What religion do you practice? How did you start practicing it?

Question

You did as your parents? You discovered your religion by yourself?
Something else?

Answer 1

We woke up one Sunday morning when I was seven. I actually remember this like it was yesterday because what happened that day left a lasting impression which I honestly believe guides my "religious" beliefs today. Mom and Dad were getting ready for Church and Sunday School and I obediently did the same. My sister and I were all dressed in our Sunday best armed with crayons and paper to keep us occupied during the sermon. (Doesn't that speak for itself?) So we're in the car driving to church. We are literally 150 yards from the church when we are stopped at a red light. Were we to go straight, we would have entered the parking lot of the church and routinely parked our car and, as with every Sunday morning, gone into this huge edifice to "get saved." Were we to turn right......it would lead us down the road to temptation! You see the road led us to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park only a 30 minute drive away. It absolutely blew my mind when I saw my parents look at each other in the front seat without saying a word, smile and then my dad did something that would change my outlook forever. He turned right.

We didn't make it to church that day. Interestingly enough, we never went back to church at all. My dad turned right and immediately started beaming while accelerating the car and loosening his tie all in one split second. My mother turns back to us girls just gleaming and saying, "We're not going to go to church today. Let's go the moutains instead!" Ok, surely you had moments where you and your siblings just sat there thinking your parents had lost it. This was one of those moments. You see, my parents were amazing people. The epitome of responsibility. If this is what is expected of you, this is probably how you should do it. If you say you're going to do something, you don't let someone down.........you do it! Were they spontaneous? Hell no! I mean......heck no. (Afterall it IS Sunday.) So for my parents to just turn the car away from church and head out towards adventure, this meant something huge.

We spent that day hiking up to Laurel Falls. Oh I can not tell you how breathtaking this part of our country is. The mountains all around you with the water flowing off the steep terrain into the stream that runs through the rest of the park. We took our Sunday shoes off as we hiked to this point. We stumbled over a few rocks and roots in the pathway. We stopped and took in the sights. My dad would teach us a few lessons along the way about flora and fauna. We watched the clouds and made up stories about each one as we pictured the fantasic creatures each air mass formed. It was an amazing journey up to the falls. Once we got there, we all sat on a rock in awe. We didn't speak for quite a while as we all just watched the water tumbling down the mountain. We didn't need to say a word. I'm sure we were all thinking the same thoughts, feeling the same amazement.

I ask you, would have going to church made me closer to God than I actually was at that moment?

As I said, my parents were amazing people. They had it figured out. And the little lessons they taught me along the way helped me figure things out for myself as well. We all worship in our own way at our own times. We are all in awe of this world we live in and somehow know that the way we have evolved into what we are now was probably jump started by a force bigger than ourselves. What it is and how it manifests itself may become clear in due time. Meanwhile, we can be in awe of it in our own ways.

Later in life I asked my dad about that day and why we never returned to church after that. I knew the answer, but so needed to hear his take. He told me that he knew my sister and I were gaining nothing by hearing "words" at our age. He wanted to help us learn by doing. What better way to appreciate the creation of the world than to be a part of it. People don't have to congregate together and nod their heads for us to confirm that indeed this is a grand life we have been given. My dad realized that the appreciation for life and living had to come from them. All of my values, all of my beliefs, all of my moralistic nature was embedded in me by my parents without a lick of religious structure. They taught me about expectations and awareness. Being aware of those around you and being sensitive enough to pick up on their needs and provide a part of yourself in order to help them "be." Expect the best.....prepare for the worst. Do what you can......work to make the most for all those around you. Man I could go on and on and on with all they said to me throughout my childhood. AND not once was it said in a sermon or lecture. It was said in context. THAT is when learning takes place.

Our parents would take us to a restaurant and we'd see a kid crying and throwing a temper tantrum. My dad would jokingly say, "He must be really mad. Wonder why?" And I'd look at my dad and say, "He dropped his spoon. His parents don't see it under the table, so they don't know that is why he's crying." Dad would shrug and say, "Well, do what you gotta do." So I went and picked up the spoon and handed it to the mom. And immediately the little boy stopped crying." When I went back to my table, dad said, "See how simple life is if you stop to figure it out." These are the things that stuck with me. That defined me. That made me think. No, you can't solve world wars by picking up a spoon. But you can figure out the misinterpretations that led us there.

