Are you religious? If so why?

Question

I would like to know: just for my own curiosity: If you follow a religion, why? Was it that you were raised that way by your parents? If not How do you choose a religion to follow? If you do have a religion does it benefit you in any way? I would love to have some sort of faith to believe in as I was not brought up with one.
I have put in some study on the matter to try and "choose" the religion that best suits me but this doesn’t feel right, can one be chosen when in adult life or is it something that you have to follow from a young age?

I would just like to thank every one who has answered my question so far,I can tell that this is a sensitive subject,so I am treating the question with the respect it deserves. I would like to add that I am not looking solely for a religion to join, I am looking to try to find that missing part of me, I know that this part Is a faith something to guide me,not control me something to support me,not push me something to give some sort of meaning in my life that is beyond the physical realm. I have my own beliefs that there is a God who is an entity of pure good, and a devil who is the opposite, I do believe that there was a man named Jesus who walked the earth and spread the word of God and performed miracles, but I do not ( and I say this without ANY intensions to criticise, and say this with the up most respect for those who disagree ) believe the bible to be fully correct as this was written by the hand of man. And if I believe this,does this mean that I can not be a true Christian ?

Answer 1

I was brought up in a fairly committed Church of England household. We went to church and Sunday school. My parents were involved in church life. I got confirmed when I was 13. However, I never really believed a lot of the dogma. During confirmation classes, I asked lots of questions and caused a lot of debate. As I studied History, I learned about how religion had changed through time, to make it more 'convenient' for society. I also learned about the conviction of other religions, and wondered - how can they all be right?

I have always had a spiritual side, and believe there is a greater good. I read a lot of spiritual books and these have given me more hope and belief than the Bible ever could. I feel there is a lot to learn and to think about spiritually, but no single religion will ever be able to offer any real answers. People with blind faith just don't want to think.

So, my answer is that I am not religious, but I am spiritual. I believe in God, but not as a man with a white beard who judges everyone and is to be feared. You can't love something you fear. Formal religion is based on fear, so I would avoid it.

Answer 2

I am in a rare Religion called the truth!

I had always had a basic acceptance of God but was what I would call a passive Christian. Did not go to Church often, was not forced as a child to go I did have some family members that were Catholic and Lutheran. However I had also just assumed evolution was a reality as well. Recently I discovered that I could not have it both ways! So I started looking into the Evolution/Creation thing to see what was going on and the verdict(in my opinion) there is no question that there is a Creator and evolution is an impossibility! Now from here I need to study the Bible more and address the Jesus issue and continue my religious walk of truth!!

I would strongly suggest not looking at this as a "Religion" thing! It is a Faith thing you need to search for your answers and address them appropriately.

You need to have a relationship with God not necessarily a Religious group.

Answer 3

I was raised presbyterian (i can't even spell it now) but my dad's side was very religious. I was very religious up until my later teen years when I started questioning my faith. There were so many religions.. how was it that everyone would go to hell except for me? What about people in china or some distant land who weren't raised on my religion... seems silly that they would die and go to a bad place if they did not know of "my" god.

This was the entire problem though. I did not want to give up "MY" god and accept the ultimate truth that there is no one correct religion.

It's very difficult especially when you were raised to believe something. Some people kill each other in the name of "their" god.

There is no such thing as ownership. This is just an illusion.

There is no such thing as right or wrong. Things are only right or wrong in terms of where you want to be.

There is nothing to fear, not even death. Hell does not exist. Heaven is here and now. Death is an illusion.

You need nothing. There is enough food and god and everything on this planet for everyone.

We are all one.. we are all souls (individual energy?) of one great big soul. We are the universe creating itself. And as seperate souls, we are thusly able to enjoy and appreciate who we really are.

These are truths you should consider. They will come around again time and time again.

Find your own truths and your own path.. they all lead in the same direction. Heaven is not something you achieve. Heaven is inside of you. You are the greatest creator that ever existed... we all are.. and we co-create this planet and this universe forever eternally.

I know this will sound like a weird answer. But this is the truth I've found. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

no, I am not religious. I was brought up in a strict religion and my family were treated badly as my father was not part of the religion so people thought we would be a bad influence on their kids as we had "no spiritual head of the family". My mother was and still is an amazing mother and brought us up better than anyone could have imagined possible but we still suffered abuse from the elders of the church. So I left my religion at age 22 and have not ever wanted to go back. I believe the principles of the bible, and respect the moral code, but that's more to do with being a good person, rather than a good christian.

