Why are you religious/non-religious?

[Moeboid]

The first thing I want to say is that I'm not asking people to justify their beliefs to me. No one should have to justify their beliefs to anyone but themselves. What I'm looking for in this thread are stories from people who are willing to share them about how they came to believe in what they believe now. Personally, I am open to having my views challenged, however I think that challenging them within this thread is... off topic, basically. If you want me to clarify something, or you think something doesn't make sense about my story, I think it would be best if you PM me. That way the thread stays nice and tidy. I don't think that comments or simple questions will be a problem so feel free to post them. Also, while I've said that people should feel free to PM me, let's not assume that's the same for everyone. Unless someone explicitly says so, it's probably best not to do it. It's also best not to do it unless you're extremely confident in your ability to keep the discussion friendly.

With that out of the way, here's my story:

I was born and raised in Australia. My parents and grandparents and great-grandparents were also born and raised here. If you go back far enough, I believe at least the majority of my ancesors came from England. My family, whatever they believe in, for the most part don't take religion seriously. I was baptised, though I believe it was mainly for cultural reasons rather than religious ones. When I was young, the only god that I was ever familiar with was the christian god. I was told about god during scripture at my standard old public primary school, and probably by my parents as well. We never went to church, though. I know I was supposed to believe in god, but I can't say whether I ever did or not because I don't think I ever really thought about it. God, along with santa and the easter bunny, were tossed into the "I'll figure it out later" basket. I remember praying to god on at least one occasion. I have absolutely no idea what it was about, so chances are I forgot about whatever was bothering me soon after. Right up until late primary school I continued this pattern of just not thinking about religion. In year 6 I actually attended a christian youth group for a while. I went because a friend of mine invited me. I had a lot of fun there, but that's all it was to me. The pattern of not thinking about it continued. It was probably the second year of high school when I was finally encouraged to think about it. Even then, I was reluctant to. Part of me was a little annoyed that I was even being asked. The way I saw it, whether he existed or not just wouldn't make a difference to me. The next day I would get up, go to school and do pretty much exactly the same thing either way. I suppose I could've told them that I was an agnostic, but at the time I don't think I knew about that word. I eventually did say that I didn't believe in god, but even then I still hadn't really thought about it. Over the next few years I guess I must have actually spent some time thinking about whether or not I believed in god (probably because I'd given someone an answer and wanted to figure out whether I'd said the right thing) because I gradually became more and more sure that I do not. Nothing has changed since then. The standard arguments are all part of that, but the most potent one for me is that for around 15 years of my life god showed no signs of significance. It's hard to beileve in something when that's been your experience.

So there you go. That's why I'm an atheist.

[Wolfie]

Well from a "scientific area" the reason I believe in God is odds
Form a faith point of veiw... I don't know I just feel this thing that draws me to him

[Vendetta]

Oh lord, look at all the crap I started

I'm kind of a "loose" catholic. If I get any strong scientific facts rather than theories, I would convert.
I defend it so much because, hey, im a crybaby

[Moeboid]

Oh lord, look at all the crap I started

... Am I missing something?

[Wolfie]

Spoiler:

He made a thread that had to do with religion and it ended badly, this one how ever wont I hope

[JockoBeans]

I consider religion to be important in life. It gives humanity a reason to exist. Science proves just "how" we exist. We humans are animals, but we are so much more than that. We have a divine spark that no lesser creature has and that is a great and terrible thing.

As for theological and scientific reasoning, I say that they never contradict each other unless they are viewed to contradict each other. We will never be able to prove if God does or does not exist and we will never be able to comprehend His mind and reasoning using science and religion, respectively. They both serve to help us understand Him.

That's my reasoning.

As why I am religious, I have had personal experiences that have both enforced and shaken my faith. Through my own studying and self-discovery I believe that my Catholicism suits me best for my personal relationship with the Lord and His Church.

[Vendetta]

I consider religion to be important in life. It gives humanity a reason to exist. Science proves just "how" we exist. We humans are animals, but we are so much more than that. We have a divine spark that no lesser creature has and that is a great and terrible thing.

As for theological and scientific reasoning, I say that they never contradict each other unless they are viewed to contradict each other. We will never be able to prove if God does or does not exist and we will never be able to comprehend His mind and reasoning using science and religion, respectively. They both serve to help us understand Him.

That's my reasoning.

As why I am religious, I have had personal experiences that have both enforced and shaken my faith. Through my own studying and self-discovery I believe that my Catholicism suits me best for my personal relationship with the Lord.

... Now why couldn't I have said that and make the thread a whole lot more calm. XD

[MARS]

I am not religious because I don't feel the need to be.

[JockoBeans]

I consider religion to be important in life. It gives humanity a reason to exist. Science proves just "how" we exist. We humans are animals, but we are so much more than that. We have a divine spark that no lesser creature has and that is a great and terrible thing.

As for theological and scientific reasoning, I say that they never contradict each other unless they are viewed to contradict each other. We will never be able to prove if God does or does not exist and we will never be able to comprehend His mind and reasoning using science and religion, respectively. They both serve to help us understand Him.

That's my reasoning.

As why I am religious, I have had personal experiences that have both enforced and shaken my faith. Through my own studying and self-discovery I believe that my Catholicism suits me best for my personal relationship with the Lord.

... Now why couldn't I have said that and make the thread a whole lot more calm. XD

When you use a good and proper concoction of big and small words you can really prevent a fiasco of rambling stupidity in a conversation. Or you can start one.

[Dean]

I'm an atheist.. in my eyes I need proof of this/these divine beings before I go and devote my life to it all. What I really don't understand is the whole Adam and Eve thing.. I mean, why punish everyone else because someone got a little to curious and ate a bleetin apple? infact...why the hell put an apple tree that you don't want people eating from in the same place as people in the first place?

