Basically rejected everything my parents tried to make me to be?

My wool is black.

I mean... Baaaaa!

Left the religious cult I grew up in. Whole extended family is still in it, 75+ people. I woke up and realized it's horseshit in my 20s, my world fell apart, I went through a very long and dark time trying and often failing to rebuild my entire identity and worldview, spent years and lotssss of money on therapy, and now approaching my 40s I'm mostly better most days.

Most of them don't talk to me anymore

Doing or thinking anything over 1 standard deviation from what the middle of the bell curve endorses, I guess.

Left of center in a job full of far right conservatives.

I don't really feel like a black sheep, thankfully. But you sound like a great father. Thanks for raising them in such a loving way, we need more people like you.

Grew up in a famaly of farmers that exploited animals (for milk and eggs). I'm now Vegan.