I too had a christian upbrining. I'm also fascinated with religion (all types), theology, and phylosophy. I enjoy discussing and debating these areas as well. What turned me off from religion is one day a preacher said something I didn't agree with during a sermon. So I figured a good discussion on the issue would be interesting. Well 2 minutes into the conversation he was in my face yelling at me that I didn't believe in the same god as he did. I just yelled back that I didn't know there was more than one and never returned.

Just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone

Michael

hey sis,neither dose god from what i can remember,all those prayers your parents made you say as a kid are still valid!.so many people go though life saying asking the same prayer!,like i told mah on one of her blogsyou need just ask once he herd you the first time!!,if it works out for you good,he dosr try & make things work out for your betterment(is that a word? ha) if you look ay koser laws& aply them 1,000 years ago think of how many lifes were saved from food poisoning??,& if i remember right he not big on"reigion"& realy dis likes dogma! ever lasting life ya just have to ask!!,ONCE! ,but you have to ask verbly!! here! not on the other side& it's many levals(not that you could)

this message brought to you by his humbledness cyclopssam,another satisfied custemer

GOD RAWK!!!

dear all, About the topic of GOD. I also abandoned my origin as a Christian because as a very young child I sensed alot of fear in the parisioners. The church was a mammoth stone structure and the service so formal and distant. This was Protestant faith, which I now know has that reputation. In addition my BA degree is in Art History. I studied all forms of the Church patronized magnificent Art masterpieces. The church has been the most affluent supporters of great Art. Then I began to think that it is mostly a Patriatric organization heirarchy and how was I as a Female to accept that many denominations can't see to allow female ministers or Priests.That alone really turned me off! So, it happened that my mother announced one day when I was about 13 or so that she would no longer attend services on Sunday because she was getting nothing out of it. She offered to drive me and my sister any time to choir or services. I thought Phew. Finally released from this tedious experience. Now, being a loving believer she continued searching herself. When she found her avenue she involved me in Yoga study. Now, most folks think of Yoga as only calisthenics. NotSo! it is a very profound Spiritual Science. Never in conflict with any religious persuasion. One learns through experience some wonderful insights and advances towards the light and love of God. I would encourage any searching soul to investigate Yogic philosophy including meditative techniques. When you have discovered how to harmonize your own body, mind,spirit, you find harmony in this world as well. Of course I have been fortunaate to have 3 venerable Gurus from the Kripalu Lineage. Kripa was the Vedic God

of compassion and Mercy. Christ the penultimate Yogy.This is my path to practice and teach.

Leighla

Pam

I grew up with parents who also did not attend church, but we kids had to go to church until we were both ten-twelve. Unlike your experience, we went to difference denominations of Christian churchs---didn't matter which one and it could vary week to week. (Had there been non-Christain churches in our town at the time, they would have been included.) I went to a lot of Bible summer camps as well. For me, I think if I had had kids I'd have done the same thing with them because you can't really get through life without knowing the Bible stories. So much in our world here in the U.S., in every day conversations, makes references to things from the Bible, so I feel kids got to learn the basics.

I'm really glad that my parents rotated us around to different demominations without prejudge because by the time I got to college I was really open to studying other paths to God besides Christainity and I took a lot of comparative world religion, philosophy and ethics classes. I feel that I have studied religion/God much more than all the people I know who go to church every Sunday.

I feel very content with my beliefs regarding God and with not being attached to Christianity. And like you, I do not like others assuming that just because I do not go to a certain denomination of church or practice a certain brand of religion that I need to be "saving" or that I am "in the dark." Frankly, I think the ones who feel that way are REALLY the ones who are in the dark. And I do resent them assuming that they are on a higher plain.....

HOWEVER, the only way this world can work without us all killing ourselves over religion is for each of us to tolerate one anothers' religious or non-religious points of view. This is a VERY difficult thing to do at times because there are some religions who feel it is their mission to convert others. None the less, it is a goal that I personally feel is worth working towards. I am not saying that you or me or Leigha or others need to keep our feelings to ourselves. I'm just saying we need to show them in a civilized and thougthful manner---try to gain respect for our points of view, rather than suffer the loss of it.

Jean