I must say that this group has been very fun and educational, as well as a Spiritual outlet for me. I was raised Pentecostal, very strict Christian background and beliefs from my parents.
Along the road my maternal grandmother and mother practiced Judaism, as well as “mountain medicine.” and native American shamanism as well. What a mixture eh? I, as a child was not to question, but be quiet and learn.
As I grew up I also found that on my fathers side of the family of which I though was of regular black (African American) and Scottish background, I found we were also East Indian, my paternal grandmothers ancestors.
I found that they had a mixture of religious beliefs, of which sort of got lost in my grandmother when they became Episcopalians, and later her and my grandfather joining the A.M.E church (African Methodist Episcopal) after getting married. I come from a really eclectic religious background.
I would love to hear and learn about some of you all out there beliefs and back grounds. So please feel free to share what is inside of you. It is so enriching to know and see how others come into their Spiritual walk.
I was raised Baptist and changed to Pentacostal/Charsmatic when I married my husband. I have always found something missing or lacking in the hum drum get up go to church come home. I have always felt that there was more in me to contribute to myself, my home, my family, friends…the world and then I discovered The Craft. I finally found that missing part and it has enhanced my Christian walk and opened my eyes to the brightness the world has to offer.
Next to you ladycate, my religious upbringing was pretty boring, LOL! My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents on ALL sides of the family were United Methodist, so naturally my sisters and I were raised that way too. My husband was the one who sort of helped opened my mind to other ways of religious and spiritual thinking. He had been essentially raised Baptist, but really disliked alot of the strict and sometimes prejudicial doctrine of the church. He had close friends from all walks of life, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic, etc. This helped him realize the world was bigger than just the run of the mill Christian world he lived in. When we met, he was intstrumental in helping me see the same thing, b/c like him I was raised in a pretty strict Christian only home. But the odd thing was I didn’t realize until I was an adult and started downt his path how much “witchiness” existed in the women of my mother’s family. Especially my great-grandmothers who were good old mountain women… they with their strength was another key in my search for the feminine Divine I missed in my spiritual life. And what lead me to where I am today. I still attend UMC occasionally, but lately have felt cut off from most organized religions, b/c of the political and personal opinions that sometimes interfere with my ability to effectively worship as I want.
Thanks, very nice. I like to know the ways others were brought up.
well ive just found a home,i too was raised in various religions, my grandmother was a devout catholic my mother was a jewish christian, my father was pentcostal, so on sunday morning i went to mass sunday night i went to pentcostgal church and on friday night at sundown i lit the shabot candles for the beginning of sabbath.and too top it off my granfather was a medicine man (native american) so i was flooded with information, WOW what to do with that,
I was brought up believing in a creator. I am a native american. We had originally believed that the creator was like a grandfather to us, while his children were the main ones who cared for us(such as the sun, the moon, and the earth. All were apart of my family). This is the way my mother brought me up. Then I had to go to school. There I was signed up for catechism classes after school and learned of another way to worship this creator. Going to church every Sunday and Wednesday, to repent for whatever I did wrong. Then a friend of mine show me yet another way to have the creator in my life. She taught me Wicca. Her take on the creator was that the creator didn’t want to be worshiped, but have people talk to them like they were family. And family loves you, no matter what. But she also said, that we had to be respectful. After all they did create the world. She also believed in having a past life. So I got kind of confused. Because I had always heard that the bible was the only way to worship the creator correctly. All other methods were not the way. That and the whole verse, “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” Quite frankly, that terrified me. Because I believed in different teachings, and thought differently, and used traditional plants to help with sickness, did that make me evil? I still sometimes wonder, and hope that creator will forgive me if I am walking the wrong path. But the thing is it doesn’t feel wrong. I am helping people holistically, and they are healed by it. I am a very religious person, even though I don’t follow the bible exactly. And I love the life I live, and am grateful to the creator for giving it to me.
Peace and Love-
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