Welcome to Gaia! ::

Welcome to RTG everyone!

You all seem fascinating. Rest assured I will wind up picking the brains of each of you at one point.

Greetings, I'm Malkut.

I've been interested in religions for many, MANY years. In elementary school I was sent to Catholic school, even though I'd been raised Methodist, which got me interested in the differences. About 9th grade I started to become interested in belief systems outside of Christianity, and especially into the pagan forms. I've found myself, since then, drawn to study the Judeo-Christian lore, especially the mysticism, such as the Gnostics or Kabalah (from where my name, Malkut, comes). Other than that, I've tried to keep an open eye and ear on other beliefs, and have taken several "world religions" classes, and a few on philosophy.

Yeah, few pagans are 2nd generation. I know a couple, though.

Hola. I'm Cyanna.

Religiously speaking I was baptized and raised Catholic...and I remain Catholic.

The only time I can recall ever being shaken up as far as faith was concerned was when I was in sixth grade and my grandfather died due to surgery complications.. It was my first experience with death...and it just had to be the grandparent I was closest to. I was devestated and I was angry at everyone from the doctor who couldn't heal him, to my grandfather to going to have the surgery. I blamed myself for not praying enough and I blamed God for not answering my prayers to my liking. But I'm 21 now and I've "forgiven" everyone (for lack of a better term) since then.

I really didn't feel any "religious roughhousing" until I entered high school and gained internet priveledges. I started to visit online communities. At first I thought it was wonderful. I'd get to meet people from all over the world who shared similar interests with me.

Then I saw a poll that asked the question "What do you look for in a gf/bf?" and this one guy answered that they could not be a Christian. Now I took this to mean that the religions would conflict each other and I commented that from a certain point of view it was a wise move. I shortly got a PM explaining that he could not date a Christian because he hated them.

Ever since then, I've been trying to convert people, NOT to the Christian faith, but rather away from this idea that we're all a bunch of self-rightous people that don't care about your feelings...even if we are social conservatives. I openly admit I am one, but no one who has even come to know me, has called me a jerk or unfeeling or intolerant even after they know my views. I think I have a knack for empathy.

Although I am concerned that I have been painted with this brush due to the actions of the more very conservative sects, I cannot be angry with them either. Although I do not agree with them, I actually appreciate it when people try to "save" me. Wow...they care enough to make sure I won't go to Hell. And no that was not sarcastic.

Basically...the more I sense hate and disdain, the stronger I become. I think my faith makes me a good person. Yes I know that Catholocism as an organized religion has its flaws but all the same, I feel that I have found a niche. Why fix what isn't broken?

I'm currently dating a baptized Episcopalian turned Agnostic. He's been so wonderful about the whole thing. He'll even go to church with me so that I won't have to go alone and he seems to be perfectly fine with it. I never have to ask or anything. And he's very educated in Catholocism so that helps greatly.

Hi! I'm Viktoria, I am a progressive Muslim and I was born in Bosnia, I think that this is a fantastic guild and thank everyone concerned with it for their efforts to bridge the religious gap.

Hola! My name id Dracos Archira. Well at least it was then for a while it was Dark Fighter Kie then it was Misfit Angel, Then Aricat, then Sazaron, but now its me again so Hey Hey. My Real name is Brandon, but I never did like that name. If yer gonna call me something its either Dracos or *Misfit* (*PREFERED!)

I was raised Roman Catholic ( eek Supprise! - Not really eh?) for the better part of my life I was Catholic and damn good at it too. I went to catholic schools and was an Alter Boy (Opps alter server gotta be PC) I am confirmed in the relgion. But I dont have my Confermation Cross anymore. Shows how devot I am now eh?

Anyway this lasted untill I moved out of my Granmothers house when I stopped going to church although I still went to a catholic school I found it hard to believe in something like that. I mean the teachers werent even catholic, but whatever its government run so I cant complain.

Then I moved on to well agnostic I geuss I never actually called myself that though, i say it only because I went through the all to famous. "What do I believe" phaze. Then I went throgh Philosophy and found myself realising a lot of things. Some of which I cannot yet explain but they do fit.

And as you can tell I am no good with introductions. Here I'll give you the basicz I am NOW a Universalist. And I have more Ideas on relgion than an Theologist.

Konnichiwa! I'm Tamiko. I'm neo-pagan now, though as a lot of people seem to be, I was raised as a Roman Catholic.

My dad is a Christian, and my mom never really had a religion, my grandma was Shinto, but I don't think it carried down..anyways. I was a bad Christian. Plain and simple. I was never rude or anything, I just believed that the bible Godified Jesus. (no offense to any Christians this is just me personally) I mean, I believe he existed, but I don't belive he was a savior. I don't belive there are any saviors though, or will be. I guess I never really fit in at church. I refused confirmation, and I still go to a Catholic school, though it's beyond me as to why. I really didn't believe a lot of things in the Catholic church, most things actually, and I wanted to find a religion of sorts that suited me.

I mostly had my own little belief thing going for many many years, along with one other friend. And then I discovered it fit almost perfectly with neo-paganism. It was quite a quick transfer of religion sort of thing, but it did make sense. And now I'm looking more into Wicca, I'm not completely Wiccan, because I want to find out more about it first, but there is a great possibility. I find it very interesting.

Hey!^^ And thanks for the link here 3nodding