Faith... Why yours?

[Eternimus]

This outta be a fun topic. A very, simple question. Though more than likely the answer won't be near as simple.

Why do you follow your religion? More specifically, what made you choose your faith? Was it an event, a feeling, ect.

[Oni]

I got an answer for ya. But I wonder what people will think of it. Though it does inspire a better question to cause discussion. One I think many people will enjoy answering. Though then there are those that don’t have a relilgion. Or like me who has an idea. I don’t like to call my idea’s a religion. They are simply idea’s. Why? It’s very simple. An idea you can change and almost no one will care. You change your religion, or your Religion it’s self changes…well then there are to many things that can go wrong because of it. I also don’t follow my idea’s to the “T.” I should they are very good idea’s. But like any person with a good idea that they teach to people, some times its hard to eat your own words, and well…they don’t always taiste as good as you would think. Just cause it’s  good idea does not mean it’s easy to follow.
My idea’ were discovered over time. But if one wants a life changing experience. A revelation, or a testimony. Well I got a story for you. It was back when I was a Mormon, and for a while I liked the idea of being mormon, but there were a lot of things not fitting right with me. So I decided to do research, ask questions, and when people didn’t have answers, or the questions I asked caused them to think and question there own beliefs…well in the very end I got kicked out because I caused a lot of people in the church I was in to ask questions. People don’t like it when you ask questions that they can only back up with “Because some one said so” or “because I said so.” I don’t think Jesus ever said “Because I said so.” He always had a reasoning behind what he was teaching. Though I still don’t think Jesus is exactly or even half way close to how he was portrayed in the Bible, I think the idea or the character that was presented in the Bible was a good one. Any way I got side tracked there (perfect example of Ferret Shock) Back to what I was saying. I went out one weekend (it might have even been just for the day…I think it was just for the day, but there were activities ever day for a weekend, so it was a weekend) with my Ward (a division of congregation because there is only so much room in a church) on a trip into the middle of Florida. To some park. Any way while out there we did many activities that were suppose to bring us closer to God, and to find our way with God. Well in one of the assignments they sent us out into the woods, alone, for about an hour or so. They told us to have a conversation with God and let him answer our questioins. So I went out there, found my self a nice natural bedding in some tall grass. It was a nice day as well. So I assumed a meditative sitting position. I decided to clear my mind, and listen to what came. I figured God speaks in many ways, so I was going to listen to for all sorts of them. Normaly I just talk directly to God and he answers back in his own devine way. Well on this day I heard my voice (only makes sense when you think about it, God speaks to you in a voice you can understand). The just of it was he told me that every religion was right and all were wrong, and to find my own way. I laughed, but understood. There was more to the conversation than that. Though it was turning point for myself, my idea’s, my way of life ect. I developed a new way of thinking and looking at the world. At the end of the day when everyone was around the camp fire telling there testimonies of the how they believe in Joseph Smith was a profit, and that they belive in the mormon way. I didn’t get up. A few people got upset at me for not getting up and telling them that I belive in what they do. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand up there and tell them that when I spoke with God he told me they were wrong. I did not want to be disrespectful. I have learned that every religion is both right and wrong. So I don’t follow a religion at all. Some I know people that follow some older religions and some that follow newer ones, some that are Christian and Jew. A persons religion is not important to me. What is important to me is that person.
Because I have idea’s and not a belief or a religion. My idea’s can change over time, and they have, and I am sure they will continue to do so.
Since that day my views have changed quite a bit, but I have learned a lot.
Though to some of you this may sound weird but an example. I was tought and adopted it into my own idea’s that there is more a person can do than what there physical body can do. My physical body is very light sensitive. Though I don’t wear my glasses often in buildings. I have to were them at night while driving in the city, and during the day. I don’t were my glasses indoors because people like to see your eyes when you talk to them. A sign of respect if you will. If you see me with them on indoors it’s mearly because I forgot to take them off and mean no disrespect. But because of my physical weakness 2 things happened. 1 I can see very well in the dark and have learned to prefer it over light. 2. I learned a skill that allows me to see when it is to bright for me. A 6th sense if you will. It’s not a Christian idea that people can do things like that in this day and age with out being given direct power from God. But I feel that my sight comes from myself.
The God I speak to is the same god you do, or that my teacher does. I don’t give God a single creation. For me he is what he needs to be for each of you. I just view him in a way that I can understand him. As the saying goes. God speaks to you in ways you can understand. And some people can understand physics and others just can’t grasp it. But through my idea’s I have gained a better understanding of life, and karma if you will. I am aware there are concequeses for my actions. And if when I die I go to hell for what I say or do in this life. I gladly will walk into Hell. Because I accept who I am and what I have done. Though I hope I don’t go to hell the possibility is always out there. Much like the possibility that God is no more than a very intelligent race of Mice, that simple created us to find the answer to life the universe and everything.
If when I die that’s what I find out, really I will have nothing to say but. “Did you find your answer?”
I think I typed more than needed but hope it helped.