So these amazing parents of mine removed religion from my life, but raised me with very distinct values about the world. Wasn't it my job to question whether my parents had actually done this the right way or not? Oh you bet. In high school and college I rebelled as any teenager would. LOL.......I just rebelled by "going to church." Oh sure we all go through a stage of "following the crowd." haha....I just grew up in a community where EVERYONE went to church so to follow the crowd it meant to go to church. **shudders** It didn't take me long to realize why this didn't appeal to my parents. Our community church really and truly was full of hypocrites (man how I hate that word...hate it) but I'll use it because I suppose it fit. My friends and their families would go to church and be ever so holy. But walk out the door and out the door went the values. These were the people backstabbing others for what they wanted. These were the people that were judging others for what they did or did not do. These were the people that would ask us to give until it hurts but did not have the time to help a neighbor because they had a golf game to get to. I so remember "figuring it all out." Nooo.....certainly not ALL people were like this. Yes, it was a generalization. But I realized that your values and beliefs have to be instilled in you by more than a mere sermon on Sunday morning. It's not enough to carry the bible; you have to live it. (or so I'm told......heck I've never read the bible and don't own one, however, I've been told it is a fascinating read!)

Today, I'm raising two little girls much the same way my parents raised me. Their father oftentimes gets onto me for never having had our youngest baptized. I look at him and say, "I can't imagine that if there is a God that he would ever turn that angel away if she were to go to Heaven. I'm not so worried." He still says he doesn't want to take a chance. He goes to church. I wake up Sunday mornings with my girls and take them to the mountains!

Answer 2

I'm a practicing Mystic. How I started out was at first I was a Christian, but then grew tired of the condemnation of the paranormal in Christianity, plus I enjoyed doing some other things that were contrary to the Christian faith, such as transcendental meditation.
For a while, I didn't really declare myself as being affiliated with one religion or another and I only discovered that I was a practicing Mystic after reading about Mysticism in a book and realizing that it was describing my religious practices almost exactly.

Answer 3

I would say, start doing research on whatever religion you were thinking about, and see if there are any groups in your area which you can go to for help. If you can't find any groups, look online. Don't trust everything you find online, because not all of it will be good information, but its a good way to start. Good luck, and decide carefully. The Goddess says that what you seek you can only find within yourself, so find a religion that matches with what you already know and feel inside. Besides, If you look at reality, your reality only exists in your own mind, so if you feel something to be true, how can anyone tell you that you are wrong? Do some self searching, and find a religion that calls out to you. Good luck, and Blessed Be on your path!

Answer 4

I am a Muslim.

I was not raised in a religious environment, on the contrary, it was a very agnostic, scientific kind of thing, very "everything goes", very pro- psychology ( I have nothing against psychology, but what I mean to say is that it was an enviromnent where all was based in case and chaos, and there was no mention to GOD)

However, this never made sense to me... I believed in God ever since I can remember, and when I was a teenager I researched a lot about spirituality and the meaning of life, etc.

I became a Muslim as my husband is a Muslim. First, to be honest, before meeting him and all, I had very negative thoughts about Islam. Then, thankfully I could see and learn for myself, and being very rational, I discovered that all concepts in Islam agreed with what I believed already, and furthermore, they opened many doors I had not explored... when I started doing it, I saw a lot of beauty, justice, common sense, and a voice that speaks directly to the heart of mankind...

I believe this is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I thank God for that.

Answer 5

I practice a religion of my Owen.
Since I was a small girl I had trouble believing in organized
religion. I always believed that God and I had a contract the two of us. I have lived my life with that belief and don't have any one to blame for trouble in my life. Every thing we do on earth,has been written down in a contract with God. Most of us Chose certain
parents so that we can have a certain soul in are lives.
I chose My parents so my grandfather Miles could bee in my life, and my grandmother Neta. Grandpa Harry. My mother is a selfish woman, and my grandma Mary was a very abusive woman. my father was horrible he beat all of his kids unmercifully.
When you get dayjavoo it is simply something that you wrote in your con tract with God.
Any way my religion is with God, The Son and Holly Spirit.
Lynn

Answer 6

Well I am Muslim because I was brought up Muslim, but I'm not very religous.

A good example of a person who found their religion would be my friend. She was originally Christian, but when her family started to boycott Christianity, she researched a whole bunch of religions and found that Buddhism worked for her. She's also a vegetarian, so that helps.

Answer 7

My Parents Started Me Out As Christan and I Still Am One Today.

Answer 8

I am also Christian, I was brought up in a Christian home, and continue to believe in that. Christianity is more of a relationship than a religion. its not like you have rules to follow. you can screw up really bad, and you will always be taken back. if youre interested then you should talk to a paster at a church, or pick up a bible and/or devotion book.

Answer 9

I'm a Christian. My mother brought me up in a Christian home and as an adult I continue to practice it on my own.

Answer 10

became disillusioned with Christianity at about 17 yrs of age because I could see the people in my church had nothing in common with the teachings of love that Jesus gave; joined Unity and loved it because the emphasis was on searching for wisdom; became schizophrenic and lost my faith in a god and afterlife after my suicide attempt; decided only love was verifiable and decided to believe in love and Oneness

Answer 11

I was raised Catholic after I turned 18 I chose not to go....and I still dont