Why are you the religion you are?

[benetint]

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

[olivertheoctopus]

I'm not anything. I wouldn't necess declare myself as an atheist or agnostic but religion of any sort has never really been part of my life (excluding the basic theme of Christianity taught in UK primary schools) so never really given it any thought. I don't feel a burning need to make it part of my life either altho I do find learning about religion very interesting.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful]

Atheist. Never really seen any reason to believe.

I am however interested in religions.

[Bingdweller]

Church of Scotland, although married in an Episcopilian church.

[EuroShaggleton]

I was christened in a CofE church as a baby, but became an atheist in my teens and have never really believed in any kind of god.

[Annunziata]

I was brought up Catholic and see no reason to leave.

[usualsuspect]

Atheist

[Raise]

I converted to Islam. I studied it and saw the many miracles of the Quran that led me to believe it is the word of God. For example the Quran was revealed over 1400 yrs ago to Prophet Muhammad, but it contains a detailed description of the development of embryos, stuff on tectonic plates, planets etc and much more which couldn't have been known about by the Prophet who could not read or write. I've alwys believed in God. The creation is all around us as evidence, but found a lot of contradictions in christianity. Muslims believe in all the prophets of the christian and jewish traditions, for example Moses, Noah and Adam, and Jesus even, but we reject the concept of the trinity and believe jesus was a messenger but not the son of God or God incarnate. We only pray to Allah (same as christian and jewish God) and not to Jesus or Mary or anything other than the One creator, Allah subhana wa ta ala. Thanks.

[MacaYoniAndCheese]

I'm not religious but I do like learning about religions and can appreciate the merits inherent in each; I sort of admire from afar. If I could have a little of each, that would probably suit me just fine

[TapirsTickleMeYoni]

Atheist - born into an american weird religious group; studied my way out of that group (and god-belief) in my late 20's.

[Timeforabiscuit]

Thanks for this OP - I think peoples responses are really fascinating, I really hate being shoved into a box on forms for exactly this reason,

My upbringing was Roman Catholic, so I always seem to bring that bias (if that's the right phrasing) into my life i.e. the good Samaritan, love thy neighbour, turn the other cheek. These are touchstones as to how I was raised - and are as much are part of me as my hair and eye colour.

But I would hate for this to define me as a whole and although I have warm and fuzzies about my church with a little "c" (parish priest let me serve on the altar because I was good at it) I can't reconcile these with Church with a big "C" (Had a short hair cut so was passed off as a boy to serve at a bishops mass.... my name was Kevin that day).

So I would call myself a humanist - but someone no doubt smarter than me will point out a flaw in this!

[SirBoobAlot]

I don't believe in anything anymore.

If I was to practice any religion, I'd follow the Ancient Egyptian belief system. There is a tranquility within it that I never feel when reading about any other structure.

[AmberSocks]

genuinely really believing in religion,is the same as having a mental illness imo.it is bonkers.

[sweetkitty]

It's interesting to find so many other atheists/non believers on one thread. In RL most if my friends are Christian, I feel I cannot speak about my lack of belief, I maintain a dignified silence if the conversation comes up.

[expatinscotland]

Brought up RC. No religion now. Don't believe in 'God' as per Christian, Islamic or Jewish line of thinking. DH brought up with no religious, christened in Church of Scotland but that was it.

[ICBINEG]

brought up C of E, now atheist....

but every time I watch babylon 5 I end up itching to try out the Minbari faith...

[MissAnnersley]

'genuinely really believing in religion,is the same as having a mental illness imo.it is bonkers.'

How unpleasant.

Until this particular comment, this was an interesting thread.

[WhatTheWaterGaveMe]

Agreed MissAnnersley.

I was brought up in a baptist church so Christian. Stopped going when my nan died (I was 13). Started going to a different church, which had a large youth congregation. Stopped again about 16.

Now I don't know what I think. The logical side of me doesn't believe in god, but the 'emotional' side of me does (this is more likely just because it's what I've known since little)

I do kind of believe in something else, but maybe something more sororal as opposed to God. I think the books were written to control man.

[Hugglepuff]

Brought up C of E. although the Christian denomination of the church that i attend is not that important.
Finding the right Christian community / church is most important.
We moved about eight years ago and I started attending a lovely C of E chapel with an amazing youth worker for the kids. My kids are being brought up as Christians - but I think that it is very important that they question their faith as it is only through questioning that they have the chance to grow. My DP does not attend church but he respects that my faith is important to me.

[WhatTheWaterGaveMe]

Spiritual even!

[thecatneuterer]

Atheist here too.

sweetkitty I'm very surprised that you don't meet many other atheists. You don't live in the States do you? The vast majority of British people I meet are atheists. The only religious people I meet tend to be from other countries.

sirboobalot Ancient Egyptian religion sounds interesting. They worshipped cats didn't they? In that case I'm nearly there already:)

[expatinscotland]

I definitely worship cats!

[YouTheCat]

I wasn't brought up with a religion.

I am an atheist. I don't need a religion to give me a moral compass as I have my own.

I also worship cats... or at least my cat thinks I do.

[wanderingcloud]

I used to say I was an atheist but then I heard Stephen Fry talking about being humanist, saying that it is important to be affiliated to the humanist society so that the views of atheists can be represented alongside the religious viewpoints. So now I say I'm a humanist because although I don't believe in God I do have a strong sense of morals.

[maras2]

Once a Catholic ..... But seriously I love my religion although never felt the need to bring my kids up in the same faith.Good job because we are a mixed bag of stuff ie.DM,Methodist;DF Catholic;All siblings,atheist;MIL,Baptist;DFIL card carrying communist;DH is hedging his bets,but is mostly an atheist.I never proselytise.My faith gives me comfort and hope.

[shockers]

My parents are Atheists, but I was encouraged to go to a local Christian (gospel type) church as a child (free bus and a morning off for them). I went for about 3 years and quite liked it, but was put off by the freedom of speech in the teenage section of the Sunday school... it was a kind of open confession, in which girls who were a bit more worldly than me, told all. I found it very uncomfortable.

Fast forward eighteen years... I'm 29 and have spent at least the last 10 years laughing at anyone who 'feels the need to have a god'. I'm reading Cider With Rosie and I get to a part where children are carol singing about 'Sweet Jesus'. I'm lying on my bed and I start to shake, then cry... no idea why, other than the thought of 'sweet Jesus'.

So I go to church, I like the people, but there's more... I'm not sure what though... so I pray.

I'm still praying 16 years later. God has done the most wonderful things in my life, despite the fact that I am not (until recently) a regular church go-er. I may not be again. The body of a good church helps its community and beyond, but is not essential to a relationship with God, in my opinion.