How have your religious beliefs changed over the years?

[Anon_desi]

:)

Updates

+1 y

Please mention your beliefs too. Both former and present

[Anonymous]

Grew up in a Muslim household. Family wasn't too religious and the so called scholars of the religion pushed me out of it. I started reading Islam and looking at history and since then, I have been a practicing Muslim ALHAMDULLILLA.

[Anon_desi]

That's nice. I am thinking about becoming a Muslim too.

[SunnyRS]

I used to believe in Hinduism as my family did too, but as I grew up I have become an atheist reasons for that are not interesting.

[Anon_desi]

I grew up in a Hindu family too but I'm considering changing my faith

[SunnyRS]

Really which is it?
But It's alright to believe in any faith you want.
Faith just provides us with peace of mind so whichever does that for you believe that.

[Anon_desi]

I'm finding Islam to be really appealing. It's just that it's grown over me since last weeks a lot more

[SunnyRS]

As long as you are not influenced by anyone or anything to feel that way, it's alright

[Anon_desi]

I was drawn to it since a long time, just got wit someone who educates me more on the matter and helps me understand it firsthand so..

[SunnyRS]

Ok, just keep your mind open and make an educated decision for yourself not influenced by someone or not because you like someone.

[Anon_desi]

Yes I'll keep that in mind. 😊

[SunnyRS]

Good, stay safe and stay vigilant

[SunnyRS]

Thanks for the MHO

[jennifer_bloom]

I used to believe that life is about performing well so you can be rewarded for your performance in heaven and I've learned this week that life is not about performing, but about learning so you can improve your behaviour and correct your flawed performance in life. Life is a school for us to go from knowing nothing to knowing everything, it's not a figure skating competition where every mistake you make affects your final score on the score board.

[MoonlightShadow1111]

I grew up Christian most of my life, but I begin to turn agnostic as I got older. Due to how some religious people are and what is said in the bible/other religious books made me not want to follow religion anymore. I'm pretty certain mankind made that up to oppress others and have control over people's lives for power, not any God themself. Sometimes it seems like a "cult" in certain ways how people act in religious cultures, and I just don't want to take part of that. I'll live my life my own way without harming others.

I think that we live in a more advanced, modern era now that certain stuff is outdated unlike back then when people were more gullible to believe anything and think they'd know what happens after we die due to a book someone written centuries and centuries ago in those times. For example if you were to have a seizure, people would believe you were possessed rather than considering it to be a medical problem. Also, why are there so many different religions instead of knowing which one is the "real" one? Why are we having debates and wars over something we don't know exists yet? For something we've never experienced or seen before?

I'm not opposed to that there's something beyond us when we die, I just don't know what exactly. I consider myself more spiritual and have interest in anything that's paranormal, but unfortunately a lot of stuff said/shown on tv, youtube, etc. seems fake for the most part.

[strateguy632]

my story is wild. 1, first my parents sent me to jew school. 2, in 8th grade, before high school , they gave us special anti missionaries training, why? because as rabbi said "the smartest jews are getting fooled" to join christiabity so must prepare before high school. i pointed out if those are the smart ones, shouldn't we trust the smart? he warned i would get punished. so i shut up.

3, he had a good method but failed to refute two ideas that he quoted from missionary. he would need to deny his own bible and talmud to say they were wrong.

4, at the end of the assembly i pointed this out and saw he was bankrupt. i started to suspect that if i accept jew faith, it necessarily directed to Jesus, but i also knew i was too young to vote, so i played along.

5, i did rabbi training, in the self proclaimed "authentic" jew called orthodox. and when i was recognized as "reliable understanding" i revisited those sources.

6, after careful contemplation i realized not only rabbis in time of christianity, did not call it sin, but some despite continuing rabbi faith, also taught messages that were christian.

6 so i started going to church to see what they actualy believed and taught. it is the best faith available.

7 which christian? that would take more study.

[sawno]

I was raised christian, then became agnostic, then I had a prayer answered and found it particularly interesting so I prayed for my angel to come forward if I had one. She did so that turned me into a believer.

The exact belief evolves and I dont remember them all. I originally saw god as an energy source of all the good and the devil as the energy of the bad until someone convinced me god was the energy source of all the good and the bad was created trough free will and corruption.

