[jovita]

I was baptised in the Philippine Independent catholic church. Our priest can marry and we confess direct to God. When I was young I did not see my parents go to church often except for weddings,funerals and baptism. My mother died when I was seven then my father when I was a teenager. I am the only one who is religious in the family that before every Sunday I go to church took flowers to offer in the altar. I was full of tragedies a chain for about five years deaths of my mother father, brother, nephew and my many sickness. When I was lympimg sometimes I was crawling for over six month I blamed God Jesus Christ and God the father that I believe is one. I asked Him why He is punishing me I have not done wrong. My pain became worse when I remembered the many tragedies in my life. I attempted suicide for times but before doing it I knelt down in front of my altar where Jesus Christ image/crucifix was there and I asked forgiveness for doing that. The last time I tried my pain was so painful and I couldn't cope anymore so I said this is my last chance but I couldn't do it as I looked at Jesus Christ image as if I could see tears in His eyes then inside my head was His voice telling me "don't do that". I put down the pesticide I was holding then cried and cried praying and begging from God our Lord. It was about whole of crying and praying and I sleep without eating. In the middle of my deep sleep I felt someone woke me up, when I opened my eyes I saw jesus Christ at my front standing then he moved closer to me and touched where my pain was. I could feel His touch but I couldn't move and He was very clear. After He touched my pain, He was gone and faded away. It was about 2:00 oclock that I heard the rooster's cocododle. I kept thinking about it but after a while I went back to sleep. Three days I felt better and was walking in God's power. I also saw God the father both in dream and premination He is very old with many wrinkles in His face but He is very similar to Jesus Christ's face like what see in darwings and images. I also believe in life after death that I saw spirits in my dream. So many religions but in my belieft the most powerful is only one that is what we call God but people give different names.

[LunaMoon]

I never worshipped anyone when i was younger, i read about different religions when i was a kid, and for the past year and a half I have been studying wicca and have decided that this is the right path for me.I feel i have a connection with nature and all animals so thats why i feel wicca is for me.

[ddomepaint]

I am alittle late on this post I guess....but....I think the bible is full of things to make people scared to to be themselves. I totally think the vatican can be very seceretive about the truth. I think most of what they preach is aload of ****! They know the truth and continue to hide it away because they would loose their flock and the BIG $$$$$ if people knew the truth.
My big thing was I can't agree with any of the most popular regligions. A vengeful God? Come on people. The Lord is all love. What goes on on earth is not the Lords' falt. We ( all of us) pick our lives before we are even born. We choose what to go through in our lives so as to learn for the lord. We choose our mothers and fathers according to what we have chosen to learn in this lifetime. We choose what bad things that happen to us in life no matter how bad they seem to be. Even deaths to our loved ones....unfortunatly. If we are poor, we picked it...if you are rich, you chose to be. We have all chosen the life we lead with no one to blame but ourselves. The Lord is not responsible for what we go thru!!!!!! Also bad people like killers and rapist are here because we have chosen to put that into our lives to learn. The harder your lives the more your soul learns for God! The more your soul learns the more enlightment your soul will obtain.
Well that is my beliefs. We make what we get. I really don't like it right now to much...I am as poor as poor can be...but I picked it so I will live it and make the best of it. :!:

[spiritalk]

Do we choose our religious beliefs? Or do our religious beliefs choose us?

When we choose to seek for spirituality in religious practices as an adult, we find ourselves examining many aspect from our own perspective. We find that which resonates and we encourage our own growth through its practices.

God bless, J

[ddomepaint]

I am not sure. I wondered around seeking some type of religion that felt right. For years I looked. About 4 years ago I found Sylvia Browne on Montel and started reading some of her books. Something inside me KNEW that most of what she said was TRUE. I knew in my soul the moment I read it. See I have been psychic from the time I can first remember anything. I have always known way too much that no one eles seemed to know. But I looked until I felt I found the truth. I know many people whom have searched for the right religion. We go with what FEELS RIGHT. I can't explain why so many people choose to believe what these bogus churchs preach, but they do. It feels right for them. Thank God I know better for myself.

[aaahitsmeee]

i know what religeon i was born into because of my family,
but as a medium, based off of my experiences, i don't know what my religeon would be.
i know there is a God, but i wouldn't know what to call the religeon because i beleive in manythings that seem to be a mix of all religeons,
and when i learned about religeons in world history, so many were alike! none were completely correct to what i people believe, but none of them were completely wrong either.

