Anyone here change religions or beliefs that you were raised to believe in and why?

Answer 1

Left Catholic because it is a cult not a religion. It's a haven for pedophiles and money grubbers. It's beliefs are 1000 years behind the times. Priests are allowed to council marriages yet not allowed to marry themselves. Nuns are nothing more than frustrated old maids too afraid to endure life's challenges so they hide out in convents. They take money from the poor and do nothing for their communities. When I was 12 years old I us confirmed by a bishop too drunk to stand on his own during mass. Two priests had to hold the ****** up while he tried to bless everyone. That was the day I bailed on the church. All hypocrites.

Answer 2

I was born and raised a Catholic. I began to question the "religion" at a very young age.

I never understood why they publlished how much everyone had given to the church. They really did this at the end of every year.

It did not seem right that no matter how good you were you still had to spend time in purgatory to be purified before you went to heaven.

I had to go to confession at least once a week starting at the age of about six. I did not know what to confess, so I made up stuff.

I was asking questions such as "How can the Catholic church say it is wrong to use birth control? They are not the ones supporting the family and paying for the kids."

When I married I married outside the church. Unfortunately that did not last very long. When I wanted to remarry my soon to be spouse thought he wanted a Catholic wedding. We talked to the priest -- of course my first husband and I had to get an annullment , even though the church did not recognize our marriage. I asked the priest why he wanted to make my son a "bastard". He had no answer for me.

The church in essence actulally had no answers for me. I floated for quite a few years and then I found a church that actually taught from the Bible. They were not afraid to use both the old and new testaments.

They are not perfect, but they are the closest I have found. They do respect the questions I ask and if I desagree wtih their answers there is not a put down or an ostraciation by anyone.

For now this is my home church. I still do intense Bible studies for myself.

Answer 3

I was raised an agnostic but when I reached the age of 8 I had a spirtual awakening as such. The first of many. It was like I saw the world in an entirely new way, that feeling of knowing there's something greater than you. I mistakenly believed that it was *God* and devoted myself to christianity. For two years I went to church and gradually reading the bible. (A real one not a childrens...why people get shocked over that..I don't know) and as I read the crucifixtion of Jesu ad then the letters of Paul and Judgement day I finally realised the indiscrepencies. The things Paul wrote never matched what Jesus would say and on several occasions Jesus contradicted himself. Thats' when my second spiritual awakening occured. I came to the realization at 10 that the bible was a lie. Everything I had read had been written by sad little men trying to control a rebellioous person. Yes I believe Jesus existed but I don't believe he was the son of god. He merely spoke the truth that god is everywhere there is no need to worship him in churches. He said things that made the current enforcers of religion fear him and eventually kill him, to shut him up. A political assasination if you will. His true messages have been lost and fabricated so many times by various monarchs and governments that the bible is mix-match of ramblings.
Admittedly some of the latter thoughts came later on, but even as a 10 year old I realised religion for what it was a brainwashing tool in the hands of the Popes counsellors and cardinals. The pope holds no real power much like the queen of england. Both figureheads, scapegoats, diversionary tactics.
It was that moment I felt the presence agin and it took me the next five years to reach the stage where I know..I KNOW, there is a higher being. Not a religous Icon, not an omnipotent, omnipresent vengeful god. But a lifeforce and energy that flows everywhere, in me, in you, everything is filled with that lifeforce that enegy. It is that which signified my third awakening. The realization that there ARE things beyond our understanding and that we shouldn't meddle with them. But we are all so cut off from that connecting lifeforce by rules, regulations, religion and society we're floundering, our connection with the Earth and with the higher powers gone and It hurts to watch humanity digging it's own grave. Hmm perhaps I have said too much....no wonder my parents tell me I act too old for my 15 years. Maybe I need to satrt socializing more...so yeah..my spirtual path of a meagre 15 years.

Answer 4

I was raised a "nothing". There was no conversations about , for or against "god". We did not pray or say "bless you" when some one sneezed. It is kind of a cold world, so now as an adult, I ponder the possibility of a higher power, and sometimes pray in solitude. My husband and I "tried" a liberal christian church but it was incredibley boring. No good philosophical debates or any reason to continue going. Except the doughnuts. My daughter has favored a christian belief system, which I support 100%. She finds solice, peace and good friends there. My husband and I prefer the bicycle club and long hard sunday morning rides to exorcise the demons. I guess you could say I was brought up an areligionist and have evolved to a swearing agnostic.

Answer 5

Raised a Christian, became an agnostic atheist. When I was about 11 or 12 I simply started asking myself if I really believed in God and other aspects of Christian theology. I started reading up on philosophy and all different religions, including their sacred texts, and came to the conclusion that none of them seemed right. Certain teachings of numerous religions seemed to contain some wisdom, but the basic issues about supernatural beings didn't hold water with me. I still study religions today, but it's more about just increasing my knowledge than (metaphorical) soul-searching.

Answer 6

I was raised Mormon. I left when I was 17. Several things happened to make me question my beliefs, but the big things that got me to thinking were two books: "The Mormon Murders" and "A Gathering of Saints." Both books were about the crimes of Mark Hofmann, a bomber and document forger. Those books opened my eyes. Also, I got real tired of the Mormon ideal that a woman is her husband's wife and her children's mother, with no identity of her own. It didn't feel right for a woman to have no religious power, so I left.

I exposed myself to all sorts of religions, trying to find what fit. I tried Buddhism, Christianity (all sects), Satanism, Atheism (I made a bad atheist because I do believe that there is a higher power, just not the the christian god), and finally Paganism, where I still am today.

Answer 7

No I have not changed my beliefs but I did strengthen them and change denominations. I was raised Baptist but now I am Catholic.I see this as a continuation of my faith not a serious change. It is like I came HOME. On Y&A I have learned that much I thought I 'knew' about others I was misinformed and I am glad to learn the truth. It has been an enlightening format.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Answer 8

this is a 'button' of mine. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school, attended church and made the sacraments, but as an adult, I bolted. Too many legalities, too many things to keep tabs on for whether I get to heaven or not. The Lord above, whatever he, she or it is called would never have been so vengeful, so unbending. I believe that as you go through life if you love, simply love other people, and never intentionally bring pain into other's lives...there is a better place waiting in eternity.

Answer 9

Born into an Anglacan religion untill the age of seven,when I left the church.
God found me at the age of ten and waited for me to learn about all religions in the world.
At twenty-four I realized that all he wanted was my faith in Him and I've never looked back since then.
Faith works if you believe in Him not the churches, sure hope more people come to realize this.
Religion is about the money. Faith is about GOD.

Answer 10

No my non secular beliefs at the prompt are not an analogous as how i became raised. I requested a large number of questions about what i became being instructed and that i did not get the solutions I predicted. i became raised a Protestant Christian and now i'm only non secular. i imagine what i became taught in church conflicted with what i became taught in college and it made the finished element very puzzling. instead, i desirous to stumble on a contented medium for what makes me waiting to stay a contented existence for myself without inflicting damage to others. i determined now to not push any non secular beliefs onto my babies and to let them make up their personal minds about who or what they trust in. My mom on the different hand is very dedicate, would not dream of lacking church, and does prayer circles and bible learn each day.