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I used to be a committed evangelical Christian & was brought up as a traditional observant Catholic. Now I'm agnostic bordering on atheist, time has shown the corruption & hypocrisy of both the institutions &, unfortunately, the followers who become more self-identified with their churches, mosques, etc... than with the original principles of the faith. This is my own opinion of course & not an article of faith that I would want others to blindly accept without sincerely questioning.
I grew up attending a private Mennonite school along with Church, Sunday school, bible school, then instruction in the Catholic Church and baptized; I was quite the believer.
For the past 40-50 years though I would be called an atheist because I believe in nothing supernatural.
I would have to say yes, sort of. I was never religious and was once pretty much an atheist/agnostic. Since my granddaughter (who lives with me) started listening to Christian Rock (not sure that is the correct term) on the car radio a few years back, I've sort of gotten more familiar with Christianity in its more positive form...at least in my opinion. After years of listening to rap lyrics, I much prefer this! Not sure if any of this means I've become more religious, but I appreciate that Christianity can be a source of strength and support in life.
While the intent of the thread is probably meaningful (?), "being religious" has been so widely and ambiguously used, that it means nothing. ... I think people seriously need to ask themselves what they mean when they think of themselves as "religious." ...
It’s an amorphous topic, but for discussion’s sake, let’s say that “religiosity†means affinity for the idea, that the material universe – the universe of atoms and forces and chemistry and so forth – is NOT the totality of all that there is. Does one have affinity for such an idea? Then, regardless of one’s practices, inclination to worship, formal religious activity, acceptance of doctrine,… one is “religiousâ€.
By this measure, I am actually growing less religious. I am becoming more and more of a “radical materialistâ€. I find the notion of there being transcendent, ineffable essences or sources of meaning, to be more and more suspect... less and less "real".
But not due to "facing my mortality ", but because I ALREADY faced my mortality head on and looked into the eyes of death, death did not ultimately triumph in my case.
For those who dont know my story, i was clinically dead fir 7 mins 40secs, and had the 4th shock to my heart not worked, and had I not died AT work, I would not be here at all. I had anaphylactic shock resulting in my heart failure due to a sulfa antibiotic given to me by my dr for walking pneumonia.
My experience ( which only 3 people know) is one that changed my look at Organized Religion.
I have also vowed that I will not go around divulging my experience, because I dont want to enhance, alter or shatter someone else's beliefs.
That is not to say I don't have faith, but Organized Religion has it ....shall we say....'not correct '???
It is not the first time Organized religion has been challenged and I as a loner wont attack it with the vengeance of say Martin Luther, but now I can't stand organized religion.
After all the Bible says Gid said " lift a rock and I am there. Pick up a piece of wood and i am there "...and " wherever 2 or more of you are gathered in my name "...basically signifying that God is everywhere, NOT just in a church or synagog or other "made for religion "
And you need not be religious to have some faith.
DO stop me now, for I shall not want to rail against organized religion. At least NOT to hard.
Middaged here - much less religious. Had a tough time explaining to myself how any God would allow these mass murders from occurring (Sandy Hook, Orlando, etc). Just senseless. Stopped attending church activities the week of Pulse massacre, Orlando. I follow the Golden Rule - treat others as they'd like to be treated, courteous, do for others - but can't submerge myself in religion as some family members do.
I've never been religious, but I belong to a synagogue and I support it and other Jewish causes. I go to services once or twice a month, not because of the religious aspect of it, but because of the community aspect of it. In addition, I like the ritual aspect, because it reminds me of my late father and my other now-deceased relatives.
I don't believe in God, but I do believe in the Jewish people and in Jewish ideals about living a good life and helping others.
I've been an atheist since age 14. Still one, and always will be. Others can believe and I don't mind, until they try to impose their beliefs upon those who don't share them. I don't care if they believe in angels or aliens, just don't expect others to live by their rules, or expect that their religion exempts them from their responsibilities to society.
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