Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Why are you the religion you are?

104 replies

benetint · 13/04/2013 19:48

If you are at all religious that is! My family are catholic and I have recently started attending church. I feel the services very comforting and I find I always want to try and be a better person after going. But there's so much in the Catholic Church I worry about, particularly if I'm going to start taking my children. So I didn't know whether I should explore other options too? I just wanted to know then really, are you a particular religion because you we're born into it? Or did you spend time finding a denomination that is in line with your beliefs/morals? Thanks so much

OP posts:
MothershipG · 13/04/2013 19:53

I was brought up Catholic and after thinking a lot about ethics/morals decided I was...... An atheist Wink

Sorry, not very helpful!

MissAnnersley · 13/04/2013 19:55

I'm Church of Scotland because my mum is and that was the church I was taken to.

It is also in line with my beliefs and morals. As far as I can see there is no hierarchy - no bishops/archbishops. Women can be ministers if they want to.

NinaHeart · 13/04/2013 19:59

I'm C of E but may parents are/were Methodist (church of choic as a child) or a self-escribed Heathen.
I feel fairly comfortable with the message, style of worship, people, architecture etc etc of C of E, but I still oftern question much of it. I think that is why I like Christianity - it actively encourages questioning and individual thought.

MsVestibule · 13/04/2013 19:59

Growing up, I was a church going Catholic, but stopped going weekly when I left home. Twenty or so years later, I started taking my DCs to Teatime Church (Sunday School on a Tuesday, really) at the CofE church over the road from us. I still don't go regularly, but have attended their Christian discussion groups and have recently become their treasurer, which kind of surprises me!

I find it a better 'fit'. Like you, there are a few things in the Catholic church that bother me (although, hypocrite that I am, I gave sent our DCs to a Catholic school) but TBH, if I'm ever asked what my religion is, I would still answer Catholic Confused.

ChairmanWow · 13/04/2013 20:03

Atheist. Because I don't believe in God. Fin.

SuffolkNWhat · 13/04/2013 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatyTheCleaningLady · 13/04/2013 20:06

I was raised Presbyterian (Church of Scotland in America) and attended various youth-orientated evangelical clubs. So, I'm a Christian because, well, I was raised one.

But, I didn't really practice any religion for a long time as an adult and then in my 30's I became a Catholic. I don't really know if I know why. It just appealed to me. It all seemed so beautiful. I studied art history at university and medieval art appealed to me the most, so that was my area of focus. I was really intrigued by relics and saints and the art.

I think, growing up, I'd always been sort of confused by the idea that I was supposed to just read the Bible and pray and that would be sufficient. It wasn't sufficient. The Bible just sort of left me cold and I didn't really know how to make the connection. Then, I learned about religious art and the many ways the Catholic Church has to connect with God. There's something for everyone: liturgy, the rosary, various saints who can seem to speak to you on all sorts of levels. It was like "Oh! There are visual aids for this??"

I think, though, that what really won me over was the logic of the doctrine. I know that sounds daft to most people, but once you accept the basic premise of the Gospel, then everything flows from that in a logical sense. Like, "Since we know we are created by a loving God... then we know that XYZ is...."

LagomOchLyckaSwede · 13/04/2013 20:11

I'm an Atheist but grew up a strict Jewish. I loved the kind of security of my faith, the way I could look and then follow the rules...the knowledge that if I do what I'm 'meant' to do, then it'll turn out alright. That being religious and good was enought for me to have a better life...instead of the luck and often unfairness. But I studied it all, and others...and didn't believe anymore.

Trills · 13/04/2013 20:16

It is not unreasonable to ask the origins of peoples religious beliefs, as long as it is done in a polite manner and you don't mind if people say it's none of your business.

Does that answer your question?

No, didn't think so.

MrsRajeshKoothrappali · 13/04/2013 20:20

I have no religion. This is because I know sod all about any of them and have no real interest in learning about them.

I don't vote for the same reason.

