A question for people of all beliefs?

Question

When you doubted your beliefs(everyone has done it) what caused it?How did you find the truth?

Answer 1

I, like many people here, was raised in a faith. There's no need to name names. I was always a smart kid, and I paid attention to the things that went on around me.

The first thing that made me doubt was as a boy. Let's be honest here - I was a nerd. I didn't fit in much, but attended religious classes with other boys of my age, some of whom were quite popular. They treated me shabbily, and I didn't care for them much for it. At one point I began to ask myself: are these the people who will become the future members of my church? Are they going to always be like this? This cannot be right...

That doubt probably opened the crack that allowed the second, and really telling blow to happen. I should mention, however, that my fears then were all unjustified. It turned out that most of those boys were really no more true-believers than I was, but most of them converted at some time later. All the ones I have met show remorse for their earlier behaviour, and one even said that HE secretly admired ME (who would have thought?). To my knowledge they are all now fine fellows, and far from bearing a grudge, I too, respect what they have become, even if we don't always agree on things.

As you may have guessed, I was a little more mature than most of them back then. This led many of my church leaders to single me out for more responsibility as a class leader and the like. As a leader, it was expected that I held a higher moral standard. Yet I wasn't really much more disciplined than most boys. So I was caught. And I did what many boys do. I lied.

The interesting thing about this whole scenario is that I was told as a child that authorities in the church were given 'powers'. A lot of religions have this idea, I've found, even if the powers are only the ability to give blessings or marry people and the like. In my particular church, and as a child, I was told it was impossible to lie to an authority because he was given the power to see through lies.

This turned out to be completely untrue. Not only was I able to lie, I was completely trusted in positions of authority. Even when I continued to do things that were considered sinful. This went on for a few years, eroding what childhood faith I had in my religion and in my parents. I never did 'convert' to that religion as pretty much all my peers did.

After that, I started thinking. I thought about what 'god' means. I thought about characteristics that gods MUST have. I thought about what gods do and what they do not do. And I figured out which gods lived in MY universe. Whether or not they have any effect on anyone else I cannot say, but they definitely affect me.

So there you have it. My story of doubt and belief. Like my gods, it's important to me, but your mileage may vary. Peace!

Answer 2

I was raised mormon. Was a youth leader at all levels, intensely involved -- it was all I knew! I even went on a 2-year mormon mission to another country. During that mission, I really began to have doubts...I struggled the whole time I was there "converting" other people, all the while suppressing my own doubts.
When I got back from the mission, I began to educate myself. I learned a lot of things about the founding of the mormon church that had been hidden. Then I studied history, especially religious history -- and learned how it had been used through the ages for power and control, and how many of the "bible stories" we take for granted are simply not true. Then a science education, and that wiped away all remaining doubt -- there is no evidence of any kind for a god of any kind, there is lots of evidence against, and the doubts I had been having were my reason and logic trying to break through the dogma. That can really be hard to do when everyone around you is telling you that if you have doubts, your faith just isn't strong enough :) They want to keep you in!

I'm much happier since then. I live by reason. I demand evidence and proof for statements claiming to be truth, and if there is none I discard them. It's a much better way to live!

Happy New Year :)

Answer 3

I doubted my beliefs a lot growing up as a Christian.

I found the truth when I was 17. I just figured out, there is no god. This makes no sense. What the heck am I doing with my life!?!?!

I have been an Atheist ever since, and haven't doubted it once.

Answer 4

My doubts started when I was a very young child. I lost both parents by the age of 7. Then, in my adult life, my sweet sister was murdered, the other one took her life, as did my favourite brother. I also lost my grandson 2 days before his 10th birthday to brain cancer. There were also 2 favourite male cousins that took their lives during this time as well. I just can't conceive there's a loving God out there, basically leaving me alone, and, lonely. I still haven't found the truth, I don't think there is a truth. I'm angry, but, I continue to go on, and I am blessed with 2 daughter's, and, a gorgeous baby granddaughter. So life does go on. ~~~

Answer 5

I was raised in the Lutheran church. At one time my parents were splitting up and it became very ugly. The pastor of our church came to our home to inform my mother that he was going to help my father take us children away from her. That would have been a disaster, we were poor but much better off with him out of the house. I could not believe this so called man of God was even thinking such a thing. I lost some of my faith back then

Later at a very very trying time in my life a time that could be called a make or break point I was totally distraut and at a loss for what to do. When I finally slept I saw Jesus come to me and offer me his hand. he said Take my hand and it will all be alright." I took his hand and the dream ended immediately but I was at peace for the rest of the night and I was calm in the morning. Things turned around and in the end everything was more than alright in fact things worked out better than I ever thought. I will not doubt again.

Answer 6

I doubted Christianity since my early teens. I think what lead me to doubt is knowledge of all the other belief systems, some careful contemplation about the circular logic of the Bible, and scientific evidence that contradicts the Bible.

I just slowly, over maybe 7 years, decided there was no god.

Answer 7

My doubt was caused by lack of knowledge, selfishness ("I want it NOW!") and basic immaturity. It took a while, but I did find "the truth" after a lot of study and trial and error with other belief systems.

Answer 8

I started doubting my beliefs when I was going through infertility because I felt that if there were Gods, they certainly wouldn't put me through the hell I was going through. I came back to my beliefs when one of my deities (my Patron) came to me and lifted me out of depression. He gave me purpose and hope again by pointing me in the right direction - and then things got really good and I realized that perhaps there really is purpose to everything and I was probably better off childless for the time being. I mean - obviously this is the short-short version of the story.

Answer 9

I've never doubted Wicca. I lost my faith in Christianity so long ago, I don't remember when it happened so I've always doubted it. A millions things caused that.

As for Atheism, I still lean towards Atheism and always have. Probably always will. What made me doubt Atheism? I don't think I have, really. My views of Wicca are somewhat different than others.

Answer 10

When I doubted my beliefs, it was due to the ignorant teachings of some of my old college mates. They had plenty of ammunition to shoot my beliefs down, but I found the truth by doing my own research and actually shooting holes into their belief system.