I'm intrigued as to what other life paths are on TCS

gingersmom

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I'm agnostic, baptised catholic and confirmed a protestant, have some pagan and buddist beliefs, consider myself spiritual but don't believe in the dogma of organized religion. (Sounds like organized crime in my head.)

I do what I can to help others, avoid doing wrong to others if I can help it, believe in karma and the wheel. What comes around, goes around.

I believe that when we die, our energies simply transform into another form. I'd like to believe in reincarnation. I do not believe in most of the biblical stories, certainly not creationism, Adam & Eve, or this "kingdom of heaven" balogna.

Life is what you make of it. Once you are gone, what matters is the good that you did while you were here, how you touched the lives of others in a positive way.

I am SO not awake...hope I am not babbling here, LOL...it's a great argument, and I'm not interested in debate.

I appreciate it when there is tolerance enough that everyone is allowed their own beliefs without being told that they are wrong - whatever makes you feel good about yourself is what I think works best for each person.
 

gailc

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I was raised Catholic but nowadays only attend church for major holidays and if my parents are staying the weekend. My body is settting in the pew but my mind is elsewhere.
I'm sure my mom would be disappointed to read this post however.

I don't like the ritual of the church service and haven't heard a priest speak in the past several years that would change my mind.
 

baloneysmom

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I’m Jewish. I like to call myself a traditional Jew. I am not very religious but I follow most of the traditions. I celebrate all of the holidays without the praying. I respect and love being Jewish, I am just not the religious type. I am hoping within the future to further expand my knowledge on my religion and become more involved as I would want my children to be Jewish as well.
 

ladylonewolf

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I'm a solitary Pagan (meaning I practice solo), and have been for many, many years. I'm usually pretty quiet about it, but since I see a couple of other people have piped up in this thread, I'll put my two cents in.


I grew up in a house full of mixed religions, though - my grandfather's Jewish, my grandma's Protestant, my father's Catholic, and my mom (who was Jewish) keeps bouncing around between different Christian denominations.
 

cats4sky

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raised catholic, did alot of searching to see what i relate to the best and it would have to be buddhism, i wouldnt consider myself buddhist cause i never visited a temple yet, but when i read my buddhist books i can def relate to that religion.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

I never can describe how I feel well, so hope this makes sense
I believe you could describe yourself as spiritual and sort of leave it at that.


I'm atheist. I have no idea if my parents believe in anything, it was something that we didn't discuss or take part in - though I suspect my mother is agnostic and know my uncle was.
 

grogs

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I'm a former moderate (Episcopal) christian turned atheist. I don't claim to believe in a dogmatic sort of way that their are no deities. I just simply haven't seen evidence of a god or gods and therefore lack a belief in them.
 

momofmany

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I was born and raised non-denominational protestant. I'm now an atheist. I believe that there is a lot of good to be gained through some of religions teachings, but there is to much of it that is self serving that I won't follow any one specifically. If I were to follow any religious group, it would be one that values all living things on the planet, and wasn't centered around the human species (those are the ones I feel are self serving). I am a very giving person and will give you the shirt off my back if you need it. That is one of the religious teachings that I fully support.

Everyone can get their spiritual guidance from whatever source they find it it. The most realistic spiritual experience that I've ever had was while hiking in a canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I could sense a happy spirit life around me in that canyon. At another spot in the Black Hills, where they dammed a canyon, I sensed angry spirits. DH was with me and had the same experiences in both places. I've read that the Black Hills were sacred to native Americans, and I can see why. It did shake my atheist belief system a bit, but made me realize that any spiritual experience I have will be found in nature.
 

libby74

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I'm a Christian but also a liberal, meaning that I take it as fact that God is in all living things and that He speaks to each one of us individually, so if someone is called to a different belief, it's not up to me to judge why God called them to that path and not the same one as mine. It is up to me to try to be a blessing to all whose paths I cross (I often fall short).
I also incorporate my family's traditional beliefs that God is in all Creation, so must respect all life forms and I do feel that animals are also valued and recognized by God. They didn't get "free will" like humans, so they don't get condemned to Hell, either. For that matter, even the plants, water, rocks have the Spirit in them, since they are also part of Creation.
Very well said!

