Have you ever changed religions?

[Arabis]

I have just been wondering lately about people that join a different church after they have been members or raised in another religion. Have any of you switched religions or changed churches and why? And do you think that you have to know all of the doctrine in that particular religion to know that you want to join it? (by the way I am really new, so if this is in the wrong place or we do things differently than this please tell me.)

 

[James the Persian]

Yes. I was raised Lutheran, spent some time as an atheist, then started investigating various religions (none seemed right), practiced Karma Kagyu Buddhism for a couple of years that's a Tibetan school) and after a time as a sort of vague Christian with no particular home, eventually became Orthodox about 5 years ago. As for why, because I believe it to be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ. I'm quite certain I will not be having any more conversions in my lifetime. As for your question about knowing everything, is that even possible? You have a responsibility to learn what you can before you make your mind up and the Church has a responsibility to teach you and make sure you understand before they accept you (something I think many Protestant missionaries fail on), but I doubt I'm more than even scratching the surface of my faith now and I've been an active member for years. How can an enquirer, then, have any chance of knowing it all?

James

 

[Arabis]

That is amazing, quite an extensive religious background. I agree with you about not having to know everything, but finding out what you can before deciding to join a different religion. I have been LDS my whole life and I have always wondered what would have happened if I had not been raised in my church, if I would still have found the religion and church I belong to now. I have heard conversion stories from others, and it seems that they go more on a feeling rather than studying what the doctrine is in detail.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I converted to Christianity from UU when I first entered college. Now I am considering going back to a UU congregation since most that pretend to be Christian here in Orlando are war mongers.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

From mild to extreme Angellousianism.

 

[CDRaider]

My father changed from agnostic to conservative Lutheran. While I have not changed myself, I've watched him and I've grown up. He studied so hard so many different religions before converting and anytime he hears of a new one he immediately researches. I dont' think he's looking for a new religion but he is using other religions as kind of a confirmation that his is right I think.

I think for many people that convert, they know more about the religion than those raised in it because they often times study into it to make sure they believe it while people raised in it rarely have a reason to question (by rarely I refer to hardley anyone who is on here)

 

[NoahideHiker]

I have just been wondering lately about people that join a different church after they have been members or raised in another religion. Have any of you switched religions or changed churches and why? And do you think that you have to know all of the doctrine in that particular religion to know that you want to join it? (by the way I am really new, so if this is in the wrong place or we do things differently than this please tell me.)

I was a born again christian and left the church to follow the B'nia Noach code. I was in the church for years and was next to become an elder of the church (conservative missionary church) when I began studying Judaism in an attempt to find the roots of my faith. I also wanted to know what christianity believed and why.

This has given me a great perspective because I have followed G-d as a Christian and a non-christian. In both cases G-d blessed me and has always been close to me. Through my own personal experiences and from my learning of Torah and the B'nia Noach code I have come to understand that Hashem does in deed honor our sincere attempts to seek Him out and follow Him as we are taught and according to what we know at the time.

 

[sojourner]

I was reared Disciples of Christ. I became an Episcopalian just after college, and was a postulant for Holy Orders. Then God called me to serve a Disciples congregation, where I now enjoy ministerial standing. In the Disciples Church, I can serve in ministry while still retaining my Anglican theology and values.

 

[Arabis]

I think for many people that convert, they know more about the religion than those raised in it because they often times study into it to make sure they believe it while people raised in it rarely have a reason to question (by rarely I refer to hardley anyone who is on here)

I agree, I know that I didn't know very much about my own religion until I decided that I wanted to have an answer for my children when they asked me what I believe and why. I don't know everything about being LDS, but I feel that at least now I know where I can find the answer.

 

[Darkness]

I have had a somewhat interesting religious journey. I was raised as a Roman Catholic by my Mother, while my Father was a Protestant Baptist. This lead to strife between my Mother and Father, and put me in an awkward position. I then did research on the Roman Catholic faith and found I did not believe in its teaching about the Virgin Mary, Euchrist, Prayers to the Dead, etc. I sort of became an Independent Protestant - not belonging to any one Protestant Denomination, but believing in their general teachings. From here I did some thinking and could not reconcile a belief in hell with a loving God. I labeled myself a Christian Universalist, and believed that God intended to bring everyone into Heaven eventually, and that Hell was a myth. To this day, I believe the Scriptures, in their original languages, do not portray a fiery hell, or any hell in the traditional sense at all. Well, after this there were still some things I could not reconcile in the Scriptures with reason, and I finally decided to declared myself an Agnostic, which I am currently.

 

[may]

From here I did some thinking and could not reconcile a belief in hell with a loving God. I labeled myself a Christian Universalist, and believed that God intended to bring everyone into Heaven eventually, and that Hell was a myth. To this day, I believe the Scriptures, =quote] yes, this is more like what the scriptures teach. you seem to not be clouded by manmade traditions like many people are. sticking to the bible is the way to go , i am a Jehovahs witness but i used to be church of England, but i feel that Jehovahs witness stick closely to the true bible teachings with out any manmade traditions attached to cloud the thought of the pure word of God the bible.i now feel that i have found the true christians who stick to the true teachings of christ .