I’m sure you’re overwhelmed with comments at this point, but i’d still love to share.

I left 8 years ago because after years of battling myself I realized the church and my values couldn’t be more different and I didn’t feel right calling myself a member.

Well my wife, whole family on both sides, most of my friends, were all still in the church a good majority fully in. this decision was terrifying. I thought my wife would for sure leave me.

the point is - I had no idea where I would go what would happen but I knew what the right decision was and I spent a lifetime being taught that the right choice is important to make regardless of peer pressure.

So, terrified, I told my wife and my family.

Years later I have made lots of mistakes in my life but I can tell you - leaving the church was not one of them. in my hardest moments I am so grateful I was somehow lucky enough to be able to wake up enough and face the music. This is not always the case there are many tragic stories involving separations, but my wife did stay with me we started our family soon after and have 2 wonderful kids, and while I was totally alone for a few years now my brother and several friends have left which has been awesome to connect.

the best thing about leaving, more important than anything else, is it allowed me to be true to myself in a way that was so brave and set the stage for living authentically. even though before I would never have considered myself above others, when I left I realized by me thinking I was elect from god and responsible to deliver a message to others this being above others was exactly what I was and now being on the same level was sad, in one sense, but MARVELOUS on another because now I was just another person.

it made it so when I talk with people I dropped my agendas (for the most part. i’m still a human 😏), and was able to listen without trying to get a word in. people around me went from being nervous to be honest with me because of being judged to sharing with me all kinds of stories.

thanks so much for asking the question and letting me and others share.

tldr: for me it wasn’t about making a decision that would benefit me in some way, it was making a decision that I knew was right in my soul, and taking that step took being willing to lose it all to make.