What were the circumstances that lead you towards the path that you have chosen?

[Fingerprint]

There are obviously quite a few different views about religion and spirituality on here and I find it quite interesting to look at why people believe in what they believe in. All of us see the world in a different way and I think you can often understand why people hold the beliefs that they do when you look at the experiences they have had. It's also quite interesting how the same experiences can influence people in different ways.

So what were the circumstances that lead you towards the path that you have chosen or the belief system that you hold? (No silly answers please!!)

[luna-tic]

My Father always asked questions and that has sort of become a trait of mine.When I went to school (not a religious based one) we were told to sit in assembly and sing about God and Jesus. It was never explained who or what these people were or what they had done.
In secondary school on my first day I was given a bible, took it home and my Father was quite angry that they tried to coerce us into religion. I asked questions at home and at school but no one could give a definite answer as to what religion (mainly Christian) was all about.
I started to read the bible but that confused me even more.
I have been in the presence of a ghost,seen U.F.O's and lots of other strange phenomenon and my perceptions being slightly animistic, spiritualistic but generally using logic but never afraid to accept that I don't fully understand something while keeping an open mind about others beliefs. It is not a system, a ritual or particular doctrine but a way that sees all humans as equal when you strip away the beliefs and race. And although I may question others beliefs on this site, this really is from a curiosity point of view and not to say my path is better than yours.

[Fingerprint]

Good answer luna, 3 stars for you.

[naomi24]

My parents believed in god, but weren't churchgoers. I went to the Salvation Army from the age of 3, with my big brother, a musician in their band. When I went to school, I went to an Anglian church, and at the age of 10, with the encouragement of a youth worker, I became a Christian - and I remember I cried because the whole experience was so overwhelming for a little girl. I continued to go to church, and my best friend was Roman Catholic, so she and I often went together to both churches just to keep each other company! As a teenager, my school friends gathered regularly at my house where, led by my dad, we would debate every subject on earth (we were a pretty academic bunch), and as I grew I read all sorts of literature, including theories that the gods of ancient texts were in fact people from more advanced civilisations. With my Christian belief, initially I found the idea blasphemous, shocking - and frankly ridiculous, but I've always had an insatiable curiosity, and have never refuted different ideas without first considering them, so I read on. Convinced that I would easily discredit these theories, I checked every single biblical reference given, but no matter what angle I looked at it from, I couldn't dispute the idea - and no one was more surprised than me! It made perfect sense - and it still does. Like Luna, I've seen a ghost, and a UFO, and I've had experiences that afford no rational explanation. I've travelled the world, seen other cultures and other religions and I've come to the conclusion that spirituality exists, but it's not to be found in books, buildings, or, most importantly, in other men's words - it's far bigger than any of those things. Spirituality is within us and all around us. To my mind, the only religion that touches on the truth is Buddhism.

[Fingerprint]

Good answers guys you both get 3 stars.

[luna-tic]

Good question Fingerprint
*** 3 stars for you.

[naomi24]

*** And another three from me, Fingerprint. Good question.

[Fingerprint]

Thanks guys but only I have the authority to give out stars in here.

I think I will give myself 3 stars.

[wizard69]

Nothing like a bit of humility eh! Finger. lol

[naomi24]

What's your story, Fingerprint?

[StudentGal]

Hey, I'm new to this section so be gentle :)

I am of the opinion that there is what there is and you'll know for sure when you're dead so why bother using time from what little life you have to try and work it out while your alive?

I am completely and utterly un religious a) because I can't believe what I consider to be nonsense in most religions holy texts and b) I just don't feel I need or want religion. it seems to be the cause of more wars, disputes, arguments etc than anything else in the world. I don't want a part in it.

That's how I see things and I've been lead to this place by my own brain's reasoning.