What religion are you and why?

Question

I am not looking for you to tell me because it is the truth, I already know you believe your belief to be the truth. I want personal feelings and experiences. What drives you to follow your faith?

Answer 1

I am a Lutheran.

I was raised as a Lutheran. I was baptized as an infant. I can't remember not loving Jesus. When I got older and thought about infant baptism, this was a powerful argument in favor of it.

As a young adult, I spent a lot of time exploring other religions and studying my own. I learned that other religions do not satisfy my criteria for logic and evidence. I also learned that Christianity is based on the evidence. For more information on this, read the book More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell. It's a short and very readable book. When someone is a Christian, that person's faith is partly based on facts and partly a matter of faith. The leap of faith isn't very large if people really study the facts. Read up also on scientific creationism and intelligent design, and learn why evolution isn't supported by the evidence.

After studying the teaching of other denominations as well, I chose to remain a Lutheran.

As an older person, I can tell you that my faith works because when I need comfort, or guidance, or if I am experiencing any emotional difficulty, it gives me a foundation, and I can endure a lot of uncertainties with a feeling of peace and security. I know that what I base my faith on is real, and if I pray, I experience peace. The difficulties of life don't go away, but I am able to deal with them. I have been through many hardships, but I have survived, and I have an underlying sense of joy and peace that nothing can touch, even when my feelings on the surface are full of turmoil.

I watched my mother-in-law embrace Jesus just before she died. It brought about a profound change in her; she became like a little child with a sense of wonder, the peace in her heart was very obvious, and she passed quietly in my presence, mouthing the words "I love you" to me.

Jesus loves you so much He died for you. Religions are man-made, but Jesus is real, and faith in Him is about having a relationship with the God Who made the universe and loves you.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. Read the Bible.

I have given you two links below. The denomination is presently full of conflict, so if you ever choose to become affiliated with it, look for a pastor whose doctrine is orthodox. In the alternative, the Wisconsin Synod is a good choice, and seems presently to be untouched by these troubles. But the explanations of the beliefs on these two links are very good. There is plenty of information, and you can delve as deeply as you want, or not. Martin Luther was the founder of our denomination. He was originally Roman Catholic, and was actually a very learned man. He read the Bible, and concluded that the Pope was teaching some things that are not true. He tried to reform the Roman church, hence, the movement he started is known as the Reformation. But Rome excommunicated him. Eventually he married and established his own congregation. The rest, as they say, is history. Luther was somewhat of a character, and sometimes even displayed a foul mouth. But he was a staunch human being committed to truth, and unwilling to back down when he found an answer that was satisfactory. He had great courage. He could have been martyred, but God preserved his life. We don't worship Luther, and we only talk about him one Sunday out of the year, but we use his catechisms as sources of doctrine, and they are quite good.

Don't take anybody's word for anything. Check everything out. Read both sides. Then use reason to arrive at a decision about the religion. Your eternal future depends on you finding the right answer.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Atheist - I did believe in the Christian God once but since then I have been through some very tough times and yet there was nobody there to see me through it, regardless of my efforts, bringing my faith into question... only indirectly, however!

We don't choose our beliefs, our beliefs chose us.... this is quite a hard concept for people to understand, we like to think that we exercise control and authority over every aspect of our lives because we are intelligent human beings and believe in the power and merits of free thinking. Yet I had no choice over my favourite music, nor was I able to choose my favourite colour - which incidentally is red - it just happened that way, a multitude of experiences from my life combining to have some kind of unconcious effect on my beliefs! We just try to justify our beliefs afterwards. I like Alanis Morissette. The reason: her music is catchy and her emotions can be felt in her songs. But why do I like her songs though - nobody will know that, not even me!

Answer 3

I'm Christian. I was born into a Christian family, but when I was around 8 years old, my family stopped going to church. For a while, I didn't go to church either and it was around the age of 16 that I started to want to go back and did, and read my Bible, prayed, etc... It wasn't until my first year in college that I really started to live a Christian life, even though I was already Christian. It was just that my life didn't really incorporate everything that it should have. Now, my entire life is marked by the Bible.

What pushes me everyday to follow the Word of God, I would say is the feelings that I get whenever I worship God with my heart and actions. Whenever I'm in church or at a camp or somewhere worshipping God, I can really feel Him there, speaking to my soul, helping me. There's just this overwhelming feeling you get, like time stands still and you can be having the worse day of your life, seriously, the absolute worse, but in that moment of worship, everything falls away and you and God are the only ones that exist. Your eyes are closed, head is lifted, hands are in the air and your just waiting for Him to lift you away because it already feels like your flying.