I'm kidding of course, because I think religious books are more guidlines then truth. I mean I know a few people who follow the bible and it made them a better person if you ask me, and at the same time they don't believe in God one bit. They do have there worth to even those who have no love for the divine.

I'm not close minded, and I can except when I'm wrong. I just want some kind of sign to rather reinforce my Atheism or shine a light on something new. That something new being a Godly presence.
I have no problem with people following religion, not one bit. You do what you do, you believe what you believe, at the end of the day it's your choice how you live your life.
The only thing that I don't agree with is when people kill others over there beliefs...that just goes against natural Human law.

[JockoBeans]

The Bible is meant to contain moral and divine truth, not scientific ones. Even at that the science world has not dispproven anything in the Bible.

As a Catholic, I believe that the Bible contains the Truth, but it does not have all Truth needed for salvation. That is where Catholic Tradition, Catechism, and the writings of the many Doctors of the Church come in. They explain the ongoing revelations of God and Jesus Christ for the world has gone well past the Bible.

[Vendetta]

I'm an atheist.. in my eyes I need proof of this/these divine beings before I go and devote my life to it all. What I really don't understand is the whole Adam and Eve thing.. I mean, why punish everyone else because someone got a little to curious and ate a bleetin apple? infact...why the hell put an apple tree that you don't want people eating from in the same place as people in the first place?

I'm kidding of course, because I think religious books are more guidlines then truth. I mean I know a few people who follow the bible and it made them a better person if you ask me, and at the same time they don't believe in God one bit. They do have there worth to even those who have no love for the divine.

I'm not close minded, and I can except when I'm wrong. I just want some kind of sign to rather reinforce my Atheism or shine a light on something new. That something new being a Godly presence.
I have no problem with people following religion, not one bit. You do what you do, you believe what you believe, at the end of the day it's your choice how you live your life.
The only thing that I don't agree with is when people kill others over there beliefs...that just goes against natural Human law.

Now this Is something I can respect. Thank you dean

[videogmer314]

I'm an atheist simply because I want to be one, and my mom is very open-minded about religion.

[Dark Lord Cam]

Like I said before, I'm agnostic. I should clarify though...

I hate it when people say Agnostics are closet Atheists. We are not. We neither reject or accept the idea of divine beings. If they do exist, well great for them. Let us live our lives. If they don't exist... well, so what? Let us live our lives. That's really what it's all about.

[JockoBeans]

Like I said before, I'm agnostic. I should clarify though...

I hate it when people say Agnostics are closet Atheists. We are not. We neither reject or accept the idea of divine beings. If they do exist, well great for them. Let us live our lives. If they don't exist... well, so what? Let us live our lives. That's really what it's all about.

I think the reason for that is that many agnostics just give up on the chance that a diety may exist or not and they turn into athiests. Or it's just that some people don't know what an agnostic really is.

[Veck]

Because I'm naturally curious about filling in the gaps in life, but I have a hard time believing in things like gods.

[Shadowscale]

Well i'm catholic as i was raised to be but i also choose to believe because it has helped me in difficult times of my life.

[JockoBeans]

Because I'm naturally curious about filling in the gaps in life, but I have a hard time believing in things like gods.

Many people have their reasons for doubting the existence of gods or a god.
Some find it hard to submit their lives to an intangible bieng.
Others just don't like the god above the lowly human reasoning.

In modern times, the rise of the human superiority is a common sight. With the vast advances in science and medicine and the big boom of the "-isms" has made humans think too much of themselves. "Why have God, when I have money" or "Why have God, when the party (or science) has the answers to all my modern woes."

This is why I think people have a hard time in believing in dieties nowadays.

[Dark Lord Cam]

To be fair, some of those reasons are justified. Humans can now match nearly everything ever mentioned in the bible that was done by god.

Example: Sodom and Gomorrah = Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[JockoBeans]

Is I had stated earlier: the Bible was more or less literal truth or Law to the peoples of the time it was written. Today many people still consider it that or they use it as the moral guide to salvation.

In contemporay times it is easy to say that it's unnecessary since we cannot relate to it as Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, etc. could and that science and/or political ideologies can do a much better job of progressing humanity.

[born2beagator]

To be fair, some of those reasons are justified. Humans can now match nearly everything ever mentioned in the bible that was done by god.

Example: Sodom and Gomorrah = Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What about parting the red sea? walking on water? raising the dead? feeding five thousand? creation? pretty sure humans can't match that.

I am Christian btw.

[videogmer314]

To be fair, some of those reasons are justified. Humans can now match nearly everything ever mentioned in the bible that was done by god.

Example: Sodom and Gomorrah = Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What about parting the red sea? walking on water? raising the dead? feeding five thousand? creation? pretty sure humans can't match that.

I am Christian btw.

Walking on water is possible. The Mythbusters actually tested that.

[Wolfie]

and we bring pepole back to life all the time

We also ahve made "copys" of life made life where it was not before
its not "quite" the same YET

[born2beagator]

To be fair, some of those reasons are justified. Humans can now match nearly everything ever mentioned in the bible that was done by god.

Example: Sodom and Gomorrah = Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What about parting the red sea? walking on water? raising the dead? feeding five thousand? creation? pretty sure humans can't match that.

I am Christian btw.

Walking on water is possible. The Mythbusters actually tested that.

and the others? do we bring people back to life who have been dead for a day and are already being put in their graves?

[Wolfie]

and the others? do we bring people back to life who have been dead for a day and are already being put in their graves?

Yes we have, thosuands of pepole where "gone" and then the touch of a human (grnated it may be pounding) brings them back
if not that then shoots can restart hearts
pills can get your blood pumping
we can do it