Religion (yeah, more questions about religion!)

When I was a child I was raised in a methodist church,it is a christian church and I learned about the basic facts of christianity.As an adult I spent a couple of years in a church that was Christian,Disciples of Christ,then later and still now Iam going to a baptist church.I don't know whether churches have grown thru the years where there are more bible study opportunities or if the methodist church did not do that.But,I mostly learned from the Disciples of Christ Minister's and Baptist Pastor's and the other sources of bible information they had at those churches.I also learned alot from life leason's.

Hi wooitsmolly, Well actually I was discussing the meaning of life, the universe and everything with some old school friends, and it got around to how the closest thing to the human organs that we know of elsewhere in the animal kingdom is the orangutan, which eats a diet consisting mostly of fruit. This, of course, suggests that humans are similarly equipped and biologically designed to eat mostly fruit. Then one of the group asked - "If God wanted us to eat veges, then why did He invent butchers?" This convinced me that there's an underlying order and harmony to the Universe, because no mere mortal could possibly produce such a profoundly self-supporting abstraction as that all by themselves out of nowhere. And then I went home. But as for religion, everyone has a religion whether they acknowledge it or even recognize the fact. Religion is reality - one's world view, so to speak. If you want to pigeon-hole "religion" then you probably mean "organized religion" where a bunch of people agree on the way things are and reduce it to a set of rules and principles to guide their behavior to conform to their notions of our purpose in this world. For me, it's sufficient to look around and see who's got the goods - ie, what they say is borne out by what is actually going on. And there's enough solid evidence to substantiate a particular understanding of the world, if one has the honesty and energy to ferret it out. BUT the problem is that people see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. So people dismiss and ignore stuff which contradicts their mindset. Bottom line - the only one anyone can convince of anything is themselves. And that's the way it should be, because the only one that will ultmately take the rap for what one believes (and how one behaves) is also oneself.

Alot of the beliefs I have now, I've had since I was a kid but not having any earthy, peaceful ppl around me and not knowing that Buddhism, Paganism and etc existed I always chalked it up to me being "weird" and "disturbed/crazy" (with the help of my parents telling me I was)...So as a kid I followed Christianity, went to Wed night groups, read my bible, prayed blah blah blah yada yada yada..then in my early teens I met a woman who was "WiccanISH" (not really...just for show kinda like she just enjoyed tossing words and random quotes around etc etc but it was never any more than that)...I started getting interested in Occult stuff but was too consumed with just surviving so I never really paid any mind and I became friends with this guy who was full Indian (Native American over here) who shared bits n pcs etc....THEN in my late teens early 20s I got REALLY into some Occult stuff but still no religion or personal path etc etc THEN in my mid 20s I met a woman who is very special to me who had been a Witch for 14 yrs at that point...and it just went from there..I learned about Wicca, Buddhism (on my own) and her brother was a Native American spiritualist (for lack of a better term) and it all just grew from there...I decided not long after that Wicca WAS NOT ME but old Witchcraft was and that was that.... LOL I'm tired so did any of that make any sense? Any questions?

I would be classified as a Neo-Pagan. I grew up in a household where my mom pseudo-believed in the Christian God, and my dad believed only in evolution and was a self-proclaimed athiest. My dad has since re-classed himself as an agnostic, and my mom a non-practicing Christian. I am a Neo-Pagan because I have always felt pulled my the Earth in a way a lot of people don't feel. I feel connected - like it's a part of me and that we are vital to eachother in life. I believe that we are accountable to take care of our planet and that there are forces in this world beyond what we can see.

I am a nontheist because assumptions and speculation are not enough to convince me to dedicate belief to them. That's about as simple as I can make it. :P

Hi, I learn it through Bible and constantly attending service and listen to pastor's sermons. Another way is to read on my own and ask others if I got doubt or question regarding Christianity. Why I believe it's true? By my personal walk with God. LOL...

I learned my religion by reading old works by the "fathers" of that religion and I like to think also by the Grace of God. It is both by revelation and Tradition... that I have learned it... not much by the parental nurturing, but somewhat. The reason I believe this religion to be true is that it satisfies/ answers to both faith and reason and is the only thing I have found that does this. how about you? would you say that your beliefs can be fashioned as a religion of your design? what makes you believe that it is true - or do you not believe in an absolute truths?

