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I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.
 

Ancient Soul

The Spiritual Universe
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.

Wrong approach!

You should be on your own personal spiritual path trying to figure everything out on your own, not letting other men/man made religions spoon feeding their lies to you.
 
Wrong approach!

You should be on your own personal spiritual path trying to figure everything out on your own, not letting other men/man made religions spoon feeding their lies to you.
I’m not trying to change my approach. I’m just curious what caused people to change their own minds. Trust me I’m quite steadfast in my own thoughts.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.
Would you be willing to give a bit more in the way of details and parameters?

If it helps any, here in Brazil the culture is highly syncretic, and changing faiths is fairly commonplace, to the point of not always been conscious.
 

Ancient Soul

The Spiritual Universe
I’m not trying to change my approach. I’m just curious what caused people to change their own minds. Trust me I’m quite steadfast in my own thoughts.

Ha, I fell right into that one.

I took it as someone looking for something "better" to their liking.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.

Gee, I don't know exactly how many. Many I found to be hypocritical. Others I probably left because there was no community to support me.

I suspect if I had found a community that supported my idealism I probably would have stuck with it. So either there was no leader/mentor or those leaders/mentors I did come across I ended up finding them to be hypocrites.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.

I wasn't raised religious. Mother was always interested in witchcrafty stuff given her past. I took up that for a bit as an interest then she wanted the perfect family and took us to church. She never went.

I taught myself christianity by studying the bible etc. Health reasons took me away from study. So, that's why I left that.

Went into Nichiren Buddhism when we moved. Practiced that for good four or five years. I left because it's highly evangalical, political, and, my opinion, worse than fundamentalist christianity. That's why I left.

Moved on my own and went into Catholicism because I was with a catholic friend for years and always went with her to mass. Fell in love with the practice but never believed in god. Practiced for four years then I took my last communion and left. More for theological differences rather than practice ones.

I went to a Zen temple two years ago during one of our "holidays" for lack of a better word. We we're chanting for the deceased etc. I took my precepts. I've been following Dharma ever since. I follow because it is simple and because I have a lot of issues with my brain and mind following a religion that address the core of one's self coming from the brain and mind is very helpful in my life. I dont know a lot of the esoteric practices. I went to a Tibetan off shoot lineage of Kadampa. I live two hours away so I couldn't go there anymore. So, that's why I changed.

Those I left because of theology, political, and other practical reasons. I realize there were not my reality; I did not see life in human sacrifice, so I stopped.

I still honor my ancestors cause that's just been in my heart since I don't know when. The only thing I "spiritually" changed was how I learned from my religious experiences so that these religions above shaped how I live today.

I changed and see Dharma as life itself. It's not a "higher" sense of worship nor is it atheistic just makes sense.

If I changed religions for anything else, it would be because they didn't give me self nourishment and growth nor promoted me to do good and act good in the name and people of their theology and faith.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.
My name is david and once upon a time i was drawn into a CULT(i believe, i dont believe i am agnostic)URE. . They are everywhere omg! They are normal. A sad disorder if you ask me!!!!
 

DylanF

A lad
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.
Hey! Im an atheist that was raised secularly. Even though I am where I have always been, I have been searching for truth my whole life. I was raised to look at everything objectively and come to my own conclusions. though my current position is in a way 0, I want to explore all possible explanations until I know everything I possibly can know so in the end, I'm more than willing to change with just evidence.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.

Personally Faith found me, I was not looking.

I accidently found in 1984 what Baha'u'llah had offered in the 1800's. I found it was indeed what the world is still waiting for. The chance of lasting peace and well being for all humanity.

Regards Tony
 
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Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I’m very interested to here from those who’ve changed religious beliefs over their life. What did you change from and to? Why did you change? This includes people who were agnostic/atheistic or became so.
Atheistic/agnostic to traditional Hindu. Experience changed me.
 

DylanF

A lad
Atheistic/agnostic to traditional Hindu. Experience changed me.
If I could as a probing question, what do you mean by "Experience changed me."? Do you mean a spiritual experience or more interactions with those around you? Im personally interested in these kinds of ideas.
 
Yeah I agree I would suggest try to be a little more descriptive. It’s hard to gain insight into what experiences drove you to change.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
If I could as a probing question, what do you mean by "Experience changed me."? Do you mean a spiritual experience or more interactions with those around you? Im personally interested in these kinds of ideas.
Personal experience .. nothing to do with people.
 

DylanF

A lad
Personal experience .. nothing to do with people.
Again, I don't meant to be intrusive so by all means, don't feel pressured to respond.

Are these experiences with the the theistic or philosophical teachings of hinduism? That is to say, did you meet the gods or relate to the teachings?
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Again, I don't meant to be intrusive so by all means, don't feel pressured to respond.

Are these experiences with the the theistic or philosophical teachings of hinduism? That is to say, did you meet the gods or relate to the teachings?

At first it wasn't Hinduism at all, just mysticism. I wasn't a Hindu at the time. Only later did I connect the dots, and Hinduism was the faith the most clearly matched the experiences. Nothing else explained it, although to be fair I didn't look much. Hinduism just found me, in a natural way. I wasn't looking for anything ... just going along, but with eyes wide open, so to speak. I believe that being raised agnostic (leaning to atheism) leaves people more prone to having an open mind, whereas being raised in dogma doesn't. I don't know how people dig their way out of dogma.
 

DylanF

A lad
At first it wasn't Hinduism at all, just mysticism. I wasn't a Hindu at the time. Only later did I connect the dots, and Hinduism was the faith the most clearly matched the experiences. Nothing else explained it, although to be fair I didn't look much. Hinduism just found me, in a natural way. I wasn't looking for anything ... just going along, but with eyes wide open, so to speak. I believe that being raised agnostic (leaning to atheism) leaves people more prone to having an open mind, whereas being raised in dogma doesn't. I don't know how people dig their way out of dogma.
I totally agree with your critique of dogmatic faiths. Personally, I'm endlessly grateful for how I was raised in a skeptical way. Thank you for sharing. If you have any questions for me, I am happy to share.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I totally agree with your critique of dogmatic faiths. Personally, I'm endlessly grateful for how I was raised in a skeptical way. Thank you for sharing. If you have any questions for me, I am happy to share.
Indeed, somewhere I learned to read between the lines, and always ask questions about what was going on. Fortunatel, answers are there, even if you have to find them in your own spine.

My only question is how old are you?
 

DylanF

A lad
Indeed, somewhere I learned to read between the lines, and always ask questions about what was going on. Fortunatel, answers are there, even if you have to find them in your own spine.

My only question is how old are you?
I'm only 19. I understand if that makes my ideas seem naive, but I love sharing my perspective and hearing others.
 
I would say I grew up in a skeptical household as well; however, I personally was not so skeptical at certain points of my life. Yet I had experiences that shook my beliefs entirely and changed me. I think irregardless of my upbringing if I had the same experiences I’d have the same result.
 
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