[karen1977]

Was brought up in a Catholic household- my dad's Irish & it was important to him to bring up us kids the same. My mum was Cof E, but converted in the 80's-not because of any pressure from my dad; i think she felt like the odd one out,lol.
Had kids of my own & had them baptised as Catholics also-not sure why, as i'd pretty much reached the age of reason(and disbelief),by that time. Think my dad was actually a factor in it; plus, i know for a fact that the schools are far stricter & therefore, better in my opinion. My two eldest girls have taken their sacraments & my son is doing his first confession next year, followed by confirmation & holy communion. My son & i still attend mass on Sundays but my daughters don't want to go, so i don't force them to. We have a deal- come with at Christmas & Easter & i'll let them off for the rest, (although i do often threaten them with a trip to mass- this threat is second only to no *** in the punishment stakes!).
All that said, i lost my faith years ago; spend most of my time in church rolling my eyes, shaking my head or refusing to respond to patronising bidding prayers that are for 'doctors and nurses who are forced to perform abortions & murder innocent children' and suchlike. I find myself listening to the gospels & picking them apart-prime example; one of the gospels told the story of when Jesus threw the merchants out of the temple, saying "this is God's house, not a marketplace"- only for the priest, at the end of mass say, "the catholic newspaper is on sale at the back of the church, along with Christmas cards, rosaries,medals & prayer cards. ????-he failed to see the irony!
Been Pagan in my heart of hearts, for maybe sixteen years now. Never nailed my colours to the mast though, preferring instead to send my kids to the same kind of school i went to. The only real reason i can give for this is tradition, i suppose. Like my Dad, i wanted my kids to have the foundation of organised religion in their early years, but i encourage them to question their faith & always answer honestly when they ask questions. As ive said, my eldest don't bother any more- they started finding holes very early-around 5 or 6 years. They understand that Christian teachings are a good foundation for becoming a decent human being, but hopefully don't have as narrow a view of faith as earlier generations. They know it is more beneficial to be spiritual as opposed to religious & understand that stories from the bible are just that-stories. My kids beliefs, as a result are far more eclectic, far more inclusive & much less self-impotant and discriminating. I hope :lol:

[AMP]

Isn't it funny Karen how hard it is to shake off our beliefs forced on us as children. I did come to the point though where I had to abandon it completely and start afresh. Not quite sure I understand why you choose to bring your children up as Catholic though, and then tell them it isn't true. But I'm sure you have your reasons. I chose to let my youngest son make up his own mind when he feels ready to do so.

AMP xxxx

[karen1977]

Not really sure why myself if i'm honest! I suppose i'm a creature of habit. All i can think of to say (and i have asked myself this question many times), is that i'm big on tradition & i know for a fact that kids are taught well at catholic school, having gone to one myself.
Also, i'm fascinated by all religions, always have been. Theology is such an interesting subject- like fairy tales for adults. It's not so much i bring them up to practice catholicism, only to tell them it's all piffle- but i know this is how it looks. I can't explain it- it was such a big part of my childhood, i couldn't imagine them being another faith; it'd seem weird. My husband isn't at all religious-he believes in science. He's not even sure if he has been christened & doesn't give a monkeys either way. I find that really strange, but only because the opposite is all ive ever known.
I look to my children, not as little catholics, but rather, as little theology students. I encourage debate & questions & explain that just cos the pope says so, doesn't actually make it so. They know the story of pope Joan. At mass last week, the preist was talking about people being martyred, about the Romans throwing Christians to the lions. I sat, listening politely & on the way home pointed out the fact that the inquisition more than made up for this by killing, well, pretty much everybody who wasn't a popist!
My faith is rich and varied, my mind able to see that all religions & spiritual practices are life-enhancing. Perhaps i have fallen out with catholicism, but that's no reason for my kids to. Then i would feel like i was pushing my beliefs onto them. They'll make their own minds up in the end & whether they decide to drop it altogether, practice a different religion or join the seminary, i hope they'll feel like they have my support.
Must be the Gemini in me-walking contradiction! :wink:

[AMP]

lol Karen - sounds like you have at least given it plenty of thought!

AMP xxxx