What is your religion?

[MRNewman]

I was raised to believe in God but growing up, I am finding many things to question. I don't want to admit to my parents that I am a reluctant, skeptical 'Catholic' and I despise going to church, because it makes me feel so guilty and bad.
I believe that there are different Gods out there for different things. Maybe it's just mere mythology, I don't know but I'm fairly certain that there wouldn't just be one God. It's what I believe in. I can't be an athiest because I believe that there is something out there. I'm just not sure whether or not it's one God.
I can't trust the Bible because there are so many cracks in it and it just contradicts itself too much to make me believe.

I detest Scientology. I don't think it's a religion. No offence to any Scientologists on this board or any where else but, I just don't see how it can be a religion like Christianity or even Buddhism.
Posted via Mobile Device

What makes you feel so guilty going to church? Not trying to put you on the spot, just curious. I'm not Roman Catholic, so I have only attended Catholic weddings / funerals, not traditional services.

Do you believe that one should worship all the multitude of gods? Or do you feel that one god rises above the rest? Worship of one god, while acceptance that many others exist is called henotheism. I'm a borderline henotheistic Christian, in that I'm a Christian who worships the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, yet I believe that other gods may or may not exist.

The problem I've always had with the Bible is that it's God's word as transcribed by man and while (as a Christian) I believe God to be infallible, man is not. Man fails time and again, so while I believe the message is correct - occaisionally the facts may be confused. Example: In Genesis, God creates man and woman...then he makes Adam and Eve as the first people. Cain then leaves Eden to find other people in the world, which means that other people had to exist. It's a little contradiction, but one which can throw off a number of people...if they don't realize that man wrote the Bible based on inspiration from God. Man then translated the Bible from ancient languages to the best of their ability, which is why older Bibles will say that Moses parted the Red Sea, while some more recent translations believe that it's actually meant to say "Sea of Reeds" which could imply a swampy region which Moses passed through to allow the Hebrew people to escape while the Pharoh's men were trapped; instead of a literal parting of a Sea.

 

[xfivebyfive]

So god does send people to hell if they do things that are against his rules and don't repent?

Murderers and kiddie rapist yeah! Are you going to tell me you think they should go to heaven?

 

[Taake]

Murderers and kiddie rapist yeah! Are you going to tell me you think they should go to heaven?

Well the world doesn't just separate into good people who should go to heaven and murderers and rapists who shouldn't... and what if those people repent?

A lot of gray areas here...

 

[xfivebyfive]

Well the world doesn't just separate into good people who should go to heaven and murderers and rapists who shouldn't... and what if those people repent?

A lot of gray areas here...

If they repent then according to the church they go to heaven too. I believe that most people will go to heaven. My personal view is that it should take something as terrible as murder to get you sent to hell. And if God can even forgive that then nothing else should matter in comparison.

 

[MRNewman]

If they repent then according to the church they go to heaven too. I believe that most people will go to heaven. My personal view is that it should take something as terrible as murder to get you sent to hell. And if God can even forgive that then nothing else should matter in comparison.

According to Christianity, anyone who repents and accepts Christ as their personal Lord and Savior can be forgiven of any / all sin, if done truly and with a whole heart. That's it. Other faiths may allow forgiveness / enterance into heaven with certain actions on the part of the believer.

That said - according to Christianity, anyone can get into Heaven, but not everyone does. To continue along with the example given, the unrepentant murderer who has does not seek forgiveness, would not enter Heaven.

 

[Username]

Murderers and kiddie rapist yeah! Are you going to tell me you think they should go to heaven?

Haha what? No one is going to heaven, or hell.
My point was that people who believe in god says that god sends people to hell for not living by his rules, which according to you as well he does because you think that childmolesters and murderers are going to hell - but not if they repent, then even they get to go to heaven right?

 

[FetalPig]

Haha what? No one is going to heaven, or hell.

it is unclear from this whether you are stating your own belief, or stating that xfivebyvivex's belief is wrong (in your opinion)

My point was that people who believe in god says that god sends people to hell for not living by his rules, which according to you as well he does because you think that childmolesters and murderers are going to hell - but not if they repent, then even they get to go to heaven right?

You didn't make a point ... you asked a question.
It sounds like you might be trying to catch someone out in having different beliefs to you.

 

[xfivebyfive]

Haha what? No one is going to heaven, or hell.
My point was that people who believe in god says that god sends people to hell for not living by his rules, which according to you as well he does because you think that childmolesters and murderers are going to hell - but not if they repent, then even they get to go to heaven right?

Yes that is what I believe. I believe that murderers and rapist should go to hell. However, I don't know who will and who won't since I'm not God. It's just what I believe.

