So for the believers among us to better get to know each other what type of church, religious groups, or faith events do you attend...if any? How do you practice your faith?

I consider myself a Oneness Pentecostal. For me I grew up in an AMF (Apostolic Ministerial Fellowship) church it was very small and hard core Pentecostal. At about seven or so we began going to a UPCI (United Pentecostal Church) church that was bigger then moved to an even bigger one. I stopped going at around 14 but always believed and always prayed though not as often as I should have. Reading the Word has been with me throughout my life in some form or another. Within the last 10 years I have went back to the second church I mentioned twice for around a year each time. I should go back it is my home.

For now I read the Word, pray, and praise from home.

+ just remember believers can be anyone from any faith not just Christians...your experiences would be welcomed. So for example tell us about your covens, mosques, temples, TM sessions, and synagogues too. Or if none of those just your own expressions of faith be it in a group or alone.

I was Born a Jew , Pop Pop was a Rabbi War hero in The Holocaust (MY Hero), after running away at Age 112- 12, I checked all the religions out and None came close to The Love Of The God I knew Walking down that road.

At 39 Father (God) came to enlighten me as to who Iam to God The universe and You, My brother and sister,

My religion, and way of life is the same as My Father's , Unconditional love, But I still have along way to Go, I try practicing it whereever I go.

The world is my church, and Humanity is my congregation, The love If Father and Mother(God) lives in My Heart,.

Gotta go to work now, Hope you all have a nice day.

Love Omnaka

'The world is my church, and Humanity is my congregation' well you definitely make my churches seem so small ^__^

Interesting thread Clovis.

I consider myself a Christian. I belong to a non-denominational church and have been a member of non-denominational churches since I was 14.

When I was growing up my family was Catholic by default (almost all Mexicans were Catholics by default in the 60s it seemed) but only went to church for funerals, weddings, baptisms, and Christmas or Easter, so although we did not question the reality of God, I really grew up in a mostly non-religious household. My family began attending services at a Christian Missionary Alliance Church when I was 14, and all of us accepted Christ as our Savior after a few months of attendance.

We were part of that church for a few years and then my parents, along with several other families became part of a Spanish-speaking church plant. I served as Youth Leader until I graduated college and went into the U.S. Army.

I've had a personal relationship with God for almost 26 years now and in that time I have experienced the broad spectrum of involvement. I was never one of the types who walk up to total strangers and starts telling them how they are doomed because they don't have Jesus in their heart, but that may have more to do with the fact that I'm an introvert and would have to seriously think about approaching you to let you know I'd noticed you're literally on fire. I also spent some time just barely involved in my relationship with Him, not praying or reading very much. I am now in a place where I feel very comfortable with Him. I know He is there and I find I spend time just "talking" and "listening" to Him throughout my day, it's not something I set a particular time to do, I just do it, and I enjoy studying the Scriptures.

My time on UM has really strengthened my relationship with God; there's nothing like having someone try to challenge your "faith" to prove to you the difference between simply believing and hoping something is true and knowing without a doubt that it is so.

Mine has been a long, winding journey, full of ups and downs. I was raised in a very Christian home, especially by my mother, although we did not attend church. I learned how to read from the King James Bible lol. I was a real believer for many, many years, but as I got older I gradually lost my faith and became an agnostic. I found it difficult to believe in a loving God amidst my own troubles, and the pain in the world. I began studying more humanistic philosophy and was heavily influenced by it. I had sort of an Epicurean view of life.

Years later I fell into a deep depression that lasted for a very long time, everything seemed pointless to me. I fell into substance and alcohol abuse. I was either drunk or high most of the time, just wishing life away. I was often suicidal, but, something held me back, even though I contemplated it often.

Suddenly, when I was 24, I was researching a paper I was writing (writing is a hobby of mine) and I was going to quote a verse from scripture. Instead of finding that, I opened up the Bible to the book of Ecclesiastes.

1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is
vanity.

1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the
sun?

1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:
but the earth abideth for ever.

