Do you know why your religion celebrates or does certain things?

I agree here, a lot of the lack of knowledge comes from communication background in the church and the home. A lot of people just don't care. I won't celebrate an occasion unless I know exactly what it is I am celebrating, my wife hates it, but I honor St.Valentines day, I don't celebrate it. I have yet to learn what Ash Wednesday is, but I may look into that. There are a few people in the world that do care, they are few and far between. In the church I have recently started attending, they explain a lot. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And I know, you probably don't care, and have no desire to learn. But, I just thought I would share, informing not preaching. They question a lot, they ask us to pray to know what is true. Since you are agnostic, you believe in a higher power, you could pray to that power, to guide you to what is right for you. Prayer is a very powerful medium, even if you pray to a rock. The act of putting your desires out into the universe, will do wonders for your daily life. And if you share with your higher power, who knows, an answer or two may come up. I appreciate you.

Yes, I do. I feel closer to my 'higher power' when I am in the mountains and/or forest. I am glad to hear you have found a church that gives you the answer you request. For me it is not a matter of getting the answers it is a matter of seeing falsehoods in the teachings. Not much can be done.

True many do not care to pay attention only to follow along with what they where taught while being raised.

In what ways did what you learn dishonor the values you originally held? I am a Christian, but there are certain things about the celebrations, that western society holds in high regard that are pagan in origin, and are that way for the specific reason of increasing converts during the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Just wondering what made you re examine your believes. I appreciate you.

No offense but obviously you don't as Ash Wednesday is celebrated by those who are not catholic as I my self am Lutheran. People may know Christian events but they may not know why they are celebrating them.

ah so lutherens celebrate it too, but those are actually christian sects.

All Christians are based in a diffrent sects. How do you worship may I ask?

Ash Wednesday is the day we mark the beginning of Lent. Ashes from the previous years Palms (from palm Sunday) are used to mark a Christian not only as a blessing but as a sign of repentance. Lent it's self is a spiritual representation of the time Jesus spent out in the dessert being tempted by Satan and ends with Easter as a celebration of Rebirth and salvation. When younger we learned these things in our Confirmation courses, I think though that many did not pay attention to these lessons and in truth if I did not teach Sunday school on and off through out the years I too may have forgotten the reasons. As for the glass I told him to ask and let me know because I have no clue. As for Jesus' Birth being Celebrated in December that was actually to convert many Celts and Pagans into Christianity. Both celebrated their own religion at that point of the year and by celebrating the birth at that point helped to keep the old religious traditions while warping them into Christianity. The same with All Saints day.