How did you come to the religion you are practicing now?

Question

were you born in it?
did you learn it from a friend?

tell me your story please :)

Answer 1

No, I was born an Atheist and was indoctrinated into Christianity.


I'm an Asatruar now.

I have no problem explaining why. (Granted, it might give someone the wrong idea, but what the Hel.) Asatru is the ancient ethnic indigenous spirituality of the Norse folk. My ancestors hail from Denmark and Iceland; I believe we are more like our ancestors than we are like anyone else. I inherited not only their general physical appearance, but also their predominant mental, emotional, and spiritual traits. I think and feel more like they did. The religion which best expressed their innermost nature - Asatru - is better suited to me than is some other creed which started in the Middle East. Christianity for example is an alien religion which does not speak to my soul. And the same really also goes for some of the other Pagan traditions (no offense intended), but I just could never feel any connection with the Greek or Celtic deities, like I do with the Norse ones.

The first Asatruar I ever met was an Folkish Heathen, I got into an argument with him about religion and he was actually trying to convert me to Asatru (Yes, there isn't the same taboo against proselytizing in Asatru as there is with Neo-Pagan religions). I remember being shocked that their were still people who worshiped the Old Norse Gods, it intrigued me. Now, while I obviously do not agree with the Folkish Asatruars; one thing he said did get me thinking, he asked why was I practicing a Middle Eastern religion when I wasn't Middle Eastern. It was a good point I thought. Like I said, I do believe we are more like our ancestors, so it made sense to me.

Take my story how you will. I'm not a Folkish Heathen but I do believe that ancestry plays a big role in how well connected you are to a religion.

Answer 2

After thoroughly investigating most of the major religions in the world, atheism was the only sane choice.

I have found that that is the case almost every time. Studying religion will create an atheist. Being uneducated about religion will create a "believer", who believes whatever was the first thing he was exposed to.

By the way, I was raised Southern Baptist, and was quite devout until around the age of 13/14

Answer 3

I wasn't raised in any one belief. I did go to church on occasion and honestly could only think this man has no idea what he is talking about. So I separated myself from church. Then as I got older I started watching people and how they were. I saw that many of these people who claimed to be religious were lacking in spirituality. I searched for a religion cause I hadn't realized yet I didn't have to belong to a religion to be spiritual. I had just about given up when I was introduced to Wicca. That rang much truer for me. So more time goes along and again I realize that even Wicca doesn't fully fit me. I don't remember who cause it's been to long ago but I had a conversation about spirituality. That's when it clicked. At that point I knew that I didn't need an organized religion to be happy. That was when I started working on my spiritual self. Therefore I claim no religion as I feel it inhabits your spiritual growth.

Answer 4

I'm no longer religious. I have become an atheist. I was sitting on my bed one day pondering religion and life when I came to a sudden realization. I thought to myself, "I just don't believe this stuff anymore." But it was only after a very long journey of freeing my mind from the Christian brain-washing I had been subjected to as a child along with learning a lot about skepticism, atheism, and that evil god-killing science, of course.

Answer 5

at the same time as the final public of Arabs were polytheistic pagans, there have been some Arab Jews and Christians to boot. (Mohammed's uncle develop right into a Nestorian Christian). it will be reported, although, that there have been 2 kinds of Christianity the Arabs practiced. the final public were Orthodox, yet mutually, there have been small communities of Gnostics who lived in remoted communities alongside the Euphrates. to boot to those, there have been the descendents of the followers of John the Baptist, a number of whom nonetheless stay in southern Syria and Iraq.

Answer 6

It is an heirloom.

But I have friends who converted from one religion to another. In every instance, it was because their spouse (or intended spouse) was a member of the religion to which they were converting.

I think that must account for a significant fraction of religious conversions--the promise of sex.

A smaller fraction of converts swapped for commercial reasons--it is easier to transact business with members of the same faith.

I always thought a good way to select a faith would be to draw it out of a hat. Just reach in and, "today I am a Free Methodist." Cool. Let God direct my hand...

Answer 7

I am converted. I studied and prayed, and went to many churches before the religion I belonged to found me.
I searched for Christ a long time before I realized that
he was not the one that was lost, I was.....................

Answer 8

I left "religion" behind and opened the Bible. I was brought up in a "religion" though

Answer 9

I was Baptist and became a Wesleyan. I prefer the holiness doctrine, and believe a person can fall from grace.

Answer 10

Religion is man invented... I do not follow any man.... I came to God at the age of 53, just 7 yrs ago... and My Salvation is secured by God's Promise to me... no man, priest, pastor, man invented doctrin or dogma, no Book, rite or ritual... just God and me.... you may read my testimony at: http://user1292138.sites.myregisteredsite.com/mikesinternetoutreach/id109.html