How did you come to follow the religion you do? (Or lack there of)

I didnt grow up with a religion but found paganism and wiccan my most drawn to paths I am still searching though

I was raised as a Christian and called myself such until my early 20s. Although it never felt like it fit me or my personality. I was never very comfortable with all the rules, and requirements when joining a church. I stopped going to church at that time and just felt there had to be something else out there that made sense to me. I started searching for answers and finally stumbled across a group of Pagans and began talking to them about their religious views. I was curious after that and began reading more and more. It didn't take long for it to all seem to fit me better than Christianity. I've called myself Pagan for about 10 years now. But, I'm a bit eclectic in my beliefs. Some are completely Wiccan, some not. Thats the nice thing about it all, I can follow what my heart tells me works for me.

Hi victoria, I was brought a catholic like you and I used to ask so many questions that I didn't understand and I got my knuckles rapped by the nuns and I was not to know why Mary was a virgin when she had children, anyway my life was like that not getting any answers then I joined the JW and that was even worse, and one day my frend who is aready a Pagan interduced me to someone who was a priest in the Pagan path since then I have become a Pagan which is my own choice and I do my own thing and no one tells me what to do. I love my path and my Godess I love and respect the nature all around me. I have been a Pagan for over six years and I'm happy. Bright Blessings Tamara

My religious transformation has been a very slow and gradual movement. I started out being born and raised a devout Christian, catholic if you want specifics. My parents brought me to church every Sunday morning and I even attended a weekly Sunday school program. I completed my First Communion and Confession and a few years back I was confirmed. I never really took the time to consider that there was a possibility of God not existing because I was so unaware. I just went along with what I was taught by my family and peers. This past year I have really questioned my faith. After reading the Bible and seeing some of the baffling incidents it held within it I struggled to believe how it could possibly be the inspired word of God. I decided that "hey, maybe God exists, but this surely can't be his word" so therefore I decided I would be a non-religious theist. Meaning I believed in God but didn't follow any religious dogma. I am basically an agnostic now. There is no possible way of telling if God exists, but I am still very much open to the possibility.

And oh, I must add.. there are bits and pieces of goodness scattered all over the different religions. So it's good to have an "open mind and an eager intellect" to benefit from these.

My faith/religion timeline....... FAITH 1. Catholic FAITH 2. Jehovah's Witness FAITH 3. Baptist FAITH 4. Catholic charismatic FAITH 5. agnostic FAITH 6. New Age FAITH 7. Theosophy FAITH 8. Paganism FAITH 9. Buddhist FAITH 10. Taoist FAITH 11. Atheist FAITH 11. Protestant... I was born a catholic.. but you know, after all the religion/faith hopping, I've come into a conclusion that our lives are strongly influenced by what we believe in (whatever that is). What's important is not what religion we belong to, but how beneficial the beliefs we have in our daily lives and to the entire universe we belong to. I believe, each one of us is more inclined to a certain religion or spiritual group.. so just go on! wherever it is that you may feel at home to, go for it! As for me, I'm most comfortable in the Theosophical Society. Though, I'm not a member yet.. Still waiting for my 21st birthday next year.

Well in my core being I've been Pagan and Buddhist all my life..it just so happened that growing up there was no term for it that I was aware of and I mistakenly followed Christianity...It wasnt until my mid 20s when I met a very wonderful woman who introduced me to the word Paganism and I discovered that Buddhism had a name as well.... Why did I choose the path I walk...I didnt, its always been in me, a part of me adn so on....

I was born and raised in my religion and I am still active today and I take my kids to church every Sunday. They go to sunday school and church and do other activites with the church.

Like you I was raised Catholic. Why I don't know since my mother is a Methodist. Anyway, they had me baptized when I was two and the priest chastised my mother for waiting so long. Although she is religious, she didn't think it was necessary to go to church every week, so I didn't either. Although my husband is Catholic, is is not practicing one either. Our kids have been baptized, but when I tried to get them enrolled in communion classes, I was also looked down upon by the church staff and told it couldn't be done until I had done it, re-married in the Catholic church, etc. They were very snobby and treated me like I was a sort of criminal. These days, I just instill the word of God in my kids and teach them different prayers and how to reach out to the Lord on a daily basis. I will let them decide when they are older what if any religion they want to practice. I tell them that God know what's in your heart, and that's what counts.

My parents were Roman catholic. So I am a Catholic. If my parents were of a different religion I could have that same different religion as well. I think, religion is not that important. As long as we a righteous and obedient persons. We have the same God, we have just different way of believing in Him. we just differ in how we praise Him, but we have the same God.