Answer 5

I am what would be described as a cradle Catholic in that I was baptised as an infant and received my education in a convent school and received the sacraments in due course, Eucharist, Confirmation and married in the Church. Some years later I drifted away from the church having decided that I was using the hour or so on Sunday morning as a refuge from problems, the world etc. Then I took to examining my beliefs and found I wanted to belong to the local church community. A visit to Israel in 1981 was something of a watershed. A visit to Lake Galilee reinforced in belief in and devotion to Jesus. I knew that in terms of solving the world's problems I was completely helpless but I could do something. These days I am involved in the promotion of fair trade, a women's community in the Philippines, sponsoring a child in Guatemala and raising funds for projects in Equador and Mexico. I have visited Mexico five times now and have been brought face to face with destitute children who are discarded as so much rubbish. That all sounds pious and serious but there is friendship and laughter there too. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

You can choose a religion but you should first ask God to guide you in your choice. The answer may surprise you.

The definition of 'religion' is not easy. Most people would agree that it involves a set of beliefs and rules of 'best practice' which are held to be true and acknowledged by a group of people. So 'to be religious' means to associate oneself with such a body and to try to follow its rules and understand its beliefs. Although this may, and commonly does, involve the worship of God as the central purpose, a religion is much more to do with teaching people a right path to follow before they have had a personal experience of God. Sadly, many religions have fallen away from this central purpose of worship and are much more concerned with the rules and conventions which have accumulated in claiming that their way is the best and only way. As you can see from many answers above, this has caused more harm than good and many people have been turned away from God by the religion that they were brought up in.

If you 'have no religion' but have had a personal experience of God, then you should ask Him what is best for you. If you have no personal expereince of God, then you should ask Him to reveal himself to you.

Answer 7

I am a believer in God although I do not go to church I pray everyday. My thoughts on this are even if there isn't a God and that The Bible is only a novel, it is still an excellent book and to try to live your life as the " book" states is still good. I believe that to have faith makes you a much better and happier person.
Good luck with your soul searching.

Answer 8

I was raised Roman Catholic by one side of my family from birth but hated it, it made me angry and I felt that it was forced. I hated God at some points and dident really beleive in any sort of God for a few years growing up. I had to go to a Catholic school untill Grade 9.

Once I went to a public high school I started getting into Wicca and Paganism, not because of any of my friends, but because of my family ( the other side, the non-catholic side) and I felt drawn to it, it really made sence. I started taking part in my Native American Pagan heritage and I stayed on that path for many years. All my friends were Christians, not Pagans at the time. The never came with me to rituials and events. I also practiced healing arts such as crystal healing, healing with herbs and started Reiki training.

Then I felt a need for something deeper...I questioned Christianity and Jesus Christ.I wanted to learn more. I opened my heart and I understood.I prayed. I read the Bible.I found what I was looking for.

I have since found such a deep, amazing faith in Jesus Christ. For me, it has been a wonderful experience and I've never been happier. It has been a strange transformation from Pagan to Christian, but for me I know it is genuine and full of love and positivity. I've felt such a peace come over my heart. I'm not part of the Catholic church though, I have found God through the Bible and through the word of God.
I still have a deep respect for nature, I just worship the God who created it all.
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands" Psalm 19

So I do not follow religion because of my upbringing, or because of being raised by my parents. I chose to follow Jesus because I felt a need for a close relationship with God. I felt like I was being drawn to him and I opened my heart to his holy word, the Bible. If you are trying to choose a religion, God must be calling you, and he wants you to find him.

Answer 9

Though I am not a true solid believer of any one religion I am spiritual in my own way. I was raised from birth as a mormon, but as I grew older I began to look at the religion and not agreeing with all they put forth. I am now 20 and have still not found a religion that suits me and my family. I believe things from many different religions but still see myself as non denominational.

Answer 10

I am a Christian. I believe in God and all his majesty. My parents were not religious at all. I started questioning my life because I had this amazing friend that was a Christian. She never tried pushing it down my throat. I went to a Christian concert one night with her and through that grace of God, I received all the answers I had been asking myself. God showed himself to me that night and I started reading his word. I have never been happier in my life. I can find comfort even when live is tough. I know that no matter how bad life gets, I'm never alone. God is with me and will not leave me. You can meet Jesus Christ at any age and at any moment or place. When He feels your life, it will be clear that you are doing the right thing. Nothing compares to that feeling.