Which factor influenced your choice of religions? Someone told you, you studied the issues, or what?

Question

How did you come to believe whatever you believe, and, what was the most significant factor that influenced that decision?

Answer 1

By Jewish tradition, I'm technically Jewish. My mother's mother was born and raised as a Jew. However, my mother's father was of Arabic origins, and my grandmother drifted away from the Jewish faith.

As a child, I was raised as a Methodist. We didn't have a car when my mother decided it was time for me to start going to church. So I went to church with a neighbor, who was Methodist.

When I got older, I began to question the validity of all religions. Eventually, that questioning led me to believe that almost every one of them is inherently flawed. Despite the prostelitizing of some Protestant groups, most religions seem more interested in exclusion than inclusion. And many religions are more willing to force people to follow them by threat of death than by setting worthy examples. (For example, the Catholics in the Crusades, the Shi'a Muslims vs. the Sunni Muslims, Catholics vs. Protestants in Northern Ireland. Muslims vs. Christians in the Philippines, the Sudanese civil war, Hindus vs. Muslims in India, and so on.)

As a result of that questioning, I chose to follow the so-called Golden Rule, to treat others as I would have them treat me. Although that is supposedly a major tenet of Christianity, a version of it exists in all the major religions of the world.

Now I subscribe to no particular religion, but strive to live a good and decent life. I suppose most people would call me a "secular humanist."

"Christian fundamentalist opponents of humanism typically use the term 'secular humanism' pejoratively to mean atheism or secularism or to lump together all nontheistic varieties of humanism. Humanists object to such usage, finding it misleading or overly broad." (Wikipedia. "Secular Humanism" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism. Accessed September 29, 2006.)

Answer 2

I was raised Catholic by parents who were pretty "old school" but who at the same time were open to all religions and encouraged me to ask questions and look for the answers. I've had the chance to do some study on different religions and then finally did my Master's Degree work in Pastoral Ministries, which included a large dose of Catholic theology. I might not agree with everything that comes from the Vatican, but the core beliefs resonate with me as true.

The biggest factor in my continuing decision to be Roman Catholic is that it gives me what I need spiritually. I'm a ritualistic person by nature, so organized liturgy is a very comfortable way for me to express my faith within a community. I find comfort reading scripture and having hope in something after death.

Answer 3

It´s a combo of factors. As a child i was told there is a God and i believed, then my 1st grade teacher told the class about Calvary and i believe that also. Then i had a few personal spiritual encounters and that stayed with me for life. After that i´ve seen and experienced actual supernatural happenings (to many to describe) so the final result is tha i am really confirmed in the faith of Jesuschrist as the only way to the Father. To some people i may be what they call, ´´a religious fanatic´´ but religion has nothing to do with it. ´t´s a personal relationship with God and i will not trade it for anything in heaven or earth or any other place. It´s alright if people don´t understand. God bless you, just the same!!!

Answer 4

After being many different Protestant religions and a Catholic, as well as being a Religious Study and Ethics major in College, I had a turning point in my life. I was on the verge of suicide, and losing everything. That's when God came into my life and I became a born-again Christian. I've been one for 15 years.

I've also studied Eastern Philosophies and find that Buddhism is much like the Bible. At least the principles of living.

Answer 5

I am an agnostic. I have come to accept my beliefs need to be flexible and are open to change, because I will never hold the ultimate key to truth. I was raised as a Catholic, but I have come to take most of my religious ideas today from the Orient (Hinduism and Buddhism).
I have read widely on the subject and am interested in all religions. I believe all faiths have something positive to bring to humanity. The reason I have tended to hover more towards Oriental philosophies is because of their flexibility. I found it suited me best.
I am uncomfortable with the Christian idea that one must somehow either believe, or be punished for it. I know not all Christians would agree with that statement, but the idea doesn't make sense to me and clashes with my idea of what God is. I simply can't picture the Ultimate being in the role of judge. Islam and Judaism share that conception, and that is why I have moved away from them.
There are, however, intelligent and sincere people of all faiths, and I respect any person's belief as long as that belief does not include imposition on others.

Answer 6

I was raised very, very conservatively Christian. It never made sense to me--I actually got booted from my elementary school-level Bible study for asking questions that stirred up trouble.

When I got older, I studied everything about every religion that I could find. None rang true to me; it was evident to me that there was no proof for anything, that the basis behind religion had the same level of objective truth as the Grimm's fairy tales.

So I accepted the fact that I had never really believed and finally stopped feeling like a big fat liar.

Answer 7

I grew up Protestant, began studying Wicca (didn't care for it), went to the library got a huge book on all the religions and decided that Catholicism made the most sense. I am in the process of conversion and baptism!!

Answer 8

It first began with a major disappointment in the religion I was born and Baptized into
Then came years of trying on religions like jackets. Some kept me warm for a while, but quickly went out of style.
Then I became Agnostic as a result of my own best thinking and a hard searching look at the facts.

Answer 9

My parents sent me to hell & brimstone christian schools growing up, before homeschooling me. I got in trouble many times for saying no, God will not strike me with lightning & no I'm not gonna get Left Behind during the Rapture. I hate organized religion altogether at this point, I'm 30 years old. My ex-husband converted to jehovah's witness, and they are even more controlling than radical christians. Did you hear about Indonesia last week? Apparently the Christian Crusades are still going on, but they are now firing squads. Religion causes so many wars and other problems. I have my own beliefs. I do believe in God and His Goodness and Love.

Answer 10

As I was growing up, I went to the church that my parents went to. After I was out on my own, and studying the Bible, I went to different denominations of Christianity until I found one that was Bible based, and preached on the applicability of the Bible in today's times.
As for what the most significant factor - studying the Bible.