Sunday's Question of the Day - Oct 5 2014

pinkdagger · Oct 4, 2014

Happy Sunday folks. I'll cut right to the chase today.

Were you raised in or around a specific religion? What religion - if any - do you currently identify with?

I wasn't raised with any particular religion, as neither of my parents are religious, but we follow a lot of Buddhist traditions surrounding birth and death. I've only been to a temple a few times and I've only been in a church 3 or 4 times, but only one of those was for religious reasons (a baptism). I still currently identify as agnostic, but I do like to hear and read about all types of religions. I don't know enough about any particular religions to talk in depth about any of them, but as a bystander, seeing two people from different denominations or different views having a civil disagreement and debate is extremely interesting.

jcat · Oct 4, 2014

My parents raised us as Roman Catholics, but we weren't particularly observant. I've been an agnostic since my early teens and definitely a "lapsed Catholic" all of my adult life, meaning I don't practice any religion.

slykat12 · Oct 4, 2014

Hmmm we never went to church when I grew up but my family believed in a god. At about 14 I started to go to a Protestant church with a gf. I read the bible for myself and realized none of it could be true so became a non-believer at 15. I trust the scientific method. If something cannot stand up to that it should not be considered.

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slykat12
Oct 4, 2014

Winchester · Oct 5, 2014

Well, I believe in something, but I don't know what that something is. I'm not really an atheist, I guess, more of an agnostic? I don't really believe in the God of the Bible (and yes, I've read it several times), but I find it hard to believe that there's just nothing out there.

We were raised to be Lutherans; our parents took us to Sunday school every Sunday, but they didn't attend church. They would drop us off at the church and then come and take us back home. I got married in Rick's church with his minister as I didn't feel comfortable even thinking about going to "my" church.

I haven't been to an actual church service in years, other than when our grandchildren were baptized. When our nephew was baptized, I did attend that as well.

Rick takes his mother to church a few times a month, more for her sake, I think, than his.

I could add some things to my post, but in order to keep it out of IMO, I will just shut up.

sivyaleah · Oct 5, 2014

Born and bred Jewish. My parents were not religious, our family would be considered "reformed" as far as levels of Judaism are concerned. We never went to synagogue, unless it was for someone's wedding, bar mitzvah or a death. I have no memory of ever believing in a higher power. The important holidays were taken off from school, more I think, because it was expected. We had traditions we maintained, but that's all they were - nice things to do for a celebratory purpose (like, lighting Chanukah candles).

I "feel" Jewish, although am completely secular and agnostic. Being Jewish, is a very cultural thing, not only a religious orientation. I can't imagine being able to split that feeling from my being, but am not a follower at all.

denice · Oct 5, 2014

I wasn't raised in a church though my parents did believe in God. I have been a church hopper all my life, both different churches and in and out of church. I even went through the classes and became a Catholic. I was observant for about 3 years then fell away. I sometimes think that it's more I want to believe than that I actually believe.

pinkdagger · Oct 5, 2014

Winchester said:
I could add some things to my post, but in order to keep it out of IMO, I will just shut up.

We can take this over to IMO if you want! I tried to keep it vague to avoid having it get a bit heated but if this is something people want to discuss more, I certainly wouldn't mind!

ganesh · Oct 5, 2014

My mother was raised Catholic. I was dragged to Sunday services by my grandmother, if I had spent the night at her house, and was bribed liberally with sticks of Wrigley's gum during the sermon. Other than some curiosity during my teen years I wasn't exposed all that much to other faiths. I said this to a friend recently, "I always thought I was somewhere between staunch atheist and wishfully thinking those horoscopes are true agnostic." I meditate for half an hour a day, but I don't know whether I can align myself with any faith.

chromium blues · Oct 5, 2014

I was not raised to believe in anything that couldn't be proven, so no, no religion.

alyssam · Oct 5, 2014

I posted a religion based response somewhere, not long ago on another post. 'Scuse me while I go find it instead of typing it all back out again lol.

alyssam · Oct 5, 2014

Okie dokie, found it.

So, I am technically Catholic. I say technically because I have had all of the necessary ceremonies (baptism, first communion, etc), and went to Catholic school... but only because the curriculum and environment was better than Public school. However, I am by no means ACTUALLY Catholic.

My grandparents went to church but my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins never really did. The only time I ever went to church was with my school for the once a month school mass. So, I guess I grew up being taught Catholic things... like Jesus, Joseph and Mary... blah blah blah.

Only because Religion was a mandatory course and part of the curriculum.

As for my personal beliefs? I would consider myself an anti-theist. See: Antitheism for a deeper explanation. But basically I don't believe in organized religion or the belief in any deity.

MY reason? Religion is almost always the cause of all war on this planet. People hate Muslims. Why? because Muslim Religion is different than what THEY believe. "All Muslims are Terrorists." NO. They are just like you and me. Just because you don't agree with what they believe in, doesn't mean we should drop bombs on their families.

Finally, I completely respect everyone else's personal and Religious beliefs just as I would expect them to respect mine. I am in no way prejudice or discriminatory against others and what "God" they pray to. When I tell people I'm anti-theist they seem to get the wrong impression and think I'm a terrible person.

blueyedgirl5946 · Oct 5, 2014

I am going to answer honestly since the question was asked. I do not remember life without going to church and I am past sixty years old. My grandmother was a strong Christian and she took us every time the church doors opened. It was a Protestant Church, specifically a Disciples of Christ Church. At a young age, I accepted Jesus as Lord of my life and was baptized in the river. Since then I have been a professing Christian and never had any doubts about my faith. During my life I spent time in several other denominational churches of the Protestant Faith. For over thirty years, I have been a member of a full gospel, non denominational church. In those churches there were some differences in the beliefs regarding church doctrine, but they all believed in Jesus.

littlelion · Oct 5, 2014

I do believe in and worship God, but I didn't go to church, only when I was really little.

fhicat · Oct 5, 2014

peaches08 · Oct 6, 2014

I'm agnostic. I guess one could say that I've got lots of questions.

muffy · Oct 6, 2014

I'm an atheist.

di and bob · Oct 6, 2014

I was born into the Catholic Church and attended every Mass until my teens (and every holiday, AND CCD every Saturday.) My parents are still religious. I attend Mass and church services at other churches once in a while but not as often as I feel I should to give thanks, I think I've grown to be too pessimistic and somehow need SOMETHING to believe in. I turned away from God and church for a while, but after seeing how much evil there is, there has GOT to be good somewhere to be the opposite. After seeing and experiencing love and many other unexplainable things, I know there is a God, maybe not a 'person', but more of a spiritual or natural element in our universe and lives. WHY are we different from the animals, something gave us that 'spark'!

stewball · Oct 6, 2014

I was raised in the Jewish religion.
We kept kosher. Mum would light sabbath candles every Friday

stewball · Oct 6, 2014

Sorry. We went to synagogue on the big holidays. Myb sister and I went to Hebrew classes. Then I came to Israel.
I.ate bacon for the first time. I tried hash for the first and last time. It put me to sleep. I consider myself a Jew and I'm proud to be a jew but I'm an agnostic.

caltritwiamb4 · Oct 6, 2014

I was raised a Lutheran. My families church is called Grace Lutheran. Although no one in my family goes there anymore. It is in LaGrange Park Il.I consider myself a Christian and my daughter and I go to a much more contemporary church than the one I grew up going to (Grace Lutheran). Our church is called Generations Christian Church. Abbreviated GCC. An awesome family church with a great Children's ministry.

Sunday's Question of the Day - Oct 5 2014

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Were you raised in or around a specific religion? What religion - if any - do you currently identify with?

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