How Did You Get Your Religion?

I was raised Methodist, I was married the first time in the same Church I was raised in.  My Grandfather built the pews and the Altar Table and even though the Church had to be torn down eventually those pews and Altar Table remain.  I also went to the Christain Church across town because alot of my friends did.  I spent my summers going to Bible School until I was old enough to teach it.  I was at Church probably three times a week when I was growing up.  After my Mother died when I was 10yrs old and before my Daddy remarried I was a nomadic child.  Sometimes I lived with Aunts and Uncles and sometimes my Grandparents.   Each and every morning at my Grandparents house the Scriptures were read before anything else was done. Over the years as a military wife moving around I have belonged to Baptist Churches, Southern Baptist, Assembly of God Churches. 

My first Husband was Presbyterian, my second Husband is from another planet where religion is concerned, I wouldn't even begin to know how to explain what he believes at times.  I think he has the Bible confused with Venus vs Mars sometimes. 

I am Protestant only in the regard that I am not Catholic, Jewish etc.  I try to stick to the Bible and leave the doctrines out of it.  I don't feel worthy to judge someone else's choices or beliefs even though I have my own opinions on some of the doctrines. 

From birth I was raised Catholic.  Went to Catholic School and made all my sacraments.  Although mom's family is all Catholic, my dads family is all Baptist and my Uncle is a Baptist minister with a congregation of about 3,000.  When I was married, my wife was rasied Catholic and my kids are raised Catholic and also go to Catholic School.  Although, I do get more out of a Baptist sermon than I do a Catholic mass, I have stuck to what has been branded in me.  Over the years my faith in the Catholic church has seriously deteriated because of chruch politics, but my faith in Christ has not.  I remain Catholic and will continue to raise my children that way, however I do see many many people leaving the Catholic Church.

Make it a Blessed Day.

Steven P Munsey A+, MCP, IASO Orange Park | Green Cove Springs munsey13@comcast.net

Marsha,

You sound as if you had a bit more religion in your life than I had.  I was raised in a rather traditional Catholic family background with schooling reflecting that background.  Have your religious views changed at all from your childhood?  That seems to be the aim of the story.  The change of a persons religious affiliation from childhood into adulthood.

I have, through the times of my life, experienced the differences.  I inspected Judaism, Episcopalianism, the Dutch Reformed Church, (my favorite) before recognising the fact that agnosticism was the the path for me.

Smuncey,

Your religious background sounds similar to mine, except for the Baptist factor.  Truth be told, I have not come to any close encounter with Baptists until I moved to Florida.  Good?  Bad?  Time will tell.

I went through the same sacramental processes you did.  I was also an altar boy (without any abuse, thank goodness) & was the head altar boy for my cousin's first high mass after he was ordained.  He is no longer a priest, but that is another story.

I agree with your reasons for seeing the problems with the church.  I started seeing them back in the 60's.  Man, I love the sixties & not for the drugs or free sex.

The depth or quality of your faith, or any one elses, is really not germane.  I don't question it at all.  You have your reasons as others have theirs.  I was just wondering if people have changed their faith allegience & why.  Could be doubt.  Could be a spouse.  Could be anything else.  Just wondering in respect to the article.

RichK

I didn't get it in the Methodist Church growing up but a couple of the others, the Hell fire and damnation stuff, I won't listen to it anymore.  I guess the biggest change or challenge has been dealing with the hypocrisy I didn't notice as a child.  Growing up anyone involved in the Church was beyond reproach, it's not that way anymore for me and hasn't been for some time.  I have found that there are some very "Un Christain like" people in the Church.  I tried very hard one time to get a kid into Church whose Parents had thrown him out of their home.  The Church including the Pastor treated him like he wasn't good enough for them to wipe their feet on.  I have never gone back to Church since that day. 

