and y do u follow that religion? do u follow it cyz ur parents followed it? do u have any evidence of that religion being true? wat if u wasnt born wit the religion that u have now, would u follow another?m give me dome reasonable answers.
213558
I am Muslim. I was born Muslim and thank God for that every day. But this isn't the only reason I follow Islam. It is the logic of Islam, and its conformance to human pure nature that make me stick to it and be proud of being a Muslim.\n\nI don't know whether I would have had the chance to get to know Islam if my parents were not Muslim. This is why I consider it a blessing from God to be born Muslim; I did not have to go through that test.
566743
I had no religious upbringing at all.  Years and years of just living like a moral person - for no other reason than that I knew it was right.  toward the end of high school, I started researching different religions and attending services.  None ever fit.\n\nWhen I turned 24, i was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I knew in my heart that it was the truth I had been seeking.  I was Baptised in March of 2002, I was married in the Nauvoo Temple to my amazing wife in 2004.
146174
i am Muslim now...i started to follow only about a half year ago.  my family is Christian
596904
I was raised in southern christianity and left it at an early age because it did not make sense\n\nNo problem with the religion, just the hateful narrow minded people who claimed to speak for God.\n\nAfter over 30 years as a seeker, I became a Bahai.
586993
i am very tollerant of other peoples religion on the condition that they don`t try and shove it down my throat! my beleifs can`t really be put into a neat little box. maybe i could say i beleive in Katherineism?! (my name is Katherine) i beleive everything happens for a reason, we will meet all our departed loved ones when we die, there is some higher power or force up there, i`m just not sure if it`s god? Also, the spirits of departed loved ones show themselves in the form of birds.  i`m going to keep checking your answers, because i`m also interested in other people spiritual beleifs.
167695
yes, and the funny thing is, as said above, when faced with real history, if it dissagrees with their religion in the slightest, they automatically condemn you, or assume you have your fact wrong, then give you a million bible verses, as if that tells you anything confirming 0_o thing is though, religion shouldnt RULE your life. i think its increidibly important to BELEIVE something, just dont revolve your life around it. theres no one right or true religion. what if you live your life as one religion, die, and lets say you were one religion, and you get REBORN rather than going to heaven or hell, nirvana, purgatory, nothingness, what have you, or getting any type of closure, wouldnt you feel like you revolved your life on a lie??\ni say have spirituality. have faith in SOMETHING, ANYTHING. just dont make it your entire life.
136976
Hey, im an hindu bcz im from india & i do follow it & i know it better than u all who have only learned it,Its our culture to pray the God in so many different forms,So those who are saying it false OR critising it,i think they are the biggest idiots.U dont have the right to criticise any religion.\n     I know u can only read about it in books,u cant feel it until u dont follow hinduism.And remember that books do lie,u cant get better view by just learning about it.\n     I m a hindu & i know that my religion is best in world & i respect my culture,country & religion heartly.So those who dont understand my religion just shut ur mouth.\n      And now i wanna answer ur question.I think u have got wrong information from somewhere because every person is allowed to make conversion in our religion but u have to follow rules of it.U can join any religion,there is no boundation for it.Boundation is in Muslism not in Hinduism.The person who follows hinduism are best in this world,they are truthful,cultured,honest,trustworthy & filled with lot of good qualities.!! And u can easily join hinduism just by learning some rules & i can bet that u will find this religion best than others & u will enjoy it.And one thing more that hinduism is NOT complex,The only people who dont understand it says that its complex but believe in me im saying that its NOT COMPLEX at all.\n       So u people dont make any comments on my religion without knowing it.Ok.Thank u.
523684
Well I've always believed that every religion out there has truth to it to one degree or another. I think I've felt the urge to find out more of the true principles that are in other belief systems, and so far I've been pleasantly surprised to see how much different religions have in common, they just call these principles by different names. \n\nThanks
264500
i am a muslim, i would follow both because both were prophets of God and messengers of God\n\n"Say: we believe in God and in what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il: Isaac, Jacob and The Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another, among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)."\n(Quran,  3:84 & 2:136) \n\n"And they (believers) believe in what is being sent down to you (Muhammad, peace be upon him) and they believe in what has been sent down before (previous Holy scriptures to Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and of course Jesus, peace be upon them all)." [Quran 2:2,3]
308163
I was raised Roman Catholic, but I hated it. I was dragged to church, and forced to go to catholic school. I sat in religion class, thinking that God didn't exist and that religion was brainwashing.My school was very sheltered from the rest of the world, and they didn't really let us associate with other schools, cultures or religions. I barely knew that other people existed. \n\nWhen I reached Grade 9, I went to a public high school, and I was amazed to find out about other cultures and religions. I did research, talked to people, and eventually turned back to my native American pagan roots. I started taking part in full moon ceremonies, and other pagan celebrations, sac rid fires, pow wows,drumming circles,naming ceremionies and stuff. Eventuially this lead me to Wicca, which I practiced for a few years, which lead me back towards paganism. \nI left these behind last year. I was always interested in Christianity, but as a religion, not as truth.\nI went to a Christian bible study with my parents. I remember being in the car saying " wow this is just going to be some stupid Christian propaganda". We turned the corner, and headed to the church. When we left the church, I said the prayer to ask Jesus into my heart into my heart for the first time ever.I felt the need, not out of fear of hell, but out of love for my creator. Out of LOVE for JESUS. I realised that GOD loves me.\n\nI went home and was so confused. How could my stubborn opinions be changed in a few hours? How could my beleifs be altered?What was going on with me! I needed answers.\nI felt to so alive, but had so many questions.I was so hyper, so awake, so amazed. I went on the computer and started searching. I found this website and talked to someone who helped clairfy what happened.
