Who here has switched their belief from what they were taught or grew up with?

Question

There's so many different religions and just in Christianity look at all of the different groups. So if you read the bible for yourself, what do you believe? Has anyone changed their minds and decided that they dont' agree with what they were taught? What was it you disagreed with that made you switch?

Answer 1

I was told to believe in God, but I just couldn't do it. It never made sense to me. The more I studied, the less convinced I became that there was a God. I am happy to be an atheist now.

Answer 2

I was raised Catholic. But when I was about 16, I found out from my CYO teacher (the parish priest), that the Catholic Church hides the truth from its people. Since then, I have found many, many lies that the Catholic Church has told throughout the centuries.

It was particularly revealing when I started reading the Bible and discovered that they don't even teach the doctrines of Christ and the Apostles. Everything they teach is either an invention of their own or a modified version of some pagan myth.

For about 14 years I investigated other religions: from Mormons (my buddy's belief), Ekkankur, Judaism, Baptists, Buddhism, Confucism, etc. I found all to be flawed, with contradictory teachings. Then I believe God lead me to find a group of people who taught and practiced a consistent biblical religion.

Today I consider myself a follower of the primitive Christian Church. The doctrines I follow are in the Bible, not myths or "Traditions," or confounded and inconsistent exceptions. (BTW, I'm not the only one who believe these things; I've found others who believe as I do.)

Answer 3

I was raised a Methodist but my grandparents were Christian Scientist and 7th Day Adventist. Because of this, I questioned everything looking for the real truth. The one thing that was immediately clear to me was that God, the father would not burn his children alive in fire. I kept trying to figure out the trinity and asked leaders of many faiths--not just those in my background. I read the Bible alot and really meditated on what I learned. I was 30 years old when I was first approached by a Jehovah's Witness at my door. He was the only one who had been able to show me the answers to my questions directly from my copy of the Bible. For the next 7 years I studied to prove them wrong. Then I studied one more year to really learn my Bible. Now, I am a baptized Jehovah's Witness and KNOW that this religion is the TRUE one. Come see for yourself!!

Answer 4

Yeah, I was raised in one of those fundamentalist bible-beating hellfire and brimstone type atmospheres. After being away at college for just one semester, I discovered there was a lot of bs being tossed people's way by the bible-thumpers. I totally disagree with everything they taught from the fact you had to become "saved" and sanctified" (whatever the hell that is) before you could be baptized and join their church. Then, you would be able to go to heaven. What a bunch of malarkey!

There is little scientific evidence to back up most of the stories in the bible - some yes, but not many. And there was a great deal of plagiarism and theft going on as the so-called Christians stole morality tales from other religions. For example, the flood story is almost identical to the Sumerian tale of Gilgamesh which preceded it by many years.

Then, there is the concept that hell is in the middle of the planet and there are millions of people living there in torment. We know that not to be true. Just another myth perpetrated by the bible-beaters.

But, probably the two biggest turn-offs were: first, Jesus Christ said not to worship him, but to worship his Father, so naturally we have this massive movement called Christianity which worships him - exactly the opposite of what he wanted.

And second, religion is all about money, money and more money. I think Jesus Christ would be appalled if he came back and saw the multi-million dollar churches presided over by preachers making the same kind of money and driving a new Mercedes every year and living in a multi-million dollar home when he preached poverty. If there is such a thing as a hell, that's where they're all bound as fast as they can go since Christ stated that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to attain the kingdom of God. But most of them make more money in a month than I make in a year and I make good money.

As to the heaven/hell concept: hell is here on earth if that's what you choose to make of your life. Or it can be heaven if you care for your fellow man and live decently. After you die, you evolve, or perhaps get another chance here or elsewhere and keep trying until you get it right.

Organized religion is so full of loopholes and bull that its totally incomprehensible to me how anyone can swallow their line of crap. But, everyone has a right to believe in whatever makes them happy and works for them. I just hope they aren't too disappointed when it's all over.

