Why I am not Religious..

I am catholic but not religious in the sense that i seldom go to church nor even read or browse on the holy book. Religion is a matter of cultural belief. I, declaring to be catholic is just a mark. I believe that the sacred word is manifesting itself in the real world.i do not have to be in a group or in a place to praise him, that place is inside of me.

Hi there raijin. I am a respecter of all peoples religions also. I am a Christian but I don't attend church-Idon't feel you have to. I have seen many heated discussions about religion here on myLot. I generally try to stay away from them. I was told by a wise person long ago that if you want to get into an argument with someone, start talking politics or religion. I have always found this to be true.

I give more importance on my RELATIONSHIP with God than my religion. hence, when i say i am a Christian, it means that i follow (or at least try) what Christ preaches. As a Christian, i don't think i am holy and perfect. in fact, i made (and still do) a lot of mistakes in my life. every day, there is something new that Christ teaches me to do or not to do. there are times that my stubborness get the better of me that instead of submitting my will to Christ, i do my own way. and, i dont usually do rituals or traditions. i dont think that God is interested in what i do in the Church. i believe that He is more interested in shaping my character and how i do things outside the church.

Well raijin, in my opinion that makes you a better Christian than many of the people who try to claim that title. I feel very much the same as you about these things and it is so refreshing to hear somebody stand up and be open about it like you have. Thank you! The reason I feel this way is because I feel that the basis of Christianity was to be as Christ-like as humanly possible. Jesus tried to unite peoople, he didn't judge others because of who they were or what they had done in the past, he just opened his heart and held out his hands to ALL who needed him regardless. I quit attending my church when I began to see it dividing. I thought it was wrong and wanted no part of it. I had no desire to get caught up in taking sides. It has been a year and a half since I last attended Sunday service. This past Sunday, the church was officially split with the opening of a new town church. Some of the members remained at the old church, others attended the new church...very few were strong enough in their faith to not attend at all. I am very saddened that these people, these so called Christians, could not see past their differences and remember the real purpose of churches and Christianity. To me both sides of this church spit are a perfect example of the type of PEOPLE you were referring to and who ruin religion for the rest of us.

I believe we are in the same situation. I am a catholic, I also don't go to church because what they are doing there are all routinary rituals, but I do keep a personal relationship with God. I read the bible and other religious books so as to enrich my knowledge of God. But even if I don't go to church, I attend a group to praise and worship God. Sometimes I feel that it is not enough that I do it all on my own. The group that I'm with is just a small group of 5 to 7 people. We do the prayer and worship and bible reading during lunch time in the office. They are from all walks of life, catholic and christian. I hope that you can find your own group that will help you more with your faith. God bless.

Hi raijin! I agree with you completely. Religion should make us better persons because all religion is based on love. I am a Roman Catholic but I am not really a practicing one, what I meant is I don't go to mass regularly and participate in the holy sacraments. Because I have my own beliefs that were somehow molded all through teh years. I respect people with their own opinions and beliefs. I do not like debates and arguments which I think would only lead somehow to some kind of anger or hatred. I am no saint and I am no judge to anyone. I commit mistakes all the time and try to amend my ways. What I believe is that my God is a merciful and a fair God, He is the God of love and He is just..to Him I trust my life and to Him I ask for mercy. I could not say I am a faithful servant but I am trying my best to be at least good enough. And more importantly, I believe that we are all brothers and we should treat each other as we want others to treat us. Just my thoughts dear. Take care and have a nice day!

