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I knew at a young age that I maybe wasn’t fit for Catholicism. I transferred to a private Christian school in fourth grade, and my family started going to the Methodist church that was associated with it. Methodists seemed to be more laid back than Catholics so I liked that. There was actually a separate service for teens that we all went to, which was pretty cool. It made religion seem fun.
However, the school itself was way intense when it came to religion. I felt weird that religion was my hardest class and that I was being forced to memorize Bible verses and parables. I was never taught that religion was a choice.
I switched schools in eighth grade and started going to an Episcopalian school that focused more on school than religion. We had religion classes, but it was more about ethics and being a good human being. And then in high school, religion was an elective, which I elected not to take.
Having been through a lot of really tough situations in my life, I started wondering why God would allow such terrible things to happen to my family and to me. It didn’t make sense. Even with the idea that God tests people and these things strengthen your faith, it just made me reject it.
I stopped going to church in high school, which left me feeling much more relieved. I hated the idea that I had to go to a designated place to worship or to prove something. I’m pretty sure if there is a God, he or she doesn’t care where I am if I want to chat. My high school had a mandatory chapel every week, but it didn’t feel like church. If anything, it was an hour out of the week that we got clear our heads.
During my junior year, one of my best friends passed away. It was the first time someone close to me died, and she was only fifteen. When that happened, I couldn’t fathom that there was a god who would take the life of my best friend. It just didn’t make sense to me in any capacity.
The day of my friend’s funeral, one of the really religious girls in my class and a teacher sat me down and told me that I would get over my friend’s death if I believed in God. I didn’t take to kindly to that. I found is so disrespectful for them to say that in general and horribly offensive that they said it to me on the day of my friend’s funeral.
From that point on, I didn’t know what I believed. I started becoming terribly uncomfortable when people said they would pray for me, and I still feel like that today. I think it’s a nice gesture, really. But I would rather have someone’s positive thoughts and love than prayers to something I don’t necessarily believe in.
I grew up being taught that you had to have a religion and believe in all of these things, but I realized that wasn’t the case. Religion is such a personal and private thing. No one has the right to tell you what you should or shouldn’t believe.
Right now, I’m sort of in this limbo between agnosticism and atheism. Atheists reject the idea of deities while agnostics think it’s an unknown. On the day to day, I don’t really feel like there is anything. But when I see something exceptional or have an experience that makes me super thankful to be alive, I feel like there has to be something there.
I think it’s okay not to be sure. It’s okay to not have a religion. It’s okay to believe things from multiple religions. It’s okay to learn about all kinds of religions before deciding what you believe. It’s okay because beliefs are a personal choice, which means you get to choose whatever you want.
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I do believe in God, and I’m a Christian, and I just want you to know that God didn’t do those things to you, the devil did.
Just to let you know in the Bible ‘the devil’ only killed a grand total of 10 people while God killed around about 2.3 million, thinking of this I think your God would be capable of doing those horrible things to someone.
In some ways Lucifer did more hard than good, he gave humans the ability of critical thinking saving us to being thought slaves to God for eternity. Never learning to think truly for ourselves. Then he excepts humans as humans and understanding we are not perfect, he excepts Gods unwanted children. Even though the bible claims God forgives all and excepts everyone and loves all, he still sends his children to hell with Lucifer the first of many abandoned children.
So you can’t blame things like this on Lucifer, because even if he had some hand in the product your God still let that happen, and did nothing to protect you from the pain and suffering.
This is just coming from an agnostic point of view though.
I think if you’re going to have faith in a God except that he may have done things wrong that he isn’t perfect, according to the bible we are designed in his image after all and don’t shift the blame onto some other exterior force. Love what you believe in unconditionally.
I am a Christian and I can honestly say that I don’t know where I would be today without Jesus in my life. He has comforted me through all the bad things that have happened in my life, and given me strength to endure them. I go to a church where we celebrate how much God loves us. We laugh together, we cry together, and we are always there for each other. We accept everybody for who they are, and don’t judge anybody despite their situation. This church is my family and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m not trying to push religion on anybody but just try to keep an open mind.
If you look at cnn.com there is a poll on America’s decline of religon. I am a Jehovah’s Witness and I truly believe that it is the truth.
I was born Jewish, I guess, and I go to a Jewish school. But I’m a very scientific and logical person, and I’ve realized recently that the idea of having a god is primitive. It’s just that there’s so many scientific things that contradict the bible, and things in the bible that can’t, in any way, be proven. I’m not sure what religious people think of science. In science class, do they just think everything is fake? The Big Bang and evolution aren’t mentioned in the bible. Honestly, how can any logical person believe that some supernatural being rules over the universe and created it in seven days? It’s ridiculous, if you think about it. And think about all the times religion has caused war. Believing in God explains nothing, and rejects all the amazing scientific discoveries we’ve made that do actually make sense.
