This isn't so much a debate so sorry if this is the wrong place. I'm curious (for anyone who this question applies to) if you are a former "theist", what was it that brought you into religion in the first place? And what was it that made you leave it behind?

For me, what brought me into Christianity was the passion/dedication of the Christians I met as some very evangelical Churches. A part of me was like "Whoa! This religion really impacts your life!" and I also guess they were very welcoming/supportive as well although the more I look back the more and more this just seems like how people must get sucked into cults.

What eventually turned me away was about five years later when I actually started to have proper, in-depth discussions with other Christians at Bible studies etc... I remember two people talking about how they had just received the same "message" from God whilst praying and everyone "ooh" and "aah"ing like this was proof of God's existence. I honestly thought this is genuinely insane. And the more I thought about it the more I realised that religion is the most comforting and convenient thing if you want it to be. If my prayers are answered, God is real, if they're not, it's part of God's plan.

What about you?