I'm a Christian guy who left the church, but is recently coming back to religion. For those who have experience similar things, what brought you back? For those of you who have always been close to religion, what changes have you encountered since transitioning?

I have always been a spiritual person, but have had numerous difficulties with "organized religion" aka "The Chruch". My biggest issue, even from the early age of about 8 or 9 years old, was that they could not provide me with the answers that I felt I needed. That put me on my own path of discovery, which led me down some very dark spiritual alleys.

I continued my quest and eventually met a man who was a very kind person. He listened carefully to my questions and gave me the answers I sought. These answers were not definitive, but encouraged me to continue searching because the answers I sought were really out there. Eventually, I found what I was looking for, and suddenly everything made sense.

That was all pre-transition. During my transition journey, I have often questioned how it would affect my beliefs. It has not.

Spirit and body are separate but intimately connected. Since my beliefs focus on the spirit and not on the body, there is no conflict. I no longer see people as bodies inhabited by a spirit. The Bible tells us that God breathed the breath of life into us, and we became living souls. Souls that are ALIVE, not bodies with souls. There is a difference.

The only real obstacles I encounter are engaging with people who have very closed minds. My parents are deeply religious (Catholic), and my dad often asks me how transitioning has affected my relationship with Jesus Christ. I explain to him that it hasn't. Once you are baptised and follow the teaching of Jesus, you are accepted no matter who you are.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26-29

I know that many people wrestle with this topic. Even those who are not trans or intersex. It doesn't help when religious people do not understand and try to force their own version of the Law upon others. That is what drove me away from the church, and in today's society, I see no reason to return. Many people enjoy the social aspects of sharing their worship time with others. There is nothing wrong with that. Many people find peace and enjoy the things that the church offers. I am just not one of them. I can still be a Christian by following the teachings of Christ without going to a public gathering.

I will enjoy hearing from other members chime in on their experiences because I'm kind of the oddball. 

I love how you worded that. I agree with you that it doesn't really matter if you are a part of a congregation or not. Being from the "bible belt" as it's so often referred to as, I think that being me would push me out of most if not every church around. My experience in the church was not the best and I do not wish to go back anytime soon, but I do want to congregate with like minded people who are part of the same or similar faiths. I don't know of any places nearby, but if you do feel free to let me know!

Quote from: Adrian26 on April 22, 2025, 03:58:05 PMI love how you worded that. I agree with you that it doesn't really matter if you are a part of a congregation or not. Being from the "bible belt" as it's so often referred to as, I think that being me would push me out of most if not every church around. My experience in the church was not the best and I do not wish to go back anytime soon, but I do want to congregate with like minded people who are part of the same or similar faiths. I don't know of any places nearby, but if you do feel free to let me know!

Hey Adrian!

I have never felt great need to be in a congregation...I think our connection to God is there waiting for us in every moment we direct our attention to it... That said... We got up early on Easter and drove up to the bay area to get my husbands mom to her church from where she lives in assisted living... She used to go every week and was very active but then between covid and her mobility she hadnt been for years...She was so happy and it was a beautiful service so we plan on making every effort to get her there once a month...🌻

I always liked the William Blake quote about the need to to form your own system of beliefs or else to some degree you are slave to the belief systems of others...I study a wide variety of beliefs and take on the things within them that resonate with me... I put Christianity, Judaism, Gnostic/Esoteric/Alchemical Teachings, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, Hinduism, the great philosophers and much more into a blender... observe the common themes and try to live up to the very best of what I take away from all that!... 🌻

I have always loved this scene from Kingdom of Heaven... David Thewliss plays a Hospitaller knight who is actually an angel, though that is never said outright in the film, He explains his thoughts on religion and what God wants of Orlando Bloom's character Balian... 🌻



Onward We Go!

Ashley💕

That's really interesting, I've never really looked into other religions, but maybe I should at some point.

I felt like  going  again. I went to a  nearby  Methodist church  a 10 minutes  bus ride away.

Quote from: big kim on April 23, 2025, 01:41:44 PMI felt like  going  again. I went to a  nearby  Methodist church  a 10 minutes  bus ride away.

That's amazing! I hope you have a better experience now than you did then.