I believe in God. Not because its the “right thing” to do in the eyes of my church(non-denominational) or ill go to hell if I don’t (in which I believe is true) but when I read the bible or I do something good, I know he is helping me. How can this world come from a Big Bang? We’re so complicated that we sill can’t figure most thing out scientifically. Religion is a beacon of hope… I wish humanity could see it for that and not for the “cross Huggers” or whatever they call us. It’s a person choice in what they believe, and I chose God and Jesus because to me, without them, I would not be here. People make mistakes, no one is perfect, and we sin. I was born while my mother was is highshool with my father their senior year. That made a mistake. Their bestfriends died a year later in an accident. They still believe. I have a horrible, redneck, worst than “duck dynasty” family, and we still believe!!! I’d die if it came to the choice to live or choose Christianity.
that’s what I believe!! Thank you Jesus for dieing for all of us 
People seem to have forgotten there are many atheistic religions, you can be an atheist and still have a religion, Buddism is atheistic, I am religious but I’m a LaVeyan Satanist which suits the way I’ve grown up taught to think for myself and to question everything not just take I for granted that something is true, a quick cover of some basic beliefs for those who do not have any experience of a true satanists beliefs. We focus on how we can develop ourselves knowledge is important and we believe ignorance to be one if the worst ‘sins’ possible. Children and animals ae to be protected, and we believe revenge is acceptable. But respecting others is important. We are very tolerant of those who accept us and do not hold ignorant opinions but we are Athesitc we do not believe in an entity, we are our own god it is our influence on our lives that is important
I totally agree with the author of this article, especially the last paragraph. People should be free to believe whatever they think is right for them.
I’m an atheist because I think that if there was a God he must not be as great as they say he is. Even in the bible he seems terrible. All the terrible things happening in the world and some guy in the sky just watching us run around doesn’t seem real. It just seems like it has no logic in it whatsoever.
I came from a family every laid back about religion. They wanted me to find the one I believe is best for me and said it was my choice to slowly decide. In first grade, I was at a table with three very religious kids who went to church together. One of them asked me if I believed in God and I asked “what is God?” From then on, I was bullied for being “Satan’s faithful” and “Satan’s creation.” There were petitions to kick me out of our class, and out of our advanced program – by little six year olds. I bought a Bible and read it completely over the course of that year. Until I moved, I was consistently shamed and bullied. Once I finished the Bible, I was extremely conflicted about God. Wouldn’t God want a new faithful and not an excluded individual? I thought that God really had no control. He wouldn’t want alienation, he would want belief and love. His so-called followers didn’t really follow his principles. I slowly began my journey towards atheism, and am now finally decided in the idea of there being no God or gods. That’s my religious (or lack thereof) story!
I think it’s sad that you experienced Christianity in a negative way. I personally am a struggling Christian, but not because I don’t understand God (well, I don’t understand Him fully, but in my opinion, I’m not really able to), but because I don’t quite understand myself. But through my struggles, I’ve had a truly supportive Christian family (my church and youth group) that have helped me along the way and made sure I didn’t make some truly awful choices. It is through them that I have been able to see God. He works through them and I am grateful for it. Humans are incapable of truly understanding why He does what He does, but I believe He has a plan for us and that one day, if we follow Him (even when life seems hopeless and we don’t know why such things would happen if we’re supposed to be His children) that it will all work out in the end because we will have trusted His judgment, which is righteous. Now, I’m aware that this sounds extremely religious and, honestly, I’m a little surprised I typed all of that up, however, I do understand your viewpoints and respect your choice to believe whatever you think is right. Sorry if this sounds disrespectful or condescending in any way! I just wanted to share my take on what I read.
I’ve always been told that God didn’t exist and that religion was a pile of rubbish.
Now that I’ve made up my own opinion, I still don’t believe in any religion. I think that religion is something that encourages people to be good and strong when they can’t motivate themselves any other way. My reason for being an atheist is because I want to be strong for my own reasons, be good for my own reasons and make my own choices about the way I live my life.
I am a Catholic but I respect what everyone believes in. It’s your own choice on what you want to believe in. Although, it seems as though you look at religion as a prison, a place you are forced at and have no interest in. It also appeared that you think of God as a being that makes all things perfect and nothing but the best. What I just have to say is you should look at things with a different perspective. It makes more sense that way. Be open. That’s just a choice however. Feel free to what you think you feel.