1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his
place where he arose.

1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north;
it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according
to his circuits.

1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the
place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

1:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not
satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that
which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing
under the sun.

1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it
hath been already of old time, which was before us.

1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be
any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come
after.

1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning
all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God
given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and,
behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is
wanting cannot be numbered.

1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great
estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been
before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom
and knowledge.

1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and
folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth
knowledge increaseth sorrow.

I believe my abrupt finding of this to truly be a supernatural experience. This was no accident. As I read this, tears were pouring down my face. It was like I was reading my own thoughts. These were my experiences, my views on everything. This book perfectly described where I was at in my life. I realized in an instant where I had gone wrong, that truly, all of my selfish pursuits were indeed meaningless, that what I needed and had always needed was Christ. I felt He spoke to me that day, and it changed my life forever. That was my conversion, my real conversion. Ecclesiastes is my favorite spiritual writing of ANY faith, as it describes the futility of a life without God, which is what I'd been doing for over ten years. Things radically changed then. I gave up the drugs and drinking. I broke ties with the people who were trapped in the same peril as me, to cut free the temptation. I joined the Vineyard church, the first time I'd ever been a part of a church. I went there for years, till I was in my late 20s, and I also went to there Bible School, with the actual intent of becoming a pastor. I loved studying the Word and theology. Loved preaching.

But as this progressed, I became increasingly disillusioned with their views. Much of it was so conservative, it bordered on intolerance. I had issues with the mainstream Christian worldview, especially hell. So I left. I haven't gone to church since. I began studying other religions and philosophies, especially Hinduism and Buddhism which I am very fond of. I was also deeply influenced by the psychic readings of Edgar Cayce, and after a trip to Virginia Beach last year, and a visit to the ARE building, I joined that orginization and am an active member. I embraced a more inclusive spiritual worldview, essentially that all religions are different pathways to the same God. Even the atheists are on a spiritual journey, whether they know it or not. I'm not saying I'm right over anyone else, it just gave me a more peaceful understanding of our relationship to God, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong lol.

I still believe in Jesus, despite the fact I no longer attend church. But I pray and meditate often, and always feel that God is with me, despite all of my sins. I love the Lord and I always will, he brought me out of my own hell. For now though, my church is in my heart......

Being a grandson of both a pentecostal and a southern baptist minister, I grew up with mixed emotions.

Today I am my own church ... and god lives inside of me.

Quaker, but most every one knows that, my paternal grandmother was also a Quaker. She was the one that pointed me at a local meeting because she thought I might enjoy it. She herself hadn't attended meetings in many many years. But that's not uncommon for Quakers. Some never attend, others attend several times a week, and many many more only attend the Quarterly and Yearly meetings.

I go in phases, sometimes I attend several times a week, other times I'll go for months and months without attending. It's all good. What really matters is that I keep the philosphies and communications in the forefront of my mind and heart.

I was raised in an environment that could only be thought of as quasi-hindu, or even New Thought/New Age. I dunno what it was, but it was interesting! LOL

This is the same for me. I've never really had a church I've called home and have never been to a church regularly. Three times I have been to the same church and not even back to back weeks, lol.

All my life I have called myself Christian but until recently I will admit, I really wasn't. I'm even a little embarrassed to admit when I found Jesus as I couldn't flip many pages of a calender to show you when. But my life has changed for the better and I am a happier person now.

Im a Christian Mutt....

I go to the First church of Christ..which is non-denominational....but, have a spiritual backing to my beliefs...I feel more Christian, but a spiritual Christian.

While Christ fills my heart, I also know from experiences that there are spirits amung us, and gifts are bestowed those who seek them out. Always used for good. As all good comes from the Lord.

I am sensitive and have heightened intuition, and messages delivered thru thru dreams....
when I was younger i had OBE's but none since then....

I like to expand my spiritual basis...but it revolves around the Lord.

Oooh.. you know..

