What has brought you to your current spirituality?

Question

I wasn't raised in a religous home. Seeking God was long and hard. Being an "almost fundie" was easy, blissful. Then I began to question. I am now in this unfamiliar place of examination and I am slow to take any path.

How did you get where you are and do you believe it is where you will stay?

Answer 1

A place of examination is okay. Stay there as long as you need.
I doubt I'll change.

Answer 2

"How did you get where you are and do you believe it is where you will stay?"

1. Spending too many sleepless nights pondering metaphysics. 2. Probably not.

I think it's a delusion that anybody will ever reach a point where they say to themselves, "Good, I now have everything figured out. I can stop thinking about religion and philosophy forever. Yippee!!"

It's basically a head trip that lasts your entire life. Part of the reason that both believers and unbelievers like you and I waste so much time on Yahoo Answers Religion & Spirituality is that we're still seeking for the One Final Answer no matter how futile it may seem. And the ones who assert the loudest that theirs is truly the One True Way are probably the most insecure.

I've spent way too many hours pondering all the Deep Stuff, gone through several conversions and unconversions, and all that's happened is I'm now more convinced that I know nothing than I ever was. And the more certain zealots assert that they have The Way, the more convinced I am that nobody else has a clue either.

Perhaps the meaning of life is to quit pondering the meaning of life and go out and have fun instead. I keep telling myself that, and hopefully one day it will stick. Philosophizing is a mental illness of sorts--obsessive-compulsiveness, perhaps? Maybe the ultimate goal of philosophy is to reach a point where you stop wasting time thinking about philosophy...

In fact, maybe I should make this my last answer ever to Yahoo Answers and do something more meaningful like riding more roller coasters or watching more SpongeBob...

Answer 3

I was brought up mormon, but I kept getting this nagging feeling. I was longing for more of Jesus and I couldn't seem to find a proper outlet for my desire in my church. I thought it was fine to be mormon, (they believe they're christian. I think maybe cirtain individuals are... I just don't know them). I think there are saved people in the most unlikely places. And some people who maybe aren't really saved in places where you think that everyone is a "christian". Being a Christian has definately not been easy, (although it was alot easier when I was mormon for some reason) I thought maybe I had been too quick to jump on the "fundie" band wagon. I must say however, I'm not sorry at this point that I did it. I am learning a whole lot now that I have "come down to earth" and have somewhat gotten used to the awe and bliss that is God's love... and find many things suprising and interesting. God has taught me the most (amazing how He can do that) on my own. I really thank Him alot for that, because I get bogged down alot with alot of the things some others say sometimes. I just want to be close to Jesus and that's all I care about. I will ALWAYS stay with Jesus.

Answer 4

Many years as an addict, finally bottoming out on heroin. Joined a 12 Step program where it was suggested that I try to find a power greater than myself as my attempts to just quit on my own weren't working.
Started asking for the obsession to use to be lifted every morning and it was. Don't no how or by what and I don't care.
As for my spirituality, I lived my drug life by unspiritual principles so I figure I need to change those behaviors if I'm to remain more than merely abstinent. So I work on being honest, caring, non-judgemental (that's tough), humble and to remain openminded. So far, it's worked for 7-1/2 yrs. You wouldn't recognize me if you knew me then.
I now follow a path which I would call Buddhism if I wanted to be labeled. But I don't.
Buddha sat under the Boddhi tree and thought of a good way to live. Jesus wandered the desert for 40 days. People organized religions to get a pat on the back. I follow a path and lead a good life now. All the proof I need.

Answer 5

I was raised in a Christian home. Could not WAIT to leave the house. At 18 left went to college for 2 years and I drank a little. Everybody invited me to church and I refused to go. Parents stopped funding my greek parties and I had to go back home at the age of 20. Got a good job and moved out while still age 20. People who lived not so good lifestyles started inviting me to church again. Still refused to go.

For 8 years, did things my way. Sometimes I was right and when I was wrong, BOY was it BAD!! At 28 wanted to know why was I here and what's the meaning of life... I decided to seek God. I wanted to ask Him since He made me, what was I supposed to be doing. After some attempts I found a church that I didn't sleep in and the Preacher teaches the Gospel by the Bible. Been saved ever since!!