Hi Raijin, First let me tell you that mostly I think in the same way as you, I am a christian protestant. However, Bible clearly tells us that Jesus Christ is the only true God only through him we can reach heaven , it is also written in Bible that tell truth to the people so that they will be saved, this is because the life which we are living now is not an eternal life. Let me tell you that all are sinners no one are perfect but we can not judge others because in Bible it is written that Judgement has to be taken care by God itself, As you said you are not religious as me it is better if we can start reading Bible and try to understand what is in it , instead of listening to others, we can ask God to provide us with good knowledge so that we can know and follow his instructions and also help others to follow the truth so that we can have happy life after we die , thats what I can say..I dont know many things but I am learning right now, let me tell you that I married to muslim guy , my husband loves me so much but he dont follow christianity and I dont follow his religion but I never left my christ he his still with me.... But after I married to him I could not attend the church regularly which I am planning to start from coming year, never know if I die before that God will not forgive me ..All the best for your life..Try to ready bible every day and pray to God regularly and he himself will show you that truth and you will be there one day in heaven ..Bye!

I also aM a devout follower of christ but do not participate with organised religion due to the fact that they have taken the teachings of christ and debased them to there own use they are legalistic he was not and i believe were christ to appear today most churches would turn him away Most of them worship the almighty dollar not the almighty God

I agree with you. I think God put us on this earth to CHOOSE. We can choose to beleive or not to believe. We can choose which religion we want to belong to. Or we can choose to do it alone. I think if you follow the Bible and do what you KNOW is right in your heart. Then you are doing what God wants. I don't go to church but I read my Bible and I pray. God has answered many of my prayers. I have and always will admit that I believe in God. I respect others rights to believe or not to beleive and if someone tells me they don't want to hear it. i respect that also.

I'm a Catholic and I have strong faith too. I agree with you that there is really no point in fighting over religion. Let us just respect each others beliefs and the way on how we wanted to express our love and faith to God. Nobody has a right to judge anybody because we are all sinners.

Well you just touched a very complicating issue. i do believe that i relate to the same beliefs as you wrote here. As to myself i am defined as jewish, and i also define myself as a jewish person. I do not belong to any group that practices religion. Judaism is my belief and my belief is my religion. I accept all people, and all religions. I just judge them as persons and of character. I do not limit myself by any law or mitzvah as we call it. I just take what my religion gives me and live with wonderful things in this religion in my own way. I do make did make and will make mistakes, but i never sinned, maybe because i do not belief in this definition or word. I believe that a person should accept all, and be emphatic to all, smile alote and appreciate the life that were given to him or her:)

I'm with you-everyone has to find their own way. I think every "religion" has some truth-but none of them has the only truth or the "true" truth. I also agree with you that we can learn so much from one another if we just stop judging one another and start working together instead of against one another. I sometimes wonder just what God thinks when he looks down here and sees us all squabbling over "opinions."

I am a Roman Catholic and I really go to church with my family every Sunday. For me it's not about 'the act' of going to church, but the deeper meaning of how you go there with your family. It keeps our family bond together. We also do prayers together at home before meals and every Sunday before going to sleep. Many would say we are hyper religious, but I don't think so. We are a normal family which involves God as part of our lives. I am also not fond of debating with other religions or people who are interested in doing so. I believe it's not the religion that counts but what that religion does to your life. No one has the right to tell you what you believe in is right. It has something to do by the way you act. There was one occasion when someone went into our office. That day, we were only 3 there (others where at field). Of course, we welcomed him but soon, he started telling us that what we believed in was wrong. That we were following a religion without using our intelligence. Whew, that day was really weird. My colleagues naturally started to debate him. I was just quiet because I believed debates are pointless. A person has the right to believe his/her own. The debate ended when I finally told him that his message is good but the way he delivered it was something that God wouldn't be proud of. Told him that if he wanted for people to listen to him, he should at least project God's goodness by the way he spoke and not insult people. I think he got the message because he listened and went his way. I don't like talking about religion actually. Specially since most of these people who show up are not really there to share or to listen. They're there to tell you that their religion is better. I'm not like that. I can't say mine is the best for everyone. But I could certainly say it's the best for me. Good luck to all and hope that what we believe in radiates through our actions and not just through our words. =)

As long as you are happy with your current lifestyle you are following, you need not bother about religions. The fundamental idea behind all the religions is to bring about peace and happiness in our lives. When you have gotten it, just ignore the other things which are mere beliefs. Its true that religioustic rituals help you attain peace, does that mean all the athiests and pagans in the world do not have peace of mind? That's false. They seek happiness in their own world and lifestyle. An artist finds it in his art, a scientist in his research, a devoted professional in his work, a sincere student in his studies, etc. Everyone has his own way of worship, only that can make him/her attain peace and salvation. We can't force a painter to play tennis and a book worm to serve burgers, it does'nt make any sense. Stick to your beliefs and comforts.