[Rev. Johnathan Jones]

You know- I would say I live my religion, I don't follow it. But why?

My testimony is that as a 13 year old teenager I really lacked a stable, loving environment. I went to church one day, saw love and wanted it. Ever since I have been a Christian and now I am a pastor.

Why am I still a christian? Love. I believe Jesus preached love. Pure and simple. A lot of folks have preached hate in the name of Jesus. But that is the person, not Jesus. Love. I continue to see love in the people I worship with and I continue to preach the importance of love.

If love was the world's motivating factor- we would be in heaven.

I preach Christianity because I wish to preach love- maybe, one day, this world would be a better place. A place of love.

[Rachael]

I'm a Christian because of the law of love, and I admire Jesus greatly.  Even if it is somehow proven that He is not the Son of God, I will still admire him as a person.  I still find myself troubled by some of his harsher sayings, such as John 15:6, which says, "Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."  Why would someone preach love and tolerance, and then say something like that?

Even so, I cling to Christianity because I want the "softer" sayings of Jesus to be true so badly.  I believe the Bible because I want to believe Jesus is Divine; I need a God to get by.  I'm not like the medieval peasants who believed in God because they hoped for a life that would be better than this one.  I believe in God because I want to believe I have a soul, a soul that cannot be destroyed, one that will always go on living.  Although I can live with the uncertainty of not knowing for sure, I think if I gave up on my belief in God, it would be hard to enjoy my life, because I'd know that it is fleeting.  Some people enjoy life more if they believe this, but it doesn't work for me.

I won't deny that religion is my crutch or opiate.  I won't deny that I believe in God and Heaven and everything because I'm weak, and can't stand on my own.  So that's why I feel kind of guilty when people say they're disgusted with those who believe out of fear.  Because sometimes I think that's all my faith is.

[Eternimus]

I don't follow christianity... I don't believe in any of it.

Now the rest may offend some people, and don't think I am bashing every follower of Christianity. If the religion works for you, great. But here's why it doesn't work for me.

In the bible, Jesus would say things like "Turn the other cheek." and "Love thy neighbor." And "Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the earth." That's not true. The harsh reality is if you turn the other cheek, they have another place to strike. If you love thy neighbor, you can go to jail. Or in the case of homosexuals, become discriminated and hated in some cases. And if you are meek... I was the meek. I never raised my hand, let alone my voice to a single soul. And I was beaten. Stabbed. Abused. Horrible things kept happening over and over. And God never did anything to stop it. Let me give you some background before you judge me. I was raised Christian. Very very devout. I went to church twice a week, gave nearly every cent I ever had, I participated in every youth or church activity I was able to.  When I was 12 years old I went to visit my father in Michigan because he swore he wasn't all those things my mother said. And when I got there I was beaten often. Disowned. And my father tried to kill me several times. He also robbed me of everything I had down there with the exception of a few articles of clothing. And then mom went to the church, several churches as a matter of fact, asking for assistence. You know what every single one of them said? "No. We shall not help you get your son out of that situation. Let him perish at the hands of his father, and let his blood be on your hands, for you are condemned to hell for allowing him to go." The only thing that saved my life was her friend Irene gave her the extra money she was unable to raise. And this isn't hearsay. I walked up to each and every pastor and asked them why. This terrified 12 year old having brush after brush with death merely got the same response. "It was God's will you perished down there." I was friggin 12 and followed the bible to the letter. And my reward was death? To leave behind a shattered family? I was not even going to be allowed to live a full life before I was taken from this earth? The only reason I was spared had nothing to do with God. It had to do with I almost never slept, and if I did I'd run away to some place public. A supermarket or something. And fall asleep in there during the day. I recalled the story of Job, and thought that it all was a test of my faith. So I kept my head high. But when I returned, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. If god was real, he would not grant all these riches to stuck up snobs that deserve little more than to die groveling in the mud, while true christian families barely get by, or starve and freeze on the streets. I have never once in my life met an honest pastor.

Now Rev. Jones, don't think that includes you. I don't know you so I can't place you in the group of the many other pastors that I would love to see starving on the streets. But Oni seems to think very highly of you, so I don't think you're as bad as these other fools I've met. Not by a long shot. So that last statement is not directed at you.

I tried christianity again with another church. And then was condemned to hell for refusing to heed my mother's beck and call (aka cleen up after my brother and 4 sisters after school when all she did was play video games all day) and wearing a shirt depicting a white knight battling a red dragon. The last statement I said as a christian was my reply to "Such blasphemous clothes! What do you think Jesus would say if he saw you in such rags?" and that was "He'd probably say Hey man, how's it going? Friggin awesome shirt!" and I walked out of the christian church for good.

