How did you choose your religion? Was it forced upon you by your parents or did you choose it on your own?
913406
When I was young, my grandmother used to drag me to church with her every Sunday from when I was a baby until I was ten or eleven. I was raised Methodist. I would be at the church from about 10:30 am to 3pm. My grandmother was on, what I like to refer to as, “The board of something or other” and, after a painfully long church service, she would be in the back room with multiple other people counting money and keeping books. I, on the other hand, would be left in the church to occupy myself from about 1pm to when we would leave. I was absolutely miserable. I distinctly remember one day, taking two paper plates and stapling them together and throwing them for entertainment. I had to keep myself occupied. Because of my extensive and uneventful solitude, I dreaded going to Church. \n\nThat is no way to raise anyone into religion. When politics caused my grandmother to leave the church and take me with her, needless to say, I was ecstatic. She never returned to church, and I grew up with my Sundays free since I was about 10 years old.\n\nAfter a while, i stopped believeing in God. I actually don't think i believed in Him in the first place, i think i was just told so many times that He existed that I just came to accept it. But time passed, and i questioned His existence. I stopped believing, and became an atheist.\n\nI tried to destroy the idea of God for a while to many people. But one day, when holding the ladder for my father who was doing work on the roof of our house, it occured to me, that there must be something after death. I thought that our whole lives are built on memories, and if we cease to exist when we die, then those memories are pointless and did not happen. (it's complex and, years later, i still can't explain this revelation satisfactorily) So i became agnostic.\n\nBut then two years ago, something happened that made me believe the Lord is there. It was a personal experience, i just felt Him. I can't explain it, but i knew then that He was there.\n\nAnd through a series of events, i came to Swedenborgianism, the religion of my father. It is a Christian religion. I love it so much, and am actually in school to become a minister for the church so that i may spread the teachings of the church.
840852
have you got your own religion?\n\n sign me up!
985850
I think the best thing to tell your children in your situation is that while you are an atheist, you wanted them to have the principles of Christianity instilled in them like they were in you and that you also wanted them to have a sound introduction to Christianity so that they could make their decision about religion for themselves because they may not feel the same way about religion, or God, as you do and you didn't want to influence their choice by not letting them learn about Christian religion.
1040295
All right, as a Wiccan who had to go through that at 15, I'll tell you what I did.\n\nKeep quiet.  Seriously.  My mom knew because I told her, but we rarely discussed it because I think she found it a bit strange, although she's cool about it now, as she's agnostic.  My dad found out because he found a book on Wicca under my matress (I think he was checking to make sure I wasn't doing drugs or something) and burned it.  Guess what we didn't talk about.\n\nIt's best to introduce the subject generally at first.  "Mom, Dad, I don't think Christianity is the right religion for me anymore.  I'm going to research other religions."  Judge their reactions to that before going any further.  I'm not saying that you should completely rebel against your parents, but if they forbid you to research other religions, I'd say that's what the military calls an "unlawful order."  If you're American, you have freedom of religion.  So do some other countries.  Your parents can only guide you religiously up to a certain point.  Then what you do is up to you.\n\nSome advice, though.  Read a bit more on Wicca.  For instance, it's NOT an "ancient" religion.  It is a religion that was started by a man in the 50's who claimed to have received training from a high priestess whose lineage went back to pre-Christian times.  However, there is no proof that this is the truth.  Most Wiccans acknowledge that, while our religion is based on ancient beliefs, it is what is known as a reconstructed religion.  We don't worship the same way that the ancients did.  There is a lot more to Wicca than you may have read about already.  I would suggest trying to find a teacher (a true teacher won't charge you or will charge only a modest fee for time spent) in your local area.  A good place to find someone is http://www.witchvox.com/\n\nAlso, look up Wicca at ReligiousTolerance.org.  It's a very informative site.\n\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm\n\nGood luck on your journey!
1123302
Its all about Faith.  \n\nI was not born into any religion, both of my parents always talked about God to me as a child, usually to their benefit, like " God says " Honor thy Father and Mother".  As a kid my babysitter took me to Jehova Witnesses gatherings, I went with that family every other day for about 3 or 4 years, however i never believed in thier teachings.  I fell asleep everytime i went.  When I got a bit older, I remember my parents taking me a few times to a pentacostal church, the amazing thing about that is that to this day i still remember a little hym that we sang in sunday school.  I was about 8 years old when I stopped listening to the word, or visiting churches.  My Mom and Dad were both pretty much on their own about that, they never went to church, they never talked about God.  My mom would read the bible every once in a while, but she never did anything to demonstrate any change. My dad was an alcoholic, and us kids, were just kids.\n\nLast year my dad got saved, unfortunately my mom and him had already divorced, but my dad got saved, and i noticed the biggest change in him, he was no longer violent, he was no longer drinking, he was no longer smoking, no longer wasting his money, he was no longer a demanding person from me.  I began visiting the church he attendent and I came to Christ within a month of visiting.  Honestly the day i accepted Christ, I was preparing my speech to reject the Lord.  But God is bigger than that.  I belong to an Apostolic Church, there is a lot of discipline and rules involved, but I think that what I enjoy about it.  That it is something that changes you, we have prayer services almost everyday of the week and have regular services on the weekend.  I have gotten to know God on a personal basis, he has done miracles in my life and in the lives of other members right before my eyes.\n\nI never believed in Catholic Faith, buddist or anything else, simply because that wasn't my place.  I think living in the united states we are free to worship what ever we want, and If I would have wanted i would have visited other churches when I was younger and would of known that those other religions were not for me.\n\nReligion's should not be found on basis of Statistics and strategies.  Faith is found when the church you go to practices what they preach, when you read that Scriptures and it all makes sense to you.  The Holy Spirit moves with in you and tells you right from wrong.
