Lydia asked me why I'm not a Christian anymore and I'll answer as honestly as I can and try not to offend anyone.
I was not a Christian before I joined the Family. I was brought up in an aethiestic home and the only religion I really knew was compulsory scripture in school which I got banned from for asking too many questions!
I have always had an inquiring mind and was always fascinated with spirituality and belief systems of all kinds but I had no interest whatsoever in the Christian churches.
I met the Family when I was 17 and at a very bad point in my life. I was close to a nervous breakdown (which is another story.) I was hooked from the second I met them. I went home that night packed my bags and joined the next day.
To be honest they could have told me anything in the beginning and I would've believed it.
So all my Christian beliefs were tied up in the Family. When I left I was still very much afraid of disobeying God. I tried not to think about God and then eventually totally rejected the whole kit and kaboodle.
I got through by laughing at the whole thing. Luckily I had my sister who understood and we just took the piss out of the Family so hard and really took the comic route. Of course there was pain to deal with but we always found something to laugh at.
I began to dabble in other belief systems a few years later got into some New Age stuff and was eventually attracted to Buddhism. I also became fascinated with the work of many psychologists, philosophers, religious men and women, musicians and artists.
This led me to eventually decide to attempt a university degree at the age of 39. I chose a degree in Religious Studies or Comparative Religion since this had always been my area of interest. Once again, I was attracted to studies in Buddhism and many of the things I had felt were put into words by what I learned.
I had become more interested in the whys and wherefores of religion more that the personal faith that I once possessed. There was a sacrifice in deciding to study what I did. I became so objective that I lost my faith and became a bit (maybe a lot) cynical.
I believe faith is a gift and once I had it. It doesn't matter that what I believed in was false I still had faith and that is a wonderful thing. Maybe one day I will find faith again but until then I will peruse the great knowledge and wisdom that we have as a wonderful legacy.
The greatest thing I have found is books. After having to read the garbage of Berg for so many years I have discovered a world there for the knowing.
I hope I answered your question Lydia even though in a round about way.