Did you chose your religion?

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

I'm one of those 'fallen' Catholics. My family is all Catholic, but I choose to not have any religion after I was 8 or 9.

[omfgitskyle 0]

until i was about seven, i was raised nonreligious, until my parents met a couple of Soka Gakkai Buddhists, and they converted to that. I went to meetings with them, but when I moved across the country when i was 11 and only lived with my mother, we stopped really practicing. I still hold the beliefs to this day, but I also consider myself to be a Scientologist as well as a Secular Humanist.

and for the record, whether or not L Ron Hubbard wrote the Xenu story intentionally for Scientologists to believe (it is disputed) no Scientologist believes in the story, so any sort of arguments against us for that are not valid. i know this isnt the topic for debates, but whenever i tell peopl im Scientologist i get looks on people's faces, so i just want to put that out there.

[hamsterTK 93]

Eh, I would call my self a "quiet agnostic". The whole "is there a god" question is a rather complex thing. Far more direct relevant to me is where the man-made religion itself actually come from, a social construct created by man to reinforce or enforce basic social structures for some collective benefit that allows it to propagate over the heathen masses in darwinian sort of fashion. But for those who want to use their "free will", perhaps there is nothing wrong with moving outside of this .

I was raised Lutheran, did communion+confirmation etc. The church I went to had a more progressive/tolerant bent, and I knew a lot of cool people in the various youth activities. For this reason I don't harbor any ill sentiment towards it

but I also consider myself to be a Scientologistquote>

Do you and/or your family actually participate in the church and send it money, or do you just like the philosophical beliefs that you must control the inner demons that the "body thetans" are a metaphor for?

I don't think it's the necessarily the Xenu story by itself that people find off-putting about scientology...I think it has more to do with how the organization operates and how it treats people who espouse concerns that the group is behaving wrongly

Just curious, I have never had a chance to ask an actual scientologist anything before without having my post deleted...

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: manticorefan I thought you were right the first time, but that's a whole 'nother thread.quote>

Indeed it is.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

The funny thing is, going to a Catholic school, I noticed that when we all left school, around half became either atheist or just moved away towards a more "Christian" belief rather than being specifically Catholic.

I chose to become a bit of a... spiritual atheist, I suppose, though I do try to apply some of the "golden rules", such as living well, etc, which are listed in various religions (eg. Buddhism) to my life - I believe that religion does have some good ideas on how to lead a good life but that the authorities that put down the rules, etc from religions (eg. Catholic Church) are just getting into the way of leading a good life - it complicates things unnecessarily.

I don't like the idea of an external deity controlling my actions, my fate. I believe that it is the person that ultimately determines what happens. I could describe it as karma, in a way... do good things, you'll be fine, do bad things, suffer the consequences.

So put me down for "Was raised religiously but gave it up"...

I'm a "closet atheist", by the way.

I haven't told my family that I don't believe in God (or any deity, for that matter) as a general rule.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I was raised Religiously, I used to go to Church every Sunday, I went to Sunday school too... but then I started reading Encyclopedia's at the age of 6-7 and later on figured blind faith wasn't a strong enough basis to believe in a higher being.

True story this though... I got my family thrown from the Church when I was 7 because at one School assembly the local Minister asked "How was Earth created?". I was chosen and explained, to the horror of this religious gathering in front of me, that the "Big Bang that created Earth and we're all desended from Apes". The Minister phoned my mother up and started ranting how he would not allow Atheists in his Church. After that, my mother became a Catholic along with my Gran, me and my brothers stayed pretty much agnostic, verging on the atheist.

[Ntq€310 1]

I was raised with my Religion, but generally, espically as i got older, I understand it, and have come to fallow it more. So you could say i was raised with it, but i later came accept it on a personal basic.

But unlike some others i have alot of my personally beliefs put into it also, unlike what the bibal says, that the big bang did create the universe, ect. Though i think people are honestly in that case taking god's work to literal, as many always do. but also that god is one of the reasons for the big bang, and the lucky chance that earth became a life sustaining planet.

I just honestly accept the possiblity's, and dont act like there facts in this.

