Are you a religious convert (please read detail before answering)?

Question

Here's my question: In converting to whatever religion, what were the actual questions for which you wanted answers? What answers do you get from your chosen faith that your previous faith did not give you?

In replying, I request that you give your gender, your current age, your age when you chose to convert, what faith you chose, and which faith you left.

Please, no judging or proselytizing in your replies. I ask just because I'm fascinated with knowing what questions are so important to people as to drive such intensity of inquiry and action.

My question is especially for anyone and everyone who is a convert from one religion to another. The reason I want to limit this to converts is that converts have made a deliberate decision about faith that people born into faith probably did not. No disrespect intended in this observation.

To "Happy Halloween" - Yes, please.

Heartfelt answers, but this isn't working out really well. Maybe my premise is wrong - I concede that is possible - but I read frequently of people who convert to Religion X because "it answered my questions" or "all my questions were answered." I just want to know - WHAT question(s)?

Answer 1

I was born a Christian, and also studied Theology at university, taught young people in church and worked as a Cantor in church. However, after many years I decided that Christianity posed a lot of questions I didn't pose (what's the meaning with our lives, why do I feel guilty/sinful, who created the World, how do I reach Heaven, and so on). I just found all those anxious questions irrelevant for my life and thoughts.

Then I found Buddhism (at age almost 30). The more I studied it (and listened to their teachings), the more I found that the questions were relevant and the answers even more. The questions I found relevant were, for example, how should I live my life, how can I make myself useful for others (i e how can I help others), why should I want to live like that, which emotions are disturbing, why are they disturbing, how can I eliminate them, and so on.

One of the biggest and most obvious differences between Christianity and Buddhism I found, was that even if they have almost the same ideals about how you should treat others (be kind, loving, generous, compassionate, devout, and avoid egoism, craving, hate, violence, etc), Christianity said you can't really change without the help of God, and even if you could, they don't tell you HOW, whereas Buddhism is like a gigantic toolbox of methods to do just that: if I hate someone, how do I change? If I want to be more generous, how do I change? If I want to be more compassionate, how do I change (and why?)? For all those questions, they have a lot of useful step-by-step methods that really work.

So, the step from more or less passive belief and trust in God and his Son, to systematic and purposeful work with my own mind was a huge and entirely positive one! About one decade later, I can still only see good things in this change. Every situation I meet ("good" or "bad") is now full of meaning, because it helps me work with my own feelings and reactions, and helps me see how to help others.

This citation is one of my favourites as short summary of the Buddhist way:

"All whosoever who are happy in the world
Are so through the wish for the happiness of others;
While all whosoever who are miserable in the world
Are so through the wish for the happiness of themselves."

Shantideva, India, 8th century

Answer 2

I was raised Christian (Methodist). In my early 20s I met someone who called himself a "heathen." I was astounded that there was actually someone in this world who didn't believe all the stuff I'd been taught. From that time forward I gave serious thought to the heaven/hell concept. It makes no sense whatsoever! I read about many religions, including Edgar Cayce (not religion), and decided Edgar Cayce made the most sense -- reincarnation with appropriate punishment/reward for the next life. I didn't think about religion much for the next 30 years and raised our children without religion.

A few years ago I attended a "Taste of Judaism" series of 6 classes describing Judaism for both Jews and non-Jews. It made sense from the git-go, and I've been studying everything I can get my hands on ever since.

There is no dogma in Judaism. Questions and debate are not only allowed, they are encouraged. There is little or no emphasis on the afterlife (if there is one). There is more emphasis on community than individual, and more emphasis on Life than death. One is encouraged to stay on the right path to God, but one can return to the path at any time simply by begging forgiveness from those you've injured, making amends, and only then asking God's forgiveness. Each of us is responsible for our own sins -- no vicarious atonement.

More emphasis is placed on our own behavior rather than others' behavior. The laws of the OT together with the Talmud (law library) are the basis for today's morals and ethics.

Everyone is encouraged to learn Hebrew and to read the Torah (Old Testament) in it's original form. What a surprise to learn how many different meanings there are in every word and series of words. The Torah comes alive when read in Hebrew!

http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm

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Answer 3

I converted from Catholic to the Jewish religion...I was 30 years old then now 51 still jewish. My reasons were my children and my ex-wife. I wanted to be involved with my kids religious upbringing. I was very upset by the passing of my father and lost interest in my religion...after meeting my wife to be, I started to go to temple with her and started practicing the faith. I was very interested in the jewish ways and probably Know more about the religion more than most jewish born folks. If you are thinking about a conversion, talk to a rabbi or priest...Talk to other converts about there situation and compare it to yours.

Answer 4

Ten years ago at 41 I joined a church that followed the bible 100%. I won't go into much detail because of the crude people here. I want to follow God. No false teachings. No side tracts. I want to do what God wants me to do. I know his ways are perfect. I joined this church because I love God and I want to be with others who also love God. Today I am very happy with my choice. I look at lots of Church's. Most don't follow the bible 100% Some don't even attempt to. My church gets together every 5 years to compare doctrines to the bible. If the church is wrong they change to match the bible.

Answer 5

when I was 19 after spending a summer working at a christian camp my faith was questioned.
I asked myself "do I believe this because I actually believe it or is it because I've been told it was true since birth"
So I decided to start over, believe nothing and prayed that god would guide me to truth, whether that be christianity or other.
So far I've been lead very far from christianity and don't really have a religion, am simply spiritual.
I'm male btw.

Answer 6

Does this include people who converted from religion to atheism?