*coughs*Ministry of Rum*coughs*

I was basically and sporadically raised as a four square Christian. Once i went searching in my early teens, I looked at almost everything including wicca, satanism, buddhism and many other forms of Christianity. I ended up as a member of a Northern Baptist church. I loved it ever so, but I didn't find the praise part to be as solid as I wanted it to be. They were good, don't get me wrong, but I wanted more. I ended up at a Charismatic church where I felt right at home. So, I kinda consider myself as a Baptist/Pentecostal/Charismatic. I am not regularly attending, espcially since I just got married to an agnostic. (go figure!) But i will start attending after we move and I find the right church. I miss it so much.

Interesting experiences everyone. Omnaka with his ever more and increasing popular route to religion. IamsSon I did forget to mention I am also Mexican and the AMF church I went to was a Spanish speaking one. When I was around 4 I was preaching in Spanish to a small crowd behind my grandfather's television repair shop. I have always felt that I called into the ministry especially with all the knowledge of the Word I have, even if I did not always apply it fully to my life and am struggling now, and perhaps the ministry of spiritual warfare, for I also have extensive knowledge on such things from many different sources and cultures. I do know a minister though has to have him and his family strong in the Spirit for the adversary will offer attack to the whole family and to go into spiritual warfare, that is not something anyone would actually choose or should choose, because the attacks will be that much more and the family's strength in the Spirit has to be that much more.

I remember once walking in a Walmart parking lot with a friend and was telling him some of these things and right at that moment I stepped on something. I stopped to pick it up. It was a half size sandwich baggy and inside was a Jesus fish Sunday School construction paper project. On it was written the verse that said 'I shall make you fishers of men'. I could feel the chill then just as I do now talking about it. But oh I make such an imperfect Christian now so how much harder would it be to become a minister? It is not something I would enter in with false intentions or delusion. One has to be strong in the Spirit for it.

U-M though like you has indeed strengthened my belief as of late.

brahman I too have struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for a very long time. It is still a battle I am glad to hear you have overcome. I never did really like drinking but I did turn to substances that really deaden the mind and they might kill the pain for a moment but they really make it worse in the long run. No one is truly living when addicted. My path has also taken me on other explorations, Edgar Cayce is interesting and can be compared to Nostradamus for they both were faith healers and both could look into the future.

As for depression my reading of choice is Jonah 2 and Joel 2.

bogcreeper that is the ultimate goal going to church or not for God to live within us.

MMW you have a very interesting story and every time you talk about your experiences I listen closely. Even though I did not grow up in a household that could be compared to yours I did get a small does of some of the New Age, large enough to affect my life up until now, but mainly more in the past. My father was very Bible based but did dabble in many things, astral, the power of the mind, positive thinking, visualization meditation, remote viewing, and thought projection onto others to influence them. We also used to visit this New Age story almost every week that had Native American, Hindi, and even more Western Based New Age material. It also had homoethapy, alternative medicine, even New World order conspiracy theory material where I first learned about the evils of the tax system and the gold standard. Well we had always had an interest and some knowledge of what we believe is a coming New World Order. I have myself studied into many of these things and applied them and experimented with them throughout my life. I remember once my dad handing me a book that was Kabbalah based where I was to read a Psalm of the Bible but at the same time either say one or more Hebrew words in our minds over and over, sort of like in a mantra, definitely a form of active meditation, and depending on the need at the time it would be a different Psalm. We have since turned away from such and depend on the Bible alone if we depend on it at all. So a very different experience than yours but it allows me to relate somewhat to yours. My upbringing as well was not traditional I always felt different than the other kids even though I could blend in and easily feel like one of them.

bleach so true. 'All my life I have called myself Christian but until recently I will admit, I really wasn't,' is something I can strongly relate to. Never forgot the path even when I went way off of it.

WFTL your perspective is very valued to me especially since it is slightly different. You really need to start blogging and sharing with us your dreams. It would be a joy to read what you have to write about them. I am not sure of your exact situation but if you feel more spiritual than your current church is allowing then do not hold back. Break out in the Spirit and let it become infectious among the others you go to church with. If that is the case. I so admire your Christ-centricity.