I don't personally believe its just about living by his rules, since the rules have been twisted over time by man's interpretation. My personal belief is God wants us to respect one another, not be cruel to each other. That's what God wants. For us to love thy brother (and sister). God wants Peace.

 

[Username]

it is unclear from this whether you are stating your own belief, or stating that xfivebyvivex's belief is wrong (in your opinion)


You didn't make a point ... you asked a question.
It sounds like you might be trying to catch someone out in having different beliefs to you.

It was a point I made in a discussion about something else with someone else, I said that people who believe in god says that god sends people to hell for not following his rules, xfivebyfive replied saying something else, and I asked questions about it.

To make things clear, I am an atheist.

 

[girlonfire]

What makes you feel so guilty going to church? Not trying to put you on the spot, just curious. I'm not Roman Catholic, so I have only attended Catholic weddings / funerals, not traditional services.

Do you believe that one should worship all the multitude of gods? Or do you feel that one god rises above the rest? Worship of one god, while acceptance that many others exist is called henotheism. I'm a borderline henotheistic Christian, in that I'm a Christian who worships the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, yet I believe that other gods may or may not exist.

The problem I've always had with the Bible is that it's God's word as transcribed by man and while (as a Christian) I believe God to be infallible, man is not. Man fails time and again, so while I believe the message is correct - occaisionally the facts may be confused. Example: In Genesis, God creates man and woman...then he makes Adam and Eve as the first people. Cain then leaves Eden to find other people in the world, which means that other people had to exist. It's a little contradiction, but one which can throw off a number of people...if they don't realize that man wrote the Bible based on inspiration from God. Man then translated the Bible from ancient languages to the best of their ability, which is why older Bibles will say that Moses parted the Red Sea, while some more recent translations believe that it's actually meant to say "Sea of Reeds" which could imply a swampy region which Moses passed through to allow the Hebrew people to escape while the Pharoh's men were trapped; instead of a literal parting of a Sea.

To answer your first question, I feel strangely guilty for going to church at times because I don't know whether to feel right or wrong about questioning my own religion. Or rather, the one that my parents chose to bring me up with.
And yes, you're right, that's the typical problem I have with the Bible too. Yes, it does throw me off sometimes but I have to consistently remind myself that God didn't write the Bible.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[MRNewman]

To answer your first question, I feel strangely guilty for going to church at times because I don't know whether to feel right or wrong about questioning my own religion. Or rather, the one that my parents chose to bring me up with.

And yes, you're right, that's the typical problem I have with the Bible too. Yes, it does throw me off sometimes but I have to consistently remind myself that God didn't write the Bible.
Posted via Mobile Device

All of that said - I still accept the Bible as the best interpretation of the Word of God that we as people have.

On the first topic - you should not feel guilty for having questions about your faith. In fact, it's probably worthwhile sharing these questions with a person of faith, be that a clergy member or a friend. It's useful to hear the perspective of others who may have even had those same questions / doubts.

I myself have had doubts about my faith in the past - but no longer. I'm undoubtful about my Christian faith and very happy about that. Once you recognize the fact that the bottom line in every religion is that it's based in faith...not on tangible, definitive evidence via the scientific method. You find proof of your faith not in a test tube or a lab, but in your heart and soul. That's how I can have confidence in my faith and how I'm sure others have confidence in theirs.

*steps down from his podium*

 

[zobothehobo]

To answer your first question, I feel strangely guilty for going to church at times because I don't know whether to feel right or wrong about questioning my own religion. Or rather, the one that my parents chose to bring me up with.
And yes, you're right, that's the typical problem I have with the Bible too. Yes, it does throw me off sometimes but I have to consistently remind myself that God didn't write the Bible.
Posted via Mobile Device

In my opinion, you don't truly believe your faith until you've questioned it. If you question it and still come back to it, it's strong belief rooted deep in your heart. I was "raised" in the Greek Orthodox church (I say raised in quotes because I pretty much stopped going when I was only 11). When I was 7 I came to the conclusion I didn't believe in God, but I was told by my family I had to. When I was 11, I was pretty much certain there was no God. Since then, I've questioned that belief time and again. It does get awful scary to think of yourself as just a happenstance by science... but I always come back to my conclusion I don't believe in God.

This is not to say I'm an atheist. As I've said before in this thread, I'm agnostic. I don't know what's out there and to tell you the truth, I don't really care. If I had to choose I have an answer that I don't believe in God, but beyond that... not so much.

Religion is a very personal thing. What's right for you might not be what was right for your parents and that is NOTHING to feel guilty about.

 

[MRNewman]

In my opinion, you don't truly believe your faith until you've questioned it. If you question it and still come back to it, it's strong belief rooted deep in your heart.