I was raised strict conservative Independent Baptist.  I remember when growing up the girls and boys weren’t even allowed to swim together.  I was married less than a year the first time in an Independent Baptist Church.  When my second husband and I started to get married, the Baptist church would not marry us because of my divorce and it wasn’t just the Independent Baptist but Southern Baptist Church would not marry me even though my husband was brought up as a Southern Baptist.  We got married in a friend’s Lutheran Church.  Once the children were born, we became Episcopalian and still are.  In fact, my parents are Southern Baptist and I have one son whose family attends the Baptist Church and another who attends the Catholic Church.  I have visited both churches and feel much more at home in the Catholic than the Baptist Church.  However, Episcopalian is where I belong. 

BTW, I saw this topic reported both on ABC and CBS evening news and thought it very interesting. 

Ive found that if you are not a constant contributor to the Catholic Church, they could be none the happier that your not part of the parish.   Ive seen so many people pushed away from the Church because of finanical/political issues.  It can be disheartening.  Again, my faith in the Catholic Church has seriously deteriated, but my faith in Christ continues to grow...........never lose faith, never give up.  He never gave up on us.

Steven P Munsey A+, MCP, IASO Orange Park | Green Cove Springs munsey13@comcast.net

I'm not a regular here, or part of the core, but thought I'd throw in my two cents.

As part of a travelling Navy family for the first 12 years of my life, I wasn't introduced to any particular religion.  When we finally settled down in O.P. I began going to the Methodist church along with new teenage friends.  I think in the beginning it was the camaraderie with those kids that drew me there on Wednesday night and Sundays, morning and night services.

As time went on, and I started paying more attention, I realized there was more to it than "fun".  The pastor took a particular interest in me because he came to know more of my background; a mentally challenged brother and alcoholic mother.  He answered many questions as I began to become more curious.  I remained a Methodist, and in time, after my child was born, I became a youth minister; remained in that positiion for many years.

A bombshell hit me when I was in my 30's that caused me to break from the church; (another minister, another time and place), I was berated by the pastor in front of my "kids" and board members for a very simple omission on my part, but he chose to blow it up into a huge deal.  The church nearly ostracized him, but I was the one to leave on my own free will.  It was then I finally learned that religion is NOT the church but what is inside each of us.  I do not judge others for their beliefs, but I do believe in God; a higher being.  That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.  Thanks for listening. :)

MeMaw

I disagree you're not a "regular" here.  You're here reguarly, you participate in a wide variety of topics.  I think you meet the definition perfectly.

I grew up in the United Methodist Church – one of those Yankee country churches – white wooden structure with a tall steeple.  It was built in 1850 but after 15 minutes of sitting in those pews it felt more 1650 built by the Puritans.  My grandparents, uncle and aunt, and great-grandmother attended every Sunday and of course we all had our own special pew – the regulars NEVER varied their seating preferences (no one sat in front).  Once in awhile, a newcomer would sit wherever there was an opening and a collective, albeit subdued “gasp” followed by a “buzz” would occur.  Then, when the regular attendees arrived they would have to sit somewhere else, but never said anything of course.  It’s funny though, because if the “newcomers” returned, they somehow knew not to sit in that particular seat again.  It was usually my grandparents, aunt & uncle, the farmers, who would be late, because the cows still had to be milked even on the Sabbath. 

When I was a teenager, I attended the Baptist youth services with my friend because they had a youth group with boys and actually had activities.  There were only “old” folks in the Methodist Church. 

Hardly anyone in my world was Catholic so it wasn’t until I became a working girl in the big city that I met some people who didn’t mind answering my questions – I was curious, but not judgmental.  

My uncle, even though a member of the United Methodist Church, was actually a Southern Baptist living in upstate NY.  As a kid of twelve or thirteen, I questioned him on his absolute, literal belief of every word in the old testament.  My common sense and logic would just not allow belief in the literal sense and I asked if he thought maybe the “days” mentioned in Genesis were not exactly like our 24 hour “days”.  He said absolutely that God made the world in 6 days – our current time.  I gave up on our religious discussions.  A few years ago, he left that church of his lifetime because the new pastor is a woman.  He now attends a Baptist church in another town.