[awake_78 0]

In Greece 99.4% of the population declare themselves as Christian orthodox. As a part of this society I was raised redicoulusely religiously. The parents (specially my mother) was forcing me to go to church and fast before big Holidays (Christmas and Easter) she realy insist to do it right now despite I m 31 years old and have my own family. Just kidding with her I tell her that I believe in devil so she starts to cry. Anyway I really don't believe in any God. But there are a lot o problems to declare yourself atheist in my country. First of all your children will have problems with other kids in school loughing at them because they re not Christian, second and the most important is that the only organized graveyards in Greece belongs to the church or to other smallest religions (as muslim, catholicism, or other parts of Christianism) so if you die you haven't anyway to be buried. Also burning is not allowed in Greece yet. But I hope there is going to be progress in tha direction soon because all graveyards are overcrowed maybe in the next 200 years they will decide to do it...

[Bombshoo 3]

I was never raised with religion. I suppose my family was technically very liberal non practicing unaffiliated Christians of some sort while I was growing up, but I am pretty sure that my mother and father don't even believe any of it anymore. I went to Catholic school, as it was the best school in the area that was not horribly expensive. (I didn't grow up in a great neighborhood), and while some of their ideas did rub off on me I'll admit, I still am pretty much an Agnostic. Still though, after 4 years of dealing with Catholic Dogma for 8 hours a day, I can accept anyone who believes in any moderately sane religion.

[fukuda 351]

I never was religious....

Shinto never appealed me xD

[Shingure 56]

My story is quite interesting.

My mother is catholic and so was my grandfather and possibly my grandmother. I was baptised as a Catholic when I was about 1 or 2 , Can't remember. My dad is Muslim but he was formally a Christian, Possibly Baptist. When I was younger I used to take up both. Meaning I was half and half. I prayed with my dad and I went to Catholic mass with my mom's step mom and my grandfather. But as I got older I slowly began to stray away from religion. When I was about 10 or 11 I wanted to see what it was like being Jewish. But I never actually mustered up the courage to go into a synogague. The last time I went to a church for any kind of mass was when I was at least 11 or 12 as well. When I turned 13 though it suddenly because an issue with my parents. I told my mom that forcing religion on me a violation of my first amendment. She rebutted saying that at 13 those rights aren't mines yet || But they actually are. ||. My dad then decided to come up with me going to a Masjid or Mosque. I didn't want to because at the time. I thought that my education meant more than religion. Iam 15 now I still acknowlege there is a higher power. But the thing is that the higher power is telling me to educate myself and live my life. So Iam busy with that. My parents also haven't been trying to force me as they see that forcing or even the tiniest shove towards religion makes me want to reel backwards. I say that I didn't choose my religion but Iam not active in it either.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Just wanted to say there are some interesting stories here. I've enjoyed reading them.

I told my mom that forcing religion on me a violation of my first amendment. She rebutted saying that at 13 those rights aren't mines yet || But they actually are.quote>

Sounds like my grandmother, an explicit ageist. I won't get into details, but rights do not have an age attached to them, they belong to every person.

[chicah 20]

No one in my family are really religious. My parents are baptized, but they both left the state church as soon as they were old enough. My grandmother has faith; I belive, but its nothing she flashes. She does not go to church, but I think she whispers prayers to herself sometimes at night and watches services on the tv occasionally. I guess it helps her cope with my grandfather being gone.

But my parents were always open to their children being religious, and when I was around 8 I found a very very old and dusty "Old testament" in our house, and as I loved to read, who was I to say no to books? So I read it, and found the stories very nice and entertaining. But that is all they were to me. Stories. I had a brief period of time when I believed in God, or rather, I couldn't believe there was nothing more out there and thought this meant I believed in God. But it did not last long. I have always been sceptical of nature, and religion and blind faith is just not for me. Although I respect those who dare to put their faith and lives in the hands of something they cannot see and cannot know exists. It takes some courage to be able to trust your own beliefs like that.

