Believers in god: why have your beliefs taken the form they have?

Question

I understand that people who believe in god do not all have the same conceptions of god. Some believe god is active in the daily lives of all people while others believe that god created the universe and left other processes to direct the historical shaping of the universe. There are as many different conceptions of god as there are believers.

What I'm interested in knowing is why do you have the specific beliefs that you do? Did you come to them by reading religious texts? Did a family member or friend largely shape your beliefs? Are you open to changing your beliefs? If you are open to change, what would need to happen to make you change your beliefs?

I'm also interested in knowing why you don't believe certain things. If you believe the claims in one religious text, why do you reject the claims of another?

I would be happy with any answers you could provide, and please feel free to be detailed in your answers. I would really like to know what you think.

Answer 1

That's really hard to answer. I'd have to say that my beliefs have taken shape over my lifetime. My Dad is a retired minister and my mother was an Atheist so I heard both points of view, although neither was forced on me. I have was encouraged to explore all options and examine all possibilities.

I settled on my father's religion (Unitarian) because it is open, encourages questioning, attests that all paths are valid, and concentrates all of it's efforts on fighting for the basic rights of humanity without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation , etc ( I know, I sound like an ad, lol)

I think there are good lessons in all holy texts but do not believe that any of them are God's word.

Answer 2

What I'm interested in knowing is why do you have the specific beliefs that you do?

My grandparents on my father's side were Christains & my father is a Christain.

Did you come to them by reading religious texts?

Yes, some of them I read in the bible.

Did a family member or friend largely shape your beliefs?

My father had great influence on my Christain believes.

Are you open to changing your beliefs?

No, I'm not fond of burning in hell forever.

If you are open to change, what would need to happen to make you change your beliefs?

N/A

I'm also interested in knowing why you don't believe certain things.

You didn't use any examples so I can't really answer this question without more specific questions.

If you believe the claims in one religious text, why do you reject the claims of another?

The Bible is the only book to say it is the true word of God. All the rest don't. The people using the other text will tell you it is the true word, but it isn't.

Answer 3

I believe in God, but I am no longer religious. God started out as a religious term, someone you have to believe in, someone your family tells you is true. Then you seek and find God isnt like Little mermaid's father, but up in the sky. I have read things from all different religions, and non-religious, and have seen what seemed true to me. Things have most definetly changed, evolved over time, as far as my concept of God. I am very open to change and like when people challenge my beliefs so that i can make sure what I believe is actually real. If it cannot be challenged, it shouldnt be there. There isnt a specific thing that would need to happen to change my beliefs as they evolve over time as I do.
I dont reject claims of other religions, I look at it for myself, and see what I believe as true and what I do not. I dont discrimate or put boundries on my view of God based on where the information came from. The important thing is that it comes. I hope this helps give you a little different view than most strictly religious views of God.

Answer 4

i was born & raised a Christian. my mother & grandmother whom i live with a very religous and are constantly urging my other family members to go to church.
although i may NOT agree with everything they say, like for example in our and surrounding churches they think it's bad for a girl to wear pants because it's supposedly men's clothing & in the Bible it saids something to the extent of "a woman shall not put on a man's clothes." but what i dont get is if BOTH men & women were robe-like outfits back in the day what's so wrong with me slapping on a pair of jeans?
soo i think i'd classify myself as a general christian, not the denomination that my parents have brought me up in.

anyway, i believe in God & have the specific beliefs that i do is because i have a hard knock life. like some say that it's in sorrow that you grow closer to God, and that's pretty darn true. And like when things were looking dim & gloomy for me I'd just pray and meditate on God & i'd find inner peace and i learned to accept things for what they are because both the good & bad things that happens in life all have their purpose in a greater plan.

As far as altering my beliefs, nay, i know not too much or not too little when it comes to scripture & all that. Before i go learning a lot about other beliefs i need to learn more before hand so i won't get confused & question everything around me. I guess you can't blame me, i'm just a pesky 16 yr old =P

but from other religious texts that i have set my eyes on, it's like none of the ideals could sink in and make an impression on me.

hope it helped =]

Answer 5

I grew up in a very strict church. As i got older i started to really disagree with their teachings. There is a big problem with children growing up in christian family. A lot of children dont see the real God that they are introduced to therefore go searching in other places. I got fed up with religion and got on my knees and yelled at God, asked him questions and told him that if you are real, then show me yourself. If not, i wont bother wasting my time. Little by little He revealed himself to me. More and more I fall in Love with him. I dont let people influence me on there beliefs. Why listen to people if i got the direct source? If i hear about something that will catch my attention, i ask God. Its that simple. I reject certain texts because the spirit himself guides me.

Answer 6

I was raised in 'church' but i grew up to be a drug addict, living with a drug addict & 1 day I asked who is God.
Weeks later i saw a man standing in my living room, He had wounds in His wrists & ankles.( I had always been told the palms of His hands & His feet by the toes were where the nails were driven.)
He said 'I went through this because I love u', He showed me the scripture where He was beaten beyond what any human had gone through.
He told me 'I Am the Son of God, I could have stopped the crucifixion at any time. But I wanted u to be with Me, so I gave My life for u.'
I started reading the Bible & gave my life to the 1 who gave His life 4 me.

Answer 7

I am a christian. However, I haven't talken the typical hypocritical path of most christians. I do not drink. I follow the bible to an extent. I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and Haile Selassie I, the father of the teachings of Rastafari(considered a religion). I don't view it as a religion, but as a lifestyle of purity and truth. I want to begin my Nazarite vow now(age 16), but my parents look down upon my view on religion, and shun/punish me until I cut my hair(nazarite vow involves oath to got not to cut/trim hair on head/face). Can I have YOUR advice on what to do in my situation, in an e-mail form please? Thank you.

Answer 8

My faith is built upon reading of God's word, and watching his work in my family, my friends, my church family, and my own life. It is a relationship that has been built upon a mutual understanding. I KNOW my God, I talk, pray, sing, laugh and enjoy know him. I don't believe what is no scriptural. God's word is my text book.

Hope this helps.