Do you still practice the faith in which you were raised? / LJWorld.com

Asked at Massachusetts Street on February 26, 2008

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“No, I do not. I was raised Catholic, and as I got older I started to disagree with some of their principles.”

— Mandy Denton, claims customer service representative, Lawrence

“No. I was raised Hindu, and now I’m an atheist.”

— Ishaan Saxena, Kansas University senior, New Delhi, India

“Yes, I do. I’m Catholic, and I still go to church. I believe it, so I’ve stuck with it.”

— Stephanie Drahozal, Lawrence High School senior, Lawrence

“No, I do not. I was raised Nazarene, which is a sect of Christianity, and I didn’t feel like it was much of a faith, more of a network.”

— Jonathan Zani, retail manager, Kansas City, Kan.

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buffbonzai 5 years, 9 months ago

Hell no! I was raised Catholic, started to question it as early as the fourth grade and now I'm a full fledged atheist.

jonas 5 years, 9 months ago

Nope, I started out a presbyterian and now worship the Giant Slurg Beast of Hyperandromache VIII, of course.

I was raised Catholic and told we were the only true religion! Now I am a double naught true religion spy, working as a tripple agent. My true affiliation must remain secret until I receive the new identity and enter the realm (politics).

preebo 5 years, 9 months ago

Nope. Raised Catholic. Now more of a Heretic.

...at least according to "The Church."

Still Christian though, just more realistic.

jonas 5 years, 9 months ago

Hmmm. . . . cue the "Lawrence hates religion" post in t-minus 10. . . . t-minues 9. . . .

Unfortunately, it will probably just be b3 or another flamer of that type.

average 5 years, 9 months ago

Jeffersonian Deist, as I was raised.

OldEnuf2BYurDad 5 years, 9 months ago

""Yes, I do. I'm Catholic, and I still go to church. I believe it, so I've stuck with it."

Stephanie Drahozal, Lawrence High School senior, Lawrence"

Forgive my cynicism, but that's just it: as adults, we Americans tend to stray. At 18, she may not have hit that bump, yet.

craigers 5 years, 9 months ago

I absolutely do. God is just as real today as He was to me when I was younger. Probably more to be exact.

trinity 5 years, 9 months ago

i think we need a "who was raised catholic but no longer is" forum all to itself! i'm in that number, also.

rtwngr 5 years, 9 months ago

Some of the comments remain about themselves. The comments that bother me are the ones where they rationalize their beliefs (or lack of them) by making condescending comments about another's beliefs.

Personally, I was raised a Baptist and am now a Roman Catholic. I am happy and my family is happy being Roman Catholic. My wish is that more Roman Catholics were more Roman Catholic.

tvc 5 years, 9 months ago

I went to church by myself when I was younger. I think it got me through some difficult times, but I am now an agnostic. I do not believe in a personal god. Py said it all!

jumpin_catfish 5 years, 9 months ago

My dogma was lost in an enigma! I wander the American wasteland of belief systems.

Stain 5 years, 9 months ago

right_thinker are you a Christian? Are you an example of a Christian, and Christian attitudes and actions?

acg 5 years, 9 months ago

Yes, I do. My folks taught me well. They said, whenever you see a preacher/priest coming your way, run the other direction because you can bet most of the time they're up to no good. Huh, whaddya know?

Stain 5 years, 9 months ago

Yes: Faith in my own conscience and knowledge of what is right and wrong. I don't need any institution to tell me what is right and what is wrong. The blessing of an institution all too often is a substitute for people following their own conscience, and an excuse to do wrong and be "forgiven" by their church which they think then makes it all ok.

geppetto 5 years, 9 months ago

http://www.revbilly.com/

moo 5 years, 9 months ago

Hehe, "secular progressive extremists," cue scary music. "Don't go in there! The secular progressives might ask politely that you continue to practice whatever religion you choose and teach your children whatever you want and simply refrain from forcing them to choose your way of life! AAAAAAAAh!!!!!!" Figment of your imagination, RT.

Hm, started out as a child with some Unitarianism. Dabbled in Christianity in high school after I realized that accepting friends' invitation to youth groups spared me the "you are going to Hell" speech and the pitying looks that seemed directed at a Leper standing directly behind me. Realized at some point that it's just much better to decide for one's self what to believe and insteading of accepting something you're told without question.