I have friends of all religions; and they can be religious as much they like, as long as they dont try to force their religion upon me. I could never hang out with those conservative religious people, but it is just because narrow-mindedness is one thing I can't tolerate and I could never judge a person's choice in life or their sexual orientation based on my religion. The people who do these things are misguided, at least. No matter which religion you belong to; God speaks of love of everyone. Regardless of gender, sexual orientation or bad choices. Which means that a lot of religious people are hypocrites to me. Those who are religious, but still make up their own mind not based on this, these are - to me - the people with real faith.

[belfastuniguy 18]

I was raised Catholic, though when I started grammar school (12yo) I started to realise that religion in general is a pure hypocrisy. I believe in God in some form, can't really explain it, then again to me religion is a deeply personal and private issue. I don't conform to standard religious teaching about this and that, because over time and through extensive reading and 'enlightenment' I believe such teaching to have gaping flaws.

So...I suppose I really don't have a religion, bar believing in a god....its curious I know, but has served me well and if someone is up there, then they know what I think and know what I mean, so doesn't bother me what others say whether it be individuals or institutions. I live my life how I see fit and within the law, nothing else matters.

[toxicpiano 125]

I was raised almost completely without faith. My parents didn't enjoy faith being forced upon them (Especially my mother, my entire maternal side is Jewish) so they let me choose (I chose nothing). There's nothing wrong with a bit of Judaism now and then though (I am an ethnic Jew after all). Hanukkah is an example of this.

[CltcDrgn 0]

I was raised Catholic, but pretty much left the church at around 17 years old. I had too many questions that the clergy couldn't or wouldn't answer. I eventually became a pagan, more specifically a Celtic Wiccan. It has proven to be a good path for me, as my life is a lot more settled now....

[ktxus05 0]

Wow, I don't think I've read a single comment from someone who's still practicing a religion! Strange considering this is America (well Canada, but I think most people on here are Americans) =P

I was raised by my atheist grandparents (my grandma claims to be a Buddhist but she's not practicing) and my mom who was religious but not practicing. My grandparents were very anti-religious and were constantly putting down religions, especially Christianity. The only religion they were accepting of was Buddhism. Because of this, I practically despised religion. It was tough cause all my friends and classmates were super-religious conservatives, and I got into arguements about religion alot. Then one day, I was trying to install "The Sims: Unleashed" on my computer. It was covered in scratches, and it just wouldn't work every time I tried it. I was angry and sarcastically prayed to God that it would work. The very next time I tried it, It worked. From this point on I decided I would have a more open mind towards religion. I strted praying occasionally, and many things I prayed for turned out the way I wanted them to. Eventually, my mom got married to a Protestant, and she started going to a black spiritual church called CHOP soon after. I also started trying out different churches (Baptist, Evangelical, etc.) but didn't like them much, until I went to a Catholic church; St. Joseph's in Killeen, Texas. The beautiful architecture and strong attachment to tradition really made sense to me, and I have gone every Sunday since 2006, except once when I was on vacation and we didn't have a rental car. Technically, I'm not a Catholic (I've never been baptised), and all I am sure of is that there is one God, so I could some day become Christian, Muslim or Jewish. I don't like the hatred that comes with Islam, but Judaism and most forms of Christianity are still possibilities for me.

So while I did not choose my religion as my mind is not yet made up, I have chosen to give up atheism for a monotheistic religion.

[belfastuniguy 18]

Wow, I don't think I've read a single comment from someone who's still practicing a religion! Strange considering this is America (well Canada, but I think most people on here are Americans) =Pquote>

An online community is very rarely one country. I think a great deal are non-American.

[skyliner22 16]

In my case, having grown up in Japan when I was young, I practiced Buddhist and Shinto rituals. But these rituals are common throughout Japan and not jut strictly for the religious. My family on the American side is purely Christian. However once we moved to the US, I didn't really have that much religious exposure. My father who is Christian doesn't seem to really practice it nor does my mother who is Buddhist/ Shinto. I do not consider myself religious at the moment, but I kind of agree with some of the Buddhist ideals. Religion is not a big thing in my life but, I am not an atheist. I believe in some of the points certain religions address, but I do not go to a church/ temple/ synagouge/ shrine to worship.

[Duke of York 23]

Well....I'm a practicing Protestant Christian....Currently I have been going to a Presbyterian

Church...I was raised a Baptist....My theology would come mostly from a mix of

Baptist,Presbyterian, and Methodist....I'm very open to other Denominations theology as well....

