I need to explore religions, any ideas?

Question

I grew up a christian and a pastor's daughter. I have realized that I have never been exposed to anything else than what I was taught. Now I am wondering if there is something that I have missed, or if I am in the right place. I am so scared to try something new since I know that would really upset my family but I am an adult, and feel I have the right to pursue my own spirituality but do not know how to look to see what is out there. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

WOW,,that is sad,,but God bless you on your journey. Hope you find it is what you are looking for..

Answer 2

Sure! And please understand that I mean no disrespect by this, dear: GET OUT IN THE WORLD.

Visit the sick and the dying. Children's cancer wards are heartbreaking, but show a truth that can not be denied. The terminally ill are also depressing, but hide many valuble lessons. I'm not kidding on this one. Go.

Watch some nature documentaries if you can't afford to visit wildlife. You'll see that death and violence are very much a part of the natural way of life. Study human interaction with these animals. In particular, sharks, lions, tigers, crocodilians, and bears. This should make it clear that animals--despite many religious teachings--are most certainly NOT here for our benefit.

Study up on evolution. Learn what evidence supports it. By that same tokken, learn what answers we still seek, and question how those answers might be obtained.

Challenge yourself to put everything that feels true to you about any faith to the test of the real world. And while you're at it, study history. You don't need to be a historian by the end of the week--what I want you to research is the impact of religion on Mankind. Who's included, who'd cast out--and why. Who benefits, and who is victimized. To shorten your time in a library, simply type out two words in Google to get you started: "Holy War." Compare the acts of the followers to the teachings of their religions, and make note of all the vast differences. You won't find many similarities.

If you want truth, you have to push your own comfort levels. Because the term "brutal honesty" exists for a reason. Truth isn't politically correct--it is what it is, regardless of how you feel about it.

Understand that I'm not trying to label you as Niave; it sounds like you want to make an honest effert, and I applaud that. But I do wish to warn you that you will end up Atheist. Or at the very least, Agnostic. I serriously doubt your father will approve.

Answer 3

There's a number of choices, thankfully. Plus atheism and agnosticism. For a large selection of possibilities, check out religiostolerance.org. They delve into numerous and sometimes obscure religions while giving them a level headed look.

I'm pagan and happy being one. I've been tempted to be Wicca but I'm too happy with my mish mash of eclectic rules and magick. If I wasn't pagan or Wiccan, I'd probably be Levayan Satanist which is more of a Philosophy than an actual religious order.

Buddhism is one of the most peaceful religions in the world and as a whole, doesn't accept a god. They have the Buddha, but he's more of a teacher figure than a god.

Hinduism, despite popular belief, is actually monotheistic in practice. They have one main god they honor and many less important gods who are (if I understand right) are like saints.

Then there's Voodun and many of the Americanized versions of it. So many religions, so hard to decide on just one! Whatever you choose, don't let anyone pressure you into accepting something you know is tripe.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I strongly recommend Islam. I will tell you few things & leave the rest for the sites provided by me. Don't believe when people say Muslims are terrorists, you can say something about people just because some extremists do wrong things. Also, you will find that it is very much related to Christianity, because we believe that both religions came from God, so you will not get confused with the nature of the religion.

Finally, facts that might lead you to the right path, what's the fastest growing religion in the world? Yes, believe it, it is Islam. Oh, and have you ever heard that a Muslim converted to another religion? Very rare because those who convert to Islam, they know it's the right path. One more thing, have you heard about the cartoons in Denmark? A danish cartoonist drew an insulting cartoon about the messanger of Islam, what did the Muslims do? They boycotted all the Danish products and stood against the newspaper, why is that? Because we strongly believe in God & his messanger and do not allow people to insult them. Does this happen in Christianity or other religions? No.

May God bless you and lead you to the right path.

Answer 5

Might be fun to take a survey of religion class. Also the book The World's Religions by Huston Smith is a good overview. If you were only to check out one other, I would recommend Buddhism because it has so much that is useful for daily life and it is so different from Christianity. If you could find the DVD The Power of Myth about Joseph Campbell at the library, I bet you would find it fascinating and it would show you a lot of precursors to Christianity (e.g. there were lots of virgin births before Jesus, the Buddha was tempted three times in very similar areas as Christ was, Yahweh of the old testament was actually one of several gods)

Kudos to you for having the courage to explore. Good luck on your journey.

