re: A few questions for those of faith

My faith is more universal based and I don't believe in any religion that says do this do that or don't this or that or else. I believe our whole purpose here is much bigger than any religion that we come here to have experiences and evolve which includes many reincarnations

Quoting bbbt:" 1. First, what is your religion? 2. How did your faith develop? Have you always had it ("born into it") ... [snip!] ... church/temple/etc. regularly? How often do you pray? Do most of your major life choices and decisions stem from your faith?"

1. First, what is your religion?
Generic, non-denominational christian.
2. How did your faith develop? Have you always had it ("born into it") or did it occur later in life?
Both of my parents were born and raised catholic. They both had negative experiences in catholic schools and did the minimum with my brother and me. Just the sacraments with the minimum to get us there. They didnt bring us to church. My faith developed as I had several good friends that attended church. i went with them for social reasons, but it was a solid beginning. Then, God seemed to place people in my path in life. I roomed with a born again christian at college one year and another religious person another year and then an 2 atheists. I lived in Manhattan and had to seek out christianity as it's basically underground, or so it seems at times. At that point i was Presbyterian as i really liked that church, but i followed a pastor from the presby church to a non-denominational church as he became a bit fed-up with church leadership and wanted something a bit more pure and less political. He was awesome. He could speak for an hour and time would fly by.
Then, I married a jewish man and it seems like things are on hold. I REALLY miss church and chritian community. We havent decided what to do with our daughter yet, but i think we will do both. So as to not alienate my husband, I do more jewsih traditions right now. I'm also trying to earn points so he wont mind so much when i want to practice more chistianity :-)
3. Do you ever question your faith? What sorts of things make you question it? YES. I think it's healthy. Jesus is my Lord and savior, no question. I question personal relationships with God. At times he has seemed close but not right now. I question how active God is in events big and small. It doesnt both me at all that some things have no explanation or that there is no proof of God is a scientific sense. I'm not an airy-fairly person by any stretch of the imagination, but there are plenty of things in life that are experienced and not measurable.
4. What do you think of other religions? Do you they think they are wrong? What makes you certain your faith is the "right" one? Also, what do you think of atheism?
I think some religions are wrong. I think that within some religions there are groups that are WAY wrong. In other religions that are wrong, i think there are groups and people that are probably OK in God's eyes.
I think Chritianity is the right one as it just "is." :-)
I think of atheism has lots of different shades as does chritianity and other reigions. I think most atheists came to be atheists via oppressive and/or negative religious experiences as a kid. Like other religions, lots of those who embrace it passionately are nutjobs. In general I'm negative about atheists (not atheism) as the more vocal ones seek to destroy lots of simple pleasures that bring lots of people joy. Because we live in an expensive litigious world, very often there isnt money to fight a legal battle to protect someone elses rights. so, i'm resnetful of SOME atheists.
5. How involved in your religion are you? Do you attend church/temple/etc. regularly? How often do you pray? Do most of your major life choices and decisions stem from your faith?
I dont attend chritain church right now. I've atteended jewsih temple on high holy days. We are celebrating hanukkah right now.
I pray several times per week but not daily. Major life decisions are influenced by who i am and i dont hink I'm conscious of religion shaping my oinions or decisions.

Thanks. This was cool.

1. I am LDS(mormon)
2. I was born into it, but have gone through things in my life which have strengthened my beliefs even more.
3. Nope. I have never questioned it.
4. I don't really care what religion people are. There are bad people in every religion. I think each religion has some truth in it. My religion just make sense to me. It feels right and has helped me through tough times.
5. I'm very involved. I go to church every Sunday. Go to activities through out the month. I pray several times a day. I pray before each meal, first thing in the morning (At least I try to), I say a prayer every night. I also say one with my son before he goes to bed. And yes most of my life choices come from what I believe. My religion and values have made me who I am today!

1. First, what is your religion?

Agnostic, and I kind of wibble between different types of agnosticism.

