I Left Evangelical Christianity 5 Years Ago. Here's What I'm Still Deconstructing

I’m still deconstructing Christianity more than 5 years after deconverting from evangelicalism. Religious indoctrination takes serious time to deprogram, especially if you’ve been raised in the faith. Having been an Independent Fundamental Baptist until age 21, I’m still working through my views on secular morality and anti-theism, asceticism and pleasure-seeking, and the in-group-protecting narratives of evangelical Christians. I that hope sharing my ongoing deconstruction story helps others share theirs too.

My video on the cognitive biases which drive in-group-protecting narratives of evangelicals:

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[GeneticallyModifiedSkeptic]

Ocean is a great example of how religiosity, epistemic responsibility, and social responsibility can co-exist, and I greatly respect him and his content.

[Outcast]

Whenever Christians say that I left the church to sin, I tell them absolutely.

[BriannadaSilva]

The one about being reluctant to study religion because people will think "God is working in you!" definitely hits hard. I'm an exvangelical who has a deep interest in mythology and religion and I've had moments of dreading that exact narrative.

[minuit]

My therapist calls it "living a half life" my whole life i turned away good friends, parties, jobs, experiences just to end up old and naive. My mother is a fundamentalist and made sure to constantly control my every movement and put fear of being possessed by demons. Now im dealing with a disability that unfortunately left me in a wheelchair and left her as my caretaker. I feel ashamed that at my age i now have to learn basic life skills that i should have learned 15 yrs ago. Aint nothing more embarrassing than being old and not knowing basic life skills especially when people start asking questions in a condescending sort of way. You're left with no other room other than apologizing for the abuse your parent put you through and that you are trying to turn your life around.

[jazzpear]

I was raised an atheist and I still have to deconstruct a LOT of Christian ideology in myself. We live in a society or whatever.

[benburkin]

I'm 28 years out from escaping [the Jehovah's Witnesses] and still learning about myself, breaking indoctrinated ideas and reviewing my ideologies. Good video, all the best for your journey.

[rachelthompson]

the hard part for me was getting over the anger over being lied to all my life. The pain and self hate I carried over the guilt of being who I am is on religion. It is amazing how deeply damaging religion is.

[Mikey-dtxi]

"My common ground for most relationships"...

Man, I didn't realize this one until after I left the faith. It was sad to see how little Christians wanted to do with me once I didn't share their belief anymore. It was a very lonely period in my life. The bright side of things is that I was able to identify the authentic relationships in my life.

[derreckwalls]

One of the hardest things for me to get over was realizing, after my deconstruction, how much hurt my indoctrinated self had caused to others. I was guilty of doing all the demeaning things that I now detest so much about Christianity. I credit atheism for making me more sympathetic, compassionate, and yes even more moral than I was as a Christian.

[ethan_lord]

The inescapable narratives can be extremely frustrating. “I knew we shouldn’t have let him listen to that music, the devil found a way to deceive him” lol. I can also relate to going a bit too far into thinking everyone would be better off not being religious after leaving the faith. Great video, very relatable, refreshing to hear it talked about.

[todds.]

I've been depressed and filled with anxiety pretty much since 3rd grade. I credit my southern baptist upbringing/indoctrination as being the main culprit. Now at 42, and after years of therapy and "deconstruction", I'm officially OFF any and all psychiatric meds altogether and, ironically, feel LEGITIMATELY "born again" and like a "new creation". I haven't felt this good in my entire life.

[JavaSucksMan]

I've always been an atheist, but you have helped me deconvert from the "dickhead" sect of atheism.
Thanks‼️
(And yes... It's still a struggle😉)

[Cynthianwings]

idk if you're ever gonna read this or not, but I recently became an atheist, and your channel is really helping me stay afloat in the culture I'm stuck in right now, and I really appreciate what you're doing. My upbringing is similar to yours and it's nice knowing that I'm not alone. Thanks for being brave

[finnilyenough]

I'm dealing with narratives being told about me too. My parents found out I'm no longer a Christian shortly after I came out as trans and so it's really easy to know what the story about me is. "I just don't want to be held accountable for my sinful lifestyle." It's really frustrating because I'm still trying to have a relationship with them

[smileface]

Thank you so much for this video. I've left religion. As a homosexual, I am finally free of persecution and shame. I'm free and can be myself without judgement.

[SawtoothWaves]

this is so important, i've gone through a similar journey these past 5 years. thanks for sharing drew

[davidwood]

Whether you call it deconversion or deconstruction, it is a difficult and ongoing process. I went to parochial school as a child. Even though I left Roman Catholicism more than 50 years ago, I realize that much of my psyche is still imprinted with some of those beliefs. Your videos have always been thoughtful and provocative without being nasty or insulting. Keep up the good work. It seems that we tend to value "right thinking" over "right acting." And of course "right thinking" always mean thinking like me.

[kremekaramel]

Thanks for the this video! I’m an Ex Muslim Atheist of 9 months and I was 32 years old when I left the faith. I expected to leave it all behind me immediately but you’re right it doesn’t work like that 😊 it’s a process…

[Strahbaerie]

Having been a Christian and experiencing multiple abusive relationships, I can comfortably say they felt the same when I finally left them all.
Thanks for this video.

[gabrielbruce]

My family was forced into Catholicism, and I'm the first to try and break away back to the animistic beliefs our ancestors had. It's been a terrible, wonderful, exhausting ride. You're doing great, even though it's hard it's worth it!!