How did you arrive at your beliefs?

[9Westy9]

Most people born into the human race are indoctrinated from an early age into the religion of their parents. For the most part this is the case across all cultures and across all religions. A great number of people continue in the "family" religion while a growing number of people look elsewhere for answers. Remarkably however, the vast majority of people when asked will answer with a variant of having arrived at their beliefs after careful deliberation.

As a non believer, I would assume that the way I arrived at what I believe is common amongst people of like mind. At a young age I was in a school system that had the express purpose of bible lobotomizing all children within its grasp by the time they were twelve. Somewhere around that age, I began asking difficult questions, that were never adequately answered (What did the carnivores eat on the Ark?). The hypocrisies, inconsistencies and outright whoppers continually perpetrated by the religious folks around me gave me a push in the opposite direction. After years of study, deliberation and careful consideration of the facts, I've come to the conclusion that most of what comes from the mouths of our species concerning their imaginary God is nothing more than a collective form of wishful thinking.

When I am asked: How did you arrive at your beliefs? . . . I am at a point in life where I can answer honestly: through education and maturity.

How about you?

open mindedly looking at things. All I have to say really

 

[sojourner]

I was raised as a liberal Christian (though, the religious beliefs in my home varied), not believing in a literal interpretation of the Bible. I guess I was a Christian until a few years after my Confirmation, when I actually started to question if a personal God was active in the world. I concluded that there wasn't since I could find no proof of such a God and I turned to deism, because I couldn't fully let go of God. Reading the Bible actually turned me away from Christianity, because the God I read about in the OT wasn't a God that I wanted to worship. I slowly let go of God and I became an atheist.

Fast forward a few years. I was spending a warm summer night with a few friends out in a park. Lying on the ground, I suddenly realized that I wasn't just an inhabitant of the Universe, I was a part of the Universe myself. The soft grass I was lying on was me, and I was it. I realized that the Universe itself was God.

A few months later, I found out that this was called Pantheism and there you have it.

That's very cool, because it's very close to my theological position. Sallie McFague espouses an ecological theology, in which she asserts that God is embodied in the universe. God is not the sun, trees, ocean, etc., but God is physically present to us in those things. Further, she acknowledges that all matter and energy are made out of the same stuff. Therefore, we are made of the same stuff as light, trees, stars, air, etc. Therefore, God is immanently present to and within us. To me, to be part of the universe is to be part of God, because God is physically embodied in the creation.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I actually just spent an hour or so looking for a term that best suits my theological position and was forced to admit that no one theological term suits it aptly... instead I looked to the Greek... I believe the most accurate term to describe my position would be:

Weakly Theistic Adelo-Gnōsticism (adelo means uncertain or obscure) assuming the existence of a 'true' beginning of time (the big bang theory does not prove this btw - though that is a different topic), otherwise weakly atheistic. I have decided Agnosticism (without knowledge) is a term that poorly describes the foundation of my position (which is the identification of knowledge as being uncertain, not simply that I do not know or have not formed an opinion) - only the result.

While the best terms that describes my approach to metaphysical concepts is:

• For both nonsensical and non logically characterised concepts - Theological Noncognitivism (no truly rational discussion is possible) where I entertain Fideistic arguments and positions for the sake of non-rational, non-confrontational examinations. Pragmatic Atheistic Agnosticism is my response to this sort of concept in general, though I become more Atheistic as 'revelation' is used as the basis for arguments and positions and the concepts become more specific, while I become less Atheistic as the concept of god becomes increasingly vague (though this increases my Apatheism).
• For logically characterised concepts - Ignosticism (originally coined as a play on the words Ignorant and Gnosticism or Knowledge) where logical arguments and rational discussion is the basis for any meaningful communication.

 

[idea]

Most people born into the human race are indoctrinated from an early age into the religion of their parents. ..

I'm a convert, so no, I did not inherit my beliefs from my parents. I do believe in a pre-mortal existence though, and think everyone is placed within specific family groups for a reason. I see it as God's over-ruling both that I was born into the family I was, and that I was introduced to the Mormon church when I was.

My conversion story in short: As part of a comparitive religions class I was assigned to meet with a religious group I had never met with before, ended up going to a Mormon church, had a spiritual experience while there, and now here I am!

 

[Gomeza]

I'm a convert, so no, I did not inherit my beliefs from my parents. I do believe in a pre-mortal existence though, and think everyone is placed within specific family groups for a reason. I see it as God's over-ruling both that I was born into the family I was, and that I was introduced to the Mormon church when I was.

My conversion story in short: As part of a comparitive religions class I was assigned to meet with a religious group I had never met with before, ended up going to a Mormon church, had a spiritual experience while there, and now here I am!