All of that kind of stuff make my brain fuzzy and my head spin. It's bestthat I left it to other people.

b4bunnies · 13/04/2013 20:20

CofE, born and bred.
i'm an r e teacher, too, so i spend a lot of time thinking about religious stuff. i like it.

differentkindofpenguin · 13/04/2013 20:24

I was born in the Soviet Union, it broke up when I was about 8. So all religion was banned, my dad was an army officer so would have been in trouble if anyone knew me and sister were christened- I don't think my dad even knew for a while, my mum and nan did it secretly when I was a baby. So technically I am an Eastern Orthodox. My grandparents took e to church ( again, secretly) at Easter and Christmas, and I loved if because it was all so secret, and also because I was allowed to stay up late!

Alas, I grew into a non believer!

Talkinpeace · 13/04/2013 20:27

born Quaker, brought up, baptised and confirmed CofE
opened my mind to the world around me and became an atheist

TraineeBabyCatcher · 13/04/2013 20:30

Christened a Christian but currently open to the idea...
I wouldn't say I believe in anything, but I don't disbelieve.

sweetkitty · 13/04/2013 20:31

Brought up Church of Scotland am now an atheist as I doubt believe in God, I wish I could believe but the rational part of my brain won't allow me to.

My DP is RC as are my children.

WildlingPrincess · 13/04/2013 20:32

Grew up atheist, now I'm a half-assed spiritualist. I don;t believe in God or anything, but I do believe in an afterlife.

frogspoon · 13/04/2013 20:32

I'm Jewish, because I was born Jewish. I would say I'm more of a cultural or traditional Jew than a religious Jew. It's not that I don't believe in G-d (I do), just that it is not easy to fit orthodox Judaism into modern day life.

I'm sure I could become more observant if I really wanted to. But right now, I don't especially want to.

Latara · 13/04/2013 20:34

I've never been Baptised / Christened, nor has my Dad & sister.

I went to the local C of E church with some of the neighbours' children but i found it very hard to believe, i stopped going by the age of 13.

So what am i? I wouldn't say an Atheist because i keep an open mind regarding spirituality, but i'm definitely not a Christian.

Pollykitten · 13/04/2013 20:36

YANBU to ask, but YABU if you only want responses from religious people

noisytoys · 13/04/2013 20:37

Born a Christian. Became an atheist during teens. Met DH who was a Christian. Came back to Christianity. Now DH is an atheist and I am a Christian.

WestieMamma · 13/04/2013 21:01

I'm a non-denominational Christian. Whenever I've moved to a new place, I try a few different churches until I find the one that feels 'right' for me. Usually that means the one which is the most spiritually active. Currently that means the Catholic church in the next town, which has a wonderful, energetic and welcoming community.

Jinsei · 13/04/2013 21:17

I am now agnostic.

Brought up by a Catholic mother and an evangelical atheist father, I lived in a predominantly Muslim country for a while and subsequently in a mainly Buddhist one. While there, I was baptised in a Lutheran church and I went to church regularly for several years. Married into a Hindu family but DH himself converted to Sikhism when he was younger. When I returned to the UK, I continued to go to church for a while, but gradually started to feel alienated from the church as I didn't buy the idea that Christianity was the only route to God, or indeed the idea that any one religion might have all of the answers. I don't even know now if I believe in God or not, but if there is, I don't think that any religion has a monopoly on him (or her).

I think if I were to choose a religion now, Buddhism might be my top choice, but for now, I'm happy without one. As far as dd is concerned, DH and I have agreed to teach her about all religions without bringing her up in any particular one.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 13/04/2013 21:21

I'm an atheist because I don't believe in a deity, or afterlife etc. I believe that I have an obligation to live a good life and be a decent human being, but I don't need a belief in god for that.

My parents are Methodists and took me to church as a child. When I was around 12/13 they gave me the choice to carry on coming with them or not. I chose not.

Flisspaps · 13/04/2013 21:28

I am an atheist. I don't believe in God, Heaven, Hell, the Afterlife, that Jesus was the Son of God or that the Bible (or any religious text) is anything more than a work of fiction.

I wasn't baptised, and although I married in a church and both of my children are baptised CE, that is simply because that was DH's wish. During the baptism I hold the baby and maintain a respectful silence.

I do feel strongly affiliated to Humanism though - you don't need religion or God to have morals.

BarredfromhavingStella · 13/04/2013 21:33

I'm an atheist because as much as I love a good fairy story the bible takes it just a little bit too far.

Swipe left for the next trending thread