Believers of any faith: did you come by your faith from personal experience?

Question

Not from any book, bible, preacher, teacher or the way you were raised. But from something that happened to you personally that somehow touched or guided you.

Answer 1

I remember the exact moment I gave up on religion.

First, a little bit about my background. I was raised both Catholic and Lutheran. I went to my mom's Catholic church up until I was about 10, then went to my dad's Lutheran church until I was about 15. For most of high school, I didn't really go to church. I explored a little, and even looked into Islam, but nothing really stuck.

Then I started going to this non-denominational Christian church, mainly for the girls. I went there for about a year. I liked the people there, and I had some good times. There was this one guy who was sort of like the leader of the youth group, and he'd get together with me for bible study. He knew I wasn't really that attached to the church and he was desperately trying to get me to stay.

The last time I went to bible study with him was after school on September 11, 2001. What happened that morning really affected me deeply, but this guy, he just went about like nothing happened. That's when I realized that religion is nothing more than a business.

I haven't given up on God, I've just given up on religion. I decided that the Bible doesn't have all the answers, nor does the Koran, Talmud, Weekly World News, etc. I don't take these as literal interpretation of history, but as a guide for how to live a good life (except the Weekly World News, which is just for entertainment). That doesn't mean I don't believe in a higher power. I know that what science proves is undisputable truth, but who's to say that there isn't some other force behind that? There is overwhelming evidence that proves the theory of evolution, but why can't that be part of God's, Allah's, Xenu's, Yoda's, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster's plan? Honestly, I refuse to believe that our evolution from single-celled organisms to intelligent life is pure coincidence.

Answer 2

I came to my faith from the feeling I had that there is some sort of higher power. I did a lot of searching to figure out what form it took.

I read Zenna Henderson's stories about The People and their deity, the Presence, and that clicked with me--I thought that was a beautiful interpretation of what God must be.

I did a little more religious seeking and came across a book called 'The Cloud of Unknowing' by sheer chance. It is a book of medieval Catholic mysticism--essentially, how to be a contemplative. When I read that, it 'answered' every question I had ever had about the nature of God so perfectly and simply that I felt no need to look anywhere else for my religious path.

I'm not a very good or self-disciplined mystic, but I firmly believe that this is the best way for me to go.

Answer 3

GEEZ!

I actually "put myself upon the paths of the Gods".
( from a novel called, "The Crystal Caves" about Merlin as a young boy )

I was ready to kill myself. Suicidal, you know.

I hated myself, and still do. So I gave myself to God, whoever He was. If He was there, then He would either crush me or lift me up.
( According to the novel )

Shortly after that, after troubling times, I met a barber who was an ex Roman Catholic who told me about Jesus. I would visit even when I didn't need a haircut. I learned more. Then in a dark bedroom by myself I prayed to God the so called "Sinner's Prayer".

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was awesome. I didn't know what speaking in tongues was, but the urge was powerful. And then I saw heaven. And then God chased away a thing that I suffered with since I was 8 or 9.

You can read about it here if you want to:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-7rEUJP4lbqSbntikbR2aAw--?cq=1&p=20

Answer 4

I do see where you're going with this, but there are some pieces missing for you to get to the "right" place ;-) Things happen and you invent God to explain them. Then someone comes and speaks wisely, you think, and you assume your God send that person into your life. There's more of you who think this guy makes sense, and you have a religion. You teach your kids all about God and this wise guy. You don't need to say it's the only truth and TERRRRRIBLE things happen if you don't do as you are told. Children take the easiest way out anyway, and don't care to find out things themselves, so they accept your God. Another wise guy enters the stage and your kid thinks this guy makes more sense than daddy and his old beards. And so on, and so on, and so on, to all eternity. In that case, Faith in God, came first and then Faith in Man as God's Prophet. It doesn't say God exists, just that the man thought he wasn't enough and had to find something bigger outside himself to fill the void... with other words, he didn't have faith in man ;-)

Answer 5

I was 8 years old when a voice inside my heart started speaking to me and telling me that I needed to be saved, I was at church sitting with my granny as I always did because she didn't make me listen but this day would be special, suddenly might heart was pounding and I was sweating and crying and I just knew that Jesus was speaking to me and that is was real. That day I prayed and Jesus sent His Holy Spirit into my life and I became a born again Christian, At first my parents were in shock but they slowly believed what I told them, It was a powerful supernatural experience that I will never forget and I still feel that Holy Spirit alive in me today, it gives me a peace and a joy I couldn't get anywhere else, Sunday is my favorite day of the week because of the Spirit within me, I can tell you for a fact the Bible is real and so is Jesus, just the name Jesus has a Power, when you see a Church or a Cross doesn't it make you feel something special, I think its in our instincts to know there is a God, the Bible clearly teaches also that unless you believe in Jesus you cannot go to Heaven, you must be born again or saved as some Christians call it. Have you ever been saved? Have you ever turned your life over to Jesus Christ? I encourage you to if you have not, it is the only way to Heaven, some of my friends that have been saved have had similiar experiences that they said just touched their hearts and they knew that they needed to make a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, one of my friends said that He could here what sounded like angels singing, its possible, anyway that is my experience and I am not ashamed to be called a Christian, and I am not ashamed of Jesus, there are alot here who put Christians down but I know the Bible is true, I have seen miracles done in the name of Jesus, Please get your Bible out and start reading it. Accept Jesus today, no one knows what tomorrow brings, it may be to late, here is a sinners prayer that if you believe with all your heart you canbe saved right now, just pray Dear Jesus, I know and confess that I am sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died on a cross at calvery and arose from the grave to wash away my sins, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me, I pray this Prayer believing in the name of Jesus Amen. If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart you are now a child of God, rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of Life. Jesus will now send his Holy Spirit to come and live in your heart and guide you into all truth. If you made a decision for Christ or have any questions, Please send me an email, God Bless YOU!!

Answer 6

well if your faith or belief is atheism, you have to study books written by others, teachers who teach the sciences that offer proof of evolution through scientific research, which is built on many layers of other people researching.

unless you were born on an isolated island and never encountered any of the things you mentioned, could one come to a faith, by being "touched" by something.

Answer 7

No, it was a choice i made. No one comes to genuine and profound faith through actual experience; it is a gift from God once you make the decision to believe in Him and His Son Jesus Christ. Once that decision is made, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live in you and provides the proof of your faith. In essence, His spirit confirms what you have made the choice to believe in your spirit.
It is a little like asking a person to jump first, and then believe that there is a soft landing that will break his fall. Scary, but worth it.

Answer 8

It came from personal experience. I had mocked the Bible as well as Christians only the week before, and then I felt the Lord's presence and knew I was desperately wrong, and in dire need of His salvation. He was with me, and I KNOW it. Nothing anyone will ever say will tear that away from me.

It was a 180 in my life, within a day. I burned all of my Witchcraft books and all of my altar supplies. I completely changed. The LORD changed me.

Answer 9

Mostly... faith came from traditional upbringing and when an individual come to realize and search for reality ... Atheism and more drastically, death fatwa will be the reward.

Answer 10

Yes.
I had prayed something when I was a child that came to pass. It was about being an adult and when it happened it blew me away-I was 35 when that prayer was answered.
I got my sorry butt in church after that! There's no other explanation than a real creator who heard me.

After that I did my research and came to conclusion that the God of the bible is the one who heard me.

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