What do you believe in - and why?

[Peg]

I believe that the Bible is the only source of truth because it comes from the creator and it contains his purpose and his grand plan to restore us to perfection. I beleive that Jesus is his Son whom he sent to inform us of his purpose and thru Jesus he makes a relationship with himself possible. I believe having faith is based on reason and knowledge. People often say that faith is not based on knowledge or evidence, but in fact it is based on knowledge....knowledege of Gods past acts which give us faith in his future promises.
I believe the bibles promise of living forever on earth...this was Gods purpose for Adam and Eve and its his purpose for us.
I dont beleive hell is a literal place of fiery torment but simply the grave...its where we go to when we die to await a resurrection.
I believe in the resurrection from the dead....I beleive Jesus words that soon All the dead will be raised to life in paradise for a second chance to get to know Jehovah.
I believe that Satan is the one who has distorted Gods truth in order to make it difficult for people to know what to believe. We see most religions teach partial aspects of Gods truth, but much of it is distorted which is why there are so many different religions.
I dont believe there are many paths to finding God...although this would be convenient, but logically it cant be possible that God can be both A+C & Z+X iykwim.

[Mummato2]

I was brought up in a lax Catholic family, baptised Catholic etc.....went to Catholic schools.

I loved the Christian upbringing but didn't like the traditional ways of the Catholic church. To me it seemed like they were focussed on practising traditions rather than what the bible says. I also found them extremely judgemental.

I married DH and he was brought up in a Born Again Christian family and to be completely honest - I can't support their beliefs and DH felt as though he was "brainwashed" growing up and didn't want to be part of it anymore when he left home.

So when we had our kids I was torn. I wanted them to be brought up with a faith, but it's no good if DH and I didn't 100% support our religions.

I started reading and researching and decided to try an Anglican church. I loved that it was almost identical to the Catholic beliefs with none of the crap that came with being a Catholic. I loved that they were progressive as well.

So both kids are baptised Anglican and both DH and I will be getting confirmed next year.

[boobaloo]

it's so great to see no controversy here!

i was raised fairly catholic, christened/first holy communion etc, and i went to catholica primary and secondary schools. my mum believes in god, but we never went to church, she's more a private believer.

my dp was raised very catholic, a lot of his uncles are priests, and religion has played a huge part of his life.
we got our children baptised, i think more for the tradition than anything. we also got it done at a brilliant church that was more about welcoming the baby into the community than the whole 'original sin' thing.

i am not really a believer in anything, i'd like to think that living a good life and being kind to others will get me through the pearly gates if they exist.
i also believe that on the other side, we will all be reunited with our loved ones, and i hope that we will forever live in our own utopia.

i don't particularly like organised religion, and i loath being preached at. it has caused numerous fights in my extended family, as some members are still very religious.
i think we all need to respect eachother, the earth, the animals to create a harmonious existance in this life.

[meow]

I wasn't raised with any religion- rather just to respect all religions and keep an open mind that I may choose to join one of them when I grow up.

I am an atheist. I don't believe in any gods or supernatural events such as life after death.
I believe we all have the power within ourselves to dictate our lives.
I believe in the magic and power of nature- the mind blowing universe we live in, the phenomenon of evolution and the interconnectedness of life such as communities and eco-systems.

These beliefs stimulate my spirituality as I reflect on the beauty of a sunset, moss on a tree, the meaning of a spider in my life and the purpose of life in the here-and-now to be a good and respectful person to the world around me (which includes all living creatures). I am a vegetarian, take care of the environment and try to be a good, kind person. I find my knowledge and understanding of the wonder of our universe to be very empowering and inspiring.

[LimeSlice]

Thank you Mel for the thread! I think everyone has done an ace job at keeping judgement to a minimum

I'm Pagan. What I mean by this is that I believe in a higher power which inhabits all of us and to which we return when we 'die'. I believe this higher power not only inhabits humans, but all life forms - it's what makes it 'life'. I revere nature and treat all natural things as sacred.

I believe that we choose to come 'earthbound' to learn lessons to evolve (and to help others to evolve). When we have a baby - I believe that 'spark' or 'soul' has chosen us as it can learn the most from us or it can teach us the most. I feel very blessed every day that my son chose me.

My mother was catholic (as is the rest of her family) and my Dad was a non-practicing C of E. I was baptised catholic at birth (or close to), but it never 'rang true' for me. My parents never forced religion on us - but encouraged us to decide for ourselves what we believed in.

