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im confirmed, i just dont know what to do now...
Hi. Im 16. i was confirmed in the catholic church this year, and they said that to be confirmed you have to want to be in the church and everything, but truthfully, like many others, i did it because of family.
I am a religious person, just, first of all i dont believe many things of the catholic church. secondly, i want to find a religious place that i can be in and feel like i belong. you have to understand that i cant really go anywhere yet (i cant drive, and my mom is catholic and so is my dad but he doesnt go to church), but even if i find a religion that i understand and believe in i will be happier.
I' dont believe in many things of the catholic church. i believe in god, tho im not even sure, cuz i've read about pagans and they believe in more than one and thats possible. i also dont know if i believe that jesus was the sone of god. there are so many people who belive he was, and so many that dont. there are also so many athiests. how do i know whos right?.. i've been to a jewish temple, because my aunts are jewish. i liked it, but im not sure if that is the religion for me.
what are some ways i can find a religion that is meant for me?
thank you very much. im sorry if this is a confusing question..
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Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality?
My family is not very religious at all. I've been to church about 5 times in my entire life. My mom wanted to raise me Christian and my dad has always said that I can choose a religion when I am old enough to understand it. I studied paganism and have really gotten into it. I like the idea of belonging to a religion but I don't like the ones who think that they are the only ones who could be right. Pagans have many beliefs, they believe in many gods, just one god, or no god. I believe in one but not the man in the sky. Its hard to explain. They have many of the same traditions as Christians..many Christmas and Easter rituals come from the pagans. The main thing that attracted me to the religion was their rede or the main phrase they live by which is 'And if it harm none, do as ye will'...pretty self explanitory. Basically live your life in peace. I'm not here to preach because I hate preachers but I was in the same boat as you, wanting a religion that you could believe in. Do a lot of research. I was reading online everynight for 2 months trying to find what was right for me.
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I was confirmed at age 16 as well, only for the benefit of my mother. She made me go until I was 18, at which point she left it up to me. At the time, I considered myself athiest, and only did it so she'd shut up. I hated being woken up every Sunday morning to go somewhere I don't enjoy to praise beliefs I don't share. Needless to say, from age 18 and up to the present, I don't attend church. I no longer consider myself an athiest, however. I'm more agnostic. As for your question, who is right...we don't know. Billions of people think they know, but no one does. I personally believe that none of have it right. My guess is, God doesn't particularly care what church we go to, or how we worship. God doesn't care about tithing, potluck lunches, or lighting the altar candles in a certain order. I imagine God wants us to live peacefully, being kind enough not to maim and kill each other.
I've always been a huge advocate of not accepting 100% of the ideas and beliefs of any one denomination or religion. Open your mind to all possibilities. Read the teachings of all major religions, and maybe the lesser accepted ones. Combine them into your own, personal system of beliefs. You can believe in reincarnation, support abortion, give to the poor and not be offended by homosexuality all at once if you want to. No one can tell you that you're doing it wrong.
I was unable to find a religion I could truly believe in. I'm a logical guy, and I have little faith in abstract concepts. I do not consider myself any less moral than your average Christian, Jew, or Muslim either. I don't think that religious faith = morality. Too many people have proven the opposite.
In short, do what you're comfortable with and keep an open mind. I tend to listen to other people's ideas and respond with "well, you could be right, but then again maybe not." I don't ever tell anyone that they are wrong. I have no way of knowing, and neither do they. None of us will know until we're dead. Or maybe we won't. Whatever.
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My family is also Catholic. A few years ago my mom found this religion. I've really feel like I belong here especially because they have so many activities for young people to participate in. And the philosophy is all about peace and reaching your highest potential. I hope this link is useful to you.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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I was born/baptized Catholic and refused confirmation when I was 15.
Honestly, while I don't completely feel at home with any congregation I was fine with Baptists services for the most part. What made it easier was that I had a friend whom I shared my faith with and I went to services with her. Thats what made me feel more at home.
I maintain my faith separate from any organized religion. I've seen too much of people manipulating other's faith for their benefit to ever put my faith in what an organized church says about God again.
I would say to you that worrying about what specific form God has is pointless. We'll never know, and I personally think its far less important to try to use human understanding to explain a deity than it is to simply have faith.
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