The other 'coming-out'..

[SnoopDog]

Maybe it's time for the Listers to pick up all their courage and make their public 'coming-out'.
What religion do you have ?

I myslef are a lutherian evangelist/protestant ('evangelisch' is the german word).
But I completely lost my faith and don't believe anymore. I also don't go to church other than to weddings or stuff like that.
I don't like the way the christian church sticks to old rituals and conservative views. (You can imagine how I think about catholics, )

So how about you? What religion do you have? One of the big ones? Are you in a so-called 'cult'? Do you go to church?

And don't be shy if you are a member of what christians call 'cult'. I have two good friends who are Mormons and I don't really disrespect 'Jehovas Witnesses' or anything like that.

C'mon, tell the truth.

Snoopy

 

[boxofrocks]

Gerbilism.

My gerbil Is God.

 

[Boota]

I was raised in the Salvation Army church, which is sort of derivative of the Methodist church, from what I gather. I am very anti-christian now. I don't hate christians, just their religion. (And all religions for that matter. I'm not picking on anyone here.)

I'm a Boota-ist. As a creative person I realize that anytime something is created a piece of the creator is imbued in the creation. So, if we were created by an omniscient being, there is a piece of that creator in me. Therefore, I am all the god I will ever need.

 

[Guest]

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

Wow, so far, looks as if I'm the most faith-driven one, here, having just finished working for three months as a counselor at a United Church of Christ summer church camp. I am a pretty strong member of the UCC church, but I was raised for the second half of my childhood as an ELCA Lutheran. My parents, however, have different stories--Dad was raised Catholic (private school, nuns, and all) and Mom was raised a Jehovah's Witness. So faith discussions can become pretty interesting.

But yeah, I go to church every week and everything. I value my religious experience highly because I've found a spiritual community where I feel accepted, affirmed, and loved, regardless of my bisexuality and history with self-injury and depression. It's really refreshing that my church can take all of me, not just parts (like my time and my pocketbook). It's awesome.

 

[GratefulFred]

Lokiist here!

Worshiping Loki just allows me to fool around all the time creating all types of mischief.

I can do whatever I please so long as I don't touch a hammer.

 

[Remec]

Maybe it's time for the Listers to pick up all their courage and make their public 'coming-out'.
What religion do you have ?

"Thou art God."


<g>

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I have great respect for religions, although Christians often scare me. I’m half Jewish and was raised kind of half-assed Jew in a Christian world, so I always feel like something of an outsider. I wouldn’t trade my Jewishness for anything though, although Israel’s a big embarrassment.

My feelings about Christianity probably spring a lot from the old Polish Catholic landlady I had as a kid. I’d go into her apartment and see all these pictures of Jesus spouting blood and bleeding hearts and I’d think, “Man, that’s sick!” I undertand Christianity a lot better now, but it still somehow gives me the willies. I used to get chased for being a Jew.

I was very serious about religion and really needed to know as a kid whether God existed or not. My investigations indicated that He didn’t, so I’m kind of stuck with that. He’s never done anything to change my mind, so I have to believe that, if He does exist, He doesn’t want me to know about it. Still, I’m fascinated with the idea of the sacred and the things people do to understand and celebrate it, no matter what their tradition. I’m especially drawn to mysticism, because I had my own mystical experience when I was like 13. I entirely understand the meaning that religious tradition has for people, or tradition of any kind.

If I had to describe my own religious understanding of the world, I guess I’d have to say I’m Buddhist. Ego’s illusion, there is no soul. Christmas is great, though. Beats the crap out of Hannukah.

---dr.M.

 

[CrazyyAngel]

I have two good friends who are Mormons and I don't really disrespect 'Jehovas Witnesses' or anything like that.

For a moment I thought you wrote "Morons" As for the Witnesses of Jehova, never saw one, but the common prejudice is that they are very, very annoying.

As for myself ... I am an Atheist. Wasn't raised in a religion or a religious way and I am actually glad I wasn't. Never quite understood faith nor do I believe there is a god (let alone so many of them). And seeing what religion can do to people ... no thanks.

CA

 

[BlackShanglan]

Catholic. Ahh, nothing like the delicious frisson of a Catholic upbringing and a deeply tangled sexuality. You don't know what you're missing. There's a reason half the Decadents converted.

Shanglan

 

[Liar]

I come from a family of five generations of atheism, but I consider myself a black sheep in that herd.

A Christian who thinks that the bible is a pile of horse shit, that Jesus is as dead as a doornail and that God might just as well be male as female, or maybe a comittee of both.