Is it fair to say that since my religion doesn't include "sin" I can't exactly say that I have committed any? =p I'm a Celtic Reconstructionist Pagan by religion, but what defines my life is the relationship I have with my Gods, particularly with my primary Goddess. The reason I have the relationship I do with her is because when I was a small child She came to me in dreams... I called her "Mother" when my physical human mother wouldn't let me call her by that name. So my religious choice was based on being shown kindness and love by a deity when I wasn't shown such by humans. The other Gods that I follow came to me later, but have been similarly kind. So my reason for having a religion is because it followed naturally from having a personal relationship with the Gods of that religion... which worked out well for me because I had a great-grandmother of that religion who was there to teach me as a child. I can't imagine being "perfect" but I do consider my Gods and the path they have set before me when I make decisions, and I speak with them all day long every day because I see them as friends and family members beloved to me. I cannot imagine what my life would have been like had not the Morrigan come to me as a child to offer me a strength I didn't have to get through a horrific childhood. I don't judge anyone because of their religion, and the only time I would "judge" anyone for any action is when it hurts others. I don't need to convert anyone to my religion because if my Gods wanted them as a follower, they would appear to that person themselves. I don't disrespect people of any religion, as long as that religion is making them a better person rather than a worse one. I have friends of many religions, a Christian husband, and often attend a Unitarian Universalist fellowship (which is for people of all religions). I love learning about other religions, and I plan for my child (who is still a baby now) to later learn about many religions and make his own choices. =)

Hi I'm also a Christian.But i'm so different then all the others.If i want to go to church i'm going if i don't wanna go i 'don't go.I have faith in my own way just like you have it. I often don't agree with the people in church and think different about things.I agree with you.I also rather have a nice conversation than debating about religious stuff. Just like after church people still talk the whole day about God and i'm the person who just really want to have a "normal"human converstation.I want to talk about earthly things instead of 24/7 talking about God. People who do that i think it's okey but i'm just not that kind so i told myself i don't want to merry a religious person who can only talk about God and stuff.

It's good you have a strong faith, but still, you need to participate on your religion. What is faith without action? Faith alone is not enough, it will never be, no matter how strong it is. And why not attend christian meetings? Do you think you already know all that there is need to know? If you are in a religion, it doesn't mean that you must debate with other religion.

I personally don't care for the word religion. It only seems to divide people. I also am not a big fan of labeling people Christian either - there are too many people walking around who claim to be a Christian and don't really know what it's all about. I prefer to say that I have a relationship with God. He's pretty cool and I'm only rediscovering that fact. I do plenty of things wrong and done a lot of things I shouldn't but God still hasn't given up on me and I think that's the most amazing thing of all.

We have the same view when it comes to this topic. Before, I was a part of our parish services (by the way i'm a catholic) but now i quit because of the people who are members of that organization. But I realized that you don't have to be religious to be tagged as a good person. Only God could judge us anyway. But my advise is whatever religion you have, you should give time for God at least a minute of your day. However, if you want to do services for your church, don't let people interfere with your true intentions, no matter how annoying you've become of them. You're right, it's entirely up to you to be sinful or good. But always, always choose the latter. Serving God should require focus and sincerity. Focus because you don't have to mind the people around you but instead, keep your focus to your purpose, on why are you in that church/temple or whatever. Sincerity, because it has to come to your heart to do something for God. That's all i can say.

you are not religious because you do not wanna believe that there is someone or something out there that is more powerfull than you.good night