How has your childhood religious teaching affected you as an adult? Do you still

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   How has your childhood religious teaching affected you as an adult? Do you still believe in your
   
   childhood religion, left it to pursue your individual spiritual path, or left all types of religion/spirituality altogether?
   
   

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2. 59

   emilyzeinertposted 9 years ago

   My parents weren't religious at all. My mother was skeptical of any sort of spiritualism and my father was strictly a non-believer in any sense of an afterlife or spirituality. Yet, I am Pagan. Go figure lol

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3. 93

   FatFreddysCatposted 9 years ago

   My parents were "church on Easter and Christmas Eve" types, which was fine by me. I've pretty much followed that same pattern throughout my adult life.
   I've often said that the Good Lord and I have an arrangement I don't do anything to piss Him off, and in return He doesn't smite me with lightning. So far it's worked out pretty well.

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      This is so cute!

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4. 80

   Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years ago

   I was a conservative devout Christian as a child.  At that time, I was surrounded by positive Christian influences and negative worldly ones; I attended a Christian school and summer camp.  The camp was FABULOUS; many of my best childhood memories were made there.  The school was wonderful too.  True, I wanted to dance, wear jewelry, and listen to heavy metal and soul music, but the price to pay for those was to attend a violence-ridden Oakland public school, so I was content to pass on those.
   My religion saved me from negativity as a child, but it did not do so as an adult.  I have career troubles which could have been solved if Christ had made me a new creature, but that didn't happen.  In fact, I wound up inadvertently joining a cult, which put my life in danger.  It is for this reason I have become extremely disillusioned, and agnostic.
   If I had to do it over again, I would still grow up in the same religion, complete with school and camp, but I would not take it so seriously.  I remember a boy at my school who told me he didn't believe in God.  I was shocked; what was he doing there, if he didn't believe?  Now I know the answer is simple: 1) his parents sent him there, and 2) he wanted to escape the violence of public schools.  Those reasons are good enough!  Though he should have practiced prudence and not said that, since he could have been kicked out of school for it...

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5. 60

   Pam Ryanposted 9 years ago

   Excellent question. When I was a child, the parish priest was a fire and brimstone man. He repeatedly told us we would all burn in hell for ever, even kids. Needless to say, this did not go down well with me. I was five years of age and listening to that crap. Also, he looked like Darth Vader with his helmet off. Scary, scary stuff. I haven't set foot in a church for twenty five years now.

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