Is it natural to reach a point where you question the religious beliefs you were raised with?

Question

I'm not sure I believe what my parents believe anymore. I'm not sure what I believe. What should I do. "Believe X or go to hell" doesn't sound very comforting anymore.

Answer 1

Of course. I think many people "question" their faith as they become older. Learn and explore whatever you are comfortable exploring from a religious stand point. It will either reaffirm your faith to you, or cause you to change your mind and religion. But knowing the "other side" or other people's viewpoints and beliefs can never be a bad thing.

Answer 2

It's common. Religion of family while growing up is often mixed in with social behavior; which from a child's point of view is fairly ridiculous (WHY do I have to wear a suit? Why should God care???)
Your parents also probably "assume" you'll believe as they did, and didn't explain your religion well.
Finally, religions, when you read their bibles, tend to be contradictory and not make sense, or have rules that no longer apply to today's society. It's hard to get past this and to the point of "faith", belief in the face of the illogical.

Perhaps as you get older and suffer through life's trials you'll find a need for the comfort of religion. Perhaps not. But belief out of fear is a waste of a good life.

Oh, if you're a Christian, by the way, then you're already out of luck. It states in the bible that a person who doubts the holy spirit for even a second can never be redeemed. So, if you've done this, you can scratch Christianity off the possible choices for religion!

Answer 3

Through the years my faith has become stronger in the Lord. You evidently didn't start with a firm foundation. You can't even look at Israel and realize the Bible is truth? If you've only been taught by a priest or pastor once a week for one hour for 52 weeks, then you don't know much. Get into a good Bible study class and watch the Scripture come alive like it is coming alive today. I stand in awe of the Holy Scriptures and the truth that was written over 2000 years ago. Only God knows the future and His prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit because their accuracy is awesome.

Answer 4

Sure it is. Remember this though that these beliefs have been around since the first man and woman created by God had them. And God was in evidence when they were alive as well as through history. God is alive and well in the lives of his followers.

On the flip side if you believe in nothing than you become separated and isolated. The explanation for the reason for life and for living is not connected to the whole of man in his entirety from man's beginning to the end of man.

The best way for you to see how strong a religion is is to have it tested. Without the testing in life it means nothing. After the test don't doubt your experience. That is your own personal experience that no one else can take away from you. Don't let anyone else talk you out of what is yours.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

If faith is to be a living thing, then it must grow and change. You cannot have, as an adult, the faith you clung to as a child. Saint Paul says, "When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, I acted like a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things."

It is inevitable that you will question your parents' faith and your own faith. Otherwise, your faith will never become really and truly your own. You will merely be repeating what you have been taught like a parrot, without understanding it in your own terms, in light of your own experience of life.

At times, you may even feel you have lost your faith. But, like the phoenix, it will die and be reborn from the ashes, in a new form. It will return, better and stronger and wiser than before.

Questioning and even doubting your faith is healthy and good. Because you question some aspect or other of your faith, that doesn't mean you must abandon everything you have ever believed.

Faith is a lifelong journey, like the wandering of the Israelites in the desert. If you are truly a person of faith, you will not give up the hope of someday finally entering the Promised Land. To quote Saint Paul again, "We see now as through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face. I know now only in part, but then I shall know even as I am known."

Answer 6

Sure. It usually happens in high school or college though middle 20s. I would suggest that you decide first whether you believe in God and if you do, then pray he will guide you to the truth and pray that daily and keep your eyes open. It may take a while. You might also want to decide whether you believe the Bible or not. If you do, or at least think you believe something of it, then you might want to start reading the New Testament, starting with the Gospels.

Answer 7

You should question everything. I have been a missionary myself, and I knew, unlike so many others, that the job of a missionary is to show a person how to find his own way. I encourage you to find out for yourself which of all the churches are right so that you might know which you should join.

"If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him; but let him ask with real intent, having faith in Christ." --James 5-6

If you want your faith to endure, it must be born of a personal conversion. The time has come for you to stop resting on the hope that what your parents believe is true and develop a faith that will act as an anchor to your soul in times of trouble.

Good luck in your quest, and may you find happiness wherever the Spirit leads you.

Answer 8

I think you should check out every religion you can, everyone should have that opportunity. We had a religion class that explored all the world religions and even some of the cults that were 'in at the time'. I am a cradle Catholic and I am glad I had that chance to learn about other faiths. I think I might have been one of 5 that have stayed within our faith but that was the others choice. That is what free will is all about. If I was not joyous about my faith I wouldn't be what I am.

Answer 9

Well, I think everyone has to question their beliefs to progress and strive towards truth. We can not blindly accept the path of our forefathers. As a Muslim, I think the skepticism can ultimately strengthen your faith in God. Mostly, I feel that people are becoming more uncomfortable with public display of religion because in this secular world, religion is not a valued virtue; it is taboo, private and seperate from daily life.

But it's good to integrate God into your life. There needs to be a balance between mind, body and soul. The only advice I can give you is to do what your hearts believes is right, putting your full trust in God to guide you to Him and His truth.

Good luck and God bless.

Answer 10

Part of growing up and becoming an adult is to develop your own sense of self. Your own thoughts, your own viewpoints. Your own experiences will shape who you become, what you think, and ultimately, who you are.

I was brought up in a religious household. In my teenage years, I began to feel uncomfortable with it. By the time college arrived, I was taking coursework and learning more about the world around me, meeting lots of different people, and then travelled abroad to a country that had different religious beliefs.

I eventually became athiest. I'm an adult, so I can make those decisions for myself. But yes, I believe everyone questions their own values and thoughts at many points during their lives, especially from their teen years all the way into their 20's. (And you can even question your beliefs after that, my grandma stopped being religious at the age of 50 after her husband died).