MORAL DILEMMAS
The Trolley Dilemma
Take time to collect your thoughts, to process your doubts, and to sit with your feelings, whatever they may be. Only move onto the next step when you’re ready.
Lying to Save a Life
This may sound obvious, but it’s very important. You need to make the decision to leave, and you need to commit to it. Nothing changes unless we act.
Self-Defense
Connect with people who’ve made this journey before and can offer advice or a listening ear. If you don’t know anyone in your community, connect with a deconstruction mentor on Arethion. This is a person who has already left Christianity or who plans to leave around the same time you do. It’s a great help to have someone by your side during this transition.
A Friend's Secret Crime
The first person you tell should be the person most likely to support the change. Maybe it’s someone who’s left the faith already or who’s shared doubts with you. Beginning with the least judgmental person in your network will let you get some practice before you tackle anyone who may be confrontational.
The Car Accident
It doesn’t have to be long, and it’s not something you need to memorize. The reason this step is important is that roleplaying a conversation ahead of time and writing down your thoughts increases confidence and leads to greater clarity in the conversation itself. If you’re so inclined, you can read your script during the conversation so you don’t have to choose your words in the moment.
Capital Punishment
Your decision to leave Christianity may come as a shock to people who love you, and they’re going to have questions. Decide beforehand if you want to answer those questions. If you do, prepare ahead of time. If you don’t, that’s fine. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Your goal in the conversation is to communicate a choice you’ve made. That’s it. If someone pushes hard for evidence or proof that Christianity isn’t true, send them to Arethion’s video series, “Is Christianity True?”
Organ Transplants
If you want to proceed cautiously and “test the waters” in your community to gauge potential reactions, start small. Decrease church attendance. Skip a bible study. Drop a commitment. Alternatively, if you’re anxious to leave, simply walk out the door and hold your head high.
The Sinking Lifeboat
Plan ahead and imagine what a negative and a positive reaction from that person might be like. Decide how you’ll handle each reaction. And remember: start with the person most likely to support the change.
Two Girls in a Storm
When people discover someone they care about is leaving the faith, it may provoke feelings of fear and concern because of Christian doctrine. Moreover, the news may threaten the person’s Christian identity itself. “If Emma can leave, anybody can.” Leaving Christianity is a hard thing to contemplate, and some people will react with defensiveness. The best thing to do is to be clear why you’re doing this, and then to give them time and space to digest the news.
Assisted Death
You deserve to be in control of this process. Do it at your own pace, on your own terms. Lorem Epsom deloris sent elemental.