Has discussions on Y/A Religion and Spirituality changed your beliefs or has it made it stronger?

Question

For the believers and non-believers alike.

Star me please!

Thanks for all the stars! For you believers bless you, and for non believers you totally rock! Woo-hooo!

Answer 1

Changed. I used to be a believer....

Until i came here.
:D

Answer 2

Changed some, I used to be somewhat agnotist. Used to think: maybe there is a god, who knows? Now I consider myself atheist. I just can't imagine a "loving and forgiving" being will send me to hell if I don't believe in him even tho he has never given me any reason to believe. Plus the christians (mostly, other religions apply too) are so fanatical and blind and will follow the leadership of corrupt ministers like sheep, and I didn't realize how naive some ppl can be until I started spending more time here.

Another thing that I thank this board for, made me realize that agnotists/atheists are not as rare as I previously thought.

Answer 3

No, it hasn't changed my belief at all. I was a Spiritualist when coming to y/a and I have remained a Spiritualist. It has however opened my perspective to other viewpoints that I willingly received only if it is not geared toward one particular denomination. I don't believe that there is ONLY one way to God.

Spiritualism is a very broad philosophy not restricted toward one particular, group, organization, opinion or perspective and can become quite complicated to those who don't understand.

I believe we are all spirits. I cannot explain the unexplainable but I do feel connected to something that is beyond human.

A Spiritualist is empowered to worship whatever or however they want, as the spirit leads too. Spiritualism is beautiful, personal and free.

Answer 4

No change in beliefs.
But I have learned a lot about Atheism and Atheists on here that I didn't previously know.
I was surprised to learn how angry so many of them are with Christians, and then after reading a lot of the "back-and-forth" have come to see just why that is.
It has proved my longstanding belief that Christian apologetics is ineffective. And it has also strengthened my resolve that the best and kindest thing believers can do for non-believers is to pray for them

(BUT DON'T TELL THEM---it just pisses them off)

Answer 5

Spirituality accepts all. Religion accepts only those of the same religion, however this is not true for all religions. When Religion aids you by giving you an image/idea of the Supreme and gives you a few steps to achieve divinity (such as in Buddhism, meditation and contemplation and Hinduism various yogas such as bhakthi, gynana, raja yoga, etc) it helps for spirituality.

Answer 6

Great question! Can we give points for best questions?

No, my beliefs are pretty solid. But my beliefs are in science, not in religion. I have been shocked at how many religious people are willing to deny their own eyes and logic to blindly follow a book with many obvious errors. Of course, some books like "origin of species" also point to errors in holy books without the error being visible in the holy book itself. I understand why ministers tell the lie; their livelihood is at stake. But I can't understand why reasonable people are so unreasonable about faith and the evidence of their eyes.

Look at how many ministers have been discredited in the news. Caught with their hands in the collection plate or a little boys pants or their secretary's bra. These are money and power loving people similar to pirates and captains of industry. Why would people expect truth from people selling a product with a huge defect?

Answer 7

It has strengthened my beliefs more than anything else, although I have changed my view on free will/destination....I now think free will happens all the time and that nothing is pre destined. I used to think life was a mix of the two, but that would indicate we don't have control on what we create and do all the time. Instead, I think we get "signs" from our angels or guides to help guide us, so to speak, but ultimately, we still decide what to do with our free will.

Peace, Love, and Blessings
Greenwood

Answer 8

Stronger !!

and actualy i know my religion more after comming to this section, sometimes from the other answers of my fellows and sometimes from my own research on some issues which are raised to make my religion look bad and every such attempt has made me stronger as it reveals me the actual truth and how it is misinterpreted here !

Answer 9

It hasn't really strengthened my beliefs, but I can articulate them a bit better to a mixed group. I find it very difficult to discuss Paganism with non-Pagans; I get very self-conscious and think I'm sounding like a freakin' fantasy novel. Also, in NYC, it's not cool to discuss religion, at least not outside your own group. This scratches that itch.

Answer 10

Actually, most questions and answers in that category sadden me. People should respect the private, personal beliefs of others--even if they do things a different way. That's the way I was raised--and I'll bet that many of the "fighters" from all walks of life in that category were raised right too...What happened?

Answer 11

I was down on christianity before coming here after having experienced the worst fanatics in the world, the gibberish speaking Pentecostals.

My dislike for all religions that claim to be the only way has only deepened.