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

[Anonymous]

My mom is Catholic and I grew up going to church, baptized but never got confirmed. In high school I didn't go to church as much and grew more agnostic in college. I'd like to be more spiritual. For those who were agnostic or aetheist and then found faith again (through any religion), how did you do it? What were the events that led you to where you are today?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a mainline Protestant church, became an atheist in middle school, gradually began to be less certain of my atheism in high school and decided I was agnostic, but started to be drawn to philosophy/spirituality in high school. In college I started to explore it-- went to a few different meditation groups, visited local churches, joined a Bible study. Ultimately I joined a student ministry at another mainline church because I liked the people. but nothing really clicked and I never felt like I "believed" in anything. Until I did, about halfway through my sophomore year. no bright light or voice from God, just a sense that, if I wanted to, I could believe now. My faith has grown and changed a lot since that moment (I'm no poster child for Christian orthodoxy or anything), but the underlying faith is always there. So IMHO, if you're interested in being more spiritual, you're halfway there already. Seek and you shall find, as they say.

[Anonymous]

Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Does dreaming about Vishnu and his avatars mean that God exists and it is Vishnu, or does this only apply to people with Hindu ancestors? What about people who see visions of other Gods?

[Anonymous]

We are Hindu too. Ive been atheist/agnostic my whole life but have akways liked the trappings of being religious, like the custums, rituals, comunity, certsinty -- of any religion (ok, I have major issues with Islam, and any other faith that oppresses women and girls, and that invludes sects of all the major religions, really). For the last several years, Id say Im more of a seeker, looking for signs of God so I can finally be on the inside of faith. My mother is dying a cruel death from cancer. Now I find I am open to speaking/praying to any God who will listen. I still am not sure. In our family, we tend to imagne one God, many avatars. As my dying mother said to our Christian Indian chaplain, Jesus is a God. I like the teachings of Jesus, for the most part, besides those that are out of date (ie homosexuality). His basic message of lovesnd forgiveness and original sin (meaning no one is perfect), resonates with me, and maybe because I was born here I just as often speak to Jesus/Christian God as often as Ganesha or other Hindu gods. So far though, it is a one way conversation. No mystical dreams. I asked my mom, who is a scientist, whether God is real, and she said with no hesitation, certainly, yes. I hope that she is right and her faith is real. She is close the end. My religious friends may see it as a miracle she is still alive and in a great spirits. I count us as simply lucky. If there were miracles, surely God would reserve those for children, true innocents, and yet horrors like what happened in Brussels and Pakistan still happen, challenging me again about why I want to have faith in God who would allow these things to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Does dreaming about Vishnu and his avatars mean that God exists and it is Vishnu, or does this only apply to people with Hindu ancestors? What about people who see visions of other Gods?

I'm the PP quoted here. Well, first of all I'm not going to try and convince anyone of my beliefs, which is where this discussion might go if I respond to your questions, but anyway. In Hinduism, there's no contradiction between "other Gods" and "this God." They're all God - a part of that Divinity and the entirety of that Divinity. So the contradiction you brought up isn't really a contradiction in Hinduism. Vishnu is my "ishta devata", my patron deity, and I practice bhakti yoga with him. I love him tenderly and he is like a part of our family, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't love the other Hindu Gods, or that we can't recognize other non-Hindu forms of the Divine.

Vishnu and the other Hindu Gods aren't limited to only helping those who have a Hindu bloodline, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Does dreaming about Vishnu and his avatars mean that God exists and it is Vishnu, or does this only apply to people with Hindu ancestors? What about people who see visions of other Gods?

I'm the PP quoted here. Well, first of all I'm not going to try and convince anyone of my beliefs, which is where this discussion might go if I respond to your questions, but anyway. In Hinduism, there's no contradiction between "other Gods" and "this God." They're all God - a part of that Divinity and the entirety of that Divinity. So the contradiction you brought up isn't really a contradiction in Hinduism. Vishnu is my "ishta devata", my patron deity, and I practice bhakti yoga with him. I love him tenderly and he is like a part of our family, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't love the other Hindu Gods, or that we can't recognize other non-Hindu forms of the Divine.

