waitasec
Veteran Member
my non belief in god was confirmed when i became a parent.
it was a long process, since i was a young person i was indoctrinated and took some time to deal with the skeletons in the closet.
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What led you to your current religion/lack thereof?
- Thread starter Debater Slayer
- Start date
my non belief in god was confirmed when i became a parent.
it was a long process, since i was a young person i was indoctrinated and took some time to deal with the skeletons in the closet.
Photonic
Ad astra!
So many others succumb in that battle.
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
Yes.
I was an ative Christian before I discovered the Baha'i Faith, and indeed as a Baha'i am still very much in the Christian tradition!
I was initially led to investigate the Baha'i Faith by overhearing a Baha'i describing the Faith to someone else and being surprised at how much sense it made! Later on, she invited me to a fireside (an informal Baha'i informational meeting): I went, kept going, and began the extensive process that ultimately led me to become a Baha'i.
Best!
Bruce
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Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
One day, I decided it would be for the best to just return back to the default manner in which I had entered this life in the first place. This time around without any distraction by way of human influence, fabrication, and embelleshment leaving the pristine and pure truth of the matter intact. Thus if no god answers outside the sphere of human intervention, then there is no god to address.
It turned out to be so refreshing in wake of the many long years spent searching, I hadnt realised that if I had just kept quiet, the direct truth reveals itself.
Long story. The sum total of all events in my life led me to it. The same is true of everyone else, I suppose. Major factors, though, were probably boiled down to:
1) A love of science, critical thinking, and reason.
2) A love of fantasy, storytelling, and imagination.
3) Eventually realizing that no, religion isn't what I was told it was but is in fact much bigger; then finding a religion that encompasses both of the above.
1) A love of science, critical thinking, and reason.
2) A love of fantasy, storytelling, and imagination.
3) Eventually realizing that no, religion isn't what I was told it was but is in fact much bigger; then finding a religion that encompasses both of the above.
Tathagata
Freethinker
I had a sudden moment of realization when my college professor was describing a story about the Buddha and how he answered complex metaphysical questions. Another factor that led me to Buddhism was learning that it was a religion in which its purpose is to seek Enlightenment and self-betterment.
At that moment I was immediately intrigued by Buddhism and began researching everything about it and became even more in awe of it after learning deeper into its philosophy beyond the Four Noble Truths.
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At that moment I was immediately intrigued by Buddhism and began researching everything about it and became even more in awe of it after learning deeper into its philosophy beyond the Four Noble Truths.
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Orias
Left Hand Path
I too have spent my life time building my inner walls and defenses, and I still do to this day.
arthra
Baha'i
I was raised in a Baptist environment and began searching various religions starting when I was ohh fourteen years old.. My study led me to an Ashram and I practised Yoga.. Studied Theravadin Buddhism and took refuge..
Later I was involved in the Civil Rights movement and later the Peace movement this was in the sixties..
I came across some Baha'i books in the public library at the time and knew that if I ever met a Baha'i I'd declare...so about three months after this I met some Baha'is and joined the Faith.
Later met my future wife who was a Baha'i and raised our children in the Faith.
Later I was involved in the Civil Rights movement and later the Peace movement this was in the sixties..
I came across some Baha'i books in the public library at the time and knew that if I ever met a Baha'i I'd declare...so about three months after this I met some Baha'is and joined the Faith.
Later met my future wife who was a Baha'i and raised our children in the Faith.
Matthew78
aspiring biblical scholar
I went through a long period of questioning, private research, investigation, and a longing for answers and meaning. As for deciding to stay this way, I think it was after I began reading the book The Challenge of a Liberal Faith. I am not dogmatic about my decision to be a UU; it could definitely change down the road. I still question, still conduct my own private research, still investigate, and I still long for answers and meaning.
Gaura Priya
IRL
Throughout my life, I have been led through a series of beliefs. Growing up and raised Catholic, I first encountered and practiced New Age spirituality at 11 years of age; it did not take me too long until I became a Wiccan at 13, a Pentecostal at 15, back to the Catholic Church, at 16, declared as a Baha'i at 18, and the rest of my years until now as a Vaishnava.
I struggle with Vaishnavism, as I seek to reunderstand and reinterpret it as applicable to modern life in this world.
I am actually investigating Christianity at this moment; I have come to realise that no religion has the complete truth. All these years, I've practiced a dogmatic understanding of religion, and I now understand religion to be largely cultural.