You know what? It’s fine that you don’t have religion. But this:
“I’m pretty sure if there is a God, he or she doesn’t care where I am if I want to chat.”
You rejected the faith because you did not understand the way it worked. Who are you to be making these kind of statements? Why do you assume things about a God you don’t understand?
In any case, I do not live in America. Where I live, free speech isn’t exactly encouraged, but people here are really open about dissing Catholics (for things like creationism and gay rights). Never mind that other religions are also against gay rights and believe in creationism. (Personally, I’m neutral about both.)
The thing is, dissing Catholics is so commonplace that nobody sees it as rude or insulting anymore. Atheists can speak up about not believing in God/Allah, and they will be praised for exercising their freedom of speech. Catholics, however, cannot even STATE THEIR BELIEFS without being flamed to a crisp. Honestly, how is stating your beliefs considered as ‘preaching’?
I’m a fairly new atheist. I grew up in a christian home and was always told that god existed and that he loved us and like you said that the hardships in life were tests of the fathers love. I always thought it was a little crazy, the thought of there being something invisible that wants to be worshipped yet you can’t find any trace of. It’s just not a palpable thing to me, obviously. I had said that I was saved and then re confessed but when I stopped to really, really look at it, it was all stupid to me. Don’t get me wrong you are free to believe whatever you want to believe I know that one of the stereotypical things about us is that we hate christians and trust me that is not me. I feel you are free to believe what you want to, I just don’t necessarily want your religion thrown in my face, that is when we will start having problems. But that mostly sums it up. Good girl gone “bad” (LOL)!!
I go to a Catholic School in NYC, Religion is mandatory but only for a semester. Each year you learn something different. Freshman year you learn about some interesting stories in the Bible you know the basics. Following year, you learn all about Catholicism, Junior year moral issues and catholic churches stance on them (ie abortion, war, gays) Sr year, you get to choose between world religions (learning all types of religion), community service(80hrs), and God on Film. They don’t force it on you. Im not catholic but only about 1/3 of my school is. We go to mass for major events (ie Christmas, ash Wednesday, Resurrection, beginning and end of the year). I do believe there is a God, however I look at the bible as stories to tell us the power and love of God. A guide. I feel like people believe in God, when they need something, or in time of sorrow. I grew up Baptist, I feel what you are saying though. However, people only pray for you out of love, even if you don’t believe it is a great honor and sign of that persons love for you as their sister through Christ. And also, going to Church doesn’t make you a devout Christian, it is only part of the unity of connecting with your brothers and sisters through him, however can worship at home. God does not care where you are when you decide to talk to Him, He always listens nor will He judge you for not believing. The choice is yours, whether or not to believe. I personally choice to believe and interpret His words a certain way,that makes sense to me.
I agree religion isn’t something that should be forced upon you, but I also believe—hope—everyone gets to experience true faith. The kind of faith where all of the deep, matted questions in your heart get washed away because you know, above everything else,you have God, your all-forgiving Father, there for you no matter what. I’m not saying life ins’t complicated, or that it’s easy and fair, because it is, and there are billions of questions I can’t answer, but this kind of love is freeing, and warm, and inexplicably trustworthy; this love reigns above all else.
Neither of my parents are religious so I wasn’t brought up to believe any one thing. I was basically taught to treat others with respect, the way you wanted to be treated, and to not judge people who are different from you. So as I got older and learned more and more about religion, it really surprised me how intolerant some could be of certain groups or people. How quick to judge they were of those who had different beliefs. I didn’t get it. I thought god was all about the things I was taught growing up, love, respect, and acceptance. But while a lot of religions preached that, they didn’t practice it. And once I realized I was gay, knowing the way so many churches react to homosexuality, I knew once and for all I could never belong to an organized religion (I’ve considered myself agnostic for several years). I respect the right to believe what you want to believe, but to me, honestly, looking throughout history, it seems that so many horrible things have happened because of religion, I have a really hard time respecting it.
I was also raised with non-religious parents and I agree with you when you say
“I respect the right to believe what you want to believe, but to me, honestly, looking throughout history, it seems that so many horrible things have happened because of religion, I have a really hard time respecting it.”
Yes, but why all the bolded words?
I think the writer’s at gurl-whenever they have an opinionated article should have an opposing or opposite opinion one.
I’m a Lutheran and I believe in a triune God. I go to a Christian school five days a week and I go to church every weekend and I know that it can sometimes be stressful but I love it. I know we all go through troubles in our life and some go through more than others but I honestly don’t know where I would be without my faith. It helps me get through everything and I hope I never turn from it.