I'm a solitary Pagan (meaning I practice solo), and have been for many, many years. I'm usually pretty quiet about it
That sounds like me, altho' I'd have to throw a bit of Wiccan in there, too. I don't think the 2 are mutually exclusive, at least not in my mind. I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic scools, but even as a teen I felt drawn to Wicca (at that time I wasn't really aware of Paganism)
No one in my family knows about my beliefs except my husband.

I'd have to say that the only time I have a problem with someone else's beliefs is when they try to convince me that THEIR beleifs are the only ones that are acceptable.
 

calico2222

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I was raised Catholic, and still consider myself Catholic even though I don't go to church regularly. That doesn't mean I agree blindly with everything the Church teaches or believes in. But in my family being Catholic wasn't just a religion, it was a way of life. Kind of like being italian and irish, it is just part of who I am.

That being said, I firmly believe who ever you believe in be it God, Allah, Nature, whatever...it's all the same idea just different names. I don't believe one religion is right and all the rest are wrong, but I do believe one religion (or a combination of beliefs) is right for that specific person, and that's all that matters.

And if you don't believe in a higher power, that is fine too. Going to church or professing a faith isn't what makes a good person, it is treating others with respect and compassion. I personally don't see how someone can look at the beauty of this world (and yes, there IS still beauty in this world) and believe that it just happened randomly because the circumstances were right. The idea of there NOT being a higher power scares the crap out of me. But that's just me.

My family never really understood my view on religion. They believed God is in heaven with Mary and the Saints and angels. A distant entity. I believe it's more like we are fish in an ocean and God is the water. He's in everything, touches everything and keeps us afloat.

Wow....ok, I'll shut up now.
 

snake_lady

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Baptised Roman Catholic, but am far from it
Wasn't my choice to be baptised.

I would have to say I'm non-religious, but I do have friends of all different religions and from time to time, I enjoy talking to them about their beliefs. Long as they don't push it upon me, you know?

Religon/faith etc. are such personal things.
 

Ms. Freya

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Originally Posted by catsknowme

I'm a Christian but also a liberal, meaning that I take it as fact that God is in all living things and that He speaks to each one of us individually, so if someone is called to a different belief, it's not up to me to judge why God called them to that path and not the same one as mine. It is up to me to try to be a blessing to all whose paths I cross (I often fall short).
I also incorporate my family's traditional beliefs that God is in all Creation, so must respect all life forms and I do feel that animals are also valued and recognized by God. They didn't get "free will" like humans, so they don't get condemned to Hell, either. For that matter, even the plants, water, rocks have the Spirit in them, since they are also part of Creation.
Wonderfully put!
You described it better than I've ever managed.


I was raised Catholic, but also attended Anglican and Baptist services with friends and family. When I was a teen I just found my personal beliefs didn't quite mesh with most organized religions so I stopped going...and discovered that most of my family is exactly the same way - everyone did religion so that the kids would be exposed to it and could make an educated personal choice as to whether it was something they wanted in thier lives. So now I (and most of my family) are sort of non-practising Christian. Academically I can enjoy the ritual of worship for what it is, but I don't feel drawn to it really. I'd have to stop and think about the last time I attended a church. I find things like gardening or hiking far more spiritual to me, personally.

I believe that faith is personal and I'm pretty live-and-let-live about it.
 

rockcat

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There are far too many wonders in this world for me to believe that life just happened. Just looking at my cat's eyelashes confirm my faith in God. I am a Christian. I don't go to church, but I have been to many and been a member of several. I may go back to church someday, but right now my walk with Jesus is getting to know Him better through prayer. I feel that I know Him better now than I did when I was going to church, except for when I was a child. I am looking forward to seeing God through those eyes again someday.

