Is This Normal?

When I was a small child, my mother was an atheist then later an agnostic- she was raised as a Catholic, as her father was Catholic and her mother was Jewish.
I didn't know any of this as a child, not until I was in my late teens. But as a small child, I wasn't an atheist. I wasn't a theist, and I wasn't a agnostic. I just simply never put in thought into it. Most of my friends were Christians although there were small amount of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. It wasn't until I was about 13 years old that I started to think about religion at all. I was totally confused. I knew nothing of religion and I really knew nothing of atheism, either. I guess, then, I was an agnostic, I just simply didn't know what to believe.
I eventually became a Christians when I was nearly 18. And I didn't become one in a Church, I became one reading the New Testament, the whole thing, in one sitting. I didn't start going to Church until later and I found out that they took things differently than I did.

I am wondering if this kind of thing is normal. Not just for theists who were raised atheist but also for theists raised theist, and atheist raised theist. Did you have the same kind of confusion.

There is no such thing as normal. (In terms of human experience).

Thanks, that was really helpful.

Can someone change the title of the OP to "Is This Normal". I accidentally put an "A" in there and it makes me look like a moron.

I don't know if it's "normal", but I think people who come to their own path through no childhood prodding are probably more honest about their beliefs than those raised to believe a certain way. Those who have had to find out on their own what they believe have usually done more soul-searching and studying of different paths.

ChristineES said:

Can someone change the title of the OP to "Is This Normal". I accidentally put an "A" in there and it makes me look like a moron.

Click to expand...

Done.

Its most definitely normal i would think, but how common? I’m not sure. I like that you seem to have had a free and un-coerced choice in your belief rather than being brainwashed or frightened as an impressionable child, as i fear is still far too common a mechanism in the world.

I always went to chapel, and Sunday school as a child, which stemmed from my mother having very good experiences in Sunday school as a child herself, having a great and inspirational teacher. Also because it had some cultural importance here in Wales and welsh history. But at no point did i ever 'believe' any more than i would belief stories and fables that were told to me. I always seem to have a memory of almost going 'to do my duty', and support something local, and make the old people smile by reading to them. It seemed more virtuous than loitering by a bus stop as most of my generation seemed to love doing.

But like i said, never was i religious, but i had always been quite scientific and interested in puzzles and things from a young age, so my attention was so far removed that i never really engaged with it on any personal level. Also i was always quite conscientious, and sensitive to being nice to people, and what it meant to be morally good/bad. And so i never sought to find such answers in religion either.

Alex

The_Evelyonian said:

Done.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

When I got saved, my parents were catholic and I had learned little of how or why I must be born again. I attended a kind of evangelistic week of nightly services for youths where I heard the Gospel and understood it for the first time and fell under the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit all week. Finally on the last night of services I went forward with the help of my friend and we went in a room where they made sure we understood the Gospel and our need for Christ and we prayed and trusted Christ and got born again. I went home and told my parents I got saved, as it was a profound experience for me, and they were just like, well that's nice dear...Later they understood for themselves and I then had a wonderful Christian upbringing in many churches (as we moved a lot) and I grew in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. As I approach 50 I am still in awe of God's unconditional love for me and the depths of his mercy and grace and the simplicity of the Gospel and what is to be "'in Christ", freely saved to the uttermost and forevermore!

My mom was a Christian (though non practicing). My dad was a Catholic (non practicing). They raised my 2 sisters and i as Catholics, most likely due to my grandparents wishes. We went to church every sunday until i was 14. I did the whole first communion thing and all that. But to be honest i was never feeling any of it, i would read the bible and go to catechism and go thru the motions but i knew from an early age it wasnt for me.

No one in my immediate family practices any of it anymore though most are spiritual in some way or believe in/follow Jesus in there own way, they just dont care for the church much. I used to think i wasnt normal because i never knew any other Atheists or even Agnostics for that matter. and people would get offended if i told them what i believed so i always kept it to myself. Im 34 now and realize there really isnt anything that defines normal when it comes to religion or personal beliefs...

ChristineES said:

When I was a small child, my mother was an atheist then later an agnostic- she was raised as a Catholic, as her father was Catholic and her mother was Jewish.

Click to expand...

Are we related?

As for being normal. There is no such thing.