I thought my other thread about yoga and christianity was quite interesting, and I wanted to delve more into what other BB members believe - and why they do - how you got to where you are on your spiritual journey. Only share if you feel comfortable to do so, and I ask that no judgements are to be put upon fellow members.
So for any religious people (obviously I'm talking about all religions) I'd like to know if you believe what you do because your family follow it, or because you've researched it yourself, or because its just what you do, or ... well.... whatever way you got there!
(yes I'm sooo nosy)
I'll go first
I was raised and christened Church of England, went to sunday school as a kid, but I just didn't get the whole "God" thing - it just didn't sit well with me. Then I found through reading that I was closer to a Neo-Pagan, I'm just slack and don't do any of the rituals
So... to sum up - I don't believe there is a God as such, I believe that there is higher power in the form of many gods and goddesses - to encompass everything in the universe, including mother nature.
I don't believe in Satan. I believe that there is good and evil that resides within ourselves, not a force making us do something evil.
I believe that we have the power to do anything ourselves, that we don't require a "God" (as such) to help provide it for me, that I can make it happen through my own actions (did that make sense?)
What else - oh I believe in aliens and evolution
So how about you?
(i hope others will find this just as interesting as I do - otherwise - how embarrassment that I just shared all that! lol)
I am a Christian (Pentecostal for those that want to know) I was raised in a Christian family but I have also researched a few other religions and decided to stay with Christianty.
great thread arimeh!
I dont believe in any god and like u belive in evolution.
i do however beleive that everything happens for a reason and sometimes it takes us a while to work out what that reason is, but there'll always be something.
DF is catholic but not a practising catholic. our girls will be raised as atheists(sp?) and when they're old enough they're more than welcome to practice whatever religion they choose to
i do find this interesting.
as i have no religion s such.
was never christened or baptised.
i belive more in buddhism and thier ways of believing.
i do not believe that one persone created us but we are a manifestation of many creations if that mkes sense.
I dont know what I believe, but something along the lines of the Judeo-Christian ethic. Oh dear which I've just looked up in wikipedia and thats not what I mean at all. Just that there are elements common to both religions that I identify with.
Hmm. I was educated at Catholic schools from p-12 but my family never went to Church other than for sacraments. So sometimes I wouldnt go at all in 12 months unless it was a school related thing.
In yr12 I took a VCE RE subject becuase it would give me extra credit toweards my TER score, and found that while I didnt necessarily agree with everything Catholicism had to offer, I was rather interested in Theology in general and have since done some research in to a few different religions.
I also discovered at this time that I had Jewish ancestry on my mothers side.
My kids arent Baptised and this does not sit well with me at all, but DH being an aethiest I also dont want him to get up and make a hippocrite of himself by saying he believes in XYZ when he does not. And its very difficult to get a child Baptised when your married to their father and he doesnt believe anything you do. *sigh*
Anyway I believe that theres a God, I belive Jesus existed but Im not sure he was the Messiah.
Christianity and Judaism are the religions I most closesly align with but Im not sure I can 100% commit myself to either one.
I hope one day that I can, because at the moment I feel rather isolated and alone, and I long for that sense of community and belonging.
ETA: I think one of the biggest issues for me, and its probably the inner scientist coming out, is the idea of belief without question. I dont think I'm capable of devotion without question, and thats what a lot or organised religion, Christian or otherwise, demands.
Last edited by Pandora; May 4th, 2010 at 03:24 PM.
I was raised COE also, and my grandparents are still church-goers etc, they used to take us to church on Sunday until we were 10 ish, and we also attended Sunday school.
I now believe in a hugher power but not a 'god' figure.
I do not believe in heaven/hell or satan etc
When people die, I believe they stay with us, and live with us. I believe in angels, as guides here to help us our inner voice so to speak.
I was baptised into the catholic church, made my first reconcilliation , first holy communion etc....attended mass and religious education classes as part of my catholic girls school curriculum.
My grandmother is a pentecostal christian, one of my aunties is a born again christian, another is anglican, most of the others catholic.
