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I've got a two part question because I'm interested mostly. My question:
1. When did you become whatever you are now? (Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, etc.)
2. What led you to that conclusion?
In particular, I find the idea of going from atheist to theist very interesting. What could one see that convinces them of the existence of God?
Personally, I've been Christian most of my life. Upon entering highschool, I changed to Agnostic and now I am atheist.
I became agnostic because I realized there's really no way for me to know if there's a God. I then turned atheist because I believe there's no reason to suspect there may be a God.
On July 5, 1040 I was born into a Roman Catholic family and was given the "Label" of Catholic. The first of several labels. About when I was 25 years old I started "Church Hopping" and became non-denominentional and a year or so later accepted the label of Christian" that lasted until I was about 45 years old and I arrived at the conclusion god did not exist and I was basically was an Atheist, However I did practice Zen and called myself a Buddhist, but had no religious ideology. At 65 years old I learned I was Muslim and have carried that label ever since.
Well, I think I was always what I am now, which is an agnostic/atheist. Even as a small child I asked questions at church that never got answered to my satisfaction. Everything boiled down to, "God is in control", or "God works in mysterious ways", type thinking. Even at 7-8 I realized that this just did not work for me. I never bought into what they were selling.
Not one for "labels." Raised in a non-denominational environment, but heavily christian influenced.
The city had most main-stream christian groups and a small representation of non-traditional groups like JW, 7th Day and a Mormon or three here and there.
Parents never applied any pressure to adhere to any ONE specific group. But as I was evolving, I was more concerned with social equality /justice than I was with religious doctrine.
It was 1996, when I moved to Madison, Wisconsin that I accepted what "label" actually described me--- ANARCHY.
Then I was told an anarchist could not have religion / spirituality. That an anarchist could not be involved in traditional government.
Fast forward to 2015, and here I am, a spiritual-anarchist-social-activist-fighting-for-community under the idea that if religion has anything to teach us--it is LOVE and ACCEPTANCE of our neighbors and that everyone is entitled to live as they see fit so long as others are not coerced into participation and the good of the community is always first.
I didn't know what better word to use than "label." I mean your religious view or lack thereof.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodrow LI
On July 5, 1040 I was born into a Roman Catholic family and was given the "Label" of Catholic. The first of several labels. About when I was 25 years old I started "Church Hopping" and became non-denominentional and a year or so later accepted the label of Christian" that lasted until I was about 45 years old and I arrived at the conclusion god did not exist and I was basically was an Atheist, However I did practice Zen and called myself a Buddhist, but had no religious ideology. At 65 years old I learned I was Muslim and have carried that label ever since.
You "learned" that you were Muslim? What do you mean by this?
It sounds like you're saying you were always Muslim and you didn't realize it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by southernbored
Well, I think I was always what I am now, which is an agnostic/atheist. Even as a small child I asked questions at church that never got answered to my satisfaction. Everything boiled down to, "God is in control", or "God works in mysterious ways", type thinking. Even at 7-8 I realized that this just did not work for me. I never bought into what they were selling.
I've heard time and time again that an Atheist is born Atheist. I think your story reflects why this is pretty accurately.
One thing they would always tell me at church that made me annoyed is when I would ask "I don't know if I believe there's a God... How do you know there's a God?" They would say "Try praying about it."
I was given the label as Jewish because my parents were Jewish. I realized early on that they were not religious but were very strong believers in being at least somewhat of ethnic Jews if that makes any sense. I think I went through my childhood and much of my early life as apathetic. Religious beliefs and religion interested me but I had no real opinion on what I did or did not believe in. Probably in my 40s I concluded that although it is an interesting topic I did not believe in the existence of any god and that I was not agnostic in that I did not believe that it was impossible to come up with a rational on whether you beleived or not so I labelled myself as an atheistic.
At that time my wife who grew up in a Christian home that went to church for weddings, funerals and baptisms she was unsure if she was an atheist or a pagan. She is the former but has a big interest in the myths and beliefs of the latter. I might also be labelled old but I still do not think I am as old as my parents were at this age.
I didn't know what better word to use than "label." I mean your religious view or lack thereof.
You "learned" that you were Muslim? What do you mean by this?
It sounds like you're saying you were always Muslim and you didn't realize it.
I've heard time and time again that an Atheist is born Atheist. I think your story reflects why this is pretty accurately.
One thing they would always tell me at church that made me annoyed is when I would ask "I don't know if I believe there's a God... How do you know there's a God?" They would say "Try praying about it."
Quite correct, I learned I was always Muslim and never realized it.
In 2005 I had a personal experience that made me realize God(swt) does exist. I also came to the conclusion that Our role as human's is to learn that there is "Only one God(swt) who has no equals, partners or progeny and only he is to be worshiped" To do that is perming the Act of Islam and a person who performs Islam is a Muslim. So in effect I was always Muslim, but denied it durin My Atheist years and did not understand I was performing Islam during my Christian years, although in a misunderstood manner.
On July 5, 1040 I was born into a Roman Catholic family and was given the "Label" of Catholic. The first of several labels. About when I was 25 years old I started "Church Hopping" and became non-denominentional and a year or so later accepted the label of Christian" that lasted until I was about 45 years old and I arrived at the conclusion god did not exist and I was basically was an Atheist, However I did practice Zen and called myself a Buddhist, but had no religious ideology. At 65 years old I learned I was Muslim and have carried that label ever since.
and I thought I was Old.... My brother I realize some of us are what others would consider ancient but 1040.... Now that is ancient, almost as ancient as myself....lol...
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