Giving Up Christianity
When I was in college I joined a Bible study group. I suppose this was the first time I took the Bible seriously. In some sense, I wish I never did so – perhaps I'd retain a bit more of an "ignorance is bliss" mentality; perhaps I'd still be an ignorant Christian. A few years later I was introduced to Thomas Kempis' The Immitation of Christ.
Alas, I no longer agree with the main messages and implications from these two works. And what is the main message of the Bible? That we're meant to love our neighbors as ourselves? If it was simply this, I doubt we'd conflate Jesus and God together. I doubt we would have rearranged time such that B.C. meant "before Christ." No: the main message of the Bible – the New Testament anyway – is that there's a heaven after this life. And there are some implications from this main message.
Here are a few such problematic quotes from the Bible:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
– Matthew
Do not love the world and the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
– 1 John
So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
– 1 Corinthians
These passages basically advocate for (1) not having treasures on earth – whatever that includes, (2) not to love the world, and (3) to stay single.
Lets turn to the The Immitation of Christ:
On the immitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities…
That is the highest wisdom, to cast the world behind us, and to reach forward to the heavenly kingdom…
That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, that is great and perfect wisdom.
Fancies about places and change of them have decieved many….
Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall have abundance of peace…
The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God…
– The Immitation of Christ – Thomas Kempis
It is basically advocating for (1) not being materialistic, (2), having low self-esteem, (3) avoid traveling, (4) stay single, and (5) not socialize amongst your contemporaries.
And I no longer agree with these sentiments. (1) As Madonna put it in her song Material Girl: "You know that we are living in a material world And I am a material girl". (2) Having low self-esteem is awful advice. (3) Avoiding traveling and vacationing is also awful advice – sometimes we all need a break. (4) & (5) Humans are social animals. There's an "epidemic of loneliness" out there right now.
My suggestion is instead to make friends. And if your friends love being alive and utter "YOLO" (you only live once) then go join them. And if among your friends you should find a lady friend with a mutual interest, then pursure it. And if she wants to travel the world, do so with her. And if you feel you need financial security in this life, then save up.
And for God's sake, stop thinking so lowly of yourself.