because I'm transsexual and evangelical churches are notorious for being anti-trans but that is only a small part of the reason why I left.
The main reasons why is due so many doctorines and attitudes within the culture. The constant science-denying, politicalization, black and white worldview, us vs .them(even to other Christians) attitudes, fearmongering of the end of the world. The constant picking and choosing of Biblical verses and claiming Biblical inerrancy as well as taking everything in it literally.
The turning point was honestly when I went to the Passion conference in Atlanta a couple of years ago. My mom and aunt forced me to go because they thought it would change my life. And boy did it, but not in the way that they wanted. It honestly has put me off from evangelicalism from then on. The place was so hyper emotional. I'll admit I am someone who is not a very emotional person in general but I do admire people who are more emotional. The problem was that the conference was so irraitionally emotional and seemed to think you were a better Christ follower the more openly emotional you are. I remember one speaker there was literally this woman just screaming her sermon the whole time which was a mixture of annoying and really uncomfortable. A lot of it feels like emotional manipulation. There just seems to be no place for people of a more cerebral leaning in evangelicalism which I think goes hand in hand with a lot of the science denying and debate shutdowns in the denomination.
The last reason is the consumer culture, the attempt to appeal to current pop culture, and the way pastors display there sermons in a more showman or actor sort of way rather than as a teacher. Because of these three things a lot of it feels fake. There's a lack of spirituality, sacredness, and worship. It feels more like these 'pastors' just want to get rich and famous then actually share the gospel and display the humility of Christ. And when they get criticisms like this, they turn around and claim God blessed them with wealth and fame for being such noble Christians. It comes off as fake and shallow. They love to advertise Christian books, Christian music, and other Christian products as if consuming all of this stuff is what Jesus really wants. It comes of as a thinly veiled 'it's all about me and my wants' mindset which is the opposite of what the Bible teaches.
I think I complained enough about my reasons for leaving. It's just that now I don't know where to go from here. Evangelicalism was my only worldview for all of my life so I don't know what other denominations believe or practice really.
