Religious Views... What's Yours?

[CedarCreek]

As I said in the other thread,I lean toward agnostic. I was raised baptist but not really..my Mom put us on a bus to go to church every Sunday and never went with us. She just wanted a break. I didn't get too much from it.

As an adult, I've tried to sift through the different religions to see if any fit me. I tried attending a methodist church with my sons and dh but we never felt fully welcome and I did not feel the calling to be there.

I am open to the possibility of God. Very much so. I want to believe he is there. But then the "logical" and analytical side of me kicks in and I have way too many questions. Questions inside of questions.

So I say more agnostic because of all that.

[SquirrellyMama]

I am gnostic.

I've never met a gnostic before. I honestly didn't know anyone practiced it anymore. Interesting, how does that play out in your life?

K

[MNMum]

I was loosely raised Lutheran. Attended a small Lutheran College. Worked at my large Lutheran Church from 14 yo-22 yo. Now we built our house across the street from above mentioned church, thinking we would become more involved. I haven't felt the calling. My husband is atheist/agnostic, he will go along, but not excitedly. I have felt drawn to the small UUC church, but haven't made the plunge to attend yet. I don't offer any sort of Christian teaching at daycare, we do not routinely pray before meals.

[LK5kids]

Christian, with leanings towards agnostic?

Meaning, I consider myself Christian and have been "saved" (several times, as a matter of fact...long story..I'll spare you all). But, I don't go to chuch regularly, and have a mish-mash of beliefs that dont' fit into any particular Christian church, and tend not to take the Bible at face value...so...hence the agnostic-ish disclaimer.l

I never knew what agnostic was ( will read up on it now), but also tend not to take the Bible literally.

[Starburst]

I dont really consider myself agnostic, athiest, or religous. My family is nonpracticing catholic, my bf's family is nonpractaciing baptist but he went to private catholic schools all his life and wants are children to do the same- and he said when we get married he wants us to go to (catholic) church. My mom says she wants to start going to church again but wants a non-denominational church. I consider myself to just be 'spiritual' I'm just not into organized religion- there are some religions or aspects of certain religions that I agree with and believe in. I kind of would consider what I believe to be in the realm between christianity/catholisism and wiccan/pagan (and no, I do not practice witchcraft- its more about the nature aspects and positive energy) but sometimes I think that focusing too much on a religion and what their beliefs are can sometimes (not always but sometimes) get in the way of just focusing on your own spiritual connection to the creator and savior (or what ever it is you beleive in) and I think that is why some people fall into the trap of cults that mascarade as mainstream religion churches but "different"- like that church Fellowship of the Martyrs on that Lisa Ling special (Im sorry if this offends anyone but the leader of that church was a nutcase and I'm sure it was a cult). I always have been into researching cultures since I was little and I try to respect and understand most cultures and try to keep an open mind about different religious beliefs (there are a few I absolutly do NOT agree with but I usually just try to be respectful and ignore it). I've had friends who were all over the place- christian, catholic, seventh day adventist, mormon, Jahovas witnesses, agnostic, athiest, wiccan (I don't think I had any friends who were satanist- and honestly I probably wouldn't want to be associated with anyone who lives off of bad energy).

[Lyss]

Atheist.

I was raised in a family that didn't believe anything, but I did experienced church and Sunday school with friends and foster families in elementary/jr high ages but I really struggled with the belief in the system. My mother also put me in Awanas for a bit but I didn't last long, being humiliated repeatedly for my "lack of spiritual upbringing" by the leader was not a pleasant experience. I'm sure these experiences (which I know are in no way the standard) coupled with my upbringing play into my beliefs, or lack there of, but I personally feel even if I was raised in a strict religious family I still would have struggled.

Honestly I could care less what the people around me believe, as long as they have equal respect from my choice, as its not up to me to say what's right or to judge them just because they don't believe the same. I live my life trying to be a good person and respect others, which I think is most important.

[AnneCordelia]

I am atheist. I have absolutely zero faith or belief in a higher being or god. I don't think the evidence is there in the least. I believe more in a Star Trek view of the universe. My personal belief is that all current gods are reflections of gods past...a creation of mankind to rationalize mortality and regulate morality.

I was raised in a very devout Mormon home but left the church in a mass exodus with my entire family at age 20. My husband was raised catholic but more slipped away from the church rather than made a conscious decision to leave. He is atheist now too. We are raising our children to be free thinkers too.

[MsLaura529]

Christian - raised Lutheran, married a Lutheran, and continue to raise my kids that way. My dad's side of the family comes directly from Latvia, which is a largely Lutheran country. My mom was raised Catholic, but married a Lutheran so then she was shunned. I don't try to push my beliefs onto anyone, as I'm not totally understanding of everything myself, but I'm still learning.

[snbauser]

Catholic. I was raised semi-Methodist. We went to church occassionally but that was it. I converted about 17 years ago after meeting my husband and attending Mass with him regularly. We go to church almost every Sunday. My kids were Baptised and received First Communion in the Catholic Church. My oldest received Confirmation. My younger two go to religion classes after Mass on Sundays during the school year. My middle son will be Confirmed next year.

[just_peachy]

Christian, but a progressive denomination. Belong to a United Church of Christ church. Very liberal...

Yup, I'm a (mostly) left wing liberal Christian too. We belong to a non-denominational Christian church that we attend every Sunday. I LOVE it. Rock band, only 70 minutes long, great message. The message that is preached the most is the bible's teachings on love, and "sweeping your own porch" or taking care of your own ish and leaving everyone else alone when it comes to their life choices. If we all did this, our "neighborhood" would be so tidy!

I live in Portland Oregon which is known to be pretty liberal. My best friends are all agnostic or atheists and it's NEVER caused a problem. If anything, they've come to me and said "thanks for showing me that Christians don't **** so bad after all." Haha, so sweet my friends are!

[Jewels]

I dont believe in Organized religion, but I believe, I believe instead of worshipping god on Sundays, he would be really happy to see me spending the day with my family, enjoying life, being a good person.

[Michael]

I've never met a gnostic before. I honestly didn't know anyone practiced it anymore. Interesting, how does that play out in your life?

K

There are more then you realize. How a gnostic thinks:

Atheist - Knows there is no god

Gnostic - Knows there is a God

Both are correct, everything is in your belief system. Daycare.com is one result in my life that came from my beliefs.

[SquirrellyMama]

There are more then you realize. How a gnostic thinks:

Atheist - Knows there is no god

Gnostic - Knows there is a God

Both are correct, everything is in your belief system. Daycare.com is one result in my life that came from my beliefs.

I thought gnostic was different from agnostic?

K

[mom2many]

Christian- non denomination. We went to church regularly when my kids were growing up and I was very active in the children's ministry & women's scrap booking ministry.

We left that church 5 years ago and haven't found a new church yet to attend regularly.

I am currently involved in a weekly bible study with a group of women that live on my block.

[CedarCreek]

I thought gnostic was different from agnostic?

K

It is. From what I understand, agnostic is open to the POSSIBILITY of God. Michael is saying that Gnostic KNOWS there is a God.

I think.