How Did You Come to Believe What You Do? (Mormon, churches, atheist)

[urbanlemur]

I don't know if this has been asked before but I was thinking about it last night. What events have occurred in your life to help shape your present views, opinions, beliefs; i.e., why are you an atheist, a baptist, a mormon, a catholic, agnostic or a "fill in the blanks" today? Did you believe/not believe at an early age or was it through a lifelong process to bring you where you are now?

My dad was not particularly spiritual when he was growing up and my mom was raised Lutheran. We went to church when I was young but stopped going in my teens. I found out later in life that my mom lost faith in God when her mom died of cancer but she has regained some of that faith as time has passed. My dad became a "born again" christian late in life before he died. I had passed through several churches before I finally found Christ and now feel that I am where I am supposed to be in my life.

I hope this doesn't lead to a brow beating session so let's just share our stories and find out what has shaped our present ideals and beliefs. God bless y'all.

[arguy1973]

I dont label myself anything (Baptist, Metho, Etc.) but a Christian. Why? Well my parents took me to a Baptist church till I was about 7 on Sunday mornings, and my grandparents took me to an Assembly of God on Sund nights. There was a new non-denom church being started in our town and my parents started going there when I was about 8 because they werent getting anything out of where we were going (their words). I guess why I believe like I do is becasue of my grandad and grandma.I stayed with them everyday while my parents worked, he had gotten hurt at work, and my grandmother had been a homemaker for years and they lived right beside of us and farmed. She would talk about God all day in the house and my grandad would talk about God and the Bible while we planted corn, feed chickens, etc. He would tell me how Jesus had saved him after years of non-believe after coming home from WWII and serving in the Navy and I just soaked it all in..I know more times than I can count how sometimes he would walk miles to witness to someone about Christ. Ill always rem our long talks, and at night he would sit on the front porch and play hymns on his guitar, ..Just a closer walk with thee, Just build my mansion next door to Jesus, In the garden, Wade right in, I could go on..anyway thats why I believe like I do, its not about religion, its about thanking God everyday for food, ability to work, family, and I thank my grandparents/parents and mostly God for using them to show me that. I saw God answer prayers about alot of things, thru simple prayers grounded in faith. I also learned that if it matters to us, it matters to God.

[kaykay]

My parents were Methodist by denomination but they did not attend church. Oddly enough, though, I was always interested in God and spiritual things. I started attending Baptist Churches with friends and also by myself as a child.
Heard the gospel message about how Jesus died for my sins when I was about 8 years old at 2nd Baptist Church on a Wednesday night. I had already figured out as an 8 year old child that I couldn't "behave well enough" or act "good enough" to merit heaven. So the gospel was good news to me indeed even at that age. I actually accepted Christ as my savior about 3 years later at age 11 and was baptized in the Baptist Church.

I met and married my cradle-born Episcopalian husband in college and we attended a charismatic Episcopalian fellowship for a few years and then a more traditional Episcopal Church. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Later, however, we left the Episcopal Church to attend a non-denominational charismatic church. Our experience in college with churches which embraced the doctrine that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available today influenced us strongly in the direction we would go after that. We left the Episcopal Church because we wanted to be part of a church that was more theologically conservative.

So that's my journey: Baptist to Episcopal to non-denominational Charismatic!

[JessD]

I was raised in a non-denominational Christian family, although we were never very religious. When I was a teenager I lost my faith because of my personal suffering (a verbally abusive father and extremely long periods of severe depression, over the span of several years) as well as my scientific beliefs. I now consider myself an agnostic (If there is a God I'm sure they will be understanding). It's ironic, when I was a kid I believed so much and always wanted to be in a family that was very religious. I have considered converting to Judaism for years and if I have children, I would love to raise them in a Jewish home and give them the religious and cultural experience that I never had growing up. When I learn about Judaism I feel more inspired and hungry for God and religion than I have felt since I was a kid, but I'm still not sure if organized religion is something that is right for me at all. I have personal beliefs that do not resonate with most religions (though some are more accepting of them than others). Most of the time I think what is best for me is just to follow my own path and come up with my own answers, after all I've never been one to conform.

