describe your religious upbringing?

Question

I'll go first. I was raised attending Lutheran and Baptist churches all over (on my father's own accord), but was enrolled in a Catholic elementary school, though only for the higher quality of education that can be found in a private school. Naturally, at the time I never once noticed the contradictions present between the mandatory Catholic mass on Friday mornings and the Baptist sermon I'd sit through each Sunday. As a child, I was never really told more about religion than the whole "God loves you, so you should do the same" policy, nor did I think about it much, but whenever I did, the one thing that always scared the hell out of me was the concept of eternity, something that could never end even if you wanted it to (this was in relation to heaven, not hell). I only recently came to be interested in religion a mere two years. Your turn.

Answer 1

I was raised in a devout Italian Catholic family. My mother was extremely religious, and I was taught to pray the rosary as soon as I could talk. My mother often said, "Pray, don't play" and very much wanted me to stay indoors and pray rather than going outside to play, which she saw as a senseless waste of time. She didn't want me to associate with non-Catholic children. Various medals and relics of saints were pinned to my bed. There was a shrine in the house, and I was expected to be on my knees praying at it frequently. However, when I was a teenager, my parents died, and I began a study of other religions. I have chosen to remain Catholic, but I'm very interested in learning all I can about the beliefs of others. Maybe that's because I wasn't allowed to ask questions about other beliefs when I was a kid, I don't know. I'm very open to attending the services of other religions and studying beliefs other than my own.

Answer 2

I remember me being an agnostic theist. I didn't really have a religion, but I just believed God. My mother was the same as she appreciate God, but is not a church-goer. My mother's side of the family is really religious though. It was confusing since some of my family are a mix of Catholics and Christians. Thats when I became skeptical and started having doubts. The theology never made sense to me. I thought the preachers, Bible, and churches are very hypocritical. They say one thing, but than they mean something else. And other stuff just sounds like fantasies & myths. I then started to realize how it is much easier to just freethink and be secular. It was a great relief to me. I am now an atheist and proud of it. I just do not believe in God or the ridiculous supernatural. At first people did not take it seriously, but slowly they appreciate it and it just didn't matter. Yet again some old-fashion people would say I am a 'Satan worshiper', a depressive person, or 'one of Richard Dawkin's bitches'. But w/e.

Answer 3

I had a great upbringing. My parents, grandparents and great-grandmother were all Jehovah's Witnesses. My Father served as an Elder in all the congregations we attended from the time I was two up until his death a year and a half ago. We met a lot of people, from many different places, traveled a lot and had a great time as a family. We attended meetings, studied, prayed, and shared in the field ministry together. My parents never 'shoved it down our throats' so to speak, in fact, they always made it really enjoyable for us. I don't have any regrets about my childhood at all. I appreciate all that my parents taught me, and hope that I can do as well with my own kids. I look forward to the day when I will be able to see my father and grandparents restored to life and health on a beautiful paradise earth. Revelation 21:3&4 , John 5:28&29.

Answer 4

I come from a Catholic family. We are not that religious so there wasn't an empahsis on going to church. However, my mom enrolled me in first communion classes so I got to learn a lot about my church from the teachers and I was taught to pray when I was a toddler. We celebrated Christmas and that is the only religious holiday we celebrate. When I was 10, I got interested in religion so I used to go to church one in a while. Then, I stopped but began again when I was a teenager for my confirmation classes which I decided to take (my parents never tried to force me to take confirmation). I went to Church every Sunday because the priests told us to, I went there until May when the class ended. Haven't been going to Church since. I'm 18 now by the way.

Answer 5

Catholic went to church every Sunday with mom, also attended 12 years of catholic school which of course meant classes in religion and going to mass with the school on the first Friday of each month.
Felt that this idea of god and religion did not make any sense but kept silent since everyone around me was very religious. Researched on my own and realized that religion and god only have more questions than answers and any answers given is more of a cop-out. Only went through the motions during mass. Observed that most were only verbally saying the prayers as they were taught to do.

Finally had enough and just turned away from god and religion. Sadly the idea of god comes to mind from time to time and have not yet figured how to get rid of it after hearing about it for twelve years in school.

Finally glad to be non-religious

Answer 6

I was brought up in the South in both holy roller churches and southern Baptist churches. Neither brought much more than the ignorance that still pervades much of those places and times.

On my own I investigated New Age spiritualism and have gained some insight. Same for Buddhist materials. But the best material has been the many books by Jane Roberts who relates the information from the entity Seth.

Answer 7

I went to a Presbyterian church when I was under 5 for a few months, my parents did not attend, I guess my mother used them as a babysitter. Later when I was about 6 I wanted to go to church with my neighbors so I attended a few Sundays at the Pentacostal Church then when I was 12 I went a few times to my friends Baptist church and when they all started crying and shouting the devil is in you I got scared and never attended church again.

I was never baptized because my parents felt that I should be able to choose my own religion when I was older.

Answer 8

Strict Christian (southern baptist right in the heart of the bible belt, to be exact) until the age of 14. My father was a youth minister, my uncle a preacher, and my other aunt a sunday school teacher. I'm agnostic now, though. I believe it really shows a child can detour from what they were raised with. Personally, I'm glad not to have such a strict religious view. I've learned it can cause so many people to be so very narrow-minded.

Answer 9

I was raised in a church family, but not a pushy one. I was a bad kid from 8-13 mostly because of the separation of my parents and the depression following. I found Jesus with my new family in Florida at 13. My (very religious) grandma pushed me to take Confirmation. While i still wasn't faithful, i learned things that rocked my beliefs in evolution and science. Then i went to a christian concert/sermon for teens, and i just felt him there. It was the most awesome feeling in the world. Then, my life started getting better. I got over my depression, and between my friends and not being alone anymore, my faith grew and grew.

I am now 16 and the leader of an after school club called First Priority, a christian club for teens. I'm very proud of my faith.

God bless.

Answer 10

I was raised a Baptist but at the age of 20, I went to a church that ministered according to the early Disciples and taught me how to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.. I never heard that there were two baptisms one in water unto repentance and the second in Power and anointing by Jesus Christ the King..He is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit and since then, I can say I have met the Master, Lord of Lords and the king of kings and He has anointed me a king and a priest just as he raised up all the kings and priests in the O T. Now i understand about Christ coming Kingdom and reaching those who are held captive by the deception of the Devil, to release the willing and anoint them to hold this same divine office of king and priesthood. I am working on getting a website along with Cd's on how to be anointed and reign as a true king of Christ, so stay tuned and They will be available soon. Yes, Christ is anointing born again believers with power to rule and reign with him for 1000 years on this earth and if you don't believe it, Satan has you fooled and you will forfeit any rights to being his king and his coming kingdom..