Thats how I grew up, learning about only the catholic faith, had a friend whose father was a morman minister, their family encouraged me to attend with them, I did a few times, went to the sunday school, attended my friends baptism (scared the **** outta me! I thought they were going to drown her!!!) was all very interesting but I never took much notice of the actual differences between religion IYKWIM.
Year 8 religios studies, my wonderful teacher asked us how many religions did we know of, we brainstormed and then paired off to each research a different religion....that was my awakening....I started to question the whole "one true god" idea, how could there be one true god if there were so many different religions, each believing that THEY are the RIGHT one?? cue normal teenager angsty stuff, left school, didnt go to church, believed religion was the root of all evil.
My mother had begun her own "awakening" her psychic awakening of sorts and started down the wiccan path, I thought it was all a load of rubbish, but read some of the literature and also her womens studies information....it all really appealed to me, especially when I got into the whole history of how the catholic church was brought about, the massacre of women who were midwives/doctors (or just had a brain!) by the patriarchal society using GOD as their excuse...I wont go on, but I guess I can identify as a pagan.
I believe we are all a part of GOD, (for want of a better description) the multi consciousness, all there is etc...we all have the power within ourselves to be a better person (godlike) whatever our beliefs or religion.
its not that I dont believe in GOD, I dont believe in organised religion.
Sad but true is the fact that my born again Christian aunty will have limited contact with us and would never stay the night with us as we are in her eyes "devil worshippers"
Another sad fact for me is that in MY life (im not saying this true of everyone) most of the people Iknow who are in Organised Religion, need it as a "crutch" of sorts.
I was raised by athiests and as a teenager explored christianity. I was christened and confirmed into the C of E when I was at school as I went to an Anglican school, however I decided a few years further down the track that I didn't really subscribe to that belief system.
I then looked at other more Eastern based religions and once again found that nothing struck a chord. I also decided that I didn't like the idea of organised religion at all.
I have returned to being an athiest and don't believe in any higher being. I believe in humanity and have very strong values and ethics that I live my life by which includes sensibility for our species, planet and lives. I guess it comes closest to being described as Inclusive Humanism.
I was baptised as a Roman Catholic and raised by a Catholic mum and Lutheran dad (both non-practicing, and the only time we ever went to church as kids was for weddings, funerals and christenings). I used to identify as an atheist, but in all honesty, I cannot say now that I do not believe in anything. I suppose I identify as agnostic as I'm not done with my research yet and am still open to new ideas and learning more, but in my heart I know I believe in *something* - there is too much evidence around me to not support the theory that there is a higher power. At the moment, I'm leaning more toward, I suppose, Neo-Pagan ideals in which nature/Mother Earth are the life and soul of everything, that we and everything around us are small pieces of the puzzle that work together in perfect sync. I still picture in my head the Christian concept of 'God' as the supreme authority and creator of everything, I don't know how that fits into the picture but somehow it *has* to for me.
I too do not believe in Satan or a driving evil force, I believe that side of us comes solely from within and we have the power to choose our actions and behaviours, and I believe that unfortunately, too many of us have become consumed by our dark sides and do wrong even though we know it's a poor choice - I think selfishness, greed, and 'looking out for #1' have become overwhelming traits in society and it saddens me. I look at what we do to the environment, to people in other countries in pursuit of money or resources, and what we do to those around us in pursuit of comfort, money, 'fun', etc, and I can't help but think that we're a parasitic disease and sooner or later, Earth is going to have to take drastic action to stop us.
I believe that if there is a God, we were given free will for a good reason. That we all have a moral compass that is strong, that God has no control over what we think, feel, or do, only we have that power, but that God gave us that free will in order to give us the freedom to make choices - and to accept consequences. I don't need to follow the Bible's rules for fear of being punished in the next life - I need to follow what my heart tells me is right or wrong because the consequences will be present in this life, and I can't afford to stuff it up, kwim?
