It’s not uncommon for someone who grew up in a hyper-religious household to pull away from or outright reject religion as they become older. While there are so many positive and inspirational ways to practice and express one’s faith, there’s also a dark side to religion when it’s warped to justify hatred, prejudice, and other nasty things. Some people reach a breaking point where they feel they must pull away from religion and the people who raised them within it.
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Perhaps you had no choice but to cut ties with your family after you came out as queer, and they refused to accept you. Though they always preached about love and acceptance, you never actually saw them act on it. Once you came out, it was like a switch flipped, and they could no longer see you as a human being, let alone a member of the family. It broke your heart, but you had to protect yourself and cut out the hatred and ignorance.
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Maybe you distanced yourself from your family after they expressed extreme disapproval over you dating someone from a different ethnic and religious background. You thought they would care about your happiness above all else, but after they doubled down on their ignorant stance, you knew they were too far gone to be reasonable.
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Or, perhaps you were quite literally shunned from your family after getting pregnant at 16. They called you a heathen and said they wanted nothing to do with you or the baby. You got emancipated and moved in with your partner’s family, who supported your decision to keep the baby and stood by you while you raised it. You eventually married that partner and have loved parenthood with them more than anything. You sometimes miss your family and wish they were a part of your child’s life, but your partner’s family stepped up when you needed them most, and they’re the best family you could ever ask for.
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Did you grow up in a hyper-religious household and intentionally pull away as you got older? What was your childhood like? What made you want some distance? Tell us your story in the comments or share it anonymously using this form for a chance to be featured in a BuzzFeed Community post.