1173461
I was very much encouraged by my parents to find my own way, be my own person and for that I am most grateful to them. For a number of years as a youth, I attended an evangelical Sunday group and although I have what I think is a deep understanding of the christian faith, I never really bought into it. I am fairly well convinced that somebody who lived 2000 years ago died a violent death for denouncing the corruption of the religious, political and military leaders of the time and that those ideals gave rise to the christian faith. But therein lies the most contentious point - that this enlightened individual was telling us we don't need self-righteous big-wigs lording it over us, yet from this message a whole new breed of religious zealots were born, who proceeded to enslave minds with their twisted dogma.\n\nBrian (Life of - MP) was so right and probably remains the most accurate reconstruction of that moment of history - by a country mile.
1005554
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.
975325
For me, I am strong enough to realize that my fate is pretty much in my hands.  I feel good about making my own choices instead of having many of them dictated to me.  I also feel good about being an accepting person whereas many religious people are very intolerant of others that are different.  All living things are precious and any religion that tells me to judge others based on sexual preference etc. is horrendous.
346862
It was a process for me, over time. I stopped going to church, after my mother died, and *they* {the christians} told me she no longer had time for me, and I shouldn't 'try talking to her...so followed no path, or religion for many years after that.  Was pretty PO'd at God...didn't matter which one..\n   After I got married, and was pregnant with my son, my husband and I started going to a little baptist church. I can't really say I had any problems with that church, the people were nice, good to us. But it just didn't ..DO anything for me..\n  I started reading up on other religions...and realized, they were all saying, pretty much the same thing. Just said or called it by a different name. And came, again to the relization, that I'd had as a child, that I really don't think any ONE religion...is Right, or Wrong.  They all have the same message...underneath..it's just how the 'People' interpret it..and they allll interpret everything, in about 20 different ways or more..LOL \n  So then they add 'rules' 'regulations' 'laws'...until the real message, get's lost in a jumble of un-related context, which confuses the heck out of everyone, until their numb in the mind and just follow blindly along, out of fear.\n  The Power's that be, gave us..FREE WILL for a reason..So that we can think for ourselves, and seek out the truth on our own. I think everyone's Truth, is their own...I think everyone's journey, is their own personal walk through this life, and every life. It's what you do with it.
337518
My rebellious story......I was Catholic for about 35 years and had trouble in believing that an all loving god would condemn people to hell for what he determined to be indiscretions.  \nShoot...I love to master bate, have pre marital sex with men and women and sometimes a freak fest or two with a couple of friends of mine.  So I guess I was going down to the fiery brimstone pit.\nThe clincher for me was that I was signing up my kids for another year of CCD classes and they told me I had to pay $150 for the classes (which is about double what it should be) because I didn't use the "envelope system" every week, even though I was a registered member of the church and would throw in $1 or two when I would have it.\nI took the CCD applications and ripped them up into tiny pieces and threw one right at the lady and the other one I threw up in the air so it landed in a million pieces all over the floor.\nI've been a practicing eclectic witch, but lately I've been leaning more towards Hinduism and spirituality with a little bit of quantum physics
373275
Ya, just the born agains.  The only religious conflict I've had with a family member is when my mother started rambling on about an atheist coworker who was not being a moral person.  She extended that to include all atheists, so that kinda pissed me off and she got an ear full about morality and not being able to generalize one group based on the actions of an individual.
546113
Ask yourself this. Do you want religion in your life, or do you want spirituality? They are actually 2 different things. I think that relgion sprang from spirituality, but somewhere it got bogged down in power struggles, rules and dogma. There are very few people out there who actually believe in the spirit behind the religion, and just give their belief to the structure...i.e. the church/religion. \n\nI had the same problem a few years back. I felt guilty for not clinging to my christian roots, but had a hard time staying true to myself and hearing that I was going to hell by the same God that was supposed to be all loving. I took a long hard look and decided it was time to find something that would speak to the sanctity and spirituality of humankind...and ended up with Wicca. It's not the choice for everyone, and it's actually my own little form of Wicca. I have taken things from different spiritual paths and melded my own. And that is what works for me. \n\nLook to your heart to tell you what is right. Worship if you will, but do it out of spirit rather than fear and browbeating.  It is going to be a long journey, but you will figure out what you need in the end. It will take strength, but it looks as if you have started. Good luck to you!
