i think that it depends on the person and their surroundings to how they react to religion. i was brought up in a religionless household. i never even knew what religion was until i was about 9 and i started asking questions i suppose. i noticed there were religious people around me and it's kinda like when you're not looking for it or don't even know it's there, it doesn't even exist, but once you're aware of something, it's all around you. anyway the most accessable was the christian religion and so my parents took the whole family to church. i think it was catholic, but i can't be sure they just randomly picked a church and we went to a few services. neither of my parents are christian nor were they brought up in christian households, this was a new experience for them too. the next year when we moved to a different city, my sis and i went to a catholic school and we've been in the system ever since.

i've never been of any religion but i'm actually glad that i did go to a catholic school and saw first hand a religion without it actually forced upon me. the majority of my friends therefore were brought up in catholic households, but they have questioned it and most now do not believe things like the trinity. sure some believe in god/s, but that's not to say that makes one religious.

i think religion is interesting, but maybe that's just me. i don't think i'd ever be of a religion, but i find it interesting the rituals and philosophies religions have.

I have had bad experiences with religion. My mother was Jewish-my father Catholic. My dad's parents FORBID him to marry my mother because she wasn't an Italian Catholic and if he did he would go to hell. Wellll of course he married her and together they decided to almost drop religion in the household all together. Only 3 months after marriage--my mother got preggie with me. My dad's parents invited them over for dinner. Since my mother WAS a very trusting and forgiving person--they decided to go. Dinner went well...but afterwards my dad's father took my mother outside to "talk" to her. Turns out, all he wanted to do was to warn her..tell her to stay away from my father..that the child (me) would be brought up in a Catholic household or the child would die. My mother was very brave (and almost foolish) and said that it would my choice to be what i wanted to be. He proceeded to punch my mother in the stomach--being 7 mths pregnant. My father heard her screams and came outside to see my mother on the ground in a puddle of blood. Luckly--i'm still here...we both turned out ok. And my father hasn't spoken to his dad since that day. What kind of hate can be brought out in a person just because their children decide to have opinions of their own about religion??? If this man followed the bible as closely as he claim--he would have read that his almighty God would not accept any of his "holy" children doing this. Wow, i haven't told that story in a long time. Felt good to get it out. But yes this is why i've ALWAYS questioned religion to this day. I have gone my own ways and done much research on all kinds. It's hard to say what i believe in because i am very stubborn--i need facts to prove something to me. And i HATE when people say since i'm not a Christian--i'm going to hell...stuff like that really makes me wanna scream!!!

most people posting here have had that, and why so many have turned from "organized religions" and found their own path...

With a chioce between going to hell or spending Eternity sitting on a cloud playing a harp, I don't think Christianity really mastered the reward system

Can beliefs be forced onto one? I mean, really?

Yes, younger people, easily influenced...not much a kid can do when they are taking to the church by their parents, sent to classes, preaching, so yes it it a forceable situation...

There is also, especially in this country, a very high level of peer pressure.

I went to church my whole life... Well, ever since I was like 4, but at that age, I was unable to contemplate or even care about religion. I just thought it was like school. Go to school, study some shit, finger paint, try to piss off the girl who sat in front of you... You know... I just wasn't old enough to understand what the purpose of it was. And I said I was "Christian" and I prayed, and I sang those Hymns, an I was baptized... And it was like this all the way up until I was like 14... And then... THAT is when I started to ask questions.

Anyways, just here recently, I was talking with my mom about it. She told me, "I went to Church because that is my belief. I brought you and your siblings along because I was too cheap to hire a baby sitter. Then when you were old enough to stay at home alone... Well, I had you go to church to experience religion... To know something of it." And I thought that was a good answer so I don't have the terrible anger towards my parents for making me go to church...

I do however, have a terrible distaste for many religions, Christianity in particular. After I started asking questions about the religion, I kept getting bullshit answers. Anyways... It's a really long story... But I found my way... And I know how I am. I have respect for all religions/theologies/beliefs, but... That doesn't mean I have to like them or follow them. I will bitch a person out if they preach to me. I will SMACK the fuck out of someone if they insult my beliefs. I have respect for their beliefs by staying out of their business, by not preaching MY beliefs to them, and by not insulting them. And the way I see it, anyone of any religion or belief should have that same respect for everyone else.