As far as the afterlife... I think this is where and why the Christian theory has to be part of my beliefs. I cannot believe that this one life we live is all we have. I need to believe that when we die, we are rewarded by being reunited with those we have loved, those we have lost, and that we are in a sort of paradise forever where we are comfortable, full of love and light and laughter. I feel that this life is a test of sorts - we spend but a few decades here (if we're lucky), it feels pointless if it's not for a 'reason', kwim? Like, if there's nothing else, I may as well not have bothered existing in the first place. I see people live through so much pain and suffering in their lives, I need to believe that those people's pain has not been in vain and that when they die, the wrongs will be made right and they can finally erase all the suffering they've endured and be happy.
Sorry, that was probably really confusing, but as I said, I'm still doing my research And FWIW I do believe in evolution, perhaps 'intelligent design' I think it's called, wherein the Creator has some control over how things develop, and that it has happened (and is continuing to happen) over millions and millions of years.
Great thread, hun, very interesting to read what others feel deep down
I started out vaguely Christian, remember going to Sunday School at ??? church as a small child (I think my parents stayed at home?)...but always had a yearning for the spiritual. My sister (who shares same yearning) and I both joined a Bible class at school when I was in grade 5 - moved away and then spent some time attending Church with the family of one of my sister's friends. Eventually was baptised & confirmed a Catholic...very devout...contemplated a vocation and even starting corresponding with an order of nuns when I was 16. However life took a different turn, I couldn't reconcile the Church's teachings on homosexuality with Jesus' message of compassion and felt excluded by the sexist language etc.
At that point I went my seperate way and began to construct my spiritual/religious belief based on my direct mystical experience & wide reading. There isn't any one word that describes my belief, I believe in a Creator/Source/Spirit which breathes life into everything, I believe we are all essentially spirit but incarnate into human form in order to learn and heal and evolve to become closer to this Source over a number of lifetimes. I have had a number of experiences which confirm my belief in reincarnation and the world of spirit helpers (angels, guides, whatever you want to call them) and I can also perceive energy/information when I am clear & focussed. But I don't hold much chop with what I call "new age fluff" which I think distracts a lot of people who are genuinely seeking to live a more authentic/spiritual life. I believe we all come into this world with a lesson to learn and a gift to share, by learning what we have to and sharing it, we allow the spark of divine consciousness within (ie the soul) to shine into the world and make it a better place for others.
Last edited by AnyDream; May 4th, 2010 at 01:22 PM.
I have a hard time believing in God but believe that Jesus existed, really like what he stood for and broadly speaking try to live my life around Christian principles (kindness, treating others as you would like to be treated etc.)
Would like to learn more about Buddhism too. The little I have read made an enormous impression on me.
Really struggle with the afterlife concept given that I find the concept of "God" difficult to have faith in. Am afraid of death and this being IT but don't want to force myself to have faith in God as an insurance policy.
However, Buddhism believes in reincarnation which is partly its attraction for me as is its belief that there is no supreme being. So it ticks both boxes for me as well as obviously its teachings on how to live your daily life.
Raised by parents who seem to have no firm opinion on the topic, and are thus agnostic I suppose. Many of the older generations in my extended family have some form of belief I think, but I don't really know.
Personally, I have a very low regard for all religion and am a firm athiest.
Here is my favouite quote on these matters:
"The telescope...we weren't ready for that one. Up to that point the Earth was the centre of the universe, and humanity was the centre of God's attention. And then along came the telescope and Galileo and Copernicus and we weren't special any more. We were just desolate dust floating, fragments of bits and bobs that didn't mean a damn thing on a galactic ball of nonsense that didn't mean very much either. God just wasn't that interested. Four hundred years later, I don't think we've ever gotten over the shock" - Blánaid McKinney, 'These Important Messages'.
I don't believe in any religion (although "catholic", only got half way with the processes though).
I believe in the power of the universe... that there is an energy that created us, and continues to connect us.
When i need to ask for guidance, i ask the universe to leave me in the right direction, or to give me the knowledge i need.