I don't believe that I should preach to people. Living a sermon is much more effective than preaching one. I admit though that I make a lot of mistakes and I am not to that point yet. I want people, especially those I love, to follow Jesus. I care about their salvation.
 

jack31

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I am a Christian. Baptised Lutheran, Confirmed Methodist and I'm a member of the Methodist church and attend regularly--every Sunday.

I was raised in the church, always attended church camp, married a Christian man who was raised in a Christian family.

I work for a faith-based non-profit. But have many friends who do not attend church and have no belief in God.

Leslie
 
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dragoriana

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

"Path?" I'm out here hacking my way through the wilderness!
I said path, because not everyone here is religious or believes in a higher power, so rather than say 'what religion is everyone' i was catering to all
These posts are great btw!

I suppose seeing as i started the thread i should pipe up as well. I was not brought up as any religion. Before i knew what i was i'd attended youth groups & services in Anglican, non denominational (predominantly born again), presbyterian & roman catholic churches!! My mum isn't sure what she believes but her parents are church of england. She attended the anglican & salvos churches. My grandmother doesn't go to church for god, but for the music. My dad is an ex catholic turned 'christian'. I say that with '' because he is very contradictory when it comes to the whole judging other people etc thing. He ridicules my beliefs. His parents are roman catholic. His sis & brother in law are born again VERY VERY born again. To the point where certain everyday words, objects & people will not be allowed in their home. My uncle once went a little crazy when i was about 15, i showed my little cousins a book which showed different skulls. I said if they lived 1 million years ago, their skulls would look like that etc. He was leaning over my should & yelled 'don't show them that, we don't believe in that!!'. So er....why have that book on your bookshelf in the first place?....

I'm a strange mix. I spent a few years within a christian based youth group doing bible study & spiritual discussions, picking through the bible, i had a million questions & confusions that were never answered. 'Signs' to look out were never seen. And i noticed as the only non christian i sort of felt alienated (you don't know how hard it is to find a non religious based youth group around here). They were on a different 'plane' to me when certain discussions came up, i've experienced this in every group/church i've been to. The catholic church services were all in Hungarian lol, i went there to help my godfather set up the music & such. My fiance is an atheist. His uncle is an anglican priest, who is non judgmental of other beliefs, & doesn't bring up religion unless you do. He would even do our wedding service without the 'god stuff', yes i know, i thought that was unique too.

So i've never 'found god' or jesus in my life. Though i have had my aunt shove down my throat that one day i WILL find god, because if i don't i will go to hell. Charming. When my grandpa died in 2003, i had found out alot about him. Short story - there was a rift between him & my parents, he missed out on about 8 years of my life. So i found out he was a Freemason, the funeral was headed by a celebrant & they did their whole thing which was interesting. I became extremely wary of death & people who were sick around me. You could say i have a love/hate relationship with the inevitable. I would say i understand why people would want to believe in an afterlife, because the thought of leaving this earth, & that's it, is scary.

I dedicated myself as a wiccan (eclectic), & as there are none around here, i am solitary. Lots and LOTS of reading. I had this discussion/argument with other pagans online. Some say you need to believe in a higher power to be wiccan, others say you can view them not as literal, but as a symbol/guide. Seeing as there is a veritable plethora of pagans on this earth, i feel if viewing them as a symbol is what is in my heart, then who are others to judge? I follow the rede, threefold law, i try to stay in sync with nature & what it provides etc. I'm also an atheist. That doesn't mean you can't be spiritual, you just don't believe in god. I believe in evolution. I'm an interesting mix. I'm a skeptic yet i believe in some aspects of the supernatural.

It would take more than a page to describe my thoughts on this life.

There's my 2 cents
 

mbjerkness

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I am Christain. I do not attend church. I don't think it my place to judge, anyones elses beliefs. My children are free to choose, My oldest went to a Mormon church last sunday. just to see what it was like. I think there is room in this world for all points of view. My Grandmother always said. "Treat everyone with respect, an open heart, and treat them the way, you want to be treated."
 
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