A person can find their OWN way into whatever belief. It's a bitch living in Texas, and you guys wouldn't believe how many people I have to knock the shit out of in order for them to understand that they are being disrespectful towards me. Anyways.... I try to enforce some sort of "equilibrium" for all religions. If I hear a Christian talking about how stupid Buddhists are, I'll smack the fucker in the head, and say, "Well look at you, Shit-for-Brains! You believe that there are creatures out there that look like humans but they've got bloody wings attached to their back! You think some God who supposedly exist created the whole fucking universe in only a week! You think there some evil fucker with horns and goat hooves trying to take your soul and your scared to fuckin' death of it, so you kiss some God's ass that you truly don't even know exist or not, so he can protect your butt! Well, you better be praying fuck-nuts, cause there going to be someone else that wants to do something worse than take your fucking soul! And if you want me to put on a pair of fucking horns and paint my face red, just so you'll believe I'm that character you call Satan, then all the motherfuckin' better! I might even have some fun doing it. So what I'm going to do now is give you a fuckin' warning and you better not take it for granted or I will dress up like that horned bitch and I will make you cry like a little bitch-girl who got raped by the redneck down the street! If I hear you insult anyone's religion or belief again, I will fuck you up! You get me???"

MAN! I'm mad now!! I get talking about that shit....oh! It gets me going!

Anyways... I try not to be that harsh, but I am when the person disrespects a religion in a really bad way. At that point, I believe I can be harsh, and insult them myself in order to get my point across to them. I hate to be the hypocrite but everytime I was harsh with someone, and I "insulted" them myself about what they said... I was able to get them to understand. So, blah-blah-blah... I talk way too much, yes? Anyways...

After this

Quote:

Anyways... I try not to be that harsh

This made me giggle

Nice one mate

It was tried on me. Made me loathe christianity and it's hypocracy. 'Till this day it is so.

I hear ya Loki!! I lived in TX for 9 long years and it was even worse then VA on the religion subject!! It was like if you weren't a baptist then automatically you WERE GOING TO HELL on their account!! Fucking close minded....

Yep-yep! I think I might just move my ass on up North... I've heard people aren't as psychotic up there as much as the people are down here.

I had plans for Sunday night to go out with some friends and my parents made me cancel my plans to attend a X-mas program at church. Wtf? I'm too old for my parents to be telling me I need to go to church, but when I try to tell them this they say church is essential in becoming a well rounded individual. Since when? Its like they've had there brains sucked out and are totally becoming bible thumpers. I don't have a problem with church or religion. My problem is the fact that I have never had any choice as to whether I go to church or if I even believe in god. I just wanted to say that I never meant to belittle anyones beliefs when I started this thread. I just wanted others who felt pressured to believe in religion when they weren't sure.

You should tell them exactly how you feel... Tell them what your beliefs are too. If you are in your teens then they should respect your thoughts on the matter and do what you please on dealing with church and religion... If they don't respect your thoughts... Well Fuck 'Em! When they drag your ass to church against your will, make them pay... Bitch the whole way there to the chruch. Fall asleep during sermons. When everyone stands up to sing hymns, you stand up too... But sing Type-O-Negative songs, or Manson, or something "Un-Christian" like. Just make it such a pain in the ass and such an embarrasment for your parents, that thye just decide to not take you anymore.

You have a right to your beliefs... And no matter what, you will always have the thoughts in your head (well, until they come up with a computer thing to suck them out), but until then... Your mind is your playground. :p

DAMN RIGHT
MAKE THE BASTARDS PAY
POWER TO THE MINORITYS
SCREW THE CHRISTIAN BASTARDS(only the closed minded ones:p)
These have been the rantings and ravings of one known as

~DarkendSoul~

I've been there, what was the last straw for me was my dad, insisted to sign my confirmation contract. The problem was, I wanted to go along the path myself.

So i rebeled, told the pastor I would be back in a year and said adios. The funny part is, if the pastor dosn'ty know who's 'ywear' I meant, 'God's' or humanitys. So he's stuck waiting. LOL

So, currently I'm praing to a neo-pagen that belives in 4 nature god's and goddess'. *shrugs*
If you want to hear about it, Private message me.

OOOOK now yall've probably dealt with this question before!
Buuuuut....... here it is again!

why is it that christians are sooooo bloody rude! get the stick outta yer ass's i've never spoke up before but heck i got feelings too!
now i realize a lot of yas think were satan worshipers or wiccan or gaian or whatever and yes i am GAIAN i love GAIA not jesus or moses or mary its my life i believe in a higher power ok so back off and don't treat me like an immature child cuz i'm not i've prolly got more open views then alot of you people that bash me + im not discriminating against christians cuz my buddy chip is and hes not a preachy lil shit k i have respect for your choice have some for mine. last but not least if there is a god then dont ya think hed show ya that ya fucked up????or that i fucked up ummm.. nooo shit!

buuut dont be soo preachy i loves ya all whatever religion cuz were all the same inside :p

I believe in "live and let live", but, no disrespect intended-Who is Gaia? Isn't she the Earth mother or something off of "Captain Planet"? Just curious, is all...You worship a cartoon character??