re: I'm just not cut out for Christianity.

Quoting Minion:" If Hell didn't exist in the Bible, I honestly wouldn't have a problem leaving Christianity and doing my own thing. Fear really is what is keeping me here."

I believe that Hell is anything negative in life: Satan, fear, hate, judgement, etc. So to have the absence of God, would to be allow evil in your life. Or in the afterlife, everything negative to consistantly to be around you.

Quoting 6 blessings so far....:" christianty is supposed to be about having a personnal relationship w/our creator through his so Jesus......You ... [snip!] ... remember, God loves u the way you r now....its your love for him that should make you yearn to be a more ''christlike'' person."

I do love God/the being that put us here and I'm very grateful for being here. I love life. I just honestly don't yearn to be Christlike.  

Quoting CandS.4ever:" you can not get to Heaven by being " a good person" ... For God so LOVED (past tense) the world that ... [snip!] ... was ready and willing) to die for you. You may not realize how that could help you, but if you want to know more let me know "

Actually jesus believed in good works, and the theme of matthew is christ dying to bring people to repentance to jesus. John is the least historically reliable of all the gospels btw.

Quoting Raωkeℓ:" It doesn't make you wishy-washy. Plus, true christians believe that verse in the bible that says something like: "I'd rather you be cold than luke warm" ....  "

I've heard that before, lol.

Quoting Minion:" If Hell didn't exist in the Bible, I honestly wouldn't have a problem leaving Christianity and doing my own thing. Fear really is what is keeping me here."

Then imo, it's not worth it to stay.
I realized that I was at the point where I just held onto religion because I feared letting it go. I eventually figured that it'd be better for me to move on and live my life without the shame/guilt/frustration.

It's just like parenting. Fear =/= respect. When you respect someone, you do as they ask because you hold them to a high esteem. When you fear someone, you do as they ask simply because you're afraid of what they might do to you....like an abusive relationship. I would like to think that any God that may be out there would rather have your respect and honest belief than your fear and disbelief.

Quoting MamaAkemi:" That's what I believe a Christian to be about. But when you read the Bible, try to remember the time, ... [snip!] ... to let her hair down, braid it, wear jewelry, wear pants, learn and preach. Yet, the Apostle Paul would tell me otherwise."

you need to read more and very carefully.....some ''rules'' in the bible are stated to come from the apostles themselves and not from God.....they were rules for a specific region or set of people because of their specific ''background'' and their specific ''needs''.

Quoting MamaAkemi:" You know, I remember reading just last week, the Apostle Paul said that a woman (or man) married to ... [snip!] ... I can't remember the exact words, but that was the gyst of it. So by his logic, you are saved through his belief in God, lol."

Lol, awesome! I'll have to look that up.

Quoting Minion:" Lol, awesome! I'll have to look that up."

it more specifically says that the ''saved'' spouses lifestyle and actions can be the example that the unsaved spouse needs to prompt them to ''turn to Christ''

Quoting Crystallized:" Then imo, it's not worth it to stay. I realized that I was at the point where I just held onto religion ... [snip!] ... like to think that any God that may be out there would rather have your respect and honest belief than your fear and disbelief."

That makes sense!

Quoting MysticWitchKat:" Actually jesus believed in good works, and the theme of matthew is christ dying to bring people to repentance to jesus. John is the least historically reliable of all the gospels btw."

Sorry I was a little slow in answering, I didn't see your quote for a while...

Jesus taught that we must be born again... .(Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.)
Paul said in the book of Romans all our rightousness is as filthy rags. (Romans 3:23) Our good works don't impress God... and as far as John being less historacally accurate, where you there? He was... the Bible says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16 ...

Quoting Minion:" I do love God/the being that put us here and I'm very grateful for being here. I love life. I just honestly don't yearn to be Christlike.   "

Gandhi put it best when he said "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Have you looked into Eastern religions? Hinduism, Zoroastrian, Jainism, Buddhism, etc?

Quoting Minion:" It might be. I've always been interested in stuff like it. The main reason I left it was because I was ... [snip!] ... It was a huge mess. And then the thoughts that I was going to hell creeped in my head   I was pretty happy while I was Pagan."

WTF, damn!

Paganism is a beautiful, fascinating, very spirtual religion. people are so un-informed. And nobody can take your child away for your religous beliefs, I would love to talk to your parents and hear them say that!

Just remember - only a strong mind knows to question things and not just accept what you are fed. Good for you for sticking to your guns even though you were fed a bunch of things that don't make sense to you. I DO think the hell thing is brainwashing.

You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are completely personal and private, and nobody's business but your own.

The fact is, there is no proof that any religion exists. All we have is faith - so no religion is more "real" or "fake" than any other. They're all just beliefs, so how can any of them be wrong?

It's all up to YOU and what makes YOU feel fulfilled and happy in your life.

I can't address everything in your post but I can say this:

I didn't change who I was before I became a Christian.

Christianity changed (is still changing) me. I didn't change in order to live up to some expectation I thought God had. He took me as I was and is changing me on a daily basis.

"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

To believe you are "not good enough" to live up to biblical standards; that is one thing...and I wholeheartedly think that is untrue. God "cleans you up", so to speak.

Now, if you don't believe what the Bible says, that is a whole other thing.

It just sounds like you don't believe.