But right now on top of that I believe we collectively built this world as a learning experience and the typical angels, gods, etc that people mention are the same as us but on the other side.

[Subglacial]

Raised as a non-denominational Christian, but, growing up, I believed in pretty much everything. Ghosts, psychics, alien visitations, magic, reincarnation, etc.

At some point in my teens I began to seriously take stock of everything I believed. Some ideas in my cornucopia of beliefs were completely incompatible, while I was arbitrarily skeptical of others. I realized I didn't have a good reason for most of what I believed, so I dumped everything supernatural and functionally became an atheist.

I went through an edgy phase where I thought everyone who believed in God was an idiot. Thank goodness I grew out of that too.

Now I'm here. Staunch atheist, still confused and appalled by some people's beliefs, but not cynical overall. Plus, honey > vinegar.

[strateguy632]

i find absurd that some people call believers "delusional" even Einstein and darwin wrote they believe god. Einstein was not delusional person!

[Subglacial]

@strateguy632 I don't disagree with you, but I never really thought that the faith of historical figures was relevant in these kinds of discussions. Go back far enough in time and pretty much everybody believes in God, with no compelling reason to believe otherwise.

Despite that, a lot of scientists had complicated relationships with religion. Both men you mentioned protested being called atheists, but they also didn't believe in a personal god or the need for salvation.

[AaronKrieger]

I have been an atheist/agnostic since I was around ten or eleven-years-old?

Before that it was Christianity. My opinion has remained the same in that I do not believe in it, so I do not give a shit. I can appreciate religion for how it can impact people and I am not going to try to take that away from someone if it does.

However, during the beginning I went through a phase of "look how edgy and smart I am" which thankfully I'm glad I grew out of quickly.

[strateguy632]

to aaron, see my reply to kane here. wouldn't you prefer if i copied?

[AaronKrieger]

So, like most opinions, you end up changing your mind over the years, especially as a teenager and at my age. This is because our "pool" of experience is lacking, so we are learning new things about ourselves and the world. Meaning that it's something I've thought about over the years and didn't stop.

So, me deciding that at a young age wasn't a set in stone thing. Also, religion is very much a thing you feel with it being faith oriented. Perhaps that'll change one day as I change as person and experience more, but that day isn't today.

[SixFootSexy]

I have oscillated between faith and doubt, if I'm being honest... but at this point I know a Creator exists and trying to have a personal relationship with Him is the next step.

I've heard many arguments from both sides that are compelling, and I guess the fine-tuning argument and maths are what got me to believe in God.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/_d-6UhOS0FE

[FunkyMonkee]

I used to believe in an invisible friend that could talk to me and grant me as many wishes as I wanted. And then, I grew up and stopped going to church. It didn't take long. I stopped believing in that bullshit when I was about 7 or 8. I was already questioning it by about 5.

[strateguy632]

to fun, see my reply to kane, here

[AmeerX]

Used to think Muslims are all good. Turned out they are the scum and worst scum is in South Asia:/. Greed, corruption bribery, injustice, you name it we have it. I don't even want to see my uncles anymore.

And yeah for greed lots of people go overseas and say bad things to get asylum. Be cautious of those types too.

[Kaneki05]

Nope when I was kid I realised god was dumb, this was before I even stopped thinking Santa was real.
Think about that me as a kid found Santa more believable than god lol.

So always been atheist and always will be.

[strateguy632]

you and the others here specified a CHILD decision before mind matured. can't rely on a childish decision.

[Kaneki05]

If children look at the world as mystical and can't even believe in a god then it's only more unreliable when an adult does. And when you grow up and all the logic things in the world like science been opposed to religious practices having any validity it only becomes more obvious that reasoning was correct.
The only kids who think a god exists is ones who are brainwashed as they are brought up, much like brainwashing your kid to believe in Santa. And they tried with me but it backfired hard because the bible is full of many contradictions that simply other things don't have. Same reason why when the kid grows up they realise a massive contradiction in Santa as they become aware many countries exist and time wouldn't add up.

Kids are very intelligent when it comes to learning, because that's when we learn the most and how we learn is by asking questions. When your kid asks all the questions that no religious person can actually answer because it's simply a contradiction in the story they realise the truth.

