The road to your faith? (Jesus, reject, attend, mission)

[Enigmata]

Was just curious as to how you all came to your current belief system. I know my road took many turns. I started out taking a very zenfull approach to faith and ended up on Wicca blvd. Growing up with a Roman Catholic family, I was lucky enough to have been allowed to follow my own path. Of course my mom isn't too happy with where I ended up . But anyways, I would love to hear how you all ended up with your current faith(or lack of.)

[cardero]

The road to your faith?
Is always under construction.

[James the Persian]

Well, briefly, I was brought up Lutheran, fell out with the Church when I realised the absurdity of Protestantism (especially sola scriptura and sola fide), left and went on a bit of wander. Looked at and rejected islam, flirted with wicca, became a practicing Karma Kagyu buddhist for a couple of years. Then I came back to Christianity but no particular denomination, went out to Romania to do missionary work (as in, religiously motivated aid work, not preaching) and encountered Orthodoxy. I met a wonderful monk on a visit to a moanstery there who's example set me on the road to Orthodoxy. I did a lot of reading, entered the catechumenate and was finally accepted into the Church about 4 years ago. I have never looked back.

James

[Bouncing Ball]

I was raised a catholic and when i was about 12 years old i guess i decided that the concept of God made no sense to me and became an atheist.. now im still deciding to follow the agnostic view or the atheistic..

[BruceDLimber]

Hi!

I was a very active Christian when in my Twenties I first encountered the Baha'i Faith. I attended a fireside (informational Q & A meeting), was impressed, and then did a considerable abount of reading, praying, investigation, research, and observation.

At the end of all this, I found myself--still not a Baha'i--telling others, "This is really neat; you should check it out!" I finally said "This is ridiculous!" and enrolled.

I've now been Baha'i for over 34 years, and in all that time I have NOT ONCE found any reason to regret my decision!

And indeed, I give my original church full credit for doing an excellent job of preparing me to be a Baha'i! Please note that I mean this as a compliment--high praise!, NOT as irony!

Also, as a Baha'i, I fully accept and believe in both Jesus and the Bible, as does every other Baha'i in the world! I am thus arguably still Christian, a fellow believer in Christ.

Best,

Bruce

[Enigmata]

James and Bruce, it sounds like you both had an interesting path to your faith. Thanks for your posts.
Bouncing ball, sounds like you had an interesting path as well. How long have you been an atheist?

[michel]

Originally Posted by turk179

Was just curious as to how you all came to your current belief system. I know my road took many turns. I started out taking a very zenfull approach to faith and ended up on Wicca blvd. Growing up with a Roman Catholic family, I was lucky enough to have been allowed to follow my own path. Of course my mom isn't too happy with where I ended up . But anyways, I would love to here how you all ended up with your current faith(or lack of.)

I fell apart (mentally) when I was 16. I sat for many hours just thinking about the whole world, and life; I read a few books, and made my own faith.

Surprisingly, it is the same now as it was then; nothing I have learned since being here has changed my opinions, even if they are slightly "strange"

[Halcyon]

My path has been long and arduous.

I've looked into Buddhism, Christianity, Satanism, Vodun, Wicca - which then led to research into various different magickal systems, and about a million other weird and wonderful belief systems dotted all over the internet.

After realising these weren't for me i spent a long time analysing what i actually did believe about God, spirits, afterlife etc. Day to day my thoughts would change, and to this day they are still in a constant state of flux (which to be honest is quite tiring in a spiritual/mental/emotional way). But, now my thoughts have some constants in the basics of Gnosticism - now they only change daily on what i actually believe about Gnostic concepts. Pretty much the only constant is my belief in the Gnostic God, and Gnosis - in respect to these my beliefs are unshakeable.

I came to Gnosticism by accident, i was researching goddesses and came across Sophia - she led me to gnosis.org and kablam!

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by michel

I fell apart (mentally) when I was 16. I sat for many hours just thinking about the whole world, and life; I read a few books, and made my own faith.

Surprisingly, it is the same now as it was then; nothing I have learned since being here has changed my opinions, even if they are slightly "strange"

I believe that is the best way Michel, custom built religions fit you perfectly. There's no dogma or doctrine that you disagree with, because you selected them yourself as they made sense to you.
If your religion has affected the type of man you have become, then from where i'm sitting it's pretty fantastic.