Having said that, everyone should believe whatever they want as long as I can do the same. True to "secular progressive" form. : )

not_dolph 5 years, 9 months ago

cool (Anonymous) says:

YES

So which is it cool - are you Jewish, or are you practicing New Age stuff?

coolmarv 5 years, 9 months ago

If I die having faith that there is something better out there then I will die a peacful death, no matter the means. If I beleive and have faith and there is nothing more after I die then I will not know any different. I will take my chances. If I don't believe or have faith and I die and there is more I may be on the outside ever yearning to get in. I don't know what is out there but I am a much happier person inside having my faith. Do I have questions about a higher power? Sure. Do I have doubts that there is a higher power? No. I don't spend too much time debating whether there is a God or not a God. Those who do may have something to fear. Why else would those posters post the same comments everytime the topic comes up. Maybe they are trying to convince themselves there is not a God. I do think the Catholic church has left itself open for ridicule many times. That is unfortunate. With each failure a lesson is learned. All or most Catholics do not think they are better than others and none should. . Many posters only say negative things about Catholics. Nothing better to do I suppose. Maybe they have no faith and don't care or know any better. I will remain strong in my faith.

sunflower_sue 5 years, 9 months ago

I guess I practice my own version of the faith that I was raised. I was raised a Christian (Deciples of Christ), but I am no longer a church goer. I stick to the scripture that says church is "wherever two are gathered in His name..." (Church can be full of people that I'd just as soon avoid.) I don't believe in "one true religion." I don't believe that I need to preach in order to be saved. I refuse to believe that non-Chirstians are condemned. I'll just believe what I believe and pray that God is as forgiving as I believe He is. I pray daily. :)

Lisia 5 years, 9 months ago

Another former Catholic here. 12 years of Catholic schooling pretty much beat it out of me instead of driving it into me. So now I'm a heretic. I enjoy the tradition and pageantry of church services, though. And I can understand where a church (any religion) can offer people security and hope. I just don't share that.

mom_of_three 5 years, 9 months ago

Definitely a big no. Didn't go to church as a young kid, but started at 12 when we moved closer to the grandparents, who made us kids go. I didn't like it, because my paternal grandparents would tell me other denominations were wrong, and would not go to heaven, and then I was thinking who actually knows who is right. Religion didn't seem to practice tolerance or understanding to me.
Still trying to find a place to worship where I feel comfortable, after all my bad experiences. Haven't found one yet, but I am still looking.

dajudge 5 years, 9 months ago

I, too, am of that ever increasing faith called "Raised Catholic". Now, I worship the sun god of the ancient Inca.

Dorothy Hoyt-Reed 5 years, 9 months ago

I attended a Wesleyn (at that time Methodist) church. Our Sunday schools were divided by sex, until we were in our teens. We had a really interesting teacher, and we started asking questions about why Baptists are different than Methodists, and what is the Jewish religion, etc. He told us he would do some research and that would be next week's topic. The next week, we were again divided up by sex with 2 new teachers, learning all the cutesy bible stories again. I stopped going to church. Since then I've tried to experience every religion possible and find spiritual things in all of them. I guess that makes me a Unitarian; although, I don't belong to that church either. Some would call me an atheist or an agnostic, but that's not true either, because I believe in god, I just refuse to step in line to any one dogma.

geniusmannumber1 5 years, 9 months ago

Multidisciplinary-- I find it hard to believe that your story represents anything other than one individual's experience. In any event, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say you're referring to a much, much older generation of Catholics.

Marion-- Speaking as someone who was raised Catholic (you know, this new study suggests that there may be as many as 10% of the US population who are "recovering"), was in Catholic youth groups, and who infrequently attended Catholic school, I've gotta say the Billy Joel song is much, much too inapt. I suggest "Catholic School Girls Rule" by the Chili Peppers.

Calliope877 5 years, 9 months ago

My dad is a hardcore protestant and my mom is agnostic. Since dad was an a$$hole when it came to going to church (I was pretty much forced to do so until I got into junior high) I veered towards my mom's way of thinking.

Dwight_Schrute 5 years, 9 months ago

"Chosing a religion should be an adult activity. Then, at least you know what you are getting into."

When the adults around him became agitated because of the growing number of children, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me."

sunflower_sue 5 years, 9 months ago

R_I, I really needed a laugh today...thanks for supplying one. :D and, God bless you!

Newell_Post 5 years, 9 months ago

Hey, Marion. How about....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Google

yeah_right 5 years, 9 months ago

I wasn't really raised anything. Started going to church in Junior High. Quit when I got into college and have now returned and I love it now more than ever. I think it is because I don't have to go now but I want to. I go to a Baptist church and the Pastor is great. I don't claim to be Baptist, though. I am Christian. Things just seem to go much better and make more sense when I acknowledge God's love.

jimincountry 5 years, 9 months ago

I intend to make a perfect act of contrition just before I die which will insure my getting to heaven no matter WHAT!

jimincountry 5 years, 9 months ago

Actually, I'll probably just be thinking " God Help Me" and hope that works.

livingstone 5 years, 9 months ago

Do you think worshiping money is a religion?

