When did you realize...?

Question

When did you realize you did not beleive in your religion. And why? Not objecting to other religions. I have friends of all shapes, sizes, beleifs etc. Just curious. because I am agnostic and i want to see how others were when they felt insecure as they walked into their mosque, synagogue, church, etc.

Answer 1

Nine. My father died. I not only had issues with the explanations I was getting about why God would let that happen (I was raised Christian), but a Born Again Christian told me that my father must have done something bad to have been taken so young and he was now burning in Hell.

Answer 2

My mom didn't raise me with religion, just a jumbled set of spiritual rules that she followed. I was baptized Catholic and ended up going to a Catholic college in an attempt to find some sort of faith.

After attending church and learning the rules, I realized it just wasn't right for me. There are too many gaps in logic, too many people that go to church and don't understand what they're reciting or doing. I knew I didn't belong.

I studied the other major religions by myself and with the help of a class. I went to a mosque. I liked the eastern religions, but by that time I was so disillusioned with any faith that I just kind of gave up.

I see no divine presence, I feel no god, so that's when I fell into atheism. It works for me, and I'm open about my beliefs. There might be a god, but I doubt it. Until I know for sure, I'll remain skeptical yet open-minded.

Answer 3

When I was about 14, I started doing research and educating myself about my own religion (christianity at the time) as well as others. I did this at the request of my father (who is an ordained minister in the christian church). He told me that if I was going to be a christian I needed to know exactly what I was putting my faith in without being lead around by the nose by someone who "knows more than some stupid kid." I began to realize that christianity was just not the path for me. My beliefs were far too diverse for it. I tried wicca for a bit, as well as a few others. Now, when someone asks, I tell people I'm pagan, but that's not even accurate either. I'm not sure what I would classify as when it comes to religion, but I do knwo that there's not a religion that has it completely right so there's not a religion that I can put my faith in.

Answer 4

I grew up in the Christian church. Around age thirteen, I started 'church' shopping. My internal beliefs had always been somewhat different than that of the church but, I went with my Grandparents and I liked the time I spent with them. None of the other churches seemed to 'fit' either. I liked being in the Episcopalian church because of all the ritual. I stayed out of churches for a while, then I came upon Scott Cunningham's book for solitary witches. I was seventeen. I had finally found a religion that fit me and my beliefs. That was over twelve years ago, I've studied other religions since but, I'm still a witch and very happy with my life.
)o( Blessed Be!

Answer 5

Years ago, even while I was attending catholic school. I was never happy with some of the answers to questions that I had asked. The type of answers can be summed up as being circular reasoning. I never felt or had this "feeling" of belief when it and comes to religion and god.
I just do not see any proof of his existence other than being told that I should just believe. Sorry that is not good enough for me.
I accept facts and only facts as well as plausible solutions or answers.

Answer 6

I've been through a couple of different religions. Leaving each of these wasn't an overnight decision. In some cases it was when I found myself practicing services out of guilty feelings of obligation, rather than because I wanted to.

Answer 7

I was Catholic for 27 years and decided there were too many holes in the doctrine after many, many years of questioning. I do practice Buddhism and I'm not resentful that I was brought up Catholic. I got over the 'I'm a recovering Catholic' type of anger a while ago but it took a lot of hard work and compassion.

Answer 8

I've never not believed in my religion. I was born an atheist, and was an atheist into my teens. When I became Wiccan, it was because I couldn't reconcile an experience set with atheism.

It wasn't a rejection of any beliefs, just finding new ones.

Answer 9

I didnt really grow up in the church but I started going to my dad's church when I was about 13, it took me two years to start questioning and I've been free ever since.

Answer 10

I was 9 or 10. I was finally able to understand what they were saying to me, and think about it. Once that started, it was a short trip to the dustbin for religion.