642916
If they're anything like me, they were forced to be Christians when they were kids before they were allowed to make their own religious decisions.
911038
I am going to use religion as an example as religion is what people use 90% of the time to make choices. I am also going to use myself as an example to make my point clear as I know myself best.\n\nWhen I was a Christian I did not practice very well. So I did not hold the laws of Christianity very high. So I made bad choices and my choices made me a bad person. I did many many stupid things that I can't take back. I hurt many people that I can't unhurt.\n\nBut when I became Muslim I realized that I really did believe and wanted to practice. Plus what good would it do to do as I did before, just with a different religion. Would I be any different,no! So I choose to practice the laws of Islam and my choice made me a better person. I am now a wife and mother instead of some one night stand or an abused girlfriend. I am clear headed instead of filling my mind with drugs and alcohol. I could go on and on but I think you get my point.
944714
Most kids brought up with parents who 'believe' will have that same belief drilled into them, either deliberately or they will just pick  up as they go along that this is the thing to do!\nIts only when they are old enough to question the situation for themselves that they can really make up their own minds.\nI made mine up when I was about 10 years old, it didn't really take a lot of brain cells to figure out that the whole deal was a load of 'tosh'!\nBefore I figured it out I was a church goer, in the choir,performed all the required rituals etc etc, what a load of rubbish , I wish I had been taught at school about all the different religions on the planet, I could have made up my mind a lot earlier.\nHow can I be sure that there is no God and you are equally certain that there is????\nThere is no way I (or anyone else) can explain that to you, I could ramble on about 'logic' you could give me quotes from one or two of your 'Holy books' and say meaningless things like " Look around you at the lovely birds and the bees"!   But at the end of it all there is no way I am going to change your mind, and no way you are going to change mine.\nFor a very long time I have been trying to work out a way or a 'happening' that would convince either of us, and I just cant.\nI would be very interested in any ideas?\nIt would be interesting to know what religion you decieded on when you had this 'supernatural' experience, and why you think any religion is required at all? Cant you just believe in God, isnt that enough without needing any religion or 'teachers' or 'leaders'??\nThats the main bit that annoys me all the different groups even within one religion, all going their own sweet merry ways!\nIf any one wants to believe in God, good luck to them, they must feel a need to! I dont feel the need to, and I certainly have no time at all for any religious nutter groups!
180254
I was baptized Catholic as a baby, and raised that way throughout my early childhood. Eventually my parents stopped attending church, and so did I. I never really felt connected to what the Church preached, but I didn't question it because I had never been exposed to anything else. Eventually, I went on a self-exploration. I took it upon myself to find, research, and learn about other religions, views, beliefs, practices, philosophies, theories, etc.\n\nDuring my soul-search, I made a collaboration of different things I found to be logical, reasonable, logical, and sensible in my own personal opinion. I basically created my own religion. I followed that path for a while, and relished not conforming to an organized religion, because my beliefs were free to grow and change as I grew and changed (and learned). Then one day a friend introduced me to Wicca.\n\nWicca is a Neopagan religion, first reformed by Gerald Gardener in 1940 based on what is believed to be the beliefs of the ancient Celts. The more I learned about it, the more in coincided with the beliefs I'd already pieced together on my own. Its lack of dogma allows any follower to define his or her own beliefs within little restriction. This allowed my beliefs to continue to grow and change with me. It also does not require any follower to conform to any other follower's specific ideas, as you can either practice in a coven with others who hold the same views, or practice solitarily (like I do).\n\nI would recommend it to anyone looking for something to believe in. You can find out about it here:\n\nBut remember one thing! Because the specifics of the religion are free to be defined by the individual practitioner, no two Wiccans (or Pagans for that matter) will ever agree on everything. I am an open book to any questions you might have if you'd like to contact me through my profile page, or you can find nonbiased information about Wicca here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
273022
I was baptized Catholic as a baby and raised that way throughout my early childhood. After a while my family stopped going to church, and I went on a period of self-exploration. I studied different religious ideas, beliefs, doctrines, etc. and pieced together what made logical, rational, reasonable sense in my opinion. From that I formed my own personal path. I followed it, and preferred not being a part of organized religion because creating my own path meant that my faith could grow and change as I grew and changed (and learned more) instead of remaining fixed and never evolving into something better.\n\nThen a friend of mine introduced me to Wicca. It takes a lot of work and study (I am still), but it allows solitary paths. Its lack of dogma also allows for your faith to grow and change. The more I learned about it, the more it coincided with the beliefs I'd already put together through my soul-searching. Since then I have considered myself a solitary Wiccan.\n\nI think this is the proper way to go about finding religion. Everyone's always saying things like, "I've found religion," or (specifically), "I've found Jesus," but more often than not, IT finds THEM. They believe it because they were raised to believe it, and/or people told them to. They didn't find it for themselves, or even bothered to figure it out. I formed a religion to fit me, rather than conforming myself to fit a religion.