KSChick1 5 years, 9 months ago

Recovering footwashing Southern Baptist

freaky handsy sunday school teacher and all-really turned me off of "religion"

ImTooOldForThis 5 years, 9 months ago

H e double toothpicks no.

I was raised catholic. Seems to be a prerequisite of athiests such as myself.

GretchenJP 5 years, 9 months ago

My mom ~ Mennonite. My dad ~ Methodist. They grew up goinig to church but they didn't take me to church so I wasn't really raised under any particular faith. Now I'm studying Wicca.

stinkfist 5 years, 9 months ago

Anyone thought of making their own church, or some other believer cult? Maybe having a few of you self proclaimed independent believers in something or another come together? You might fit nicely in a group that you so wish/believe not to be a part of.

Don't invite me. I'll stick to wine, beer, song, literature, myself and my own.

Irrelevant/wasteful subject.

sunflowerks54 5 years, 9 months ago

I went to bapbist and pentecostal churches growing up, but as an adult I became presbyterian and have remained so. One of my children is also presbyterian, but the other one has chosen to be methodist. Overall, I believe that we are all God's children, and no one church has all the answers. Treating our fellow human beings with respect and dignity is the true religion.

H_Lecter 5 years, 9 months ago

I learned what real pain was as a Methodist attending Catholic Schools. As a senior at Catholic boarding school, I decided during Mass one day going up for communion would atone for some of my impure thoughts and deeds. So, Father Mike dipped the wafer in the wine, placed it on my tongue, and said the blessing. As a polite and confirmed Methodist, I said, "Thank you." Since I didn't say, "Amen", Father remembered I wasn't Catholic. After Mass, he reminded me that as a heathen (non-Catholic) I should not take communion in the Catholic church. That ended any thoughts I had of becoming a priest. I think it was that same year that i was shocked to learn that we Methodists don't drink alcohol, which explained the juice for communion...my first full fledged disagreement with my church's doctrine. (I'd been corrupted by the Catholics)

Organized religions are such interesting sets of other people's rules. Personally, I like to think God is OK with my occasional imbibing...compared to the occasional impaling

gayokay 5 years, 9 months ago

Raised Baptist, explored fundamental evangelical Christianity in college, tried to pray myself straight. I even almost got married believing that if I lived like a hetero then I would become what society wanted me to be. Now I am recovering from the damage caused by religious Bible Thumpers with literal interpretations and a legalistic practice of religion.

Now I am happily active in Metropolitan Community Church in Topeka. A church that welcomes all. Now I am living a life as a Gay Christian as God intended and created me to be.

RedwoodCoast 5 years, 9 months ago

I was raised Methodist. I no longer practice and no longer believe. It just doesn't work for me like it does for other people. If I were to become religious, Buddhism is probably the closest match for me.

StirrrThePot 5 years, 9 months ago

Raised Catholic by parents who were raised Methodist and Lutheran (and joined the Catholic Church as adults). Joined the Church as a teen (mom and dad gave me the option) and more or less haven't looked back. I may not be what some people would consider a "good" Catholic--i.e. we've used contraceptives in the past, I sometimes forget on Lenten Fridays and accidentally eat meat, etc. That said, I am a good person and do my best to lead the life God would want me to...and I happen to be a Catholic Christian. It is not a perfect Church, but I say let the members of the perfect church step forward, mmmkay? What, wait...there isn't one? Hmmm, interesting. :)

I went to various protestant/evangelical/charismatic youth groups with friends as a kid but never felt at home. I don't agree with EVERYTHING the Church mandates, and I believe that is a healthy thing (following blindly does not suit me either). It does mandate many things I do agree with, and it is between me and God to sort out the rest. I love the Mass, I love the church I currently attend, and feel at home with the parishoners and pastor there. I do not push my faith onto others, in fact I take the attitude that it is my business, not anyone else's.

I have had plenty of friends who felt they had to give me their anti-Catholic opinions, rather than just respect my beliefs (or, here's a a thought, how about ASKING me what it is all about instead interjecting ignorance at it??). I have also taken alot of heat from the "raised Catholic/not Catholic anymore" crowd --I am reminded specifically of a lecture given to me by a guy at an interfaith Bible study in college. He talked to me like I was the human embodiment of all Catholics, as if I was the one who told him he'd be damned to hell if he didn't go to confession or say 18 Hail Marys on the third Friday of the second month following the feast of St. Bonaventure. When he was done with his tirade I just said "Look, I'm just here because I thought this was a nondenominational bible study and there's free food. I could care less what you do."

That sums it up for me I think.

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