Which came first, your belief or your religion?

[Green Gaia]

Which did you have first, your beliefs and then found a religion that fit them, or were you involved in a religion first which told you what your beliefs should be?

For example, most UUs would tell you that we came to UU already having beliefs that matched UU's values and principles. For us, belief came first, then religion.

On the other hand, I would say that most Christians are brought up in that religion and are told what they should believe. So for them, the religion is there first, then their beliefs are formed from what the religion teaches.

What was it for you?

 

[michel]

Religion. I was 'thrust' into Christianity at school. But later on, I sat and I believe I decided that Christianity was right for me( put it this way, I am as sure as can be that it was my unbiassed choice); I had 'looked around at other religions', but somehow Jesus Christ beckoned.

 

[Engyo]

Religion and then belief; although in general I had no disagreements with Buddhist teachings. I was able to practice Buddhism and see the results of that practice in my life, before I began to truly believe.

 

[Bishka]

Religion, the belief for me. I was brought up in an LDS household so I always attended church and that sort of thing. I didn't actually start truly believing until I was a senior in high school.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Which did you have first, your beliefs and then found a religion that fit them, or were you involved in a religion first which told you what your beliefs should be?

For example, most UUs would tell you that we came to UU already having beliefs that matched UU's values and principles. For us, belief came first, then religion.

On the other hand, I would say that most Christians are brought up in that religion and are told what they should believe. So for them, the religion is there first, then their beliefs are formed from what the religion teaches.

What was it for you?

Frubals for such an insightful question.

When I was young, religion came first, then belief. Now I am looking for a religion that fits my beliefs.

 

[muichimotsu]

relgion first then beliefs, which I am still refining. Jesus is becoming part of them, but he will not be my personal savior, much to the dismay of Christians, I would expect.

 

[ladylazarus]

"If the Lord is your shepherd then what does that make you? Baaaa." - Timothy Leary

 

[muichimotsu]

I'm assuming that was a joke, in which case I am silently laughing.

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor...]

When i was young religion was all i knew, quite recently i forgot all rights and wrongs and am now building my life one brick at a time and i dont believe my beliefs will ever fit in a box called religion.

 

[Nehustan]

Belief first.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

For me, the beliefe came first, then religion.

 

[jonny]

My religion came first and it helped form my beliefs.

 

[YmirGF]

Dare to be different I always say...

For me?

Direct experience of things that shook my concept of reality to its core.
My search has been about Why me? Not What was happening to me.
After over three decades I arrived at the answer a year ago.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I am not sure that I have a religion in the strictest sense of the word. My beliefs are still being shaped by the Spirit, so it's hard to say.

 

[Aqualung]

I really don't know. They came both at about the same time... My belief that a certain religion was the right one, then adopting that religion and learning it's beliefs... I really don't know.

 

[Buttons*]

beliefs, then religion followed soon after~*

 

[Nehustan]

I hate to say this but I am very suprised that most people say religion first. Let me put a moot point, if your religion was put upon you before your belief, then you faith was tainted by the people indoctrinating you with religion. That's kind of scarey don't you think, if you don't let me tell you why I think it is, it's a little bit like being walked to the centre of a maze blindfolded, but hey if you don't like the centre (it can probably get a bit boring sat on a bench) and you're good at mazes, who am I to argue. :areyoucra

 

[Aqualung]

I hate to say this but I am very suprised that most people say religion first. Let me put a moot point, if your religion was put upon you before your belief, then you faith was tainted by the people indoctrinating you with religion. That's kind of scarey don't you think, if you don't let me tell you why I think it is, it's a little bit like being walked to the centre of a maze blindfolded, but hey if you don't like the centre (it can probably get a bit boring sat on a bench) and you're good at mazes, who am I to argue. :areyoucra

If you got your belief first, though, you'd be tainted by your own carnal desires, and trying to find the religion that "fits" you best, instead of trying to change you beliefs to fit the religion that you think is true. That's what I did. I found the religion that I logically and otherwise knew was true, and then had to change my beliefs to go along in accordance with that.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Belief, then religion. I found that I found certain things made sense (to me) and that I could do these things before I was christened. (Either on Easter or Christmas- I can't remember which, except that my sister was christened on the other holiday.) It took about 20 years to realize that there was a religion that not only didn't condemn the aforementioned beliefs but also recognized them. But I feel I learned a lot by being in another religion for so long, too.

 

[Nehustan]

If you got your belief first, though, you'd be tainted by your own carnal desires, and trying to find the religion that "fits" you best, instead of trying to change you beliefs to fit the religion that you think is true. That's what I did. I found the religion that I logically and otherwise knew was true, and then had to change my beliefs to go along in accordance with that.

Well as to carnal desires, I didn't have that many as a child. Let me recount a story to tell you what I mean...

One winter day at school, I must have been 7 or 8, we were outside on a blowy day. All the children were running around, and I wasn't in the mood so I crouched in a corner. I shivered a little and, I recall this as if it was yesterday, a voice said 'Are you cold?' to which I replied 'Yes of course I am its cold and windy.' The voice replied 'So why are YOU cold?' I replied to the voice in my head 'I just told you because it's windy and its...' The voice in my head interrupted 'Then don't let the wind make you cold, feel its texture, its like a giant woolen blanket sent from God, can you feel its texture, fluffy like a blanket, so rather than feeling cold, let the wind keep you warm....' So I did as I was told, and felt warmer.

My family on the whole were socialist and heading toward atheist if not atheists outwrite. I didn't have a religion I guess until I was baptised and confirmed in my 13th year. I guess I was raised in a Christian country, so it could be argued that by default I was a Christian, I'd say by default I had a faith. I too have found the religion that suits me best logically, and it involved me recanting my Christianity in writing to an Archbishop. When I think back to the little boy wrapping himself the blanket of the wind, he would approve.