Were You Born Into Your Faith OR Did You Choose It Yourself?

Question

If you chose, what didn't you agree/like about your old religion?

Answer 1

I did NOT grow up in a "Christian"home or environment.

I was always taught that Jesus was at least a liar, possibly a lunatic, but above all, very definitely dead.

In my mid to early 20's, when I was at a low point in my life, someone asked if he could pray for me.

I didn't exactly LIKE the idea, but hey, whatever floats his boat, and besides, talking to a dead man won't do anything anyway.

So, Bryan prayed, and (lo and behold) God answered!

I had (for lack of a better term) a "revelation" that Jesus truly IS the Son of God, in which every fiber in my being reverberated with the message!

After the initial shock eventually wore off, all I could say was "uh - oh - uh - ok"

The moment I said "ok", God began to cleanse me of all the filth in my life and set me free. I actually FELT clean - for the first time! And I felt His forgiveness.

Since then, I've never been the same.

Understand, I didn't have anything against my "old religion", it's just that when I actually MET Jesus (no - not physically, of course), but when I had an encounter with Jesus, I had to change my opinion about him!

It's amazing how that once you actually meet Someone, you can no longer deny His existence.

Answer 2

Well, I am a Jew by birth because my mother was a Jew. Being a Jew is passed down through the mother. The father passes down tribal lineage only.

However, my mother (who was a Jew by birth because HER mother was a Jew) did not believe in God, she was an atheist.

So I grew up in a household where I never even heard the word "God", except once. My grandmother, though, was pretty religious.

I always just knew there was something more out there, I knew God from the time I can remember, even when I didn't know what it was exactly, just a knowing that there is something more there.

So when I was a teenager I began looking into all kinds of religions, and learned a lot about a lot of them, hung out with Buddhists and Hindus and Catholics and Protestants and Muslims, and even some Santeria practitioners -- all kinds of people, all kinds of religions.

Then, I discovered Judaism, the religion of my own people, and knew that this was where my soul felt at home, absolutely. So I began to learn Judaism from A to Z, and become observant, and found God to be most manifested for me there.

Previously I had been most leaning towards Buddhism, which I think MOST resembles Judaism (not Christianity by any means), except that Buddhists don't believe in God, so there was that sticking point lol. The rest though, was almost exactly the same as Judaisms foundational beliefs.

By the way, I asked pretty much this same question that you're asking, about a week ago. Got some interesting answers too.

Answer 3

Personally, I was born into my first religion. That was not by choice on my part. Second time around, I chose to be baptised in my current religion. Faith is a choice given to Man (general term) and it's The Choice of Man to accept His role in believing.

Answer 4

I was born into the Mormon church.
Last December(age 34) I realized I no longer believed and wasnt going to fool myself anymore.

I started pursuing the spirituality that had always interested me but I never dared look into or think about really.

Since then Ive come to find out I did the right thing by leaving as the church has a LOT of deception and lies tied into its history.

I now study Wicca and am very happy and have never felt more complete spiritually.

Answer 5

I became a Jew-by-choice because I don't believe in a God that would require an excrutiatingly painful death of anyone, much less his own son. I became a Jew because I don't believe in a God that condemns non-believers to a place of eternal torment.

Judaism is about working together as a community to make this world a better place for all mankind in THIS life. Judaism is about striving to achieve our full potential in this life, regardless of possible rewards in the future.

Judaism provides many, many paths to God. Judaism teaches moderation and self-discipline. We were allowed to sacrifice, but only certain items and never a human. We are allowed to kill some animals for food, but not others. We must have utmost respect for life itself, be it animal or human.

Christians have borrowed the Hebrew Bible, but they have lost most of its essence from studying translated versions.

Jews always study the Bible with others so we are always exposed to more than one opinion. We always have access to commentary from sages who have offered their opinions of passages over the past 2200 years.

Christians have limited their study to the writings about one teacher. Why is it necessary to avoid studying opinions of others who may have even more to add?
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Answer 6

After 15 years of searching I found my religion. I was born in to a Christian family but it never felt right to me. I am now Wiccan and couldn't be happier. I have nothing against Christian religion. Its just that it wasn't right for me

Answer 7

I was born an atheist, was indoctrinated into the Christian faith as a child and then learnt the truth for myself as I got older and more experienced.
I am now a confirmed atheist through choice and evidence.

Answer 8

i became born Jewish yet wasn't uncovered to Judaism very plenty (my mom's Jewish and pa's a Christian) so i became commonly raised interior of his faith and celebrating purely some Jewish vacations on the factor (like Passover and Chanukah). as quickly as I grow to be an grownup I chosen to "return" to the religion of my mom because of the fact I felt extra interested in and linked to Judaism (I felt that I had a neshomah yid-- a Jewish soul). i've got faith that my faith (Judaism) is powerful for me, individually. i've got not got faith it somewhat is the only "actual" faith or faith obtainable; there are different faiths who've stable morals and truths for human beings to have faith in. and that i've got faith that human beings could desire to persist with the religion that maximum closely suits them---each and every to his or her very own. My faith has taught me to be extra attentive to the way I habit my enterprise, my interpersonal relationships and my existence. We have faith that what you do here now on earth is considerable and we attempt to be the terrific people that we are in a position to probable be. via being compassionate, variety and truthful on your fellow guy you're exhibiting admire for G-d's creation and the worldwide that he's created for you.

Answer 9

I went to church were I learned that there was a Jesus, but I did not accept Him until I was about 25. I did not return to my parents church, not because I did not like it or appreciate it, I just found one that I really liked more.

Answer 10

I chose it. My parents both had abandoned their religion.