Answer 5

Basically I was raised up a catholic and when I got old enough to make a choice for my self I saw the hypocrisy the outright lies the lack of using the Bible and so much more i started to look for the truth and searched many religions untill I found the right one that lives 100% in harmony with the Bible who live what they believe 24/7 i became one of Jehovahs Witnesses and have been so for 35 years and couldnt be happier gorbalizer

Answer 6

I grew up with parents who said they were Christian. My father was brought up in much the same way, except that he was forced to read and recite the bible.

We didnt even have bibles in our house. When my teacher asked our class to tell our religion (yes it was stil allowed back then) I told her I thought we were prostitutes. I had no idea what a prostitute was, I just mixed up the word with prodestant.

My father was very biased about many things, we were taught that black people and women were inferior to Gods original design of Man. that black people and women were created to serve white men and so on.

Jewish people were money hungry and controlled new york and america and politics. I am sure there is more, but you get the picture.

Imagine my surprise when I start reading a bible for myself as a younger adult and learn that all the things I was told about do not exist.

I learned that we all not only came from Adam and Eve, but after the flood , we started anew again from only Noah and his sons and their wives.

I learned that although I am a gentile, i am adopted into the seed of Abraham, making me one of the chosen ones. All because I chose to accept rather than reject.

I learned that God states that we are all the same to him and that on earth he has given each of us different gifts and jobs to do for him, not other people. I must love and forgive all, not just whom I like or want to.

So, I went from lip service Christianity to a believer and follower of God and all that he has done and all that he is doing , and all that he will yet do.

I am very grateful that I do not live in the world of make your own Christianity anymore.

Answer 7

I switched as I got older .No one could prove that there was a god.
You don`t Lie to children ,and my parents did not .
They both believed in their faiths ,but could not get me to feel the same dedication.
I always wanted proof . I started to test what I was told .
Once a priest told me that I would be struck by lightning if I questioned the existence of God . It didn`t happen .
I was also told that when i made my first holy communion that I would SEE and Feel the power of God in my eyes and my heart.
I didn`t happen .
I am a believer in science ,truth and the goodness of people in all of mankind .
I guess I`m a little strange ? Huh ?

Answer 8

I was sent to Mom's church where her father was pastor. A child is too undeveloped intellectually to know what is true, but I was able to begin to think for myself quite young. Grandfather had a book with Bishop James Ussher's date of creation as 4004 BC. I loved dinosaur books, and my books about them said Earth is 4,700,000,000 years old. That was quite a difference. I saw my dinosaur books had much proof for what they said, but Ussher had only a book that is naive. Thus, at age eight or so, I began to doubt the family religion. As I grew older and learned more, I saw ever more reasons to disbelieve in the Bible. In Bible History in college, the textbook mentioned Bible contradictions. Other books have more of them, including one Billy Graham gave me. I found more on my own, many without seeking them. I haven't been to church for many years. I see there is no real proof of any gods' existences but much disproof.

Answer 9

I was raised Methodist. The Bible never rang true to me. I knew that there was much more to it than a bunch of bad stories. When I began to study ancient religions, the things I read, I knew to be true. As if I was remembering not learning them. Sad how so much knowledge has been lost to the majority of society. Simply because they refuse to open their minds, and seek for themselves.

Answer 10

While growing up my family attended church, but none of us had a clue as to the need in ones life for a Savior. It is really sad that so many years went by before I figured it out.

My folks went to church with us when we were young, but as my siblings and I got older my Dad would just drop us off there.
So we weren't raised in a Christian family.

As an adult I started wondering about bible prophecy.
To understand it, I was encouraged to read the bible for myself. Then I started attending bible study. It was then that I realized that I needed a savior.
So I went from "church attending non believer" which by the way is VERY common in today's "Christianity Light"/"Easy Believism" society - to being a born again Christian with a relationship with the One who died and rose again. Thank You Jesus.