I was born into a Catholic family and spent twelve years in Catholic schools, but I stopped believing in the system by the time I was in fourth grade or thereabouts. For a while, I probably would have been considered an atheist; definitely not a churchgoer and no really definable beliefs. There were some things that bothered me about that. THe two most significant were the fact that I did, and still do, have a strong sense of the spiritual, and Catholicism left me with a liking for ritual. Eventually, in my early thirties, I got involved with the NewPagan community and found that it was both compatible with the way I felt and agreeable to my sensibilities.

The community was good to me, ...

I was born into a Catholic family and spent twelve years in Catholic schools, but I stopped believing in the system by the time I was in fourth grade or thereabouts. For a while, I probably would have been considered an atheist; definitely not a churchgoer and no really definable beliefs. There were some things that bothered me about that. THe two most significant were the fact that I did, and still do, have a strong sense of the spiritual, and Catholicism left me with a liking for ritual. Eventually, in my early thirties, I got involved with the NewPagan community and found that it was both compatible with the way I felt and agreeable to my sensibilities.

The community was good to me, too. I got busy with activism on behalf of the community (managing to get myself interviewed by a number of news outlets including being a guest on talk radio) and it was also how I met my wife. Dear Abby always used to tell her readers that church was a good place to meet someone compatible, but I don't think Paganism is what she had in mind.

I'm an agnostic. As a child, I was a *Christian* and used to sneak out to go to the nearby church and lurk outside listening to what was being said inside. I didn't dare go in! Too much pomp and circumstance.

At the age of 6, I wanted a children's Bible for my birthday, much to the horror and dismay of my family, but they gave it to me. Through the years though, I came to realize the vast limitations of organized religion(s), but still I can't seem to shake the sense, that there may be more between Heaven and Earth than we currently know, so I am keeping an open mind. Today, cosmology and quantum physics seems to provide me with the most satisfying answers to the questions I have and to the...

I'm an agnostic. As a child, I was a *Christian* and used to sneak out to go to the nearby church and lurk outside listening to what was being said inside. I didn't dare go in! Too much pomp and circumstance.

At the age of 6, I wanted a children's Bible for my birthday, much to the horror and dismay of my family, but they gave it to me. Through the years though, I came to realize the vast limitations of organized religion(s), but still I can't seem to shake the sense, that there may be more between Heaven and Earth than we currently know, so I am keeping an open mind. Today, cosmology and quantum physics seems to provide me with the most satisfying answers to the questions I have and to the paradox of our very existence, but there's still a long way to go and much left to learn. .

Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle."

"Positively the principle may be expressed: In matters of intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable. That I take to be the agnostic faith, which if a man keep whole and undefiled, he shall not be ashamed to look the universe in the face, whatever the future may have in store for him."

Wow! Debby, what a clip! I guess I will have to tell my view on life. I was raised Roman Catholic but had doubts about the rituals and law keeping. I guess I went somewhat Godless for awhile and started searching for a new "church". My thoughts were that there had to be something more to life than eat, drink, be merry then die. When I looked at the world, I saw design and wondered how it got there. Being skeptical of evolution, I continued searching for the creator. Almost miraculously, I was directed to the Bible which, at the time, I thought was a book of myths. I found my answers there and the more I tried to dispel it's teachings, the more it proved itself until one day, I believe...

Wow! Debby, what a clip! I guess I will have to tell my view on life. I was raised Roman Catholic but had doubts about the rituals and law keeping. I guess I went somewhat Godless for awhile and started searching for a new "church". My thoughts were that there had to be something more to life than eat, drink, be merry then die. When I looked at the world, I saw design and wondered how it got there. Being skeptical of evolution, I continued searching for the creator. Almost miraculously, I was directed to the Bible which, at the time, I thought was a book of myths. I found my answers there and the more I tried to dispel it's teachings, the more it proved itself until one day, I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved by His Grace and Mercy. I have never been the same since and continue to marvel over this revelation. My entire life is framed by my Christian beliefs. I know I get ridiculed and hear others mock God, the Bible and me, but, trust me, it is real.

Interesting choice of words: "choose to believe." I'm not so sure that believing is a choice, any more than feeling is. A belief, or a feeling, simply is. Why we believe it, on the other hand, is something else. Our upbringing, our family's beliefs, the information and experiences we've been exposed to—these all play a part in how our belief system is formed. I do not choose to believe in God, I simply do, and as far back as I can remember, I always have. What I have learned and experienced over my lifetime has only reinforced that belief. I may question things along the way, but after examining the question from every possible way (which I think is important), I have always returned to the...

