For those who used to be aetheists or agnostics - how did you find your faith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Atheist here. If you feel like you would like to rediscover your faith, go attend some church service. Engage in the community. All of the church-going friends I have are incredibly warm and inviting. Our family went to a couple of church events on their invitation and the people made me feel welcome.
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I needed to read this today.

Of course they're warm and inviting - until you get into in depth discussions with them. "Warm and inviting" will bring you into the fold.

not the case with all Christians. Some are not proselytizing - some really don't believe in all that stuff themselves. THey just like church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Atheist here. If you feel like you would like to rediscover your faith, go attend some church service. Engage in the community. All of the church-going friends I have are incredibly warm and inviting. Our family went to a couple of church events on their invitation and the people made me feel welcome.
.

I needed to read this today.

Of course they're warm and inviting - until you get into in depth discussions with them. "Warm and inviting" will bring you into the fold.

not the case with all Christians. Some are not proselytizing - some really don't believe in all that stuff themselves. THey just like church.

been there, done that

I have to disagree. If you just like the community feel of church but don't fully believe in the church's doctrine, then you're not a true adherent. It's that simple.

For example, Catholics who take birth control and who are pro-choice and who don't give up anything during Lent and who don't tithe on a regular basis (yada yada) aren't true Catholics.

You can find a community OUTSIDE of a church. Hell, finding 8 friends who like hiking replaces a weekly church gathering, as you can COMMUNE with nature!

I am too lazy to look up stats on atheists turning to religion, but I would bet that most started off as believers (raised in a religious household) and either return b/c they have kids, feel guilty or are filling a void.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Atheist here. If you feel like you would like to rediscover your faith, go attend some church service. Engage in the community. All of the church-going friends I have are incredibly warm and inviting. Our family went to a couple of church events on their invitation and the people made me feel welcome.
.

I needed to read this today.

Of course they're warm and inviting - until you get into in depth discussions with them. "Warm and inviting" will bring you into the fold.

not the case with all Christians. Some are not proselytizing - some really don't believe in all that stuff themselves. THey just like church.

So strange, that you need to find this sort or nonsensical outlet for all your negativity. There are so many ways to socialize if you want a community, why wake up early every Sunday unless you actually believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Atheist here. If you feel like you would like to rediscover your faith, go attend some church service. Engage in the community. All of the church-going friends I have are incredibly warm and inviting. Our family went to a couple of church events on their invitation and the people made me feel welcome.
.

I needed to read this today.

Of course they're warm and inviting - until you get into in depth discussions with them. "Warm and inviting" will bring you into the fold.

not the case with all Christians. Some are not proselytizing - some really don't believe in all that stuff themselves. THey just like church.

So strange, that you need to find this sort or nonsensical outlet for all your negativity. There are so many ways to socialize if you want a community, why wake up early every Sunday unless you actually believe.

Nothing negative or nonsensical about it. Lots of people who don't go to church wake up early on Sundays anyhow, and making it to an 11AM service is not so hard. Believing in certain things is the least of the reasons some people have for going to church -- there's the community, the singing, the coffee hour afterwards, the Sunday school to drop off the kids, etc.

People may believe some of it (e.g., Jesus as wise, compassionate first century teacher) but not all of it (rising from the dead, sending people to heaven or hell based on belief in him). Those people are welcomed at many churches. At other churches, they may not be so welcomed if people knew exactly what they believed, but as long as they keep quiet about their beliefs, they'll be OK.

[Anonymous]

I came to the conclusion that on Good Friday and Easter, supernatural events occurred. It became impossible for me to believe otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am agnostic, although I'd really like to believe. I'd love to be a member of the local Episcopal church. I grew up in that church and it most closely aligns with my moral beliefs. But I just don't believe...

I did miss the spiritual side of things a lot. I have read a lot instead, a lot of philosophy, religious texts, others. I think I can most closely be described as pantheist now. The natural universe and everything in it, is divine. Not that there is an omniscient God, but rather the universe and nature are scared, and should be revered. Awe-inspiring.

This may not be what you are looking for. But I just wanted to mention it in case it touched a chord.

similar story here. Grew up in a religious home and had no faith since as early as I can remember as a small child. Consider myself agnostic not athiest. I would like some type of spiritual option for my children so will probably start attending UU church at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am agnostic, although I'd really like to believe. I'd love to be a member of the local Episcopal church. I grew up in that church and it most closely aligns with my moral beliefs. But I just don't believe...

I did miss the spiritual side of things a lot. I have read a lot instead, a lot of philosophy, religious texts, others. I think I can most closely be described as pantheist now. The natural universe and everything in it, is divine. Not that there is an omniscient God, but rather the universe and nature are scared, and should be revered. Awe-inspiring.

This may not be what you are looking for. But I just wanted to mention it in case it touched a chord.

similar story here. Grew up in a religious home and had no faith since as early as I can remember as a small child. Consider myself agnostic not athiest. I would like some type of spiritual option for my children so will probably start attending UU church at some point.

Good choice. UU's teach about various religions, so your kids can decide on their own.

[Anonymous]

I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

Does Jesus love people with high IQ scores more?

I can't put my finger on it, but there's someting distasteful about mentioning one's superior intellect as measured by the college board into a discussion of religion.Perhps if my own IQ score were higher, I'd get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

Aww you think you're smarter than scientists who believed in God, like Isaac Newton and Sir Francis Bacon? You're cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

Does Jesus love people with high IQ scores more?

I can't put my finger on it, but there's someting distasteful about mentioning one's superior intellect as measured by the college board into a discussion of religion.Perhps if my own IQ score were higher, I'd get it.

I'm here to help. What's distasteful is first PP saying IQ is lower among religious people. The NMSSF quip was a fine response to a sweeping insult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

Does Jesus love people with high IQ scores more?

I can't put my finger on it, but there's someting distasteful about mentioning one's superior intellect as measured by the college board into a discussion of religion.Perhps if my own IQ score were higher, I'd get it.

I'm here to help. What's distasteful is first PP saying IQ is lower among religious people. The NMSSF quip was a fine response to a sweeping insult.

No, actually, pp said that she thinks that when a crisis hits it has an IQ lowering effect which makes religion more plausible. see above and read for yourself.

Here's more speculation - some religious people, no matter what their IQ, can become a bit touchy when they think their religiosity is being challenged, causing them to misinterpret comments about religious belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

Does Jesus love people with high IQ scores more?

I can't put my finger on it, but there's someting distasteful about mentioning one's superior intellect as measured by the college board into a discussion of religion.Perhps if my own IQ score were higher, I'd get it.

I'm here to help. What's distasteful is first PP saying IQ is lower among religious people. The NMSSF quip was a fine response to a sweeping insult.

No, actually, pp said that she thinks that when a crisis hits it has an IQ lowering effect which makes religion more plausible. see above and read for yourself.

Here's more speculation - some religious people, no matter what their IQ, can become a bit touchy when they think their religiosity is being challenged, causing them to misinterpret comments about religious belief.

And then there are people who, no matter what the subject at hand, are always looking for an opportunity to tell others how well they did on the SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm good. No going there if honesty matters. I think when a crisis hits your IQ drops a little and religion seems more plausible but not rational.

You keep telling yourself that.

Signed, National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist who is a believer, who has had a pretty crisis-free life so far, and who would be happy to compare IQ scores any day with someone who presents her "thoughts" as facts

Matthew 18:1-4 “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I thought smart people understood irony,