Growing up my parents did not expose me to any religion. Can someone help me figure out where to start?
345730
Look up to the sky and see all these stars and galaxies moving in perfect harmony. Think of God the Creator of all that as the One who can give you perfect peace. Then take the letter He sent to you and read it. If you sent a letter to somebody, you'd wish for it to be read and replied. So does God wants you to respond to His infinite love. \nYou are right when you say you just cant believe out of sudden. You have to build relationship with God and once you have gained experience in living with Him, you will be able to put trust in Him. So listen to what our heavenly father wants to tell you. Talk to Him as to a best friend. Be sincere to yourself and to Him. If you afraid of the influences, tell Him that and He will understand. But never be afraid to read His word. If you have this wish in your heart to learn more about life and meaning of life, that means that the Holy Spirit put it there. \nGood luck in searching.
481738
Spiritually, never put all your faith in another person, may it be your parents or friends. Instead focus on God, He will never fail you. If you believe in another world better than this one you are in, and that you will go there someday, you will learn to let go of your dark past and move on doing beautiful things in life.\n\nPractically, you need to confide in your mum and ask her to talk to your dad. He may need professional counselling. This is a adult-to-adult problem, it is way beyond your comprehension and control. Meanwhile, be patient and concentrate on your studies instead.
1163596
Parents have this odd belief that they have to be of one faith to raise their child. At some point the child will become an adult and will need to find their own spiritual foundation. They will make up their own mind.
469015
I was raised as a Christian, because my Dad is a Lutheran pastor.  I follow the Bible explicitly, but I do study other religions in order to better debate with people.
875175
Tell your mom.....she may have some leftover contacts, or friends who will be glad to take you.\n\nHoney, you can believe in God---and have him believe in YOU-without church.\n\nI only feel His Presence when I am up to my elbows in the soil, planting things in the Earth!\n\nYou can worship Him in a lot of ways!
238025
I think you should be honest with them, it's your own life and you can make the choices you want.  If you choose not to believe and your parents have a problem with it then they will just have to deal with it.\n\nI also want to comment on the one person's answer saying that "You should. If it wasn't for him you wouldnt be here"  Well that's just all speculation, nobody knows for certain how human's were first created and that nobody know's for certain whether God exists or not.  The whole concept of religion and god are concepts of man.  It's purpose was to soley explain the unexplainable, and to that effect humans arent a creation of God, God is a creation of humans
760416
I chose my faith. My parents and I were not believers while I grew up. But, my mom got hired as a secretary at a church. I began attending the youth group at the church and was the first person in my family to accept Jesus. Then my mom. Then my dad. No one forced me; I decided on my own. Not only that but I have since researched my faith, and spent 4 years of college studying my faith further; now I am the youth director for my church. :) Good question!
976637
Despite what others have said, you are right.  Although there are exceptions, CHANCES ARE that you will practice the religion of your parents.  Not everyone has an opportunity to know Christ.  There are people who have never heard the name.  Or there are those who have been introduced to Christianity in a negative way (ie. colonization).  Religion is more likely to be determined by geographic location than anything else.
740492
These sites carry curriculum that does not include religious studies or that have secular/religious options:\n\nhttp://www.oakmeadow.com/\nhttp://core-curriculum.com/index.php\nhttp://www.secularhomeschool.net/\nhttp://www.angelfire.com/or/mtdewbydo/secularcurric.html/\nhttp://www.thehomeschoolplace.com/\n\nGood luck!  You may want to find out if there are any support groups in your area.  Many are not religious-based, I know in our area there are several non-religious groups to choose from.  If you find one then you can talk to other parents and get ideas from them also.
883810
Sounds like you are a kid still living at home?\nIf so.. you have no choices until you are emotionally maturely financially able to take care of yourself with your own place\nPeople will mock unusual or out of the norm religions ( Wicca I presume?)\n\nIf you are living on your own.. \nnot to sure how you are forced to go to parents house, and are hog tied to get you into church
1137184
I was never forced into a religion and have chosen to be agnostic
720030
Is religion the reason that your parents don't accept your relationship? If so I would sit down with each set of parents separately and come to some sort of agreement. Many family are multi-denominational, get involved in both churches. If you need to divide your weekends every month in order to fully appreciate both families beliefs and ideas then I think that would be a very worthwhile thing. \nTo be sure that the barrier between the two of you is religion I would start with speaking to my mother about it. Take a moment when it's just the two of you and have a heart to heart. \nTake things slow, decide what is most important to the two of you and go from there. No one can decide another person's destiny.\nGood luck!
380822
Personally I think that if you two are open minded enough and are willing to not care what others think then you should be alright, but honestly I don't know enough about your cultures to know for sure.  I know there is some serious bad blood because of past wars and what not but I don't know how well it has subsided.  I think the biggest thing you have to look at is what will your parents think and do you care?  If you two don't care then you should be alright but if either of you cares then you need to try and convince them to at least be happy for you.  Something else to think about is of course religion.  Just as in any relationship religion and up bringing can be a divisive or a bonding issue.  So I suggest you both look into how you were brought up and if they conflict.  I hope that helps out some.
920919
I love your question!  Your experiences really hit home with me.  I was raised without religious beliefs when I was very young, but I was raised with spiritual beliefs and was taught about reincarnation, the afterlife, how to read Tarot cards, etc.\n\nWhen I was a teenager I converted to Christianity, and followed that for about five years.  When I was 19 I converted to a pseudo-Christian religion that had its roots in gnosticism and Sabellianism.  I was really into that, and I swore I would never, never leave it, and that I would rather die than denounce it.  I was truly a religious fanatic!\n\nAs I got older, though, I changed.  I stopped seeing the world in black and white, I lost interest in being judgmental, and I decided that where people go when they die is none of my business.  I almost gave up my faith in Jesus because I was so disgusted with religion, but when I thought about my life I realized that a lot of good things have come my way because of God's goodness to me, so I asked God to help me keep my faith.\n\nAfter a couple of years of trying different churches of different denominations, all the while being very skeptical, I have finally found a church where I feel like I belong.  I still have faith in Jesus, but what I don't have is a judging, critical attitude.  I have gained a better understanding of how much God loves all of us, and I like myself a lot better now because I'm not judgmental anymore and because I am more accepting of people, religions of all kind, and life in general.\n\nSo now, at age 40,  I have learned to never say never, to not judge another person, to mind my own business, and to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness that is in every individual.  I also know from my past experiences that my faith will continue to change and hopefully grow.\n\nI could have left church and Christianity altogether, and like I said, I considered it, but I'm glad I didn't.  God helped me become a better person through all of this, and I didn't want to leave God because I know I wouldn't have all the blessings in life I have now and have had in the past if it weren't for Him.\n\nGood luck on your journey, wherever it may take you!
134195
i am in a similar situation.  I want to understand what is out there.  how others believe and all of that.  I have been doing alot of reading.  Looking stuff up on the net. Asking people questions.  I am at a point where I want to go to places and see what they do what they go through.  I want to see what they see and try to feel why they do.  I want to know why they believe in what they believe in.  Dont be afraid to search and ask.  You might get slack for it.  Ppl tellin you its not necessary. (i have gotten that.  they say this is the faith theres no need for all this)  It isnt their journey, its yours.  If there is anything in particular you are curious about.  start there.  And as you go your search will guild itself. And most of all listen to your heart.  if your search leads you some where and your heart and soul are ok with it, stick with it.  if your soul or heart says stay clear then listen to it.  Thats what the journeys all about.
881073
ask your mom, or ask your church. duh!
734276
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.