The origin of your faith?

[Phil Lawton]

As I said in my opening post, I'm endlessly interested in the beliefs of others and here's something that I often wonder - why are you a member (if that's not a twisted tag...disciple? Follower?) of your current faith?

Is it a "family thing" or is it something you've adopted more recently? If you changed religion from the one you (for the want of a better phrase) were born into, what was the catalyst for that change?

And if a faith needs no proof, why does one religious belief wither in comparison beside another when folks switch religions?

 

[Mister Emu]

I cannot be sure, as I don't know the various possiblities of reality if an even did not occur, but I believe that my direct experiences with God are the source of the strength, if not the entirety, of my conviction.

 

[Mike182]

i am a Pagan because i didn't find Christianity to be fulfilling, so i looked around for a bit, and eventually found the path i am on now.

my family is loosely Christian.

 

[BruceDLimber]

why are you a member ... of your current faith?

Greetings!

I'm a member of the Baha'i Faith as the result of extensive reading, prayer, investigation, research, observation, and evaluation!

Since coupled with over 35 1/2 years experience as a Baha'i, during which I have NOT ONCE found any reason to regret this decision!

(And yes, I discovered and joined this Faith as an adult, progressing to it from my earlier beliefs....)

All this is why I heartily encourage all and sundry to investigate the Baha'i Faith and draw independant, informed conclusions about it!

Best!

Bruce

 

[Guitar's Cry]

An interest in eastern philosophy and Native American spirituality, combined with a lot of time in the woods thinking, led me from the Christian background I was raised in. The influence of epistemological and existential philosophy classes in college broke down my spirituality into essentially Nihilism. That didn't work for me, so I instead used philosophy to both breakdown and reconstruct my reality/spirituality.

Basically, the origin of my faith is in my head.

 

[Daukaulotu]

I am a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). I've lived in Utah most of my life, and LDS is the religion I was born into. My parents never did force me to go to church though, it was by my choice that I continued to attend.
I've always known in my heart that Jesus Christ is real, and that he does love me. That without him there is no hope for us. So the obvious choice of religion for me was Christianity.
The reason that kept me believing in LDS when I was younger was that not only the fact that Jesus Christ is the center of our religion, we also believe in modern day scriptures, prophets and apostles who are living oracles of God. The concept was simple to me, if God called prophets for thousands of years, and he kept giving new scriptures for thousands of years, why would he all of a suddenly stop during the second century AD. The first century church was led by apostles and prophets, They were the foundation of the church with Jesus Christ has the chief corner stone. (Eph. 2:20) The way how I saw it, (and still do) is, that you CAN NOT have a doctrinally sound religion, if you do not have prophets (Amos 3:7) or apostles acting as LIVING ORACLES of God.
As I got older, I realized that I needed to find out for sure if my religion was actually true, or just a fake. Was The Book of Mormon really scripture? Was Joseph Smith a true prophet, or a fake? Is our current prophet, President Gordon B. Hinkley really a living prophet of God? So I did the studying and praying. I did eventually receiving an answer from on high. I did receive an answer to my prayers. An answer that came so strongly to me, that I could not deny it. The answer was that it is all true, and this is where I need to be.
That is why I am a member of my current faith. And I will say without hesitation, that I know that I am a member of the True Church of Jesus Christ.

 

[wizanda]

My faith comes from before birth and the miracles in life.....
The religions ruin my own faith, by trying to control it, so instead of run from it, decided to come to the origin of the problems......
As in my own faith it stems intrinsically and so this wobbly outwardly faith damages others, so seeing what can do to help……

 

[Random]

@ 15, I became curious as to what the Catholic Church was selling me. I investigated, read a lot, practiced martial arts (Ju-jitsu), got abducted by the Hidden Powers (probably, they wiped my memory ), then resumed investigating, took up Yoga, developed a profound interest in Mysticism and then went into a deep self-hypnotic psychosis from which, by the time I was 23, I emerged a changed man: from an atheist to a believer in GOD.

Then I realized during a moment of subjective bliss that His name was Yahweh and recanted my dismissals of the Bible and it's spirituality...

I am now an Emancipate as GOD would want for me, though I remain fond of the Catholic Church and it's teachings..some of them, anyway.