Answer 6

Why not take a course in comparative religion, making sure that the instructor has no interest in promoting any religion over another? This would give you some idea about which religions you might want to explore further. It's a required course in most seminaries, so taking it shouldn't upset your Dad.

If that's not within the range of possibilities, you might try reading up on the topic. Karen Armstrong's books might be a good place to start.

Answer 7

Are you looking for something new because you don't feel fulfilled or because you think there is something better out there? God put you in the exact place he wanted you. As a parent this would break my heart if one of kids decided to do this all of a sudden. But the Bible says.. Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are older they will not depart from you. Maybe you are not older yet and feel the pressures of the world to "find your happiness" problem is it is probably right in front of you but you have choose to look the other way. What ever you decide pray, pray, pray and if you feel where you are is right then who are any of us to judge you.

Answer 8

Bravo! Standing up and recognizing you DO have a choice is a good start. If they truly love you, they will respect your choice.

Before you start out you might want to just explore your own mind and thoughts on things and try to reason things out for yourself.

There are plenty of people in any religion that will be more than happy to guide you into their group. I would ask a lot of questions concerning the "requirements" of membership in their particular sect. Attendance, tithing, who is okay and who is not (what groups do they choose to exclude or persecute),is there aa 'dress code' (will you be looked down on for dressing one way or another) - basicially, what is their acceptance and tolerance level regarding almost anything, especially free thought.

Just remember, regardless of what anyone tells you, you are not a bad person for NOT choosing one religion over another. Do not give in or let them attempt to control you, unless that is what you want. They will try almost anything to coerce and manipulate you into their flocks. Be open minded but BEWARE. I've been through this myself.

You may find that you are most comfortable where you are.

I have always believed that if you believe in Jesus and his promises, you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 9

Only the "truth." I was a christian for 15 years after having been a satanist. Then I got gravely ill. A friend suggested the healing powers of the "true" father in heaven. Confused I asked him who that was. He said the God of ancient Egypt, and proceeded to tell me it got him through a POW camp during World War Two. Jesus said, everything you see is not what it appears, just as everything you don't see "is." I thought I knew it all until I got involved in "Amen" the invisible God of 3500 years ago. Withing a year and a half I was out of a wheelchair and doctors didn't understand "how." I have MS. This was 16 years ago, and to this day Research people still hound me to find out what keeps me "alive." The best way I found to "explore" faith, is to involve yourself in research into the ancient past, especially of the faith which to this day people can't explain BUILT the pyramids. They "can't" because Judaism only "borrowed" some of this faiths practices and left the "truths" out of a faith 2400 years older that theirs.................That of the REAL Lord of Creation......

Answer 10

You are missing a lot. You need to explore other religions. One thing you must always bear in mind is that God has not created any religion. It has been created my men out of anger, vengeance, idiosyncrasies and eccentricities. Just no man is perfect, no religion is perfect. I am born a Hindu. We believe that the world has no beginning and no end. It goes on and on. One is judged by his/her actions and its impact on others and himself. Read the Bhagavat Gita to start with. It is simply marvelous. We Hindus do not see Hinduism as a religion. It is simply a way of life. We don't follow strict doctrines and there are no prescribed punishments in our scriptures for various offences. We believe that retribution may be slow but sure. That's the reward for sins. Reward for good deeds is eternal life and absence of rebirth. Sins will make you reborn as a lesser being.........

Answer 11

First of all, you ARE an adult and capable of your own search for spiritual meaning and belief.
About.com hads a whole religion and spiriutality section which usually has some articles and the basics of each belief.
Try hunting the book stores for religious topics or other forms of spirituality.
You also need to search within yourself and ask what is currently at odds or missing in your own beliefs and what your spiritual world view is.
As it says in one of the sacred texts of my spiritual path; " know thy seeking and yearning shall avail you not, unless you know the mystery, that if that which you seek you find not within thee, you will never find it without thee."
I pray for your family's love and compassion to be with you, if you so choose another path. May your family remember the word of the compassionate and loving Christ and seek not to judge. For it says in the Bible that jugement is of the the Lord - not man.
Peace be with you and a successful journey.
Xenah.