[Dark_Jedi06 13]

I was raised a Roman Catholic and forced to go through the motions of Communion, Confirmation, etc. despite declaring my athiesm when I was in 6th grade or so. No one in my family is devoutly Catholic or even resembles someone with the faintest interest in religion, however tradition demanded that I go through the same experience my three brothers had gone through before me...not to mention the whole Italian thing on my father's side.

So for a long time I didn't have a choice, but once I was in high school and done jumping through the Catholic hoops I was able to freely choose whether or not to attend Church; and I haven't since then except on the few occassions that my girlfriend is singing throughout the mass, as I would never miss the oppurtunity to hear her perform.

So in the long run, I've been able to choose my religion or lack there of.

[futurama2506sim 7]

I was raised under Christianity, but around the age of 14/15 I was became casual about it.

Also, I noticed something in here. The poll is saying the majority of you guys were raised under your religion but the replies say otherwise. I love how the majority is almost always the quiet ones...

[powellinthesouth 0]

I was raised Christian (Baptist) but when I became more of an individual (around 13) I gave up the belief and became Atheist.

[aiumkastarkius 0]

Because my parents failed to brainwash me with Catholicism from birth, I have chosen atheism.

[ianpaschal 77]

My parents didn't force anything onto me when I was little and so when I got older and started to think for myself I came to two conclusions.

1. I learned history and it seemed like people have always been religious but it never amounted to anything and was just recycled every world civilization.

2. Science could always support itself with empirical evidence that could be proven by anyone with knowledge of the scientific method - even little old me, as compared to requiring my faith in the possibility of a miracle that one person experienced and cannot prove happened, as compared to events which scientifically proven. Later I was told that most scientific things I believe in are just theories, nothing more. Unfortunately, if one does not take stock in scientific theories, they consequently don't take stock in things like, say, gravity.

So given those two things, I decided I would buy stock in science as compared to religion because it appeared to be for the most part continually advancing over the course of human history and best of all was something that required no miracle, no devotion, and invited me to doubt it which usually resulted in an eventual higher understanding of what I had originally doubted.

As such, I chose atheism.

I've also had to write papers for school on my beliefs. For anyone interested to read how I determine what is true, take a read:

Although I cannot give any broad, flawless or water tight definitions of what exactly truth is, I can however explain how I believe truth can be experienced, proven, and accepted. To put a broad label on my beliefs, I find myself accepting the ideas of empiricism (with the inclusion of logical empiricism, also known as neo-positivism) and existentialism. Again, I cannot say these are ultimate truths or faiths to me, like for example, the absolute truth in the existence of God to a devoutly religious person, but that they merely reflect certain ideas that I feel I can agree with. These ideas are simply that knowledge arises from experience (meaning what we can gain from our five senses and what can be proven logically) and that it is this knowledge that allows human beings to create meaning and purpose in their lives as opposed to any doctrine from a supernatural deity or authority. How exactly I have come to this conclusion (at least for the time being) is as follows.

John Locke, the first to explicitly define empiricism, described the human mind as a "tabula rasa," meaning "clean slate," implying that without experience, memories, and knowledge, the mind is empty. He argued that what knowledge we do have (meaning processed information that we can then use in thought), and how we determine what is true, is based completely on what our body can gain through our five senses, and therefore we are not born with any knowledge beyond basic instinct (as inherited through DNA). This makes sense to me, but it brings up the question of whether or not we can trust our senses. If all my knowledge is the result of my senses, how can I prove that although a pencil in a glass of water appears to be broken, it is actually straight? If John Locke's definition is to be taken literally, I would explain to myself that as the pencil enters the water, the submerged section "moves" to the side a certain amount, thus giving it its broken appearance, and moves back when removed from the water. This is where we're required to expand the definition to include logical and mathematical proof, as well as what can simply be observed. This is known as logical empiricism or neo-positivism and is the idea that since both science and mathematics follow rigid rules based on logic that ensure accurate conclusions, they can be used in addition to our senses to gain knowledge and understanding. I can use this example to explain the fact that although the pencil appears bent but is not, can be proven in a variety of ways once you take science and mathematics into account. For example, one could prove that water behaves with light in a certain way with all objects way by conducting a series of experiments based on the "scientific method." A mathematical explanation for the apparent displacement of the submerged half of the pencil could be derived by examining the way water has been proven to behave with light, and calculating how much the image of the pencil will be bent based on how much water the light travels through. The addition of logical empiricism allows us to believe things that we cannot actually physically experience ourselves, and greatly expands the amount of knowledge available to us. Perhaps most importantly, I feel I can accept the very concept of logical empiricism because the related ideals can be derived logically.