And that is how I found faith. :angel2:

 

[doppelganger]

My faith is originating as I write this. It doesn't cease originating.

 

[Random]

My faith is originating as I write this. It doesn't cease originating.

Ohh, good answer.

Doesn't tell us anything about your intellectual history, though...

 

[BFD_Zayl]

pretty much the same answer as Mike, Christianity left me empty, I searched, my spiritual journy was long and tough, long story short I was drawn towards Necromancy, I settled here, and I will never leave.

 

[ChristineES]

I was raised in a non religious household. My mother was an atheist until her early 40s. I was a teenager, unsure of what I believed and wanted meaning in my life. I found Christianity to be very fulfilling. I read the 4 gospels all in one day at one sitting. I loved Jesus' teachings, he was totally different than I expected from listening to other people. He wasn't some meek man but had authority. That also appealed to me.
It is His teachings I like so I don't think I could follow another religion. I do learn a little of most religions so I can know what others believe.

 

[doppelganger]

Ohh, good answer.

Doesn't tell us anything about your intellectual history, though...

There's a lengthy discussion on my blog, if anyone is bored enough to be genuinely interested: http://agnosticgnostic.blogspot.com/2007/03/ex-nihilo.html

 

[Random]

There's a lengthy discussion on my blog, if anyone is bored enough to be genuinely interested: http://agnosticgnostic.blogspot.com/2007/03/ex-nihilo.html

Thanks, I haven't read that post yet but I've read a lot of the other stuff on your blog from the links in your sig.

I keep a blog myself, but it is not nearly as interesting as yours. A friend once told me reading my old blog was like exposing a vulnerable mind to the ravings of a madman! :cover: So I started a new one recently, but alas, it's not much better...I'm too emotional.

Appreciate the above, Dopp. Peace and blessings...

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

I was born into Christianity, but the decision to actually become a Christian was all my own. I got baptized after much study and thought. I looked at other religions too, including Paganism, Hinduism, and even contemplated making my own religion up. But Christianity was ultimately my choice, based on certain proofs and evidences.

 

[wizanda]

“The Faith” is a concept of authoritative value Paul made, which should be applied to “beliefs” in our current language.

Faith is a feeling from the heart we all have and doesn’t require religion.

 

[summia]

And if a faith needs no proof, why does one religious belief wither in comparison beside another when folks switch religions?

I am Muslimah. Islam is my family religion.
Faith needs proof. because if we believe in some thing then need to proof, WHY?
So, i don't think so, that faith is without proof.

 

[wizanda]

So when someone climbs a mountain and believes they can do it, what is that faith they use, can that be explained?.............

Also then if that faith is then understood, is not that that same faith applied to God?......

 

[Azakel]

pretty much the same answer as Mike, Christianity left me empty, I searched, my spiritual journy was long and tough, long story short I was drawn towards Necromancy, I settled here, and I will never leave.

Easiest why to explain it is to say, the same as those two. But not a Necromancer. :angel2:
When I first came here I was still following Shinto, and though I still hold some believes in it, I can't hold to one path all together. That's why I just call myself a Spiritualist, and a practitioner of Khaos Magick(yes I spelled Chaos with a K......so what lol).

 

[Engyo]

As I said in my opening post, I'm endlessly interested in the beliefs of others and here's something that I often wonder - why are you a member (if that's not a twisted tag...disciple? Follower?) of your current faith?

I was looking for something that both made sense to me, engaged my altruism, and could be proven in practice.

Is it a "family thing" or is it something you've adopted more recently? If you changed religion from the one you (for the want of a better phrase) were born into, what was the catalyst for that change?

I had pretty much decided that Christianity wasn't for me, well before I looked into Buddhism. Looking into Buddhism was basically an accident - one of my then-roommate's co-workers invited us to go check it out.

And if a faith needs no proof, why does one religious belief wither in comparison beside another when folks switch religions?

Well, as I said above, I wanted something that offered proof. I wanted something that demonstrably works - where measurable results occur. Buddhism does that - it is a practice, rather than a belief. If one does the practice then results occur, regardless of belief or lack thereof. I've been doing this for over 25 years now, and I continue to prove it's validity daily.