I now believe in a higher power, but have no idea whether it’s within us, or where the heck it lies.  I heard someone say once that “God spoke, and there was a Big Bang”.  I like that theory. 

I love listening to Garrison Keillor when he talks about the Lutherans. 

Thanks for listening.

JudyB

Marsha:  Thank you!  Maybe someday I'll try to  actually post a an interesting blog.  In the meantime, I really enjoy reading.  You guys are smart, and sometimes funny.

Sunflower:  I remember well that everyone had their "regular" spots in the pews.  Of course, as teenagers we sat on the very last row! 

MeMaw

I was reared in a small (population 1000, give or take)rural farming community in Northeastern NC.  There was either Methodist or Baptist.  I was christened and baptised in the Methodist Church where my father was a decon, Sunday School teacher and fill in minister.  The Methodist had nothing to offer the children, so I begin  attending weekly functions at the Baptist Church with my friends and soon was attending services there on Sundays.  My best friend was the daughter of the Baptist Minister..think that had anything to do with it, bet so!  Needless to say my father was not very happy, but he  accepted my choice.  As the years went by, the Methodist Church was blessed with a wonderful minister and I returned.  But I also was beginning to see just how  hypocritical people could be, which had a huge impact.  There were times when I attended neither church...I communed with the 'higher power' in my own way in my own time.  When I left the nest for college, I attended several churches of different denominations and found my level of comfort in a small, friendly, loving Presbyterian Church which I attended my college years.  Upon graduation and moving to VA to teach school, I was again faced with finding a church that was for me....to no avail.  I met my husband (USN) who is Catholic and our trials began.  This was in the mid 60's and it was quite challenging for Catholics to marry outside their church.  We finally found a Priest (at the Norfolk Naval Base) who would perform the ceremony, under certain conditions which I agreed to without hesitation.  I have to tell you a story here....I had my first meeting with the Priest all by myself....I was extremely apprehensive, not knowing what to expect after having been rejected by the local Catholic Churches because I would not convert to the Catholic Religion.  I was called into the Priest's office....introductions, etc. and then he asked me if I smoked....you can imagine the expression on my face and what my thoughts were.  Saying yes, cause I wasn't about to lie to a clergyman, he suggested we sit on the couch, have a cigarette and drink...it was ice tea .  We talked about my life, my teaching, my ambitions until I was at ease.  And then ........ here it comes..... he askes me if I was planning on converting.  I looked him square in the eyes and replied, "Father, I don't know...I don't know enough about the Catholic Religion to answer that right now."  He slapped me on the knee and said "Good, cause we don't want you just because of a pair of pants."  We were married in the Catholic Chapel!  Through the years, and there have been many, I have attended numerous churches of different demoninations as we have traveled extensively for 32 years with the Navy.  I came to the conclusion years ago that it's not the denomination of the church that matters, but it's where one feels they belong; can find love, comfort, acceptance and friendship that really matters.  It doesn't matter which church someone belongs to or even if they don't belong to a church...it's what is in the hearts of each and everyone of us that guides us in our daily lives.  I have friends from all walks of religious life.  I respect everyones choice. 

Hope I haven't bored you too much with this epistle... thanks for the opportunity to express myself. "A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight."

Stryker 

Fellow Bloggers,

Thanks for a fairly wide array of opinions, not only @ how you came to a decision on a religion, but thoughts on religion itself.  I notice that some of the likes & dislike fairly mirror general opinions elswhere, so you seem to be fairly in midstream with others.

I think I read somewhere that Pentacostals are the fastest growing group of all the major denominations.  I might be wrong.  If I'm correct, that is one heck of a growth spurt.  It will be interesting to see where it goes.

RichK