I was rasied a Christian. For awhile I began to question everything. Being young and unsure of life. But now even though I was raised in it and it wasn't something I sought out on my own it is still the religion I follow because it's what I believe in. I have read and researched many other religion and none of the others were what I believed. I don't have anything against any others. I believe everyone can believe what they want. I always believe that it is sad that so many "religious people" put down other religious people and their religion of choice. I am not that kind. I repect everyone and their beliefs.

I am a Christian and yes I was raised into Christianity, but after growing up I decided to know the Lord for myself not solely on what my parents taught me. I have found that its not enough to believe in something because someone else does, but to experience it for yourself. I have peace in every situation I encounter, yes I am learning to be more patient, but that isn't too hard when you have children. lol I love the fact that in Christianity its not about what you say, but how you live your life and treat others. Some of us do make bad examples, but we still have to give an account for our lives ourselves. johnson3

I was born with it. I am a Catholic too. My parents are both Catholic, so I am Catholic too. And same as you, I have lots of questions. But I just keep it to myself. Open some ideas to other people but rarely. I dont like being questioned too. But I never questioned Church people. I opened it once to a priest thru confession and he somehow agreed with me. If I'll be choosing another religion? Nope. But I am interested with Wiccans. Not religion though, but I am interested in being one. Although I think Philippines doesnt have them. Or if there are, its a secret.

I was born into a Disciples of Christ Christian Church which in later years became independent. I have always been comfortable as a Christian. Growing up I received a lot of Christian education, whether at church or in school (we had Bible every Tuesday in elementary school), but I have also done Bible study on my own and am convinced that what the Christian Bible teaches is true. There are times when Christians are very disappointing to me because we too often fail to follow the teachings and examples of Jesus, but we are only human. However, there is no one who can come close to meeting Jesus' teachings, love, kindness, mercy, and sacrifice. I know there are those who think believing in something you can't prove is ridiculous, but time and again the Christian Bible has been proven accurate whether from archaeological discoveries, measuring up to history or fulfilled prophecies. No one has ever proven the Bible as false, and they never will. I truly believe the world would be a better place if we were all Christians, but I would never want anyone to be forced to be Christian. That's one of the things I find appealing about God's relationship with mankind. His Bible teaches what He desires from us and what we'll receive from Him, but acceptance is our choice. There's never any force.

Although my family were Christians, I knew from a very early age that I couldn't believe as they did. My mother would read me bible stories and I was always asking questions but answers didn't make sense to me. I did however call myself a Christian for a long time and even joined a church and was baptised in my mid 20's. That didn't last too long. I took bible classes and attended bible studies trying to make sense of it but it never happened. There were just too many questions and no answers that the logic section of my brain could accept. The concept of blind faith just never sat well with me and frankly I was miserable every time I went to the classes and to church. I started voraciously reading religious texts and various theological philosophies. Still nobody had any answers to MY questions. Some came close in certain areas and then other areas just didn't cut it. In the meantime I started mentally piecing together my own philosophy and moving away from religion altogether. For many years I honestly thought that I was the only person with this philosophy or at least rare enough to probably never find anyone who believed the same way. One day while reading some religious texts online I came across a term I had read before but didn't know what it meant. I never took the time to look up it's definition until that particular day. That was my turning point. Come to find out this was exactly my basic philosophy and there were others who believed the same as I did. That was the day I became a Pantheist. Many call us atheists and by the dictionary definition we are, but I don't use the term to describe myself. Actually I don't much like the term Pantheist either and many Pantheists don't and some have branched out and added terms to it to better define their beliefs. There are Classical Pantheists, Naturalistic Pantheists, Scientific Pantheists, Pagan Pantheists and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. Since we have no doctrine or "sacred" texts we are free to develop and expand our basic beliefs to what makes the most sense to us. I suppose I fit in best with the Scientific Pantheists. One day I may come up with my own terminology that suits me better! Honestly, I have been happier, more content, more spiritual, more tolerant, more connected to everything and an all around better person than I have ever been in my life since becoming a Pantheist. So, it took me a long time but I finally found what I was looking for. I'm still a voracious reader and like you also very interested in various religions and beliefs.

Like you I was raised Catholic - I pretty much don't know anything else, so that is the religion I still am.

I was raised a Catholic too and I am happy to say that whenever I have question, my parents, my religion teachers, and our parish priest are able to explain to me what it is about. Questioning is not a sign that you are loosing faith, it is a sign that you want to make your faith deeper. For when you are able to understand that faith is not happening in the head, then I think you don't have to change religions to find your faith.

I was born into a strict Catholic family. We went to church every Sunday, and I attended Catholic schools as well. As I have gotten older, I've explored other religions and found that Christianity is still the choice for me. No matter what religion you are raised with, you owe it to yourself to explore other options. I found that the exploration enriched my faith and deepended my religious commitment.