It was only after my Mother's passing that I really started to understand what my beliefs are. I believe too that my Mother helped me come to this understanding and that some of the 'information' I have - came from her.

I dabbled in the Lutheran faith for a short time after my Mother's death as my DH's business partner is a church elder there (and is very fervent!). He and I have some very interesting discussions and I think sometimes we're both suprised by how often we agree! However we both have VERY strong ethics that meet (for the most part).

I don't do ritual (except as prayer or meditation) - but would if I had the time and opportunity! Ritual is almost the same to a Pagan as going to Mass is for a Catholic. Except I run my own 'service'!

I believe in ghosts, reincarnation, karma and the law of threefold (what you do returns to you - times by three; good and bad). I also believe that all faith is true - so long as you harm none. The Gods and Goddesses don't mind by which name you call them!

Thank you Mel for giving us all the chance to discuss this and get a deeper perception of our 'online friends'. I thought I knew most of the Pagans on BB, but I see from this thread that there are more than I thought!

I could have written this verbatim! lol

I began following this path at an early age - by that I mean this path in search of my true self. I was raised as a Christian, went to a C of E school and for a long time tried very hard to believe in that God... I yearned to have the faith I saw in others and thought if I practiced (the faith) hard enough or believed it enough, I would find it (sort of fake it til you make I think! lol)
But it just never sat right with me and as I grew into my mid teens I discovered a world of other theosophies and began looking in to them...and sort of falling in to them, as I met new people, moved outside of my traditional circles and finally after I finished school and moved out of home.

The illness and subsequent death of my mother a couple of years ago really helped me define who I was and these values I have held for many years in a way I had never expected, and continues to everyday. I also believe that my resolution in those beliefs helped my mum to finally understand me, and through that, herself and the End, in a more profound way than she had though possible. There was a shift in her mood, her eyes and her demeanour that still fills me with immense joy when I think of it...

Anyway, I am a Druidic apprentice on hold...meaning I currently am teacherless and on a bit of a solo mission presently, and am finding it really fulfilling and challenging.
I find myself becoming more confortable with voicing my beliefs and my opinions of situations borne out of those beliefs...despite one of the prime 'lessons' I was first taught was one of secrecy and protection of the knowledge.
I practice ritual and celebrate Sabbats when I can and in any way I can at the time, usually through small solo rituals - DH is not of entirely the same persuasion as me, and at the moment I am enjoying the spiritual space and solitude. It is peaceful here alone for now.
I intend to raise Charlotte in line with many of my beliefs, but have no desire to force her into anything...having said that, I would be lying if I said I would be happy if she found her way into a Christian faith.

I have no qualms with anyone practicing whatever faith they find suitable, save those that encroach upon others, have huge issues with people feeling the right to push the beliefs upon me but who turn their backs and refuse to learn about mine, I take issue with people pitying me (as certain paths do) for my choice, or ridiculing me based on their own faith.

I love intelligent and embracing discussions on theosophy whenever and wherever I can and relish a chance to have these conversations with people of learning, honesty and truth. I have the honour of having several friends who hold high rank in Masonary and as such have had some access to awesome teachings, and resources, and challenges.

[Sopdet]

Grab a cuppa and a bikkie

Family background:
Mother - her parents were Jewish, she was raised with the faith of her grandmother which was spiritual/pagan
Father - Raised catholic but his family background is Asatru (heathen)
Siblings - agnostic, catholic, pagan, spiritual

My beliefs:
I say I'm pagan because it is easier to say it than attempt to explain exactly what I am. In saying that, I have started to become more interested in my Jewish heritage & their belief system etc.

But I am going to give it a good try

I believe
in the universe,
in a universal energy (as opposed to a singular "god form"),
in balance (you can't have good without evil, male without female, black without white etc),
in a karmic force,
that we are the masters of our own lives but we are here to gain certain insights,
that we do come back to this realm time and time again to learn certain lessons
in evolution

I don't believe in
the belief that our lives are pre-ordained (ie fate)

I do call on gods and goddesses in my workings but more for a specific energy as opposed to them as "god forms" or "higher beings", I have a familiar and a few totem animals (one in particular who is now inked on my body - well him and a mix of my familiar), my spellwork is like prayers, the ritual component of the spells is to help with focussing and intent, I cast circles, dance naked in the moonlight, I meditate, I journal, I talk to "beings", I don't do spellwork to manipulate free will.

I think that is all. I may come back and add to this as I think of more.

[Nettie]

I could have written this verbatim! lol

sounds like we share a few experiences. I look forward to meeting you someday!