558176
For me, it began in school when I was exposed to a lot of different cultures and religions.  I began to study many of  these so I could better understand others.  When I came across Wicca, the beliefs made sense to me.  It was everything I believed in but I never thought there was a name for it.  After a lot of study and soul searching, I decided to dedicate myself to Wicca.  \n\nThroughout the years I have practiced Wicca, I have questioned it as well as had it questioned by others.  Through each of  these situations, my beliefs have grown stronger and they have also changed.  For example, I now believe in the Law of Return as opposed to the more common Threefold Law.  I also follow the rede of the Lycian Tradition.  I think that by choosing a faith different from the one I was brought up in has made me want to actively study and participate in it instead of following blindly.\n\nI consider myself eclectic.  My practices are mostly deity oriented.  I have worked with with deities from Celtic, Greek, Egyptian, and Hindu belief systems but, I don't mix pantheons at a given time.  I have also worked with the more general God and Goddess as well as The All.  I think this practice stems from my interest in other cultures.
610203
Totally agree - your religion has nothing to do with what is right or wrong, fact or fiction. Most of the time people simply adopt the religion of their parents - so for all your Christians out there who preach your particular brand of dogma - you would be Muslim if you had been born to Muslim parents.\nMore important than faith though is geography and wealth or should say wellbeing. Just thank yoursleves that we were born inteh developed world where we have frsh water and food in the fridge - now thats more important thatn any religion.
484136
I had this same problem. I was raised Catholic, but very loosely. Religion did not play a major part in my life, but don't think I was ever really an atheist. I started looking into other religions such as different Christian denominations, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Zoroastrianism, Mormonism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shinto, Manicheism, Gnostic Christianity, Wicca and even simply deeper into my original Catholic upbringing. I found them all very interesting, and full of truths, but not complete. Then I looked into Islam and I converted after about a year or so of research  and study of the religion. It just seemed to be what I had already believed all along, for as long as I can remember. \nI'm not saying that you should necesarilly become a Muslim now, but look into it. I would look into other religions on a deeper level and study them to see what makes the most sense and find what you believe (note I say "believe" and "sense" in the same sentence, not "find very interesting"). Until you find something, if you don't come to your own conclusions, just believ in God and do whatyou think is right; there isn't really much room for error there.\nI hope you find what you are looking for.
300001
I am Muslim, a convert from christianity. I understand fully, I have had the same problem. My mom is a christian and very pro-Israel. She knows that I am Muslim but she forbids me to wear a Hijab or openly practice my religion. She had threatened to kick me out of the house other times for how I vote in elections so, I don't debate my religion with her. I agree with what the others said here that it is those radicals that give us a bad name. But I also think it is because of just pure ignorance of the truth mostly this ignorance is spread by the media.  It even extends to just being Arab or supporting the Arabs. I am originally American but I think of myself as an Arabist. I was in 10th grade english and the teacher announced to the whole class that I was with the Arabs. I didn't expect that but maybe it was because the teacher was Jewish but the whole class looked at me and I thought that I was going to be beaten up by how some of the kids were looking at me. This was shortly after 9/11 too. But above it all, I found happiness, I am happily married to an Egyptian Muslim, and will be making the Hajj in November, Inshallah. Those cartoons were overly offensive and shows why there is still the whole rift between East and West. Regardless of what those people say or do, keep your head up high and never allow them to get to you. Their fate like everything else is in Allah's hands.
651033
Both my parents are Buddhist. Since young they have been bringing me to all their religious activities and sharing with me the teachings of Buddhism.\n\nI wouldn't doubt that they would want me to be a Buddhist, but they never force me into the religion too. For this I am very grateful to them, especially when they never stop me from going to other religious event too. Yes, I have went to a church, Taoist temple etc.. My parents even enrol me into a evangelist kindergarten. \n\nI have learn about so many wonderful things about so many religions. I can't really say which religion I want to follow at the moment, but I would certainly hate to be force into a religion that I can't even be truly devoted to. \n\nI wouldn't say that letting your daughter choose for herself means that you have let your god down. I doubt any true religion will say that. What you should do is share and guide her on you have learn and know about your religion.\n\nIn the end, it's still up to her own choice. No point forcing her into a religion that she wouldn't be devoted to.\n\nI have seen families breaking down when their children decided to join another religion. The quarrels every time their child went to her religious event.\n\nAfter all, religion is about individual beliefs, even if you and your daughter holds different beliefs, you will always be bond together as a family isn't it? If that is what she decides, embrace her for what she have decided.
367521
I grew up Catholic but I chose to not have any religion at some point.  Honestly it bored the heck out of me.  Now I do find the study of relgions fascinating, just not the belief in one.
396590
I could have written this question myself, and I look forward to your answers received.  I too am of the mind that it is what we are taught, and in the worst cases what we are taught to fear the questioning of.\n\nI always thought it would be an interesting (although possibly psycologically cruel) experiment to take a child or two from each of the major religions and raise them with no mention or concept of "god" or religion.  Would the develop a belief of their own?  At least it would be interesting to see what an intelligent person would lean toward if they only learn of the concept of god after growing to an age where they can decide on their own.\n\nI feel that is what I did, but in reverse, and it sounds like what happened to you as well.  As I got older and learned more about our world, I found that I didn't really believe what I was taught all my life.  Frankly, I don't feel the need to believe in a god or religion.\n\nI believe in being a good person as much as I can be, and that is fundamentally based in not causing other creatures intentional harm and living a moral and decent life.  Very similar ideas to what most religions teach.\n\nI also think it is a fine line between a religion and a cult.  Religions just have broad acceptance.  Kind of like if in 3000 years, the Branch Davidians were the most popular religion and David Coresh is referred to as Jesus is today.  Obviously that won't happen, and I really only used that example because I think it is the one most people will know of whom I am speaking.