[Trebek]

Originally Posted by arguy1973

I dont label myself anything (Baptist, Metho, Etc.) but a Christian. Why? Well my parents took me to a Baptist church till I was about 7 on Sunday mornings, and my grandparents took me to an Assembly of God on Sund nights. There was a new non-denom church being started in our town and my parents started going there when I was about 8 because they werent getting anything out of where we were going (their words). I guess why I believe like I do is becasue of my grandad and grandma.I stayed with them everyday while my parents worked, he had gotten hurt at work, and my grandmother had been a homemaker for years and they lived right beside of us and farmed. She would talk about God all day in the house and my grandad would talk about God and the Bible while we planted corn, feed chickens, etc. He would tell me how Jesus had saved him after years of non-believe after coming home from WWII and serving in the Navy and I just soaked it all in..I know more times than I can count how sometimes he would walk miles to witness to someone about Christ. Ill always rem our long talks, and at night he would sit on the front porch and play hymns on his guitar, ..Just a closer walk with thee, Just build my mansion next door to Jesus, In the garden, Wade right in, I could go on..anyway thats why I believe like I do, its not about religion, its about thanking God everyday for food, ability to work, family, and I thank my grandparents/parents and mostly God for using them to show me that. I saw God answer prayers about alot of things, thru simple prayers grounded in faith. I also learned that if it matters to us, it matters to God.

Thats really beautiful ARGUY...

[gizmo980]

Honestly, it's just how I was raised, and I haven't seen any good reason to go against what I was taught... my parents are very much "culturally Jewish", and raised us in the Temple (Bat-Mitzvah and all!), but never really talked about God. And when you aren't raised with a belief in that, it's difficult to force it upon yourself. They are totally open-minded, and gave us the freedom to decide for ourselves, but I never felt the need! My brother has gone the opposite way, and now rejects all organized religion - calls himself a die-hard Atheist, and has some very bad words about religion in general. But as for myself, I'm quite happy with how my parents raised us... and I plan to do the same with my future children. So to make a long story short, there aren't any specific moments or experiences I can point to - I just am who I am!

[beth ann]

I was raised in a catholic family where integrity, hard work, education, moral standards and discipline were valued. However, alot of my religious experiences from childhood had an overly-systematic element to them (hey...my Dad was an engineer.....so, that explains alot).

It was kind of all "head".....but not much "heart"......so, I went out seeking for heart. Well,actually, I went out searching for the "worldly" things that I thought could bring me morepleasure and peace.

Well, after many years of "drifting" and "searching" and practicing nothing....I heard about the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia (I know....it sounds strange). To make a long story short (my complete story is on the testimony thread)....I made a pilgrimage there in 1991 which was the beginning of my conversion back to my faith and my church.

I now have a personal relationship w/ Christ and a longing for the sacraments. I'm so thankful for God's mercy and love....I feel like the Prodigal Daughter ....who has come back home.

In my parent's defense, I appreciate that they gave me a foundation, and a moral compass. They too, have grown very much in their faith over the years....God is soooo good

[Scholar]

My parents are two different religions, but both are Christians. They both shared their love of the Lord, and they supported and encouraged me to decide for myself. I was allowed to visit different churches and was encouraged to ask many questions. During my first semester in college, I took a Bible class at a religious university. The professor was very open to people of different faiths discussing and asking all the "why do you believe..." questions, and he was able to Biblically answer the questions. It really spurred me onward in my personal search, and I made my decision that year. That was also the year I was baptized.

[Marks]

You can find a lot of how people believe, and how they came to that over at the Share Your Testimony! thread.

[Mooseketeer]

Rational thinking and a lot of "soul searching" as well as reading a lot, pondering various religions and listening to people who are believers. I am an atheist.