Did you grow up religious or not? How did it affect you?

[SchizoGymnast]

My family was agnostic growing up but I became deeply religious later on in life. My parents wanted me to be part of the "real world," to be able to relate to all types of people, be curious, and focus on doing good deeds, not just saying or thinking the right *words.* My hope is for every child to experience that.

 

[Macedonian1987]

I grew up religious, believing for almost 30 years that people who die by suicide go to hell after their death. Something inside me did never truly believe that suicides go to hell, because that seemed like an incredibly cruel and unjust punishment for wanting to end one's own pain. So I started doing research on my own. I read probably thousands of NDE's (Near-Death Experiences), and many of them were suicide-induced. I've also read the research by the doctors Raymond Moody and Mark Pitstick, and now I believe that those who die by suicide don't go to hell, but are warmly and lovingly welcomed by God. God will heal their wounds and the sadness that was plaguing them here on earth.

 

[derpyderpins]

I grew up in a religious house. Not super religious, but religious enough. My first suicidal gesture at age 11 was stopped by my fear of going to hell.

Now I find myself in religious skepticism. I greatly and powerfully believe there is something more to consciousness but I'm not satisfied with established doctrines.

 

[NormallyNeurotic]

I grew up staunchly athiest due to fear that the Christofascist "version" of G-d would read my mind and see that I'm a sinner. My extended family is Christian, and I live in a conservative area, but my parents were athiest/agnostic (supposedly, one lied to me all the time as a kid).

I just stuck my head in the sand like "If G-d doesn't exist, he can't see the horrific intrusive thoughts and memories I experience every day, or judge me for being a sinner!" Considering I was abused as a kid, it makes sense. I also know that I may have repressed memories about more religious trauma, but no lead yet.

As you can see by my "censoring" of G-d's name... I'm no longer atheist! I decided to follow the path of my Jewish family members. I like it much better than whatever cult-like bullshit bastardization of G-d that the conservatives were pushing.