Later with Geonology and all that my mom told me of our ancestral religion, one for a warrior. And that's the one I follow now. Since, after splitting from the church their beliefs I was following already, I just didn't have a name for it... so it was very suiting, almost like fate.

[chuckhart]

I was a lng time coming into my faith.  I started in Sunday school younger than I can remember.  What I do remember is that Mom would drop us off at whatever church we were going to and then come back after our lessons were over.  She did not participate.  When we moved to Alaska we went for a couple of years and then the neighbors started taking us.  In junior high I stopped going.  I still had vague beliefs.

In 1978 my uncle died of cancer (his doctor said it was his smoking) three days before his fortieth bithday.  He lived in Anchorage and spent more time with my brother, sister and I than our father.  I was angry with God for taking him from me.  I didn't speak kindly to God for two years.

After I married in 1982 I refused to go to church with my wife until we moved to Fairbanks in January of 1983.  It was cold, and she was pregnant so I went with her just to be nice.  The people at that Nazarine church were warm and friendly.  We ate Sunday dinner with one family or another for nearly three months.  I began to soften up.

We moved to Homer after I dropped out of school in May of 1983.  Sara was born in July.  I was working for only a little over minimum wage in what was a "good job" for Homer.  My hours were cut and we had to take a second job in a liquor store.  We brought Sara's playpen with us when we worked setting it up by the schnapps display.  My wife was constantly nagging me about providing like her factory worker father had for her family.  My self esteem hit rock bottom.  Then one Sunday night I was on my knees at an alter call in our tiny Nazarene church when a wave of warmth passed over me and a voice much like my own told me I was loved, and that I would be alright.  From that moment I have believed firmly in Jesus and His love.

Two years later I was baptised in the Nagoya Union Church which was a coalition of several protestant missionaries and lay people.  A Southern Baptist pastor baptised me in an unheated baptistry when the congregation could see their breath.  He had chest waders and his teeth were chattering.  The water just felt warm to me.

Rev. Johnathan rebaptised me a couple of years ago as I feel I have truly found my church home.  I am no longer keeping secrets from pastors or congregants.  That's my path, for what it is worth.

[Oni]

This is an interesting topic. How many others have has experiances like this I wonder. Please post so others can learn from you.

[ViewSonic]

Because God is the Path to salvation.

[aksnowgirl98]

Not really sure... i beleive that there has to be something more. some other level of existance in the universe. But as far as my faith, im not even sure what it is.

[Peachling]

I'm an agnostic for two reasons.

One: It's a pretty easy conclusion to reach if one is doubtful about religion (being that without conclusive proof blahblahblah I'm sure everyones heard it).

Two: Belief is, in my mind, one of the more dangerous things in this world. I doubt that anyone goes into a situation thinking that what they're doing is wrong. It's all about perspective, but once you have belief on your side you feel fully justified in your actions. Without doubt there's no reason to even consider alternatives. I'm sure Hitler felt justified in his massacre of the Jews and Gypsies. I'm sure there was a reason that people believed in behind the Rwandan genocide. At some level people need belief to operate, but I'm not willing to take something as huge as religion at face value.

[Goman Fox]

I'm an agnostic for two reasons.

There's two reasons for why you don't follow a specific religion, but why do you identify as agnostic rather than atheist?

[Peachling]

Well, as far as I see it, religion and atheism both take belief. Both are proclaiming different views to be 'right'. Agnosticism is, in my mind, the fancy way of saying 'I'm not sure'. As I lack sufficient faith to be religious, I take what I view as the easy way out: Not believing anything.

[Goman Fox]

Hrm, I guess when I first encountered the words "atheist" and "agnostic" maybe I was given an inaccurate definition, because I've always thought "agnostic" meant more like believing in the possibility of a higher power, without really understanding what it may be, while "atheist" meant one didn't believe in any higher power.

I dunno, maybe my identification as "atheist" all these years has been wrong?  I've just always seen it as saying I don't believe in a God, gods, or whatever.  I don't go around saying "there is no God" or anything like that, but I wont believe what most religious people say about their deities or whatever without having proof I can see/experience.  While I keep an open mind, if someone asked me if I there was a god/gods/whatever, I would most likely say "Probably not."

[Peachling]

As far as I understand it Atheist means one believes there is no god.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/atheism?view=uk

Roughly the definition I think of, though it probably has many different meanings along with many different conotations. Agnosticism is the absence of belief, but the acceptance that it's possible.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/agnostic?view=uk

I don't like that definition quite as much, though it is roughly the definition I think of. Again it may mean many different things.

[Rosa D.]

Why mine? Because I said so.