Vishnu and the other Hindu Gods aren't limited to only helping those who have a Hindu bloodline, no.

Thank you. Do hindu's have an afterlife and if so, do you have to believe in a certain God (hindu or otherwise) to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Hindu too. Ive been atheist/agnostic my whole life but have akways liked the trappings of being religious, like the custums, rituals, comunity, certsinty -- of any religion (ok, I have major issues with Islam, and any other faith that oppresses women and girls, and that invludes sects of all the major religions, really). For the last several years, Id say Im more of a seeker, looking for signs of God so I can finally be on the inside of faith. My mother is dying a cruel death from cancer. Now I find I am open to speaking/praying to any God who will listen. I still am not sure. In our family, we tend to imagne one God, many avatars. As my dying mother said to our Christian Indian chaplain, Jesus is a God. I like the teachings of Jesus, for the most part, besides those that are out of date (ie homosexuality). His basic message of lovesnd forgiveness and original sin (meaning no one is perfect), resonates with me, and maybe because I was born here I just as often speak to Jesus/Christian God as often as Ganesha or other Hindu gods. So far though, it is a one way conversation. No mystical dreams. I asked my mom, who is a scientist, whether God is real, and she said with no hesitation, certainly, yes. I hope that she is right and her faith is real. She is close the end. My religious friends may see it as a miracle she is still alive and in a great spirits. I count us as simply lucky. If there were miracles, surely God would reserve those for children, true innocents, and yet horrors like what happened in Brussels and Pakistan still happen, challenging me again about why I want to have faith in God who would allow these things to happen.

It does seem odd, or unreasonable, but then people say belief in God is not about reason - It's about faith and wanting something to be true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Does dreaming about Vishnu and his avatars mean that God exists and it is Vishnu, or does this only apply to people with Hindu ancestors? What about people who see visions of other Gods?

I'm the PP quoted here. Well, first of all I'm not going to try and convince anyone of my beliefs, which is where this discussion might go if I respond to your questions, but anyway. In Hinduism, there's no contradiction between "other Gods" and "this God." They're all God - a part of that Divinity and the entirety of that Divinity. So the contradiction you brought up isn't really a contradiction in Hinduism. Vishnu is my "ishta devata", my patron deity, and I practice bhakti yoga with him. I love him tenderly and he is like a part of our family, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't love the other Hindu Gods, or that we can't recognize other non-Hindu forms of the Divine.

Vishnu and the other Hindu Gods aren't limited to only helping those who have a Hindu bloodline, no.

Thank you. Do hindu's have an afterlife and if so, do you have to believe in a certain God (hindu or otherwise) to get in?

No problem. We believe in liberation from the wheel of rebirth, and how that liberation happens is complicated. Just as how different Christian churches have their own idea about how salvation happens (is it solely by God's grace? is it a combination of good works and grace? etc), different branches of Hinduism may have slightly different ideas about how one becomes liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. However, these different branches are not necessarily in conflict with each other; you are not going to see a big war between a Vishnu devotee who believes bhakti yoga to Vishnu is the way to liberation from the wheel of rebirth, and a devotee of the Mother Goddess (Durga or Shakti or Devi, She has many names) who believes awakening the kundalini energy and surrendering to the Goddess is the way to liberation. Most Hindus will tell you that any God will liberate you from the cycle of reincarnation, there is no conflict between the Gods. It's just which God you choose. And the reason you choose a God is because each one has a certain personality, role, and distinct "flavor" of Divinity, which for whichever reason may match your particular soul's journey.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Do you not like being at your old Episcopal church or do you feel as if you shouldn't be there? In my experience, lots of Episcopal churches don't care what you believe and even openly wlecome agnostics, os if you're OK with it, so are they.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up observant Vaishnava Hindu (a Hindu branch that primarily worships Vishnu, but also the other Gods as well), went atheist from high school through college. Started having mystical experiences in dreams, meditation and really eerie, unexplainable happenings in my life, all concerning Vishnu in his various avatars.