2. How did your faith develop? Have you always had it ("born into it") or did it occur later in life?

It definitely occured later in life. My dad was a Catholic who occasionally went to a Lutheran church. We went to church when I was very small, but not regularly, and stopped before I knew much. When my parents divorced they both started going to separate churches again, and using religion as a means of having more "control" over us kids. When I was 12 my mom got my brother and I baptized (never had been before) so that we could not take communion at my dad's church. One of my best friends at the time was very religious, and I went on a retreat with her. I asked a lot of questions that week, and felt absolutely out of place, I felt wrong and uncomfortable being there. That week I realized that I was not a Christian. Eventually, though my own soul searching, reading, talking to people... I came to the conclusion that religion is not something I need to define by someone else's beliefs. I wholeheartedly beleive in Energy and that we are all connected to each other. As much as the Universe is part of us, we are part of the Universe. Beyond that-- I have lots of different thoughts about religion/spirituality that tend to avoid any question of a deity, or backtrack to needing to define a deity before it's existence can be questioned.

3. Do you ever question your faith? What sorts of things make you question it?

Yes, I question everything. I don't believe there is ever anything wrong with questioning. Without thought and without questioning even those things we take as whole truths we can't believe in anything, because we've never explored ourselves.

4. What do you think of other religions? Do you they think they are wrong?

I absolutely do not believe other religions are wrong. Most religions tend to have bits and pieces that I think are positive-- treating other people well, things of that nature. There are some religions I really like, and enjoy learning and talking about. I think religion can be used for ill, but any given religion is not necessarily bad.

What makes you certain your faith is the "right" one? Also, what do you think of atheism?

I don't think there is a right and wrong. Atheism is fine, I have no issue with it, but for my own thought, I feel uncomfortable about absolutes, and I think atheism assumes a lot about the universe that I do not believe we can know. It also assumes that a deity is the same for everyone, and does not define a deity, except by other religions' standards.

5. How involved in your religion are you? Do you attend church/temple/etc. regularly? How often do you pray? Do most of your major life choices and decisions stem from your faith?

I think what I consider "my religion" many other people would not consider a religion. It's more of a way of life, part of myself. I do not pray and I am not involved in an organized religion. I would say yes that most of my major life choices and decisions stem from "my faith" because part of my belief is that thoughts are energy, and energy causes change around us. We are part of the universe and can effect the universe as much as the universe is part of us and effects us. It's pretty simple, I think. Just to be. Being is my religion. (Chyes, I love cheesy assed finishing lines!)

Quoting The Doctor:" 1. First, what is your religion? Agnostic, and I kind of wibble between different types of agnosticism. ... [snip!] ... us and effects us. It's pretty simple, I think. Just to be. Being is my religion. (Chyes, I love cheesy assed finishing lines!)"

I really agree with you there on not feeling comfortable about absolutes. I mean, how can one claim to know anything for certain? There are so many unanswered questions.

Quoting bbbt:" I really agree with you there on not feeling comfortable about absolutes. I mean, how can one claim to know anything for certain? There are so many unanswered questions. "

Absolutely.

Hell, even with science. How often have we known something to be absolutely true, only to have it disproven later when we learn something new?

I'm always fascinated by this. We always assume we know everything, until we learn something new, and then assume we know everything again.

Quoting The Doctor:" Absolutely. Hell, even with science. How often have we known something to be absolutely true, only ... [snip!] ... by this. We always assume we know everything, until we learn something new, and then assume we know everything again."

Exactly! It used to be fact that the world was flat... until we learned otherwise. Nothing can be absolute.

Quoting bbbt:" Exactly! It used to be fact that the world was flat... until we learned otherwise. Nothing can be absolute. "

Except that there are no absolutes?  

Ahhh... love thinking myself in circles.

Quoting The Doctor:" Except that there are no absolutes?   Ahhh... love thinking myself in circles."