[FunkyMonkee]

Same here, I believed in Santa `til I was at least 12 and my fucking cunt sister ruined it for me!! I hope that bible-thumping bitch burns in hell!!

[Potteplante]

Raised Lutheran Christian. Baptized and comformed as such.

Became an atheist, then agnostic and now I practice the old ways. (Nordic gods)

[Subglacial]

Do you believe in the gods as literal beings, or just as metaphors or ideals?

[Potteplante]

@Subglacial
The gods are not literal beings - Þór (Thor) is not up there with his hammer.

[Whitewolfye]

Seeing a hedonistic godless society made me religious and appreciate Islamic legislation and rulings for their wisdom. Whilst being younger and living in an Islamic society only, I was ungrateful for the blessings of a system that protected me from evil.

[syncheart]

This is hard for me to answer. I asked Jesus into my heart at the early age of 6. After that I have always believed in Christ and the Bible. But my theology views have evolved over the years. It doesn't completely fit in with any Church.

[DizzyDesii]

The only thing that changed was waiting til marriage. Other than that, my relationship with God is still mighty strong

[IslaTheWitch]

Mine ceased to exist :D

I was raised in a Catholic family, and with time and experience, here I stand, believing in nothing :D

[Anonymous]

0 to 6ish: christian (catholic)

6-8: agnostic

8-12: atheist but lowkey would believe in god for like 1h after Christmas mass cos it was fun

12-15: polytheist

15+: atheist

[DJB72]

I've been a Christian for 37 years. Every time I face something that other people fall apart from it just pushes me further into my Faith

[bededazzle]

they haven’t, but i have been more interested in learning about other people’s faith

[EmmaMary]

Never have and never will have any beliefs in all this nonsense.

[strateguy632]

most religions and ism including agnosticism are nonsense except...

[BCRanger10]

Lifelong Catholic. Started becoming more traditional in 2015.

[JacobJordan]

I went from having no religious beliefs to... having no religious beliefs

[Ms_Facesitter]

I'm a doubter, but I want it to change. I just don't know how.

[Subglacial]

Good questions to ponder from your throne atop someone's face.

(Seriously though, there are resources and communities online for people struggling with faith. I'm not suggesting the convert-you-to-atheist kind, moreso about hearing about other people's experiences and helping you answer questions if you are confused, conflicted, or afraid. If you are trying to doubt LESS, there are resources for that too.)

[strateguy632]

if you chose to want then read my mytakes, maybe you will help me improve them or find change you seek. on my profile summary, section mytake topic.

[Ms_Facesitter]

@Subglacial My seat will have to hang in there then :p , I'm going through @strateguy632 's MyTakes.

[Ms_Facesitter]

@strateguy632 I will probably DM you too after I've gone through a few.

[Still-alive]

I used to be a devout catholic but am now an atheist in my older years. i don't see this changing again in my life

[LiamJHayden]

Agnostic till teens, then a Deist till I read several Sproul books, now basically a Reformed Christian who often fails miserably in practice.

[vj0090]

Not that much.. m a Hindu I used to believe my god.. still i do... its just I have become a bit practical in life... itna to Banta hai

[strateguy632]

which of gods? agni? indra? vishnu? or?

[vj0090]

Tbh... in all of them.. but i feel attached more with shiva and hanuman...

[collie22]

I do have a better understanding about the Bible. So I would say yes

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

No.. Die hard Bible thumping Christian til the very end of my life.

[Matadorius]

Yes, I have no religious belief for the last 1 or 2 years. I raised as a Muslim, but now im agnostic

[MaxUsefull]

After I became Catholic, it didn't change anymore

[Anonymous]

I have been against and for polygamy over the years.

[genericname85]

officially yes. but privately no.

[genericname85]

i used to be a christian officially. cause in my family it was decided to rise me christian. so i went through all the church stuff but as soon as i was 18, i exited the church officially. i was never a believer tho so that never changed.

[Maddy2002_]

I was a Christen became a Atheist over time.

[jimmy2]

Nope still with Jesus

[scooogy]

Former Christian, now Agnostic

[Jerre]

They have not changed at all

[jahaims]

They haven't

[JackStany]

Im a good christian

[Erron_Black]

dont changed