Do you know the history of your religion?

Question

Would it or does it affect how you feel today about it? Knowing that in the past your religion had some harsh customs that no longer exist.
Smile it's contagious.

My question is because many on here believe that Christianity still exists in a time zone many centuries ago where we were apparently burning witches and so on and so forth. It has made non-believers not want to believe. I am wondering if that history changes believers to non-believers.

Answer 1

Most religions have roots in a time when customs were different and probably bloody. It doesn't bother me because that's how things were in that time. The past is in the past. The only way that it would bother me is if a religion wasn't honest about it and tried to hide or cover up their past. If they did and I found out I would never trust them again. But with honesty and straightforwardness (no candy-coating), I have no problems with it.

I follow a Celtic path and the ancient Celts were known to have been very bloody. Headhunting and sacrifices were done. This doesn't mean that those practices are brought forward to today. The times have changed and religion has changed along with it.

Answer 2

Yes, I do actually. Atheism first originated in 16th-century France before the advent of Classical Antiquity. Epicurus proposed theories that included a lack of belief in an afterlife, though he remained ambiguous on the existence of deities. Before him, Socrates was sentenced to death partly on the grounds that he was guilty of impiety by denying the existence of the gods, although he did express belief in several forms of divinity, as recorded in Plato's Apology. The criminal connotation attached to atheistic ideas would long remain. A "wrong belief" might be equated with "unbelief" and condemn even those deeply committed to a god as "atheists."

By the late 20th century, atheism had become common in some countries along with the rationalist movement and secular humanism, particularly among scientists. Some Communist states, such as the USSR, promoted atheism and opposed religion, often by violent means [2]; Enver Hoxha went further than most and officially banned religion in Albania. These policies helped reinforce negative connotations concerning atheism, especially where anti-communist sentiment was strong, despite the fact that many prominent atheists, such as Ayn Rand, were anti-communist. In the United States, the term "atheist" entered popular parlance as synonymous with being unpatriotic during the Cold War ('godless commie'). It has been suggested that the social antipathy directed against atheists constitutes atheophobia .

Answer 3

Truth and only the truth is my religion and it exists since the birth of the earth.

Answer 4

I believe in ONE GOD. However in Jesus name I was healed from dreadful degenerative terminal illness with no cure. Therefore I go to Catholic Church to talk & pray to God, to find peace and for purification. Don't know much about religion - not interested.
God is in my heart.

Answer 5

My religion started with "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

Answer 6

I do not have a religion, I have a faith in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God ... and you are so right, smiling is very contagious!

Answer 7

Yes. Modern Catholicism is steeped in it's history.

Answer 8

You mean at one time it was customary to wear Bermuda Shorts in my religion?

Answer 9

My religion is history (as in gone).

Answer 10

Yes...