What's the closest you've ever come to changing your beliefs?

Question

I came close to being a deist a while ago. Just because there's so much that we don't know about the beginning of it all. Have you had a similar experience?

Answer 1

Well, because I think too much, when I get this mood where I just sit and think about random crap, I almost think: "There has to be something more."

A few weeks ago I was thinking about that stuff, and it's just weird to think that once we're dead, we're not here anymore. That's it. But it's like what happened before us, we didn't experience it, we weren't there, so we don't know what it's like to not live it.

But that honestly only makes me a tiny, tiny bit close to changing my beliefs. Being an analytical person, and someone who needs tangible evidence, I highly doubt anything would really change my mind.

Answer 2

Hi there! I agree that it takes more than one video, commentary or other act to get anyone to change their mind about a strongly held belief. But I think that ultimately hearing the same messages over time in bits and pieces from lots of people could have that effect. This how major movements begin, through the collective action of many individuals. I don't think anyone was convinced that smoking or drinking during pregnancy could be dangerous when they first started hearing about research into both those behaviors, but a lifetime of hearing those messages have convinced many to give up both habits. I think you are right when it comes to things like faith, however. Faith by its very definition is difficult to shake once believed, and I think people are less likely to be open minded to differences of opinion because of it. Anyhow, I'm glad you wrote your question. It's nice to see some honest philosophy on Y/A rather than just people spouting off on other groups for the hell of it. Have a great day!

Answer 3

Yes, but then I'm old enough to experience much that has changed my views.



I started out as an atheist, because the science lessons made so much more sense than the RE lessons and the RE teachers could never answer my doubts or questions.



Then as a teenager, I met some religious folk who could answer my arguments and were surprisingly much more intelligent than I had given them credit for being, I prayed had my prayers answered and became a believing christian.



Later on, as I grew and many more prayers were not answered and for every religious question I had answered a dozen more popped up, and learning Greek and Hebrew and doing a theology degree only made matters worse rather than better, I decided although I would continue practising christianity and I would choose to believe in God (based on the earlier prayers that were answered and the comforting feeling that there is more to life than what we see around us) I would acknowledge my doubts as legitimate enough to call myself an agnostic. I am now only capable of practising my religion, I can no longer ram it down other people's throats or be condescending of people who don't believe.

Answer 4

I was raised Methodist but Ive always been an Athiest.



Is God possible? Definately.

Is it probable? I dont think so, but its still a huge maybe.



I live my life how I want without going out of my way to make an invisible man happy. Ive been nice, Ive been great, Ive been mean, Ive been cruel depending on which situation Im in.





So do I believe in God? No

Could I start? Absolutely.



It all depends what happens to me. If I lead a good life with a faithful wife, a nice job, amazing children, and a fun life, then I may believe in God but if something terrible happens then I just cant see why any God that would "love you" would make you go through that.

Answer 5

i have good experience about many religions and the did a lot of comparisons between them but I found the the correct way in the ISLAM

Islam is the largest and fastest growing religious community in all the world

rovides the practical system through which these theoretical values take the form of reality and then the man within their concrete results sees of his own, how gainful or harmful it is to act or not according to these values. Being affected by this, his emotions and feelings follow the proper channel for their own operation and since emotions are the impetus of actions his life synchronizes with these higher values. This is called the exaltation of character and neatness of conduct.



Bear it in mind that human activities pass through three phases:- namely a desire takes birth in your heart; this desire awakes in the heart involuntarily, you have no reason, rhyme or rationale for it; it relates purely to the emotions; then you present it to the intellect. If your emotions are intense, your intellect thinks or the means to accomplish it and provide justified reasons for it. But if your intellect overpowers your emotions, it then makes comparison between gain and loss, and if it sees that the gain to be accrued is greater it decides to accomplish the desire. Now your desire transforms into your wish; then your will power comes in to play, and takes practical steps to actualize your desire. In this phase, your WISH takes the form of your WILL. But the human intellect, even if not operating under the command of emotions can maximally decide the gain or loss of that person, it cannot decide whether the desire is fair or foul. In other words, the human intellect can only inform the person concerned as to which thing is profitable to him and whish one will bring him loss. It can make no distinction between good and evil. This distinction can only be possible in the presence of values. And as narrated earlier, it is the concept of life that determines the values.

Answer 6

I started to study the religion of Wicca because of the way that they worship the forces of nature and not a 'god'.



I wouldn't have had to really "Change" what I believed, but expanded my belief of the power of nature and the natural law.



After I started to hang with some of those people... I started to realize that it was a group full of people that just need therapy to help with their low self esteem and need to feel 'special' by belonging to a non-societally acceptable organization.

Answer 7

After spending two years in a Pentecostal church, I was about to give up, and almost began believing that what was written in the Bible was a lie. I did not experience any of the things that they said I should.



Then a dear lady led me to right division, and a clear understanding of the dispensations of God, and the differences between them. My faith is now stronger than it has ever been in my life.

Answer 8

I read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail." It almost had me convinced that God didn't exist. I was pretty upset over it. Then I realized that the books second half, that deals with that subject, is poorly written and unclear. I chose to wait for absolute proof before I stop believing. It actually made my faith stronger. I have never come that close again.

Answer 9

I actually did change my beliefs. From skeptic to atheist to agnostic to pagan to non-religious theist... and finally to a Christian. So far, I haven't found any reason to change my beliefs again. But, I keep an open mind.

Answer 10

i came very close once, because i was at that point in every christian's life where i felt God had abandoned me.

ofg course if we leave God just because bad stuff happens then we don't truly believe in him, we're just riding while it's fun.

that's what i've seen in a lot of marriages too, people vow for better or worse, but they really only mean for better. God allows things to happen to test us to see if we truly trust him. if we turn our backs at the slightest hint of something wrong, then we don't truly believe. would you abandon your friend just because something bad happened to you, if so, i guess you're not a real friend.

Answer 11

I changed my religion completely... decided there were too many unanswered questions... then I found someone who understood the question. Dr. Hovand showed me where dinosaurs fit in the bible, and how the world was vastly different before the flood. I found my faith renewed... and felt a call to join a church again.

Answer 12

At Bible College, I went from being Fundamentalist to Liberal. In six days.



I'm coming back to Orthodoxy, but this time in a moderate and open eyed way.

Answer 13

Almost was a Buddhist because I feel like I have a high sense of spirituality.

Answer 14

I changed my beliefs from "Believes in the Christian God via brainwashing as a child" to "Believes in no gods whatsoever, not even the Christian one"

Answer 15

I was more of an agnostic when I was younger, but I became an atheist around 6th grade.

Answer 16

Sometimes i want to change religion. Then Christmas comes around and i change my mind

Answer 17

Completely converting to a different religion. That's how close I've come. :)

Answer 18

The closest I have come is actually changing them.



Lutheran-->Atheist-->Buddhist

Answer 19

I changed from a Catholic to an atheist somewhere between my ninth and eleventh birthdays. And I am so glad!

Answer 20

I did change my beliefs. I was a Christian. I am now an atheist.

Answer 21

I went from Christian to Agnostic to Atheist.

Answer 22

Deism is enticing but reality begs to differ.

Answer 23

I'd rather have Jesus.