In much the same way that I feel truth is derived from human thought and experience, I believe that it is through this ability to determine truth, and gain knowledge from it, that I form my second belief; that it is up to individuals to provide their lives with meaning and purpose. Although I don't agree with everything that has been said in the broad realm of existentialism (even among the various famous existentialists there are many disagreements about what the philosophy entails), I do agree with the main idea involving giving meaning to things, specifically purpose in life, and feel that the fact that we as human beings are responsible for determining what is true, is a vital part this belief. For example, the meaning of the word "apple" is defined by human beings as the noun to describe the physical fruit apple, which would be nothing but a combination of letters if not agreed upon to represent something. This is a very literal example of the phrase "giving meaning to" but it applies to all human concepts. To give a deeper example would be to examine how we give our lives meaning. The question of what is the purpose of life is timeless, and rather than give a global answer for all people (i.e. "The purpose of life is to do good in the world, have happy, healthy children, and pass on to Heaven."), or a religious answer as defined by a holy book, I believe the meaning of life is different for each person based on their experiences and more importantly based on what meaning they give it though their actions. This ties back into the concept of what is true; the only things we know are true are what we can prove or experience, and the only meaning of life is what we as individuals give it based on these experiences.

Although my beliefs are constantly changing and expanding based on new information I encounter, this concept of "worldly truth" is one that for the time being, I have found to accurately explain my view on the world and more specifically the question of how to experience, prove, and act upon what I believe to be truth. I strive to never imply or assume truth in things that I cannot prove or observe, and to make calculated decisions based on what knowledge I have gained in my life thus far.

[mancoolman 3]

My backround was is interesting my grandfather on my fathers side was chathlioc, and i say was because he lost his faith on D-day when he landed on Omaha beach in Normandy while he was in the army (the American one). On the on other side of the world, my mothers father was not religious until he was wounded in the defense of Hong Kong from the Japanese while he was in th Canadian army. Then he converted or at least became a devote christin. My fathers father was then wounded in west Germany (im not sure exactly where), was then sent to a hospital in england where he met my grandmother who was protestant, so when the moved to Toronto (which as they always said was the half way piont between Seatle and London so thats where they moved O and i know its not actually half way but then hopfully so did they). So my father was brought up protestant like my grandmother. My mother was also brought up protestant. So then I was too. So like most people when I was 15 or 16 I started to ask questions and didnt get anwsers I found fullfilling. Like the prove it question an example is lightening never hit the same place twice and then a scientist has to prove it. Where as if someone says god is real a scientist has to disprove it. And that is what confused me the most. So I then choose what convenient christain which is basically athesiest till im on my death bed, then I pray like hell and hope for the best.

[mightygoose 92]

both sets of my grandparents are protestant. both my parents are agnostic but on any form will declare they are Church of England. this is entirely through habit. I chose atheism but still get scornful looks from my parents whenever i write it in a form or answer that as part of a questionnaire. i believe there are alot of Church of England "defaulters" like my parents and i expect there to be a significant decline in christian n.umbers as our generation matures

[CarluX 0]

i'm not religious beacause I didn't think that i need to believe in something like god, christ o anything like that but i have no problem with people that believe in it

[yamaneko 2]

I was raised Roman Catholic, but converted to the Episcopal faith. I can't say anything bad about the Catholic Church, though -- the religious lessons and beliefs inculcated by the Roman Catholic Church, after processing through my head, led me to the Episcopal Church. I'm sure that the migration from Canterbury to Rome goes both ways.