Religion Thread - Beware

[Matthew S.]

Alright, with Passion of the Christ having a rather large impact on society, I feel like this is an appropriate time to bring up the question of religion. I was brought up as a Christian, which has influenced various parts of my life. However, as a person gets older, it's difficult not to question your faith. For those of you who believe in any religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.), what is it that has brought you to your current belief system. I understand that a portion of any religion must be based around a system of faith, and there's certain parts that just can't be explained in this world. However, as a strong thinking individual, I still believe any amount of faith has to be supported by some type of evidence.

My intention of this thread, is for people to explain why they believe in their specific religion. What has supported your belief system, and why did you choose the current religion over any other? Is it that you were simply raised that way, and have no other thought process except that of your family and how they raised you, or are you thinking for yourself and have come to your own conclusion?

Also, if your only intention for this thread is to state how religion is a cult, or to simply say "**** religion," don't bother posting; your reply will be deleted. If you'd like to intelligently explain why you don't believe in a religion, please do so, but be warned that any post attempting to scrutinize someone or their religion will be deleted. I'll take responsibility for this thread and moderate it accordingly. I don't want it to be locked, so please act in a civil manner.

[Voice]

I consider myself to just be a spiritual person.

I wasn't really brought up christian, although my mother was....it was never forced on me or anything.

I do believe in god, but that's about as far as it goes, I don't like organized religion for personal reasons, which I don't feel like defending, so I'll just leave that part blank.

[lue]

I was born and raised in a Christian family, and, as you may expect, it did have an influence on my life. I wasn't "forced" to believe in Christianity; it was my decision (though, again, my parents did have a huge influence on me). Now that I am able to "think for myself," I still have the same beliefs as I did when I was younger. I believe that there is a God, and that he created what we see all around us (aside from man-made things, obviously).

Matt, I find it kind of funny how you believe that "any amount of faith has to be supported by some type of evidence," since the definition of faith is a belief that doesn't rest on logical proof or material evidence. I'm not trying to make fun of you in any way, I just find it interesting that you believe that (would you mind explaining why you think that?)

What I find really interesting about Christianity is that it is the only religion to focus on a personal relationship with their God. I know a lot of people don't believe in Christianity because they think "why would God, the creator of EVERYTHING, want to have a personal relationship with His people?!" and they think its so farfetched that it can't be true.

[svosen]

I was born into a Lutheran family, attended Sunday school, and went through the confirmation process (once you are 'confirmed', you've basically graduated into the church membership).

Kind of like Voice described, I believed in God for most of my life, until I was about 19 or so. I became involved with a girl who was raised in a Christian home and was a Christian. We knew we were meant to be together after the first year or so, which led her to begin questioning the appropriateness of our relationship (since she knew I wasn't really a believer in Christ). She presented me with her concerns, and she ultimately broke up with me because of it. She asked me to go speak with a pastor in my college town if I was serious about being with her.

So I did. And it changed my life.

It's been a steady progression since that time. After speaking with the pastor, I began actively reading the Bible. I had read parts of it before, but it was different this time; I actually was seeking to know the Lord.

Each time I read the Scriptures, even if I had read them before, I seem to learn something new. The Bible encourages us to read the Word and study it, and I try to do that.

In my estimation, hyprocrisy does more damage to Christianity than any other thing. I try very hard to live by my faith, but it's a tricky business. We are called to live as Jesus lived (ie - holy, upright, without sin), but we have been born into a sinful world, and we are the automatic recipients of sin as handed down to us from our ancestors, back to original sin in the garden of Eden. Trying to live in holiness while walking in sinfulness is very contradictory. Anyone looking in from the outside - those who do not personally understand the unique moral dilema of the Christian - easily misinterprets our wrong actions as hypocrisy. While it may indeed be hypocrisy, it is often times nothing more than humanity.

Many people label themselves as Christians. True Christians are those who are actively seeking Christ. We (Christians) are all at different places in our spiritual journey, which means that we will not all act the same way. What is important is that we are truly seeking to do God's will, and that we show love to our fellow man. The saying "Hate the sin, love the sinner" may be cliche, but it is a valid guide to Christian living. In my experience, it is difficult for non-believers to comprehend this concept. Most of them do not believe that it is possible to condemn a sin while not condeming the sinner.

Jesus told us not to point out the speck in our brother's eye before we remove the plank from our own. But he also told us not to tolerate sin. Trying to carry these tasks out simultaneously requires a great deal of care and compassion. It also requires humility when someone points out our own mistakes.

The journey of Christian faith can be difficult, but it is rewarding. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ fills a void within that no other thing or person can fill. It is the one thing that will never change - in this world or beyond.

[Interceptor]

I don't believe in or follow any sort of organized religion. Althought religion is seeminly the basis for socity, it causes nothing but chaos. why people are scrutinized for what they believe is beyond me. That's not to say I don't believe in some higher being, because I do. I just don't attend regular meetings in elaborate buildings with staind glass windows and a collection plate to demonstrate my faith. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it.

[NIRVANARULZ]

Originally posted by Interceptor
I don't believe in or follow any sort of organized religion. Althought religion is seeminly the basis for socity, it causes nothing but chaos. why people are scrutinized for what they believe is beyond me. That's not to say I don't believe in some higher being, because I do. I just don't attend regular meetings in elaborate buildings with staind glass windows and a collection plate to demonstrate my faith. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it.

What he said.

[Arnold K. (Admin)]

I believe in the religion of me.

[Voice]

My thinking is that the whole reason original sin happened, is because the struggle to lead your life in the way jesus did, is what it is all about.

That's what is important, is finding it for yourself, and getting there on your own terms.

Life is a journey, if we had all the answers from birth, then what would be the point of life?

[Cowboy22]

I was born and raised a Catholic. Went to 8 years of Catholic school, and was confirmed. However, a couple years ago, I came to the conclusion that I really didn't believe a lot of what the church taught and decided that it was best for me to go another way, and it's been one of the better decisions of my life (irritated the hell out of my mother though). I certainly believe in the presence of a God but beyond that I'm really not sure. I really don't fit into any sort of organized religion, and maybe that's for the best.

[Gabriel013]

My mother was raised C 0f E and my father was raised as a Catholic. Now she's a Jehovahs Witness and he's an Athiest.

My grandparents made me go to church with them that might be what led me to see the lack of sense in it all.

I am now a proud Satanist. This is my religion because I don't like to see people blindly follow what they are told is right or wrong.

I believe that each man is his own God and we are ultimately in control of our lives. If something bad is happening then it's not because some external deity is not helping you or is influencing your life, it's because you're not helping yourself. (I obviously do not include most illnesses or accidents in this).

I live a good life, I'm kind and courtious to others and I belive in doing the right thing because I want to do it, and not because that is what is expected of me.