Interesting choice of words: "choose to believe." I'm not so sure that believing is a choice, any more than feeling is. A belief, or a feeling, simply is. Why we believe it, on the other hand, is something else. Our upbringing, our family's beliefs, the information and experiences we've been exposed to—these all play a part in how our belief system is formed. I do not choose to believe in God, I simply do, and as far back as I can remember, I always have. What I have learned and experienced over my lifetime has only reinforced that belief. I may question things along the way, but after examining the question from every possible way (which I think is important), I have always returned to the same conclusion. I have trouble understanding how others come to a different conclusion. But maybe that's because for me, it is not a choice. Maybe for them, it is.

Okay Debs ~~ been thinking about it for a while now. I was born and baptized Catholic but never really bought into the dogma. when I got older and learned of all the horrors perpetrated on the world in the name of Christianity I felt betrayed and rejected it all. I spent decades exploring various religions and, by taking a bit from each of them formed my eclectic belief system (which continues to evolve -- closed systems are useless).
I am a Pagan with a strong belief in the connectivity of the universe. Reincarnation is a given; karma indisputable. Astrology my guide. I do not believe that Samhain is Halloween. Samhain is whatever November day the Sun reaches 15 degrees Scorpio. ...

Okay Debs ~~ been thinking about it for a while now. I was born and baptized Catholic but never really bought into the dogma. when I got older and learned of all the horrors perpetrated on the world in the name of Christianity I felt betrayed and rejected it all. I spent decades exploring various religions and, by taking a bit from each of them formed my eclectic belief system (which continues to evolve -- closed systems are useless).
I am a Pagan with a strong belief in the connectivity of the universe. Reincarnation is a given; karma indisputable. Astrology my guide. I do not believe that Samhain is Halloween. Samhain is whatever November day the Sun reaches 15 degrees Scorpio. My intuition is strong and I have learned to depend upon it. The Wiccan Rede is a motivating factor.
Finally I believe that when I die my son will greet me and show me the way. My parents and cats and dogs will all welcome me to the spirit plane. Spirituality trumps religion every time.
Now I shall step off of my soap box and please, no applause.

Bin mulling this over ever since Debby posted this

I was raised by a very stern Presbyterian family on a farm. These people were not my parents and I was there as a ward of the Children's Aid Society .

You may or may not have known such people: dour, mostly unsmiling, work obsessed, and if a child had the temerity to smile, then surely they must be doing the devil's work.

I know, I know, this is supposed to be about my beliefs, however none of our beliefs are formed in a vacuum.

Every Sunday, rain shine, sleet or snowstorm I attended first Sunday School in the basement of the church, and then upstairs to attend church services, which to the best of my memory was mostly fire and brims...

Bin mulling this over ever since Debby posted this

I was raised by a very stern Presbyterian family on a farm. These people were not my parents and I was there as a ward of the Children's Aid Society .

You may or may not have known such people: dour, mostly unsmiling, work obsessed, and if a child had the temerity to smile, then surely they must be doing the devil's work.

I know, I know, this is supposed to be about my beliefs, however none of our beliefs are formed in a vacuum.

Every Sunday, rain shine, sleet or snowstorm I attended first Sunday School in the basement of the church, and then upstairs to attend church services, which to the best of my memory was mostly fire and brimstone and very sparing on the love element.

No matter how hard I tried, I was unable to believe . I remember as clearly as if it was yesterday that when the adults closed their eyes and bowed their heads in prayer I would peek instead of following their lead. To me it seemed like it must be some sort of elaborate rouse to try to fool any children who were present .... I could not believe that any mature adult could possibly believe what was being preached from the pulpit.

Once I confided my views regarding these church services to another child at school ..... I believe I was either in grade three or four. This child told his parents, who in turn informed my guardians .... and the result was a very long severe beating

Whoops I seem to be going off on a tangent!

An old Jesuit priest once extended his hand and fingers, the thumb was Jewish, the index was Muslim, the middle was Christian, the ring was Hindu, the little finger was Buddhist; as individual appendages, they could do little, squeeze them all together in a fist, they are all powerful. Respect, open mind, the will to learn, be able to accept all that was, all that is, and all that will be. Being Catholic is sometimes very hard for me, at the same time rewarding, it took me forever to understand the Trinity and transfiguration, the best thing is that I can go to Mass any where in the world, know exactly what is going on despite the language barrier. I am still like the agnostic, dyslexic, ins...

An old Jesuit priest once extended his hand and fingers, the thumb was Jewish, the index was Muslim, the middle was Christian, the ring was Hindu, the little finger was Buddhist; as individual appendages, they could do little, squeeze them all together in a fist, they are all powerful. Respect, open mind, the will to learn, be able to accept all that was, all that is, and all that will be. Being Catholic is sometimes very hard for me, at the same time rewarding, it took me forever to understand the Trinity and transfiguration, the best thing is that I can go to Mass any where in the world, know exactly what is going on despite the language barrier. I am still like the agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac that stayed up all night pondering whether Dog existed, that is a good thing, I still have to explore other beliefs, have respect and tolerance for everyone and everything.