#L

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

I'm Methodist in belief. I went to church regularly as a child with my grandmother. As I got older, and when she moved away, I stopped going. A year or so ago, with Grandma back "home" I tried going again, a little country-town church, but I felt so unwelcome there on Sunday's. So, I tried doing just the outside of church church activities and found that the people were so hypocritical and rude that I just stopped trying all together. I don't need to attend church to have a belief or faith in God. And I definately don't need bible thumping criticism every Sunday from hypocrits saying that I am Godless for not worshiping the way "they" think is the right way. I pray at times and give thanks for the blessings in my life. I'm right with God in my heart, from the way I was raised and from the things I learned in church as a child and I don't need more than that. Come judgement day it's between the Almighty and myself and that is enough for me.


Wicked

 

[Weird Harold]

I consider myself a "pantheistic agnostic."

I think every religion has part of the Truth because religious thinkers from the beginning of time are like blind men describing an elephant -- they can only sense a very small part of the Big Picture and act as if their small piece was the whole thing. I have no idea which religion, if any, is more right than the others and am awaiting proof that any of them ar even close.

I also make a HUGE distinction between Religion and Churches. Religions seek peace and understanding; Churches seek to horde the Truth and hide it -- even from their members.

Like Wicked, the United Methodist Church in my home town still considers me a Methodist, but I do not -- because of the contrast between what the methodist religion teaches and what Methodists practice.

 

[Honey123]

Any body watch Dogma....?

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I'm a Christian and attend a non-denominational church (when I can get everyone up and ready on time, lol.) Obviously, I don't agree with what alot of the fanatical fundamentalists spout.

 

[SensualCealy]

Im Anglican, and the only way I can describe it to those who have know idea what it is, is basically, de- cath- inated. Its basically catholic without the confession, without the hail mary's etc.

As a child I was required to go every Sunday, I was even an alter person, which means I helped the minister with the service, whether it be communion or Morning Prayer.

As I got older I loved going to service, until our minister changed. This can be a major upset in a young christians life. Having one person you can count on to speak to about basically anything, taken away and have them give you a stiff old buggar that couldnt care less about anyone other then the almighty dollar.

My kids are baptized, but I have never forced them to attend, why? Because I feel now as an adult, if they choose to attend any service or feel the need to attend, its up to them to choose which one to attend. The most recent minister at our church is the mother of one of my sons classmates. She is awesome, and Ive contemplated going back to the really early services to hear her sermons. (this service is only 40 mins long).

I however am married to someone that doesnt see the need or care if he goes, he wasnt brought up in a church setting, and didnt make it easy when I wanted to take the kids by coming with me. Now I see it as, a person doesnt have to go to church to believe, nor do they have to set aside an offering to a church to believe. One can simply set some time away every day or every week to declair to "Their" higher being what they did wrong, and ask for forgiveness. I guess in some ways getting older has made life easier for me, no one is going to tell me Im not a christian or not a practicing christian just because I dont attend service every week. Specially the hypocrits(sp) at our church. Its funny the more money they make the worse they are. Our congregation is made up of Many Many drs and lawyer types, doesnt take long to figure out who is who.

So all in all, be yourself and believe in something.
Cealy

 

[Guest]

 

[BlackShanglan]

Dogma. Fabulous I love the theory that the Catholic system of plenary indulgences will destroy the universe. Why not? Why, indeed, not? And for some reason I just love Loki. "You really are a simple creature, aren't you?"

I am so sorry that a few (many) very vocal and/or prominent Christians have fucked up many people's conception of what (i believe) Christianity is.

Yes, but this is human nature, not the nature of Christianity. The nature of humanity is to flock to things that have power and to allow the most ruthless bastards to rise to the top. It happens in all power-wielding institutions from corporations to political offices to, yes, churches. Humans like power.

It always amuses me that those who rant about the role of Christianity in the Crusades never seem to weigh up the role of Darwinian evolution in WWII. Neither theory is inherently to blame. It's mostly down to a bunch of chimps looking for an excuse to hit each other with rocks, IMHO.

Shanglan

 

[English Lady]

I am a Christian, Baptised in a baptist church but not attending any church right now. I've attended a methodist church, an evangelical church, a Salvation Army and been to Catholic retreats. I like aspects of all these different churches but haven't found one where I feel 100% at home in yet.

My beliefs have relaxed somewhat as I've got older and wiser (Thank God He has patience eh?) but I will still stand up for what I believe. It hurts me to see os many people enbittered with "Christians" it's all bloody religions fault. I'm in NO WAY religious. Thats just a word for doing osmething out of habit.

I'm a living breathing, God's here and he accepts me as I am Christian. I guess what i'm trying to say is I love Jesus and He loves me *grins*

 

[Guest]

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

I was strictly atheistic for most of my childhood, puberty, and adolescence. I accepted that I was Catholic after a few years of philosophy and religion studies. Their design of religious humility struck me as most accurate.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I'm against religion.

 

[Guest]

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Not just baptist, but Southern baptist. Best description of me is a fire insurance Christian.

-Colly

 

[Svenskaflicka]

oooo... lucky religion to have you against them! all snuggley buggley...mmmm.