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I've always wondered this about other people's beliefs. Did you choose them, or did you simply always feel that way?
Have any of you ever made a conscious decision to believe something else and actually done it? I mean really truly deep down in your heart believe it?
Personally, I've never believed in god or a higher power. I never chose not to believe, I've just always felt that way. And I can't honestly picture ever being able to change the way I feel. I honestly can't imagine just choosing to believe in god. I don't physically think I could do it.
How about you?
You can't just decide one day out of the blue to believe a random religion and actually have that belief mean anything.
No? I'd say people do it all the time. They decide what they will allow themselves to be convinced of.
I've always wondered this about other people's beliefs. Did you choose them, or did you simply always feel that way?
Have any of you ever made a conscious decision to believe something else and actually done it? I mean really truly deep down in your heart believe it?
Most people choose what they want to believe.
How about you?
I've always wondered this about other people's beliefs. Did you choose them, or did you simply always feel that way?
Have any of you ever made a conscious decision to believe something else and actually done it? I mean really truly deep down in your heart believe it?
Personally, I've never believed in god or a higher power. I never chose not to believe, I've just always felt that way. And I can't honestly picture ever being able to change the way I feel. I honestly can't imagine just choosing to believe in god. I don't physically think I could do it.
How about you?
Actually, when it comes to religion, I think that children are inculcated with religious views at such a young age that choosing something else is largely unthinkable. That's why most people remain in the faith that they had as children. there may be brief detours, but they almost always come back to their original worldview that was provided for them by their parents.
I've always wondered this about other people's beliefs. Did you choose them, or did you simply always feel that way?
Have any of you ever made a conscious decision to believe something else and actually done it? I mean really truly deep down in your heart believe it?
Personally, I've never believed in god or a higher power. I never chose not to believe, I've just always felt that way. And I can't honestly picture ever being able to change the way I feel. I honestly can't imagine just choosing to believe in god. I don't physically think I could do it.
How about you?
Are you familiar with Julia Sweeny's "Letting Go of God?" It sounds like you and Julia might have gone through a similar evolution of belief or should I say disbelief. Its quite funny and profound and I think you might enjoy it, especially part twoI was indoctrinated to believe in God in a particular way. In my mid 30s, I criticially examined those beliefs, rejected many of them, and replaced a few with more rational ideas. It was a painful process.
Actually, when it comes to religion, I think that children are inculcated with religious views at such a young age that choosing something else is largely unthinkable. That's why most people remain in the faith that they had as children. there may be brief detours, but they almost always come back to their original worldview that was provided for them by their parents.
guess I am an exception. Was raised Luthern. When I got out of high school I quit going to church services. It seemed many churchs became more of a business than people sharing a common belief. I just don't like big organized churchs. Mathew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." set the tone for me. IMO, it is possible to have faith without belonging to an organized church.
Yea I don't agree in that indoctrination crap. Parents install the values they hold into their children. When the children grow up they can make their own choice.
I was raised Catholic. In high school went into occult. Scared myself out of the occult when things actually happened. Went to the Army and college later and became agnostic. After leaving the military went total atheist.
Finlay when life was going no place, I came back to Jesus, not born again, just back. I have seen wonderful changes in my life since that day.
It is a choice. And I would at this point rather die than turn my back on Jesus again.
Actually, when it comes to religion, I think that children are inculcated with religious views at such a young age that choosing something else is largely unthinkable. That's why most people remain in the faith that they had as children. there may be brief detours, but they almost always come back to their original worldview that was provided for them by their parents.
Exactly what I stated. In spite of your wandering, you reembraced the faith you were indoctrinated with as a child. It probably felt like coming home, because in a sense, you were coming back to the beliefs you were raised with.
This is exactly what you described, Blackdog.
Has little or nothing to do with being raised a Catholic. I don't want to insult Catholics, but I can tell you it literally had nothing to do with it.
You are still painting with a huge brush. It does not apply. My being raise in a Catholic family had nothing at all to do with my faith as it exists now. I was raised a Democrat. You can see how well that turned out.
Let me break this down for you...did you worship Jesus Christ as a child?
Do you worship Jesus Christ now? The answers to both of these questions are yes. It doesn't matter that you changed buildings. You were raised Christian and you are now again Christian.
It is extremely rare for people to permanently reject the paradigms of their childhood.
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