Silvercougar lol I have had a few days where Jack and Coke was my friend sometimes Rum and Coke but I never really did like drinking much. Maybe because as a teen I like many Americans did not drink maturely but only to get super blasted and such and it was overall many bad experiences. I always did prefer flavor or mixed drinks over beer.

GIN congratulations on your marriage. There is a Four Square church like three houses down on the other side of the street. But like you I also experimented much. It is so good you married an agnostic too. Here is hoping you find the right church for yourself soon wherever and whatever type it is.

I was a Christian until last year when I came to some realizations that Christianity doesn't reach up to my standard of what's true and what isn't.

Then I went to Judaism. I express my faith mainly through observing the Torah and praying. Sometimes I forget stuff (and eat shellfish (which I happen to love) on accident). Mostly I work on Counter-Missionary Efforts and teaching others about the Noahism side of Judaism and what it means to be a noahide.


I don't go to any synagogues simply because I am not able to and if I were I wouldn't see much of a point unless I was going there to learn something pertaining to Noahism......

Tell us more about Noahide Kaizen. As soon as you mentioned you only adhere to the Seven Laws I knew that you were not what most consider Jews. The Noahide are a bit different are they not?

Also unrelated to that I wrote a poem a while back about church that deals with depression, anger and church as I briefly touched on earlier:

A Poem: Joel 2

I almost did not go to church today
How could I? Just look at the way
I treated those I loved yesterday
I hated, I lied, and wished to die

What lies the adversary is tellin'?
How I am and cannot ever be living
Lies that keep me in my old ways of sinning
And have me forget what God has forgiven

I am glad that I went to church anyways
To hear the promises the Good Lord has to say
That even if loved ones cannot forgive this day
He will still change me for the best in all ways

To not give them reasons to hate me even more
To fly my white flag and surrender this war
That He would restore them the way they were before
When He made them and held them in His hand to adore

No worries bro I can tell that you spread Father's Love where ever you go, Making it your church also.

God Bless, You know the rest.

Love Omnaka

Yes Clovis,
I am a little more branched out than your average Christian..in a weird way...but it is all within the Love of the Lord. He is my light and beacon...

I had told you the story of driving down the highway and getting my visual sign...my answer to the question at hand in that moment.....litterally a lit sign...
I get answers to my questions in many ways, but then again Im open to them to come. Its awareness or the open intuition aspect of me... like a magnet. I am full of the light and truth and it eminates forth and attracts the same. I ask for the Holy Spirit to continue to bless me in this gift. And it is always for the use of good, or I fear it will be taken away.

Mean time I am somewhat stationary at my current family of worship because I bring a friend to service and that house is his choice , so there I bring him...

My very good friend of 20 yrs. had a stroke 3 yrs ago..He and his Dad went to another church, and were very involved there.. but after his Dad died, my friend Ted changed to this other church...
Being he is gay, this church is a open and accepting of all peoples. So i bring him every sunday, since he no longer drives.... I am blessed in many ways...he is just one, a good friend, and I am thankful.

So i pass well wishes and blessings along!


GIN, congrats too on your wedding !!!!!

I am a Christian. I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Mormons.

I grew up in a family that was broad in its religious ethos. I heave relatives, both immediate and extended, that are nearly every religion you can name. My grandparents on both sides were LDS and my parents are nearly the only LDS members after the grandparents. I have 21 aunts and uncles (immediate brothers and sisters to my parents) only 4 are LDS. I have 8 brothers and 2 sisters, only 3 of us are LDS.

For more information about the LDS church, the following topic exists:

Well, it's like, there are the people who are the Jews. They are the "chosen" people. Which actually doesn't mean anything. All it means is that God uses the Jewish people to transmit his light (the Torah) to the world. That's it. The ONLY reason the Jews have more commandments then the Gentiles is because everyone is supposed to be able to see that God has set them apart as his messengers.

