That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it

— R.E.M.

Recently I’ve been confronted with an increasing number of people who are in the process of leaving their religion, but find it difficult.

They may say they’ve already found out the rational and scientific knowledge to form the basis for secular life. They often explain they came to the conclusion that many of their previous beliefs were ridiculous. They might even freely violate harsh religious rules, and don’t always feel guilty about it.

And still they are not satisfied. Their brains live in two worlds, one of which is the earlier religious world. In this world there is a God above watching over them, examining their everyday actions. No matter how decisive their conclusions are, they are still skeptic, in the opposite-than-usual way.

Some of them even recognize the exact nature of their own situation. Even so, this doesn’t offer an immediate rest to their minds.

On one occasion I saw a religious historian being interviewed on TV. It was Passover and he was asked about the exact history of the ancient Hebrew Exodus from Egypt. ‘If you ask me as an historian,’ he answered, ‘then I must say this story is largely a myth. Yet, if you ask me as a religious person, I fully believe it happened as written.’

I think the best way to summarize this fascinating phenomenon is by quoting a sentence sent to me by a young woman who managed to break free from the religious world, still cherishing her good memories. She was feeling sorry for her friends and family members left behind, those who give up the beauty of the mountain for their love of the valley below it.