Yep, that is why I began that sentence with the word "most", conversions are a rarity, usually taking place after an inter-marriage between faiths but as your experience testifies to, sometimes happens for other reasons.

 

[Muffled]

I was "indoctrinated" into Christianity. Church (sometimes twice or even three times a week) , Sunday School, Confirmation and so on.

Early on I questioned many inconsistancies and contradictions. Later I began to study other religions history and Biblical history.

I found that I can not support a literal interpretation of the Bible. I do think it possible that there are inspired writings .. but the majority of the Bible comes from the mouth of man IMO.

Still I think there is a profound message in Christianity .. unfortunately many Christian organization/denominations do not seem to understand or follow the message of Christ or at least my version of it.

If you have your own version then it is not likely God's version.

 

[Muffled]

The ten commandments are mostly just common sense, you could throw out the one about having no false gods before me (irrelevant to someone who does not believe in God and often used to discriminate against other religions) and then add two more.

Thou shalt not believe that men from the first century have anything to offer modern society.

Thou shalt not use a holy book as a weapon, to justify discrimination or to distort the findings of science.

Aside from that, I'm all for having a huge bonfire, I cannot think of anything I would want to teach my children from it (old testament or new).

If they were common sense they would commonly be obeyed but hese days they are most commonly disobeyed.

If you throw out the words of life all you have left is death.

 

[Muffled]

I'm a convert, so no, I did not inherit my beliefs from my parents. I do believe in a pre-mortal existence though, and think everyone is placed within specific family groups for a reason. I see it as God's over-ruling both that I was born into the family I was, and that I was introduced to the Mormon church when I was.

My conversion story in short: As part of a comparitive religions class I was assigned to meet with a religious group I had never met with before, ended up going to a Mormon church, had a spiritual experience while there, and now here I am!

I had a spiritual experience from The Assembly of God but took a different route. I put my church attendance in the hands of Jesus my Lord and Savior. Since He tends to be non-denomiational, I have attended many churches but not a Mormon one yet.

 

[Gomeza]

If they were common sense they would commonly be obeyed but hese days they are most commonly disobeyed.

If you throw out the words of life all you have left is death.

The first statement is simply untrue. The vast majority of people living on this planet (both currently and historically) exist without ever breaching the ten commandments. There is also the reality that virtually all cultures throughout history have developed either their own commandments or have instituted the principles within their societies' laws. With peoples of all religions and cultures coming to basically the same conclusions, what better term should be used than "common sense"?

The second statement is nothing more than a Christian catch phrase, meaningless to anyone outside of a certain segment of Christianity, including some Christians.

 

[Muffled]

The first statement is simply untrue. The vast majority of people living on this planet (both currently and historically) exist without ever breaching the ten commandments. There is also the reality that virtually all cultures throughout history have developed either their own commandments or have instituted the principles within their societies' laws. With peoples of all religions and cultures coming to basically the same conclusions, what better term should be used than "common sense"?

The second statement is nothing more than a Christian catch phrase, meaningless to anyone outside of a certain segment of Christianity, including some Christians.

That is too funny. A man who looks at a woman with lust in his heart has committed adultery. That takes care of 90 % of men on that one commandment alone. If the adultery commandment is expanded to include all sexual sin, then the other 10% is covered also.

It is meaningless if you refuse to understand the meaning. Observation will help I believe. Look at the countenance of a person who is extremely angry. You are seeing the physical representation of the spiritual death that is within.

 

[dawny0826]

I came to Christ on my own several years ago, after rejecting him for years. I yearned for him.

I rebelled against him for years, because my mother and grandmother forced religion down my throat as a kid. And I don't say this in a bitter way, because I know that they meant well. My mother is still the voice of my conscience after all of these years, but we do subscribe to different concepts of Christianity.

I do not go to church, as I find no peace or comfort in the assembly. I have no use for sermons. I commune directly with the Holy Spirit and read the Word.

In the end, I will appear before Christ. I don't believe that any man can deliver Christ's messaging for my life better than Christ Himself.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

At a young age I was in a school system that had the express purpose of bible lobotomizing all children within its grasp by the time they were twelve. Somewhere around that age, I began asking difficult questions, that were never adequately answered (What did the carnivores eat on the Ark?). The hypocrisies, inconsistencies and outright whoppers continually perpetrated by the religious folks around me gave me a push in the opposite direction. After years of study, deliberation and careful consideration of the facts, I've come to the conclusion that most of what comes from the mouths of our species concerning their imaginary God is nothing more than a collective form of wishful thinking.

I was raised in a family of conservative Christians, but at about eight or ten years old my BS detector started clanging. For the next several years I gave lip-service to the family tradition and continued with church. When I finally left home, I began to think deeply about it all. I did a lot of reading, in various areas, and starting forming my own view of life.