This doesn't mean that a non-jew (or gentile) is less than a Jew. In fact the Talmud says that "A gentile who studies Torah is the equivalent of the high priest". This has almost nothing to do with holiness in the sense of being perfect or what not. That's not the point.

What the quote means is that both are fulfilling their purpose. A human being (that is not a Jew) has only to fulfill his or her purpose and to be a "good" person to be consider righteous. What does it mean to be a "good" person according to Noahism? It means to believe in God, not to blaspheme God, not to murder, not to violate the sanctity of marriage, not to steal from one another, not to harm nature any more than necessary, and to establish a justice system to promote the first six laws.

In essence, you only need a basic moral system. One that isn't selfish, but one that doesn't completely force you to deny yourself. It's not asking anyone to be an extremist, it's asking that you find the middle ground. God doesn't ask that we be perfect, or even completely righteous, he just wants us to avoid evil and to fight against it.

To be holy in Judaism is to fulfill your purpose as a human being. It is to be passionate and to observe God's laws with a fervor and love for God. Of course, the seven are the commandments for the average Noahide. For one who wishes to go above and beyond there are 66 laws.

Noahidism/Judaism is merely a system realizes that God only wants for them to abide by a few simple values. You don't have to change too much, and it really isn't that hard. The extent you take it to is up to you.

Hi kaizen

Sounds very reasonable to me.... I feel the same....its all up to us to fullfill his purpose for each of us.
It boils down to love one another, and promote good, and denounce and fight against evil....and your right...Its not so hard to do.

I like the "not to harm nature" you have added in there...
We are currently fighting the pollution of water caused by someone next to us.....it hasnt been an easy fight. Prayers are gratefully accepted towards our quest....

Blessings to you

I didn't add that in. It is a legitimate requirement for a Gentile who observes Torah. We are to respect God's creatures and do our best not to do more damage than we need to.

well, wether added in or not, I respect your belief, and totally agree!

I guess it is just somethng I havent routinely seen "as a part of others stated beleifs.... is all I ment.

............<<>> 'Clovis' I would like to give you part of My Testimony. A born again Christian is only as good as His (Testimony). As stated in (Rev.12:11)- verse-11- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their (Testimony), and they did not love their lives to the death.

I would like to start out with My wife. My wife was raised up in the Baptist Church. Then a friend invited her to a small Pentecostal Church when she was in high school. She gave her life to Jesus Christ. She lived for Jesus four years. And then she made the mistake and left Jesus and went back into the world.

I was raised in the Nazarene Church, but left at the age of 13 years old. I met my wife when she was 21 years old and I was 26 years old. I was always a heavy drinker, smoker, and into drugs. Sometimes I look back and feel sorry for my wife. Because I put her through a living (Hell). It is only by the grace of God that she stayed with me. When I was 32 years old I was partying with my friend. I was shooting up coke and crank together and all of a sudden I couldn't breath I was having a heart attack. They took me to the hospital. They told my friends to call my wife. Because they didn't think I was going to make it. They put me in intensive care. I laid there for three days. Being raised in Church I knew if I died I would go to hell. I cried out to Jesus and asked him to please save me. If he did I would give my life to him forever.

Jesus then stepped in and saved me. When I got out of the hospital I went back to the Nazarene church where I grew up at. I gave my life back to Jesus. Everyone there was much older then my wife and I. I had no friends there my age. So after about eight months I started slipping back to my old ways. I was terrified because I had made a commitment to Jesus. My wife suggested that maybe we should try the Pentecostal Church she went to in the past. I told her she was crazy. I used to see those people street preach about Jesus. It seemed like I seen them everywhere. At that time it seem to me like they were bothering everyone they came across. It is only now I see they were just sharing the gospel of Jesus and telling people what Jesus did for them. One day I was so depressed I told my wife to get the kids ready to go for a ride. When we were in the car my wife asked where we were going. I told her we were going to her old Church. On Saturday night they had Christian live music and drama. It was that night twenty years ago that I totally gave my life to Jesus Christ. I also knew that this Church is where Jesus would plant me there and give me the (Structural Foundation) I would need to live the rest of my live for Him.