Started reading Hindu philosophy, reading about the teachings of major spiritual teachers like Vivekananda, etc. It helped me understand myself and my world better, and made sense to me. I'm still growing and learning but I am a quiet and serious devotee of Vishnu now, like my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.

Does dreaming about Vishnu and his avatars mean that God exists and it is Vishnu, or does this only apply to people with Hindu ancestors? What about people who see visions of other Gods?

I'm the PP quoted here. Well, first of all I'm not going to try and convince anyone of my beliefs, which is where this discussion might go if I respond to your questions, but anyway. In Hinduism, there's no contradiction between "other Gods" and "this God." They're all God - a part of that Divinity and the entirety of that Divinity. So the contradiction you brought up isn't really a contradiction in Hinduism. Vishnu is my "ishta devata", my patron deity, and I practice bhakti yoga with him. I love him tenderly and he is like a part of our family, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't love the other Hindu Gods, or that we can't recognize other non-Hindu forms of the Divine.

Vishnu and the other Hindu Gods aren't limited to only helping those who have a Hindu bloodline, no.

Thank you. Do hindu's have an afterlife and if so, do you have to believe in a certain God (hindu or otherwise) to get in?

No problem. We believe in liberation from the wheel of rebirth, and how that liberation happens is complicated. Just as how different Christian churches have their own idea about how salvation happens (is it solely by God's grace? is it a combination of good works and grace? etc), different branches of Hinduism may have slightly different ideas about how one becomes liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. However, these different branches are not necessarily in conflict with each other; you are not going to see a big war between a Vishnu devotee who believes bhakti yoga to Vishnu is the way to liberation from the wheel of rebirth, and a devotee of the Mother Goddess (Durga or Shakti or Devi, She has many names) who believes awakening the kundalini energy and surrendering to the Goddess is the way to liberation. Most Hindus will tell you that any God will liberate you from the cycle of reincarnation, there is no conflict between the Gods. It's just which God you choose. And the reason you choose a God is because each one has a certain personality, role, and distinct "flavor" of Divinity, which for whichever reason may match your particular soul's journey.

Is liberation from the wheel of rebirth like heaven?

[Anonymous]

Is liberation from the wheel of rebirth like heaven?

Kind of. It's interesting because depending on whether you believe in duality or non-duality - do you merge into the Infinite Consciousness of God or do you retain your singularity? There are many ways to answer that question and it is nice and complicated and difficult. Personally, I don't know.

It's also problematic to call it heaven because I think in this country there is a cultural association of Heaven = where good people go and Hell = where bad people go. There are no real value judgments like that in Hinduism. Everyone is liberated from the wheel of rebirth sooner or later, and the Hindu underworld is a place where everyone goes temporarily in between reincarnations to purge some karma, ponder on what they did and so on before they are reborn. But liberation will come for everyone one day, even the the militants of ISIS - it's just that if you're a terrorist it's going to take you a LONG LONG TIME and you're in for a lot of rough and painful future lives to pay for your terrorist karma before you get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Is liberation from the wheel of rebirth like heaven?

Kind of. It's interesting because depending on whether you believe in duality or non-duality - do you merge into the Infinite Consciousness of God or do you retain your singularity? There are many ways to answer that question and it is nice and complicated and difficult. Personally, I don't know.

It's also problematic to call it heaven because I think in this country there is a cultural association of Heaven = where good people go and Hell = where bad people go. There are no real value judgments like that in Hinduism. Everyone is liberated from the wheel of rebirth sooner or later, and the Hindu underworld is a place where everyone goes temporarily in between reincarnations to purge some karma, ponder on what they did and so on before they are reborn. But liberation will come for everyone one day, even the the militants of ISIS - it's just that if you're a terrorist it's going to take you a LONG LONG TIME and you're in for a lot of rough and painful future lives to pay for your terrorist karma before you get there.

and now that you're practicing Himuism again, you believe all those things?

[Anonymous]

I do, but I don't expect anyone else to agree with me.