Inasmuch as I do believe in God, I truly do not believe that any religion holds this one complete truth. I have and continue to study the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Qur'an, the Dao De Jing, Pureland Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic literatures, the Guru Granth Sahib, etc. and I revel in the understanding that Krishna (God) is the same no matter where one goes.
I struggle with Vaishnavism, as I seek to reunderstand and reinterpret it as applicable to modern life in this world.
I am actually investigating Christianity at this moment; I have come to realise that no religion has the complete truth. All these years, I've practiced a dogmatic understanding of religion, and I now understand religion to be largely cultural.
Inasmuch as I do believe in God, I truly do not believe that any religion holds this one complete truth. I have and continue to study the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Qur'an, the Dao De Jing, Pureland Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic literatures, the Guru Granth Sahib, etc. and I revel in the understanding that Krishna (God) is the same no matter where one goes.
What I did was steal....oops....I mean I borrowed the best there is from various schools of thought. When I noticed that the whole truth could not be found in one place I decided to continue to learn as much as I can from various sources and refine as needed. I think it was in middle school when I really started exploring the alternatives but wasn't til after high school that it really became a must.
Mcshane22
Member
Thats the same journey I found I will always continue to Learn and understand
"To know how little one knows is to have genuine knowledge.
Not to know how little one knows is to be deluded.
Only he who knows when he is deluded can free himself from such delusion.
The intelligent man is not deluded, because he knows and accepts his ignorance as ignorance, and thereby has genuine knowledge"- Lao Tsu; Tao Te Ching
Engyo
Prince of Dorkness!
Trial and success (as opposed to trial and error). About 2 years, 28 years ago.
I have always had an interest in religion for as long as I can remember. In 2006 I began to have dreams and thoughts - constantly - of Lord Shiva. I couldn't stop thinking about Him. I would be at work and He would be in my thoughts, constantly, I would go to sleep and He was all I would dream of. Towards the end of the year I threw up my hands and gave in. Clearly it was a sign. I went to a nearby new age store and bought a murti of Shiva and installed it in my apartment.
At about the same time I had been developing a character called Kala. A little water fae. Kala popped into my head at almost the same time that Shiva stopped pestering me. I believe that Kala (the name itself is an epithet for Shiva) is a form of Shiva-Shakti and since about mid 2009 I have been worshipping him as a form of Shiva-Shakti along with Shiva and Shakti.
At the moment I primarily worship Maha Devi but perform ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam every week. Shiva tends to prod at me whenever I dilly-dally and drag my feet and when things get really tough Kala makes himself known as well.
At about the same time I had been developing a character called Kala. A little water fae. Kala popped into my head at almost the same time that Shiva stopped pestering me. I believe that Kala (the name itself is an epithet for Shiva) is a form of Shiva-Shakti and since about mid 2009 I have been worshipping him as a form of Shiva-Shakti along with Shiva and Shakti.
At the moment I primarily worship Maha Devi but perform ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam every week. Shiva tends to prod at me whenever I dilly-dally and drag my feet and when things get really tough Kala makes himself known as well.
Antiochian
Rationalist
A number of things led me to where I am now spiritually. I ceased to believe in the major Christian doctrines/dogmas. I was disgusted by the violent actions of Christians and other monotheists. I was looking for a religion that embraced rather than feared sexuality, that didn't rely on supposedly infallible scriptures or have a leader who claimed to be infallible. I wanted a religion that celebrates life more than it obsesses about afterlife. A religion that didn't claim to be the only way to "paradise" or "salvation" or "wholeness." A religion that overall was progressive while retaining a sense of being rooted in the wisdom of the past. A religion that acknowledged my love of nature and poetry and aesthetics. So I chose Witchcraft. Will I still be following that path in 20 years? Who knows? I struggled with leaving my old faith for some time. Maybe a couple of years at least. One doesn't abandon the world view taught at your parents' knees easily. Not in my case.
Vasilisa Jade
Formerly Saint Tigeress
Asking myself questions, not following any other, being curious, honest with myself, open minded, and being adventurous led me to where I am now.
I love being this way. I won't give up the above, and I am ever changing. Change is the only constant for me spiritually.
It was gradual. As a teenager, I didn't know what it was I was "supposed" to believe. My family at home for a long time was "non-religious", some of the kids at school spoke about their churches and such. Little by little, I found my faith- not from books, not from people's words, but within myself I found an answer.