Are your spiritual beliefs similar to your parnet's beliefs.?

Question

I am curious. . .where do your spiritual beliefs/non-beliefs come from. Have you just stuck to how you were raised? Did you search for answers for yourself? Do you believe as your family does? Are your beliefs totally different from your parents and do they accept you anyway?

Edit: oops I meant parents' :)

Lela, I am sorry you were done wrong by a church. The church judged you, not God. I have issues with a lot of churches.
I am glad you have found happiness :)

Answer 1

In short, no.
My spiritual beliefs, like me, grew and matured, over time.
No, and Yes. I wasn't raised as Deist.
Yes, I did the 'great quest for knowledge', all on my ownsome.
My family and I share similar views, but we differ on some things. Nothing major.
My beliefs aren't totally different from my parent's, but they love me, unconditionally, nonetheless.
I think they'd still love love me if I turned up, penniless, head shaved, smelling like I hadn't showered in a week, and in the midst of a nervous breakdown, virtually unannounced on their doorstep.
Oh, wait. They did.
Good people, my family.

Answer 2

I was raised by only my mother, who is Christian. She's not a fanatic, nor does she believe in all the dogma, but she leads a good life and believes that Jesus died for her sins.

She was more into Christianity when I was little, so she taught me the basics. Of course, I already had my own set of beliefs when I was still young enough to be in kindergarten.

How I came about my own beliefs is still a mystery. No one ever taught me, I just felt it in my heart and spirit. If I had to describe what I believe in, in as many words as I wanted, I would say that I'm a mixture of Unitarian Universalist, Deist, Agnostic, and Pagan.

I'm a Unitarian because no matter what you call the Higher Power, God, Allah, Mithra, Odin, Frigga ... it's all the same thing. I believe that every religion is worshiping the same Deity.

I'm a Deist because I believe that the Higher Power is behind what created the Big Bang and Evolution. Once the Higher Power created what it wanted, it let creation naturally progress without interference.

I'm Agnostic because I can't be certain there is a Higher Power. Part of me has to see to believe because I do take science very seriously. However, even if there wasn't a Higher Power, I wouldn't mind. I would still be living my life the way I am now.

I'm a Pagan because I believe that the Higher Power has many different archetypes. Thus, polytheism. I believe the Higher Power is apart of nature - not separated form it. It's in the smallest grain of sand on this planet, to the vastness of our universe - and beyond. It is in all of all the elements: earth, fire, air, water, and spirit.

Above all else, I believe that dogma stunts spiritual growth and possibility.

After a while, my mother accepted my beliefs after I explained them to her. For some reson though, she still thinks that I'm Christian deep down inside even though I was never Christian to begin with.

Oh well, whatever helps her sleep at night.

Answer 3

My beliefs are similar to my mother's, but not the same. We both are on a continuing spiritual journey, and along the way we compare notes. We have some great discussions and have influenced each other. Although we don't agree on everything, we're similar enough that we can see the other's point of view. This has gone on since I was little, so I guess in a way I was raised to continually pursue and question and contemplate an ever-changing concept of spirituality.

My father doesn't pay attention to religion but 'contemplates the universe' from time to time. That jives a lot with what I believe, although we never talk about it anymore.

Answer 4

Well i always knew I was different than most. Even when I attended church I was ostracized by the people who attended. I guess I asked too many questions. When I was a teen a was told be the pastor of my stepmoms church that I was going to burn in hell. That was the final clue that christianity was not my path. Any god that would condemn a child who had been thru what I had been thru in my life couldn't be the god for me. My spirituality came to me when I dug in the earth. Even as a young child I drew my strength from the earth. The Mother and Father were watching over me. I learned when I was in my early twenties that how I felt had a name, and it was paganism. My parents love and accept me for who I am, they know that I am happy, and my beliefs, tho different, are strong and they know that I am no evil person. My stepmom was catholic, and is now lutheran. My mom believes in God but does not attend church. My father is also pagan, tho I never knew until I was an adult. Hope this answers your question.

Answer 5

I am an atheist and I cam to that conclusion through contemplation and self searching. I was raised as a Christian, but my mother later became agnostic herself (after I grew up and moved out of the house). My husband is a spiritual person (he believes in a god, but not sure what that god is – very John Lennonish [in that he's vague in his beliefs])

Answer 6

My mom is an atheist, my dad was raised Mormon and is a drug addict dating a 19 year old, so I don't know exactly what kind of beliefs or moral systems he has, but I am agnostic. I used to be die hard Christian, but I learned better. My fiance is a diest- we plan to raise our future children with no religion so they can decide for themselve. I grew up practicing all the Christian mainstream holidays, and now we practice whatever holiday seems like fun at the moment :-)

Answer 7

My mom is a non-practicing Catholic but, set in her ways about religion and believes that what she was taught was right. My dad is an agnostic, can't stand the Catholic church. They are still married after 39 years.

My belief is the same as Schneb's.

Answer 8

My parents are Christian and I am an agnostic atheist. My dad is sort of a lackadaisical believer--it's not important to him, really. My mom is much more spiritual than that.

We don't really talk about my lack of belief. It's not that important--they just want me to be happy.

Answer 9

Only insofar as we both believe in a Higher Power.

I did my own searching, so while the majority of my family is various denominations of Christian, I am Pagan. We all get along well, and while my family may not know the nitty-gritty of my beliefs, they know I'm not Christian, but they accept me.

Answer 10

My beliefs are similar to my parents. There came a time when I had to decide what I believe and why I believe it because I was being asked to defend them.