'Clovis' you really don't have to ask anyone where they think you belong. Your answer is all ready in your (Heart). I told you in the past you are a very powerful man of God. You have such a powerful anointing on your life. The true Church that really raised you up to be the man of God is already in your heart. My friend just follow your (Heart). Because you already have the (Heart of God) in you.

Don't listen to people that tell you that you don't have to go to Church to live for God. That is lie. You know the word of God says not to forsake the gathering of the saints. If you don't have your brothers and sisters in Christ to help and support, you will die sooner or later. And without a Shepard to lead you in the ways of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ you may fall away. That is Satan main go is to isolate the Saints and then kill them. Living for God takes a total commitment of our lives. That is why the Bible says that we were slaves to Satan but now we are slaves to Jesus Christ.

Let me share the life I live in my walk with my God in my Church. I go to Church Sunday morning for Bible study and then morning service. Then Sunday evening prayer one hour before Church and then Sunday night service. Then Wednesday night service and one hour prayer before service. We have outreach on Saturday at 10:00 AM to invite people to our services. On Saturday we have live Christian music and live drama. And we are faithful tithe givers to support our Church. Then we have Revivals at least every other month. I have had people tell me you are always in Church. They must have you brain washed. My answer to them is I spent a good part of my life trapped living in this stupid world under the bondage of (Sin and Satan). So I have no problem giving my total life to Jesus Christ. It is also a blessing that Jesus Christ can use me for his glory............................Joey.

same answer !

I've been a Christian for twenty-six years. I attend Calvary Chapel Church, the Chuck Smith variety and highly recommend it. I'm active on the worship team. I play guitar, bass, and drums. I believe the bible and agree with alot of things already said in this thread. I would add that in my view there is no "perfect" church and a personal relationship with the Lord is the most important thing. And of course, the greatest of these is love....

Thanks Clovis.... I have to say, I really like reading your posts and try not to miss them. You're always pleasantly surprising me. There aren't many posters that do that to me. You are one, Bee_Eff is the other. I get a lot of information from both of you and you have such interesting points of views. I mean, all posters here have their interesting moments, but you and Bee_Eff also have an air of grace, class, and a total respect for others. I try for those things, reading your posts helps me understand how to do that better.

One the first day, God created football. And it was good.....

On the second day, he created football practice......

I was raised in a home with high moral ethical standards but no formal religiuos background. I was brought up with a great deal of love but an equal amount of firm disciplineMum was church of england and dad methodist. i think we attended a few services with mum. i did go on to sunday school classes and became president of the sunday school, but this was more like family day care is today combined with junior rotary. A civic based organisation rather than religious. By the time i was old enough to be confirmed i sai no because relligion was obviously false and it would have beeen hypocritical of me to get confirmed, given those beliefs. For all my teenage years i was an athiest and active secular humanist.

Then in my early 20's god came and grabbed me, and demanded my full attention. Given that i had no belief/faith, or religious background to hang my experiences around, i did what i had been trained to do at uni . I researched. I spent several years studying with all the mainstream churches, plus JW, COLS and different pentacostals. I read a lot of literature including the bible for the first time, and began to study it with the best experts i could find on language, archaelogy and theology. given that i lived in country australia, and there was no internet at the time, (Cos there were no computers) these may not have been the best in the world, but they were competent enough.

I also did some comparative studies of other religions, but i had pretty much decided, on the basis of my experience and the contextual basis of my life, that christianity offered a good socio political and ethical framework within which to explore the nature and function of god.

Gradually i found that the more i simply studied and investigated the bible as a contact record between god and humanity, the more it resembled my experiences, so i became a non denominational, biblically based believer, probably aalso nominally christian , but i think other contact records and other religions have equal spiritual validity. They just dont fit our western social framework like christianity does.

