Does anyone remember their early experiences with religion?

[Graemett]

I'm taking a look into Gnosticism, and reading things like the Gospel of Thomas in multiple translations, and I'm remembering specific childhood experiences in church. Specifically consciously rejecting the premise of the Nicene Creed which seeks to raise Jesus to the level of the Logos, making him into deity (which is not entirely correct imo, Yeshua was not even close to finished with the octave.) Looking into the religion I grew up with I'm uncovering power seeking behavior of the early church which has been swept under the rug and overlooked through constant repetition and dogmatic assertion.

Does anyone here have any similar experience remembering contradictions that you consciously noted then forgot?

[jafar]

First day in elementary school I saw a gigantic statue of a man seems to be in agony based on his facial expression hanging on a cross. It was a catholic school by the way. The statue instantly freaked me out. One of teacher tried to calmed me down:
"It's only a statue of Jesus dear, he is our savior, he died for our sin"
"My sin? What did I do? I didn't do my homework and somebody need to die for it?"

[tadeus]

There are some "christs" that are following the old "essäischen" (i did not find the english word for it) doctrine.
They say this will be the original doctrine of Jehoshua.

There are some interesting books with a travelog from Baird T. Spalding, who was exploring the far eastern doctrine and was finding the way of Jehoshua.
When you read them you will find the LOO described in another perspective.

[Diana]

I remember all of my early experiences with religion, at least, in general, as I was very young. I didn't have any epiphanies, rather, I analyzed the content of what they were saying intellectually, but at the same time, I was seeking out that which was beyond every-day life.

For example, when I was 4-5 years old, I found a young couple in the trailer park we lived in who were religious (some form of Christian), and I would drag my 2-3-year-old brother with me so we could pray with them. My parents didn't know them, and this was a habit of mine growing up, just finding people on my own to visit. On the other hand, when we moved to a town when I was maybe 7, where there were 3 churches within walking distance, I went to all 3 on my own. That is where I would, in my head, analyze what was being taught whether in the regular service or Sunday school.

So at that young age, I liked the nonphysical aspects (praying, getting in touch with something "beyond") but came to the conclusion that the dogma made little sense. 

[tadeus]

I always was deterred and disconcerted by the rituals in church.

And since some years i know an exact reason why.

[Graemett]

I was in the choir for many years, I consciously rejected a lot of the submissiveness and unworthiness programming even as a little kid, I knew it was bullshit hiding the real stuff. Now I recognize that they (members of a parish) may not be consciously aware of the delusion they are participating in, and believe the rituals to be praising a benevolent higher entity.

Now it makes complete sense to me why I chose that kind of experience for myself, realizing young that Religion shouldn't be taken seriously really helped me get through the stages of insight without knowing it.

[pat19989]

I'm taking a look into Gnosticism, and reading things like the Gospel of Thomas in multiple translations, and I'm remembering specific childhood experiences in church. Specifically consciously rejecting the premise of the Nicene Creed which seeks to raise Jesus to the level of the Logos, making him into deity (which is not entirely correct imo, Yeshua was not even close to finished with the octave.) Looking into the religion I grew up with I'm uncovering power seeking behavior of the early church which has been swept under the rug and overlooked through constant repetition and dogmatic assertion.

Does anyone here have any similar experience remembering contradictions that you consciously noted then forgot?

I always thought the Nicene Creed was mad weird growing up. I love a lot of catholic prayers and songs, but the creed seems to take extremely literal translations of Jesus' teachings and say he is God, while we are not. Also, I remember wondering how many of the people in the congregation actually realize what they are saying much less believe it in their core. My guess is a relatively small percentage. From ages 6-17 my skepticism around catholicism only grew as it was pushed on me and i was forced to memorize dogma and doctrine.

Thankfully once I got out of Catholic schooling I connected with eastern perspectives on spirituality which have made me appreciate more of the christianity I grew up with.

Other than that, I was lucky to be in a church with a great choir and pianist, so my main memories growing up were ignoring most of the words, and enjoying the music. I still get many of the songs stuck in my head, some of them are truly great.

[Graemett]

My choir director is a fantastic Organist and musician, his taste in music was very well appreciated by the congregation, and inspired my love for music to this day. I have a hunch most people are there for community, or because they think they should be.

[Raukura Waihaha]

I was raised Jehovah's Witness and have spent a lot of time picking apart the bible as well as religion.
I feel like religion is like channeling, in that you get out of it whatever energy you put into it.
There are hierarchical and elite elements present in most, as well as an opportunity to learn more about forgiveness and unity.
It really depends on where one chooses to place their attention.

The concept of needing to be saved is something that was used by the elite as a means of control. The same can me said for the God in the sky ideology.

[tadeus]

Thankfully once I got out of Catholic schooling I connected with eastern perspectives on spirituality which have made me appreciate more of the christianity I grew up with.

Then you will maybe find the books of Baird T. Spalding interesting.

I feel like religion is like channeling, in that you get out of it whatever energy you put into it.
...
It really depends on where one chooses to place their attention.

That's the point - you put your energy in it and the interesting thing is where it is going to.
You open your heart and mind in a special environment believing it is good.

---

The system of the vatican:
A. The pope
B. The aristocracy
C. The justice
D. The medicine
E. Deceit of justice

1. Entrance
2. The permitted way
3. Exit
4. Riches
5. Fountain of live
6. The two swords theory
7. Person / Slaves

(Source: https://lightrebels.net/)

[RitaJC]

I grew up in an materialistically atheistic country and family and honestly tried to believe whatever the adults tried to teach me. Very soon (being highly sensitive, gifted, and one of the first indigo children), I started seeing that those beliefs didn't make sense and were not really working not only for me but for anybody around me.

Starting from my teenage years, I went on the quest to find the TRUTH. But it was a long journey, because everything religious and spiritual was forbidden and inaccessible in the Soviet Union. Only when that monster started crumbling (around my age of 30) we could start getting access to other teachings than the warring materialistic atheism.

[flofrog]

I was born protestant in france which is a very, very tiny minority. Protestants, when I was young there, were very free thinkers, very open, a bit like Unitarians. I suppose they still are. My parents were extremely kind, but not church goers at all, they just wanted me to have a look into what protestants were. I studied the Bible with an old pastor who was all about humor and love, it was in fact pretty awesome. He would stretch what in the bible was love and what was intolerant, incredibly free thinking. Then in my late teens I discovered Buddhism and I was a goner. Today, I just think that what counts is love, lol.

[Patrick]

When I was about 5, I remember the priest telling people at the church how difficult it is to forgive (but also how important it is) and I remember not understanding what the difficulty might be.

[Ming the Merciful]

I started as, (of all things), a "Fundamentalist" Pentecostal. My rebellion began when I realized the Preacher of the church, (the fastest growing church in Canada), bought a new Cadillac every year, and lived in a, (literal), mansion next to the church. The church owned thirty school buses that went around the town Sunday mornings to collect kids for Sunday School. Teaching, (brainwashing and indoctrinating), the kids who attended the Sunday School. While, as they matured, through the brainwashing they became "Saved", and invited their friends to attend the church. As the church grew, it was rebuilt and a new senior citizens apartment block was built next door, with a tunnel to the church. The house the Preacher and his wife lived in was rebuilt and expanded.

At that point I evaluated the situation and rebelled, turning east and joined ISKCON. From ISKCON I ventured in to Zen Buddhism, and from that point I have never looked back.