That's the truth. I came into a period of doubt in my faith from 18-20. I've since realized that deep down, my faith is what it is. I believe in an almighty God who had one incarnation in His Son, Jesus the Christ. Some nuances of my faith have changed as I've learned more / read more of The Bible, but in the end that's what I know in my heart to be true to me.

 

[Gotham]

A lot of us have said that we were brought up in a certain religion but now are atheist or we believe in God but not organised religion.

Do any of you miss being active in your religion? For years I have done everything in my power to pull away from the Catholic church bit lately I have really really wanted to just go and sit in the Cathedral and feel part of it again.

Has anyone else felt this pull of their past?

All the time. Used to be a very Jesus loving kid growing up, then I suffered a very hard bereavement and it kind of smashed my faith. Couldn't understand how God could let people suffer horrible deaths or let people be persecuted for things that they can't control. So I'm basically an agnostic now.

But it's hard to let go completely, especially because I grew up with a very cool mother who never used organised religion as a means to hate people. So I only have good memories from my childhood when it comes to religion. When stuff gets too much for me sometimes and I walk past a church, I have a sudden urge just to walk in there and sit there for a while. I think one of these days I'm going to give into that urge.

 

[Doppelgang]

My religious practices are to give thanks for meals, to try always to be thankful for the good things about my life, to sometimes reflect and meditate on my beliefs, values and current lifestyle, and to do things to better myself.

As far as religious belief goes, I believe that a power higher than humanity must exist, but I'm not sure of the nature of this power, so I prefer not to label it as God.

As for specific religions, I was raised catholic, but rebelled against this when I was quite young. I became atheist, but then turned to eastern religions like buddhism, and more recently I have started to see something worthwhile again in the Christian faith. 🙂

 

[Goldilocks]

I'm a Muslim 🙂

msg2short

 

[Ianigsy]

I was brought up nominally Protestant- my parents were brought up in Liverpool in the fifties and sixties, when the city was still quite sectarian and Protestants and Catholics didn't mix. Became an evangelical Christian at 20 and stopped at 32- while in lots of ways the Church of England feels like home, I started getting frustrated with the church's position on some social issues.

At the moment I believe that human beings have a spiritual side to them, but the things we attribute to God or other supernatural beings are probably natural forces we don't understand yet. That said, I think it's always a good thing to expose yourself to other world views and keep learning- I think there's value in the journey, whether it's from doubt to faith or belief to scepticism.

 

[prophecygrrl]

I'd say I'm an agnostic. I think sometimes there's a stigma against agnosticism as if it's a cop-out or something, but I'd disagree with that. Very simply, I'm just not happy or satisfied with the versions of God presented through most organized religions, but I also can't find it in myself to believe that we're completely on our own in this world. My parents aren't religious (but they don't consider themselves atheists either and they rarely express their beliefs anyway) so they never pushed anything onto me. Looking back, I'm really glad it happened that way. I personally can't imagine being raised into a certain religion. I like the fact that I had a choice to believe whatever I wanted, though I do understand that some people like to raise their children with the same beliefs as they do, and that's fine too. 🙂

 

[Kean]

All the time. Used to be a very Jesus loving kid growing up, then I suffered a very hard bereavement and it kind of smashed my faith. Couldn't understand how God could let people suffer horrible deaths or let people be persecuted for things that they can't control. So I'm basically an agnostic now.

A lot of people I know feel this way. Really good, religious people that turned away from the church because of this. My neighbour actually just wrote a book about how the death of his mother turned him from the church forever. He's a Jehovah Witness now.

I don't know why but I have never felt that God has a plan. I don't believe that my 22 year old cousin died in a car accident this year because God was ignoring him or was trying to punish him and his family. I just think that's life and sometimes cars crash.

I never tried to think this way, I just always have. I think I am lucky in that respect.

But it's hard to let go completely, especially because I grew up with a very cool mother who never used organised religion as a means to hate people. So I only have good memories from my childhood when it comes to religion. When stuff gets too much for me sometimes and I walk past a church, I have a sudden urge just to walk in there and sit there for a while. I think one of these days I'm going to give into that urge.

I think I will too.

I've been trying to figure out a way I could still feel part of the Catholic faith but totally reject the Church. I'm not having so much luck lol I have the faith, I just don't trust the people who are dispensing it.

 

[VisionGirl]

What spiritual practices do you guys follow? What I mean is: prayer, meditation, yoga, chanting, Bible reading, daily Islamic prayers, rosary, prayer beads, positive affirmations etc, etc. I am struggling spiritually right now and looking for some "inspiration" as far as some kind of daily quieting of my mind. As I said earlier, I am a practicing Catholic (but very liberal), and am involved with a 12-step program that influences my spirituality, but I am always open to other ideas. Life is just so, so busy, I have very little time for myself & really need it.