Secondly I would say the hope for the future. No doubt you've heard of Heaven, well, just the idea of what Heaven will be like is enough to keep me coming back. I was driving in my car one day and I was praying and I asked God to give me an idea of what Heaven will be like. And I was singing to the radio and whatnot and then I just was thinking about it and clear as day, I saw my idea of a new earth and it was beautiful. Not to mention the idea that it will be without sin and that you'll be pleaing your creator every minute of every day and everything you do will be worship to Him, is just a good feeling to me. I can't wait for that day when I can see Him and worship Him.

So I would say these two things. Of course, both of which would pale in comparison to the fact of what really drives me to a Christian walk, and that would be the calling of the Father and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Curtis

Answer 4

I love how "I was born that way" is an acceptable reason for some people. As in, "I am incapable of forming my own opinion, so I will continue to believe whatever has been drummed into my head from birth." It's a shame there are so many of these people. I would recommend they all load this page:
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html
Take a simple test to determine which religion corresponds most closely to their beliefs.
I bet a lot of these people would be surprised to learn they do not believe what their religion tells them they have to believe.

Me, I'm a secular humanist.

Answer 5

I'm Muslim because I was born into a Muslim household. I'll bet most people subscribe to the religion they grew up following, as that's the very nature of our being (to follow what our parents teach us is right). However, as I've grown and pondered the question of whether my religion is the correct one or not, I've become more confident in my beliefs. Education of other religions and their beliefs has played a major role in my strife to find out if what I believe is actually the truth or not.

On a side note, though, I think it's extremely difficult for one to objectively examine whethere his/her religion is indeed the correct one or not.

Answer 6

I was born a Catholic but now am an Atheist. I opened my eyes. I believe that if I fail, it's because I deserved it, not because some unproven entity wanted me to fail. The same applies to my successes. When I succeed, it's because I applied my best effort, not because some entity wanted me to win.

Also, I got tired of seeing bad people get blessed by "the good lord", whereas I pretty much got screwed. Criminals living it up in nice houses with nice cars. Me, a studio apartment and using public transportation. Criminals living in luxury and prosperity. Me, illness and death in the family (I think that 17 deaths in one year are too many).

Some of my religious acquaintances tell me that god is just testing my faith. Let's just say that the last "test" really struck a nerve and I walked out on it. I now live happy and at peace with myself and the world.

Answer 7

I am a Christian because I have seen the amazing things that God has done in the lives of people around me. I have seen drunks, druggies, and prostitutes turn their lives completely around through the power of Jesus Christ's amazing love.

Less drastic, but equally important, I base my faith on what He's done for me. At an early age, I felt a call to the mission field to lead other people to Christ. When I accepted His call, I felt a peace and assurance wash over me. I gained a lot of confidence, and I've felt God's guidance in my life since that day.

I don't just believe that my faith is based on truth, I know it's based on truth. I've had 2000 years of fact to prove it.

Answer 8

My religion is self made and self directed. It has come together through an interest in existence and the Universal Truth, as it were. I have learned that religion is a tool, created and used by humans, to cope with life's challenges, to help us rise above negative emotions and to explain the afterlife in a way that helps the believer have peace of mind.

My religion gives me the clues and the tools and the courage to press through difficult times. I am devoted to it largely because it works so well for me. I see the reward to my devotions - I use prayer (affirmation, visualization, etc.) and I see the changes in myself and my life, I see the control I have in my life.

Peace!

Answer 9

I am Seventh-Day Adventist. I believe that Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is the Sabbath. I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ to take His (righteous) people home. I believe this religion to follow the Bible and the 10 Commandments fully. I truly feel the presence of God in this faith.

Answer 10

I believe JESUS CHRIST is my lord and savior. I know in my heart he is real and if he weren't then people, especially scientists, would deny his existence. Plus GOD left us all clues about his son who would die for the sins of this world, many of those clues have already been full filled and more are being full filled to this day and will continue to be until JESUS comes back. AND, I know that the LORD has blessed me abundantly even though I may not be rich with money I have everything I need and it has been provided by the LORD, JESUS CHRIST; from food and clothing to fun and transportation and friends and family. I have even been blessed to know the difference between sorrow and misery and love and happiness.