Yes, this is where I'll stay because I've done it my way, and His way is MUCH MUCH better than mines!!!

Answer 6

I was previously raised christian. I became disillusioned with a religion that has man at the head of it. And you are taught to believe without question. I began to see alot of contradictions in the bible. So I left.

I first was atheist, then agnostic. Then started my search and journey.

1st - Buddism but I didn't believe in all the tennants.
2nd - Hinduism but I don't believe in everything there either
3rd - Hari Krishna but Im not getting up at 4am for nobody. I dont think god is that strict. Also your not allowed to eat spices. I love spicy food.
4th - Wicca


Wicca is where I have stayed its like a home coming! Everything fit I read my first book and it was like this is it; this is me; this is who iI am, I'm home!

It is a religion constantly evolving. It doesn't tell you what to believe or not believe. It doesn't have male dominion. It is more fluid and free floating. I love it!!

For now I'm here, but who knows in the future. But I really do think this will be with me for the rest of my life in some form. Its something that turned my life around and saved me from my own worst enemy ME! I was an awful person before I found this....christianity saves some people....wicca saved me!

Answer 7

I wasn't raised in a terribly religious home but we did go to church occasionally [few times a year with grandma] and I guess those few times stuck with me a lifetime. I have researched a lot of different religions and I just can't stray from what was ingrained in me as a child. Though a lot of them make plenty of sense, the only thing that I can truly believe is the foundation I was given as a child. I won't lie and say I follow that religion to a code, I'm so far from it, it's pathetic but it is what I believe, whether or not I follow...
That's how it came to be what I believe. It's still a long hard road and I'm certainly not satisfied with where I am religiously speaking.

Answer 8

Interesting...I'm not quite sure.

Ever since a very small child I've remember always feeling more ' in tune '...then events of ' life ' haze around a child . . . Yet, I clearly remember that about age 18 or 19 . . . I had this clear moment of thinking . . . I'm " God's " child before I'm anyone's else's child. I'm my own person and the uniqueness of me being me is bright and life to be explored and celebrated. When I came to that realization...a ' light ' seemed to become more ' awakened ' in me.

Yet..what " brought me to that " understanding which lead to the awareness of the Spiritual being that I am today ? The clear thought of " No more nonsense people or thoughts anymore . . . not here . . . not on my soulful path ". I had the sense of what authentic Truth was. . . and I began walking that path that led me to walk the journey to where I am today...at age 50 . . . and Yes . . . this Spiritual way of being IS where I will stay . . . it's natural to me . . . of peace and joy. Pretty cool . . . brings a smile to me.
.
Joy to you.
.

Answer 9

I also was not raised in a "religious" home, but God found me anyway. I knew I was missing "something" in my life, but didn't know what it was. Like alot of people, I tried to find that "something" through various routes and travels and people, but was never satisfied that that was "it." Then a friend invited me to church, and God found me there. I wasn't sure I wanted Him, though. I had alot of mis-information about Him. So, I studied and studied everything I could get my hands on, but especially the Bible. I was tired of people telling me what it said and not knowing for myself. So I read it, and fell in love with what I read about God. Several different pastors and teachers answered questions for me, and truly I've never been the same since.

Yes, know this is where I will stay until I die and go to Heaven.

For more information, please visit www.theseeksite.com or www.needhim.org.

Bless you for reading this. I hope you find that peace and assurance that you are looking for. Keep praying.

Answer 10

i was just like you once but the truth led me to God. once my life was in constant chaos but i have found peace and confort in my God. true a christian's life isn't all that easy with all the speculations and the put downs that one has to go through but i find my strenght in Jesus. Take either the wide open path or the small, dark and thorny one where you will be rewarded 10x what you suffered.

But beware not all christians are true and I am sorry to say that there are many deceivers that use Christianity for their own ends . example: by making money off of people.

Answer 11

Over 20 years of intense Bible study has got me to where I am spiritually. I won't stay here, though, as I plan on getting even better. I will stay with my religion however, because I know that no one else out there has the answers. That simple fact is reinforced every time I come on this site and answer the same questions over and over from people who haven't been taught the truth by their religion and are confused as a result. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.