Taking your current belief system into account, I am interested in people's opinions on how they got there, IF they were part of another belief system first.

I know Spider has relocated his belief, Abra has too, but how did you decide that your first set of beliefs needed adjustment - Not just to Spider and Abra, but to all who have changed (I am trying not to use the word swap) from one system to another ...

does that make sense?

i yam what i yam....i'm popeye, the sailor man

I was raised as a Catholic, saw too many things and unanswered questions, got involved in different churches, still unanswered questions, have tried a multitude of different religious churches, congregations... still have plenty of unanswered questions.

Can't follow blindly so I prefer not to follow an organized religion, I believe, respect others as to how they believe and it works for me.

(too much?)

Its an ongoing revelation.

pretty much.
im rather eclectic. not to mention i actually listen to that lil voice in my head instead of giving credit of moral ethic code to a supreme being.

to make oneself feel like they are connected, by spirit, revelation, or any enlightenment...its all intrapersonal...i hope to attain my sense of self worth by finding truth...not answers

Vlad - True answers do not equal truths.

All open to individual to interpret.

I grew up with my dad's side of the family being Catholic. My mom's side Baptist. So one Sunday I would go to a Catholic church, then the next a Baptist. Then my mom switched to Presbyterian. Keep in mind my parents were never seperated, but they did always manage to argue about religion. Then some people on her side decided Baptist wasn't for them so they went and built their own church. For cryin out loud... for all of them being "Christian" they sure do have different beliefs. That made me realize that everything was up for interpretation. I learned to question everything instead of believing it's true because someone told me it was.

So which belief system were you indoctrinated initially, and what are your beliefs now?

Why the switch?

you read my mind Jill!!!

Well I always say it does not hurt to believe in something. Thats really the meaning in life, that there is a afterlife of some sort. Now if this is a god, or reincarnation or whatever, but I do feel that we need a sense of purpose.
I personally go with my gut on a lot of things. (My inner voice my mom used to call it when I was a kid)
I used to be a strong believer of God, but when u go to college and u hear how Christianity originated it kinda messes things up. Well it did for me and a lot of other people I have talked to.

So, what do you believe in now, if not christianity?

Was baptized Lutheran though never really practiced, as my mom's side has never been terribly religious or went to church much (my late grandfather aside). Became Catholic at the behest of my dad in 2002 (had been going t church with him somewhat regularly before that, dad's side very devout), and stayed that way till last year or so, when I became skeptical of Catholicism and what it taught.

After thinking about it some, decided to leave as I felt I couldn't in good conscience remain in it. Now I'm not sure what I believe, I do believe in God still, but not sure about churches. Very skeptical of them, since it seems like they all teach different things. It's hard to know who is speaking truth and who's not in that sense.

I too have run the gambit of religious affiliations, but eventually have realized that God is God, irregardless of how much we think we have Him figured out, or what box we put Him in, or by what name we call Him. We just simply have a human understanding of something beyond human. Its just human arrogance to think we know what's the what when it comes to God. Therefore, any organized religion which makes the statement that their way is THE way...is full of itself.

Where I'm at now...I question and I measure and I disagree...but I do, however, know it is where I am suppose to be. And I don't suppose to know where I'll be tomorrow or what will be revealed to me....because the more I know...the more I realize there is that I DON'T know.

I have not changed my belief in the fact that I have believed in God since 7 years old (when I first became aware) as I was not taught by my parents, or bought up in a church environment. I told my mother I wanted to go to church when I was about 9 years old from what I can gather from our discussions in later years.

But I have grown in my faith and defined it as I have learned more over the years. I have studied various religions, belief systems over the years, as I am interested in other cultures from a historical point of view as well as curiosity and a desire to learn.

What. This is where the thread ends? Must be time for lunch!!

with or without gravy?

When the naive man admits his naivete, he is no longer naive. Thus, all people are regarded by society as either ignorant or a liar.

Who said that?

me lol