Nowadays my beliefs are always in flux, and I hone them through hard debate such as we sometimes encounter in places like this. It's all about words and how to best integrate them.

For what it's worth, I've heard a lot of stories like mine. It seems that bright, skeptical children really have no good chance of remaining in the worldview of their families and larger cultures. They tend to break away before ten or so.

What's sad is that we sometimes have to choose between family/friends/culture and integrity of thought. People should sometimes be shunned for poor or dangerous behavior, but never for wrong belief.

 

[Hope]

People should sometimes be shunned for poor or dangerous behavior, but never for wrong belief.

This statement struck me because, isn't wrong belief the cause of poor or dangerous behavior? Belief always precedes behavior.

Not that I am saying anyone should be shunned for any reason.

 

[MaterSammichMan]

I arrived at my beliefs through studying the Bible, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Historical physical evidence, and by utilizing the wisdom imparted to me.

 

[Gomeza]

This statement struck me because, isn't wrong belief the cause of poor or dangerous behavior? Belief always precedes behavior.

Not that I am saying anyone should be shunned for any reason.

Wow, I didn't see that at all in those words " . . . People should sometimes be shunned for poor or dangerous behavior, but never for wrong belief"

What I got from it within its context was a lament of sorts. An acknowledgment of the reality that there exists in our societies countless religious enclaves and communities where holding differing beliefs is treated with an amount of disdain that should be reserved for more deserving offenses.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

This statement struck me because, isn't wrong belief the cause of poor or dangerous behavior? Belief always precedes behavior.

I think of that as a sort of word game. We could say that 1) John has a belief that it's proper for him to take everyone else's money. Or we could say that 2) John has no beliefs but is greedy, self-centered and amoral.

In the first case, John has a wrong belief. In the second case, John has no beliefs. But in both cases, John is a thief and would not be welcome in my home. I would shun him and still sleep well all night long.

Think about a dog. Do dogs have beliefs? I think not. But I'll still destroy a dog who breaks into my henhouse every night. (I might try shunning him first, with an electric fence or other methods.)

Not that I am saying anyone should be shunned for any reason.

Really? Would you allow a convicted child-molester to stay in your home with your young children?

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Wow, I didn't see that at all in those words " . . . People should sometimes be shunned for poor or dangerous behavior, but never for wrong belief"

What I got from it within its context was a lament of sorts. An acknowledgment of the reality that there exists in our societies countless religious enclaves and communities where holding differing beliefs is treated with an amount of disdain that should be reserved for more deserving offenses.

A near-perfect summary. The only thing I'll add is that secular sorts can be just as guilty as religious sorts. The greatest sin can be an offense against the groupthink.

We're still a primitive tribal creature.

 

[Hope]

Really? Would you allow a convicted child-molester to stay in your home with your young children?

No, of course not. I was not making a statement either way on when/where/how often/or why anyone should be shunned. I think you misunderstand me. I guess I didn't express myself clearly. I agree with much of what you said, merely pointing out that bad behavior (at least in humans---not so applicable to animals, as they act more on instinct) always follows wrong thinking, or wrong belief.

I agree that no one should be shunned merely for their beliefs. However, behavior does not just happen on its own---it has very much to do with belief. Even with your example of John---describing him as greedy, self-centered and amoral actually conveys the fact that he has beliefs. He believes money brings happiness, he believes pleasing himself is more important than pleasing others, and he doesn't believe in any kind of morality. You may shun him, and rightfully so, maybe not based on his belief, but on his behavior---yet ultimately his behavior is based on his belief system.

I didn't mean to be contentious over semantics---I merely wanted to point out the connection between behavior and belief. I don't want to totally derail this thread, so I'll leave it at that!

 

[Hope]

In response to the OP, I arrived at my beliefs as a Christian after a long struggle. I was raised in a Christian home, but I hated God, or Who I perceived Him to be, for most of my life, due to many painful circumstances in my life, as well as the example of many hypocritical Christians I knew and the negative environment of a cult-like church I attended growing up. I struggled with severe depression and other issues for a long time, until finally things got so bad I turned to God in desperation. I had a "born-again" experience in which I discovered that God wasn't the mean, legalistic bully in the sky that I grew up thinking He was---but instead that He was my Father in heaven Who loved me more than I could possibly imagine. He changed my life in a very real way, and because of what He's done for me, I believe what I believe.

 

[Gomeza]

A near-perfect summary. The only thing I'll add is that secular sorts can be just as guilty as religious sorts. The greatest sin can be an offense against the groupthink.

We're still a primitive tribal creature.

I feel it goes without saying that human foibles, shortcomings and just about every other trait common to our species' behavior and capabilities are represented almost equally across all communities and similar social demographics or constructs . . . . regardless of beliefs or philosophies.