2007-05-17 01:54:24 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Odd -- I figured I'd find at least ONE other agnostic on here with this many answers!
I had some religious influence, up until age 14, when I could finally make the decision for myself and left the church (a small, splinter sect of German descent).
I've studied many, many religions, dabbled in a few of them, pondered the endless mysteries -- and decided I was too stupid to really make that kind of a judgment based on only the information we are able to gather in our short time in this one small place.
I know that there are "inexplicable" things going on in this world, but to choose to call them "God" in the aggregate -- no, can't do that. Think I'll just wait and see how the movie turns out once the lights go down for good.
2007-05-17 03:36:39 · answer #1 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
was raised in a half Catholic half Atheist family. Was a selfish carless human being for several years. Then I met a Muslim and started studying Islam. Though Allah was graceful enough to grant me a miracle, remained an unbeliever. It just didn't make any sense at all (that faith).
Then I started studying Buddhism. Those teachings made a whole lot of sense to me (non attachment to anything, because happiness depends on the mental attitudes we nurture and not on anything/anyone outside. plus it is not wise to cling to anything because of the universe's changing nature). other thing that I liked from buddhism is that it does not request blind faith from its followers, neither do buddhists expect heavenly punishments/rewards.
i guess it was the concept of karma what awakened my soul, and made the functioning of the universe much more understandable to me. ever since i undestood all these principles and included them in my daily life, i began to have a happier life.
however, i did not like all the superstitious rituals in Buddhism (pujas) which I am sure have little to do with buddha's original teachings.
in the end i did convert to Christianity. the reasons (testimony), here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
of course there are things in Christianity i don't fully understand or agree with, but the truth is that the signals i got were so overwhelming that not even a skeptic like me could pay a blind eye to them.
in the end, i found on the bible several pearls of wisdom that are good advise for anyone, regarding of their faith or lack of it. here i share some with you:
http://www.danza-arabe.8m.com/bible.htm...
it has been a long journey. i know you asked for experiences from people that were raised with no religious influences, but trut me, the catholicism of my family was so luke warm that it never had any influence on me, so i thought sharing my story with you could be of use.
2007-05-17 02:23:02 · answer #2 · answered by G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never went to a church, never cared about religion. That is untill I went into the military. I found many faiths that looked good, but none that fit me.
I have taken things from each religion that I have studied, and made a belief system that fits for me. I believe that science and religion were ment to be put together to actually reach the common goal. I believe Christ was a son of a god. I believe that there are more then one god. I believe that each of us will be reborn over and over, learning the messages of life. I also believe that we are here for a reason. I believe we pick who are parents are. I believe that the Christian god, is actually Demiurge. I believe that a church isn't needed to be a good spiritual person. I believe organized religions are to political and loose the belief after a few hundred year.
With all this said, i believe that everyone has a right to believe what he/she would like to believe. We are all right and we are all wrong. As long as we do not harm others, no harm will come to us. Death is just a new beginning.
Hope this helps you.
2007-05-17 02:12:10 · answer #3 · answered by sillythebard 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hello Number 3.. :)
As a former Atheist..I was raised with no religion whatsoever..
I am a born again Spirit Filled Christian..I have been since 1978.. :)
The Church I attend is Assemblies of God..Penecostal..
Though it is not ones denomination that brings one close to God..but ones heart.. :)
In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)
2007-05-17 02:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by EyeLovesJesus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion is like a drug, having been overdosed with Christianity, I draw from it a lot...
For example, I say, what does christianity have to say about this or that, if it says don't then I do...
Except where it comes to Love, here I don't compromise, must accept myself unconditioanlly and in turn accept everyone unconditioanlly (people call this love, but the word has been corrupted and lost its meaning). which is really the only message required leave in harmony.
So I guess my Religion is the Religion of Practising Unconditional Acceptance (RPUA), wanna Join?
2007-05-17 02:03:15 · answer #5 · answered by claracruzz 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i do no longer think that it has something to do with being fortunate at the place you have been raised.i understand of many christian people who're from worldwide places the place Christianity isn't a dominant faith. Take China to illustrate. that could be a communist usa yet yet it has the main Christians than everywhere else interior the international.
2016-12-29 07:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheist.
I was never brought up into a religion (which I'm thankful for) so I was left to make my own decision.
I don't need "faith" or "belief" to get on with my life, I'm perfectly happy and content with the idea of this being my only life and there being no higher power of any kind.
I slightly disrespect religious people because I see them as weak.
2007-05-17 01:57:25 · answer #7 · answered by Bert 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I can not class myself in a single religion. I focus on direct path teachings, commonly found in Zen Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta (Hinduism), and Jnana Yoga.
I'm a yogi and a mystic...not really in any religion.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-05-17 01:58:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I only entered a church for weddings and funerals as a kid. At 26 I met a friend who was a Unitarian Universalist. I told her about my beliefs and she said I was a UU. I visited her fellowship and have been a UU for ten years now.
Oh yeah, I'm an atheist, buddhist, taoist, naturalist, lover of science, and philosopher.
2007-05-17 01:58:14 · answer #9 · answered by GeminiVirgo1971 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my family religion did play an important part of life, but i was told that i can believe in anything i want. I usually like to think i am atheus.
2007-05-17 02:00:01 · answer #10 · answered by Flaviu G 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