Religious People - Why did you choose your particular religion?

Question

Note: I put this in the philosophy section, and not the religion section, for a reason. I'm not looking for proclamations of faith, or for stories about how wonderful your chosen god is. I want to know why, after careful reflection and introspection, you chose the specific religion you did. There are so many out there, what led you to the one you ultimately picked?

As per an answerers request:
By religious people, I mean people who consider themselves to be religious. If you feel that you are religious, I would like to hear your answer. I'm hesitant to provide any more definition, as I don't want my defintion of religious to affect people's responses.

Answer 1

I'm Catholic. I believe in the life of Jesus, more specifically the Nicene Creed. I grew up Catholic but stopped going to church around 15 yrs. old. I didn't want to be spoon-fed anymore.

I've studied Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, even Unitarian Universalism and more. I took a test ( http://selectsmart.com/religion.html ) and came out 100% Hinduism because some of my views lean more to Sri Krishna and reincarnation. But at 28 yrs old I chose Catholicism because of his words, "Do this in remembrance of me". No other religion has a man who died saying anything like this (not even Sri Krishna). Despite gnosticism and the lost gospels, the Eucharist means something to me. I combine various aspects of all religions on different issues and incorporate that into my faith. But Jesus was the supreme example, above all.

Structuralized religion aside, my FAITH is more of a Taoist Catholic. I know it's convenient to end up where I began, but I'm satisfied with my research and my faith.

Answer 2

Please don't take this wrong, but can you provide clarification on what you mean by Religious People? Do you mean someone who follows Jesus? How you define Religious People is really important in trying to answer your question.

Thanks.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm going to suggest that religious people choose their religion based on worldly influences and/or stimuli that they interpreted and which "makes sense" to them - for the most part they agree with what they know about their chosen religion. It's really a screwed up deal, because in choosing your religion, you naturally become close-minded to any other religions that differ from yours. It's as if you become resistant to seeking further Truth as a defense-mechanism. I could go on, but suffice it to say, I did not choose a religion.

Thanks for the question, take care.

Answer 3

hmm for me i guess you could say it was the process of elimination. when the religion i was born into was not working at all for me, i got out and learned about/practiced all others that i could find that seemed to hold promise or that i didnt understand. i stayed with one until i found a critical flaw and then i left each straightaway and looked for another, each time learning something new and broadening my perspective.

have been in current system for ~12 years. no fatal flaws, and i keep improving as a human and it is very helpful to me and in my relationship with my Source, myself, and others, so i know i am in the right place for me now.

as to what led me there, i guess all the trial and error smartened me up. like i hinted at , i mostly learned what i DIDNT want but eventually it reversed as i got closer

Answer 4

It feels right. It fits me. I was brought up with a strong religious belief and over the years it has evolved into something very personal to me. It means so many different things to different people. I just hope I wear it well...

Answer 5

initially becuase of my family, culture and upbringing-my personal world view said that Christianity made sence.
All religions, require something of man, are a set of rules and regulations, of sacrifices and offerings, of good works and rituals. All of them when you dig deep are really the same -there is a God who we need to please, but can NEVER please.

- after maturing and seeking and studying I saw that all else is meaningless and that what I have is not a religion but an actual, very real and very personal RELATIONSHIP with a living God.

I won't cause you asked not too, but I could also go into detail of stories where I have seen the hand of God and His power and that is partly what lead me to Him.

Answer 6

that's the problem people are caught up into religion. I was raised baptist but once i began to know who God is, I no longer look at religion. religion can't save you only the grace and mercy of God. People shouldn't get caught up into religion. It is only one God, one faith, one Jesus, one cross, one holy spirit.

Answer 7

My parents said they didn't want me to end up with some God of Obesity no offense monks. By the way your kung fu is awesome ty for teaching me black belt haha in your face. And plus i like Proverbs that's why i got smarter.