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Scarcity could lead one to let go, too. I generally assume we all seek to reduce pain and suffering.

Ok, first, we're looking at two things here that are very different. One: Can a person with a deeply held belief change his mind about it? Second: What would be the consequence of such a change from a particular theological framework? That is, can salvation be lost? The second question is clearly doctrinal, which is fine, but it is outside the scope of this thread, unless you want "nothing: salvation is a made-up solution to a made-up problem" to be within the realm of answers. Just kidding. But it is off topic for this thread (and possibly for this subforum). Back to question one, though: What would it take for someone with a deeply held belief to change his/her mind about it? I personally do not believe a "significant emotional event" is required, as there are [I suspect] too many exceptions to make the rule meaningful. I would more readily concede that such an event would easily work as a catalyst rather than a cause. I don't recall a specific catalyst in my life, but I can point to dozens of debates and discussions that caused me to be in a state of constantly "proving all things," which is to say, putting all things to the test. For me, the breaking point came after I could no longer reasonably accept a literal Biblical Adam and Eve in any meaningful sense, couldn't reconcile a regional flood with the Biblical account of Noah, couldn't find any evidence for Exodus that did not accept the account as true a priori, etc. This is personal to me and may in fact be a straw man, but I used to believe that the resurrection of Jesus was the best way of explaining why First Century believers, given the choice between renouncing their faith and death, chose death. Now, I know some people are willing to die for a cause I do not believe to be true. But I know of no one willing to die for a cause they know to be false. I mean, seriously, the majority of you would renounce my existence if the alternative was death, and you know I exist! So to tell a witness of the resurrected Christ to renounce it or die, and have him choose death, was always taken by me to be the strongest proof of the resurrection I could imagine. Except it never happened. And when I realized that, there was no turning back. Again, I'm oversimplifying it, and yes, there is a certain strawman element involved (which is why I am being clear that I am speaking for myself and my journey, not raising this is my "gotcha" evidence to persuade YOU of anything). However, if you want to go in depth on why I'm not persuaded by "what about the empty tomb?" I would be more than happy to engage on a separate thread. My bottom line is, none of this journey had anything to do with a significant emotional event. We ALL have traumatic significant emotional events in our lives, and they don't all result in a change of faith. Ad hoc, ergo procter hoc is a fallacy for a reason. What about when that person got sick and we all prayed and she died the next day? Or my kid's autism diagnosis? Or that other guy whose kid obviously had Down Syndrome but no one wanted to admit it? Or my sister's ALS diagnosis? Or my brother's sudden death? All traumatic. And some coincidentally close to my "deconversion." But catalysts at most. Certainly not causes.