I also respect the power of water, i believe it to have taken part in our creation and our continual nourishment. It ihas a life force that i believe is healing. This is the exact reason we moved to the coast, we are a couple of minutes from the beach, and i feel no where better than being close to the ocean.
edit:
Oh in regards to the after life.... i believe that we are a spirit, that continues to another body (just a physical shell) and with continue to travel from one life to another. I believe our bodies decompose and go back in to the earth and re-energise creating new life.
Arimeh, new age fluff = variants on a theme which basically involve the ego. for eg, I get tired of hearing about people who went for a past-life reading and get told they were ancient priestesses or some other similarly romantic sounding thing. Genuine past life regressions (in my direct personal experience) usually involve fairly mundane (but traumatic) incidents, and my reading on the topic supports this. Starships, Lemuria, Atlantis, Ascension theory pretty much all fall into the "fluff" box IMO. People like to feel they belong to something special, so getting caught up in this stuff often means they don't get down to the real business of sorting themselves out and living their best possible life, kwim? I won't say it's all blatantly untrue (I admit the possibility that there are truths that lie outside of my own experience/framework) but I have a problem with it when it holds people back rather than helping them to heal and evolve, or when it keeps them ungrounded. Probably because in my own journey learning to stay grounded has been so important.
ETA - wanted to add - didn't mean for that to come across as a blanket criticism of the new age movement, as it encompasses many things of great spiritual significance and value, it's more the flakey practitioners - not grounded in reality - that give the rest of it a bad name. Also happy to acknowledge that many people would consider my beliefs to be "new age fluff" .
Last edited by AnyDream; May 4th, 2010 at 06:25 PM.
FSM - there's as much logic behind it as any other religion, so why not?
But - as I eluded to in the other thread - I disagree with evangelism. Which includes evangelical atheism. I'm cool with lots of religions existing, and I am definitely cool with people believing in them, even for the various illogical reasons that they do. But I am NOT cool with trying to change someone else's belief.
i was raised Catholic as good as my mom could. Church on Easter and Christmas and Sunday school and weekly school and from time to time depending on where we moved i also done daily religious instructions. I was baptized catholic. Holy communion too and continued with regular religious instructions in school and out side of school.
As i got older i needed more and more questions being left un-answered regarding what the bible was saying and moved from being a catholic to a pentecostal christian. I felt more at home here and had a better understanding of things and made more sense of things. I did resist it to start with but the more understanding i got the better my heart felt at home.
My eldest kids at school do religious instructions non denominational and they attend church and my eldest goes to weekly youth group. They did have other weekly activities but we moved on from that.
I have not found the right church yet locally and honestly been so busy havnt looked as much as i could have but my heart remains the same. All the kids are and hubbie to christian. Hubbie was baptist now pentecostal baptist lol he comes form a baptist family who is heavily involved in church. Actually we met in a Christian chat room lol
EDIT
i believe profoundly in free will and that opening gates. oh and also the kids have had dedications but not baptized i believe thats there choice when ready.
Last edited by squidipa; May 4th, 2010 at 06:35 PM.
I was not raised any religion. My parents were very spritual but not very religious. I discovered Buddhism when I was about 15, and found when I read about Buddhism it was what I already felt, and knowing the specific details seemed to light up a part of me that was in darkness.
I follow Buddhism as a religion, not just a philosophy.
I don't believe in a God or any Gods or Goddesses.
I believe in rebirth or reincarnation, onto one of 31 planes of temporary existence.
I believe in Karma. But not that 'karma is a b~tch' (and I absolute detest that phrase...).
I don't believe in fate or predetermination. I believe that we do start life with lessons we need to learn or experiences we need to have but I believe these could come in a range of forms and they aren't 'set' to happen. I don't know how to explain it, thats as good as I can do without going quite deep
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What do you believe in - and why?
This will be an interesting read!
And FWIW I do believe in evolution, perhaps 'intelligent design' I think it's called, wherein the Creator has some control over how things develop, and that it has happened (and is continuing to happen) over millions and millions of years.
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