Did you choose your religious / non-religious belief?

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   lumen2lightposted 11 years ago

   Did you choose your religious / non-religious belief?
   
   Most people are born into a religion, have you ever thought about changing?
   
   I ask, not to be antagonistic, but to understand if your belief is of blind faith or by choice.

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   I studied the Holy Bible to come to the conclusion of my own beliefs. I do not consider myself religious as much as I do a child of God saved by his grace. His grace by sending his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for all's sin who will choose to accept him.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      JT, I am glad that through your studies you chose your path, and although I chose to walk a different path, may we both enjoy the journey of life.

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely my friend. Thank you for your respect, that really means a lot.

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   Emanate Presenceposted 11 years ago

   lumen2light, you have asked a perceptive question. I believe that every person chooses their beliefs. When a person continues in a belief system without examining it, they still choose their way -- or at least choose to ignore that they have other choices.
   
   It is a hard way, to continue in a worldview without reflecting on it, as this path removes oneself further from real aliveness. But it may seem more comforting to the personality.
   
   I was born into a family with a devout Catholic mother and a scientifically-minded father who sometimes attended a Unitarian church. I was raised Catholic but after my older brother died when the car he was driving went off a mountain road, I started searching more deeply. As a 13-year-old, one Sunday I could not keep the communion wafer in my mouth and left the Mass to spit it out on the snow. My searching led me onto many diversions, including Eastern religions, metaphysics and a long period of Christian fundamentalism. The stories are told in some of my hubs, such as 'What Do You Believe and Why?'
   
   My worldview now does not fit under any label I have come across. I would call it Exploring, Experimenting, Experiencing, Expanding, and Evolving. There's been a lot of letting go of old fixed ideas and integrating new awareness and understanding since 2000.
   
   And you? I appreciate your approach and manner....

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The only thing that I could 100% agree with in all my religious studies that does not seem to be manipulated to suit is: ‘do unto others as you would have then do unto you.’  I accept people for who and what they are and hope they do the same for me.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, the golden rule applies. When I shifted from Bible-based beliefs, it was motivated by being true to myself. I wrote principles to live by, including 'I respect the right of others to their beliefs and choices' and 'I appreciate diversity.'

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   DommaLeighposted 11 years ago

   My father was Baptist and my mother was Catholic. My mothers parents were Catholic and Greek Orthodox. I was raised Catholic. At the age of 16 I went on my religious search. I studied just about ever religion in search of my faith (including non christen faiths). In the end I became a fundamentalist. My children went on their own search and we have a very wide belief system, including one of my sons becoming a Wiccan, and one son belief in a greater power but claims no religious ties. I respect my children chooses though they are not mine but as long as they searched for them self, I accept their choice. No one should ever just accept anything blindly else we would all still believe in the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is how it should be, respect the individuals right to choose.
      Oh no, don't tell me that the tooth fairy and Easter bunny are not real!!!

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 11 years ago

   Yes, I chose my religious beliefs for myself, and I continue to choose them every day.  I don't really fit into one, neatly-packaged traditional denomination.  I base my beliefs on my own experience with a personal God and how much understanding I have of his teachings and his influence in my life.  I believe I'm closer to him this way than I would be if I invested all my energy in  following a specific religion.  Most of them have so much culture, history, and tradition in them - I think they get cluttered.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't believe that any one religious denomination fits all, that is probably why there are so many. It is nice to know that you chose to believe in GOD your own personal way. Thank you for your responce.

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   djdaniel150posted 11 years ago

   Everyone makes their own choices regardless of what they do or who they are. The question itself would be invalid for this reason. You have to choose everything you believe, someone else cannot do it for you.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Not everyone does, many are born into religion, are raised in religion and stay with that one religion without looking at any others. You could say it is thier choice to remain in that religion, but without understanding others where is the choice?

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   KenDeanAgudoposted 11 years ago

   Somewhat religious is being told since the day you were born based on what your parents religion is. The important is that you are living faithfully and as well as you live in accordance with God's will.

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   jlparkposted 11 years ago

   I was brought up with the opportunity to choose my own beliefs.  My parents spoke of God in various positive lights. My father was raised Anglican, my mother I'm not sure!
   
   We were raised to respect all religions, and if we found one that struck a chord with us - this was great, and we were supported in this.  Even in my very blended family, we were all raised similarly. I have one sister who is AOG, one who is/was (I know, I'm confused too!) Mormon, and four sisters who are either agnostic or atheist.  It's not something that we discuss - if it makes them happy, we're happy for them. And funnily enough, we all get on well, and my religious siblings have no issue with myself or my same sex wife - treating her just as another sister, as we all treat the husbands as brothers.
   
   As a humanist agnostic, I actually prefer to be this - I can learn and be educated on other religions without the cloud of my own personal faith (had I been religious) telling me how I should feel about certain things in anothers faith.  I enjoy the learning of others religions, belief systems and cultures.
   
   Did I choose it? Kind of. I have not found a religion that works for me, but I'm not convinced that there isn't any Gods either (so therefore not an atheist). So, agnosticism is all that is left to me!. So, yeah, by choice.
   
   Thanks for this question.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your answer, it seems like those who have chosen, have an open mind allowing them to discus, learn and grow. Sounds like you have a wonderful and diverse family that accept each other for how and what they are.

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   Dan Barfieldposted 11 years ago

   I was born into and raised in the Catholic faith but went to an Anglican private school. I began to study philosophy at age 17 which led me to lose my faith. I was a strongly opinioned Atheist for a long time, but kept reading philosophy, and slowly started to read more widely about other religious and spiritual narratives. I have now come to a point at which I do believe in a higher power (something which I thought would never happen again). I am constantly learning, and challenging my beliefs. I enjoy entering into debate with people who hold different views as a way of testing my beliefs for coherency. My current interest is in finding common ground between all the spiritual paths and current scientific understanding of the universe.

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      lumen2lightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      nice response, hope you will write a hub on your findings, would be a very interesting read.

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    Kevin Peterposted 11 years ago

    I was taught from my childhood to follow the religion that was followed by my parents. When I was young I didnt think much about it seriously.Though I believe in the same religion even now it's now that I came to think and understand about the teachings deeply. Now it has started influencing my life a lot.

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    renegadetoryposted 11 years ago

    My family was Presbyterian lite- we went to church for Easter and Christmas and occasionally on a few Sundays in the year. 
    
    When I was 13 I realized that I had too many unanswered questions about many of the things that was forced as a child to participate in and it was when I opened a Bible and started reading and researching that my beliefs completely changed.  I gave up Christmas, Easter, etc.  I began observing Saturday as the day of rest and made other changes as well. 
    
    What I believe now is by choice.

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    Maggie Bennettposted 11 years ago

    My beliefs have been molded by experience, and no longer match the religion I was born into.  So, it was by choice.

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