I am a christian witness, and what makes me assume its true? As i turned to have a choice to choose religion and follow it, i didnt know which way to go. Seriously, i have read the whole of the scriptures of three most prominant religions, and yeah i liked one of them, but still i can feel something in it was not acceptable not just by me, but even logically. And so when a preacher came to my home, and when he handed over his booklet to me, i was pretty sure to disregard this as well, but as far as im knowing it, i cannot c any reason y not. Its applicable to all, and well suited by me. Frankly, i have not known anything better.

Hi wooitsmolly! I don't really have a relegion as such, but I looked/explored Judaism ,Christianity, Islam, Buddism, Krishna Consciousness and a few others.fragments of all those held meaning for me,but nothing stood out clearly. I think some of that is down to my own logic/intellect looking for proofs or tangible evidence. The power of belief is something that has always interested me. I do class myself as 'one of God's most unwilling servant's' because I do believe in Good and Evil.I Just remembered something from a fantasy book which held my imagination for a while, their's a God for good, a God for evil and a God for neutrality I think its in "The Dragonlance Cronicles'.

http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1142807.aspx thats the reason why in a very shortened version. I am trying to be Christian and I do believe in monotheism but I also feel that the new testament teaches gnostic views and that the gnostic texts are truthful also. Almost everything people hate or dont understand about Chrisitanity comes from church doctrine not bible doctrine. Gandhi once said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. ... Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." As far as why I believe its true, I have applied it and found peace in it and thats enuff for me. I dont appologize for people who call themselves christians who dont act like christ or even try to follow the path that they say they are on and I dont appologize for what they have done hundreds/thousand of year(s) ago.

I'm an SDA Christian and I was born into that religion but I went to public schools for most of my eduction. While going to said public schools they did their best to 'brainwash' me into secular humanism and a belief in Evolution. I did give their theories honest consideration because I really do want to know the truth (plus I never considered myself a lucky person so how could I be born into a system that was had more truth then what our scientists were teaching). I came to the conclusion that there is much more evidence to support the Bible's version of history and reality then secular humanism so I'm now an 'intellectually fulfilled' SDA Christian. (If you are wondering the words in apostrophes are a kind of a creationist/evolutionist debaters insider joke ;)

It was my middle school teacher. He was excellent as a school teacher as well as a good religious teacher. I respect him and feel grateful to him for putting me on the path.

I went to a private school. I was catholic and I read the bible a lot I had a lot of people to support me in faith . and its been nothing more than benefitual in life!

My parents were roman catholic and that makes me a roman catholic also. Although I a not really a saint candidate but I do and practice some beliefs of the R.C's do. Anyways, If my parents were into a different religion, I would be in that religion. However as I grow older, I became open into the possibilities of everything. I admire other religions!... Yet, my admiration is not an indication that I will be converted like them. All religions believe into that Someone who is greater. I can never say whose real or not. But to the extent that almost everybody believes into that Greater Someone, with that I can say that it doesn't matter which religion I am into. As long as I believe in that Someone and for us Catholics it is God the Father, I think that is more important. It is not really to where I belong but to whom I believe.

I am a Christian. I did lots of research and reading about different religions and what they believe. I grew up in a Christian church and everything I learned there opposed to the others that I researched (i also talked to others of different faiths) seemed to make more sense to me.

I grew up in the church that I follow. I continue to follow because everything that is preached and taught to the follows can be found and read in the Bible. So I just don't take the preacher word for it I read it for myself and follow.

Hi molly, I can't really say that I follow a particular religion anymore, but I have never really left the church that I was raised in. Most of us were brainwashed as children, and it's often difficult getting away from it later because it is the things you learn as a child that has the biggest impact on you. This isn't happening as much anymore so more adults may have an easier time choosing. I am not condemning parents for taking their children to church, and teaching them what they feel is right. They are, most of the time anyway, very sincere and feel they are doing what's best for their children. Today I accept what I feel is good in all religions and try to condemn no one. I seek to reach out to all in a spirit of peace and friendship and my feelings tell me that it's right. Blessings.

I learned by the books. My heart tells me it's the true one for me.

I may still be a Catholic but I am practicing in Christians ways. My aun (who is already a Christian) was the first person who encourages me to read the Bible. Everything she said were written in the Bible itself so I believe in whatever she said and written in the Bible.