Probably the most distinguishing nature of my worship now(apart from the fact that it is just part of an ongoing physical relationship between me and god), is the application of core bilbical principles without the addons of centuries of accumulated religious dogma. These include things like keeping all the 10 commandments.

I find god to be very much the god who is represented in the bible, and thus like those peolpe who knew him back then, i try to live with him , love him and follow his expressed desires as well as i can .

In return he gives me everything i need for life, watches over me , physically protects me; and has provided me with a life filled with such happiness, joy and wonder, that i struggle every day not to feel sorry for the poor people around me existing in a life with the most essential element missing from it.

Then i come on um and my balance is restored, when i read of all those people who are apparently in a similar state of bliss, without the presence of god in their lives . Some of them even appear to manage to live happy lives without resort to any physical stimulants.

I belong to the Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

When I first became a Christian about 15 years ago I went to a few different churches with friends who took me along. I first went to a Baptist for a while, then a Uniting church and the one I've been at the longest and where I'm at now is an Anglican Church. I don't particularly think of myself as Anglican though, I'm a Christian first and foremost. It's where my church family is and wherever the Gospel is faithfully preached and where I find faith in Jesus and fellowship in the Spirit is where I'll go.

I fall into the category of Pagan, I usually just say Wiccan but I don't follow everything they do. (All the rituals) When I was very small, my Nana took me and my two sisters to her church (I'm not sure what denomination it was) but I never really got into it and I always felt like it wasn't the place for me. When I was about 13 my mother told me that she had practiced Wicca for many many years and asked me if I would also like to practice it with her. At first I thought what any teenager would think, "can I use it to make so-and-so like me???" but I learned early that you don't tamper with the free will of others. My Mother taught me the holidays and simple ways to meditate and all about balance of self and universe. My father is a Buddist who taught me that living things are sacred, and that nobody should be judged better than another, and that we are all part of the circle and universe.

When I was 15 or 16, my family was in the middle of a huge crisis, my parents lost their jobs and we were about to be evicted from our home, and we had our water shut off for a few weeks because we couldn't pay the bills. (Imagine having to shave your legs and bathe in a bucket of water and going to high school....so fun) On my daily walk to school I was feeling very sad and alone and I started to just cry uncontrollably, I broke down at the edge of a field and sunk my hands into the dirt and begged the universe to help me and my family. I prayed as hard as I could until my head felt like it would burst, and eventually I calmed down and got up and went to school. A couple of months later, my Mother and Father got great new jobs and we moved to a very nice apartment. I felt like I had sent out all my positive energy to the universe and it sent it back to me with extra.

I try to keep the balance in the universe and in myself and my life. I stick with karma and I try to do good for others, although sometimes I admit it is hard I try not to begrudge anyone their own beliefs or practices, as long as it doesn't harm me or is imposed on me. I always try and see things from other people's perspectives and I find it helps me very much to understand people I wouldn't normally agree with.

Blessed Be!

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterdaySaints, aka Mormon.
Although I don't go nearly as often as I should. I have considered, and studied other religions, and the idea of no religion (just worshiping God by myself), But I always come back to the fact that for me the LDS church has the biggest picture, and for me is the closest to the truth.

Awesome! You have said what most "Holy Writings" teach, but very few religious congregants practice.

I also am a pastafarian at heart. I also lead the 'Church of Biff'.

I will also second that!!!

I have a question are Shakers the Same as Quakers,I have been to the Shaker Villige in Kentucky and the Historian said they died out because the seperated the sexes to the point there were no children to carry on the traditions,so I was wondering are they similar or the same?

Well, I am a follower of Spiritism. It's based on the five books published in Paris in the nineteenth century by a man called Allan Kardec, that are listed bellow and can be downloaded in PDF:

1. The Spirits' Book (1857);
2. The Mediums' Book (1861);
3. The Gospel according to Spiritism (1864);
4. Heaven and Hell (1865);
5. Genesis (1868).

Spiritism has no priests and doesn't adopt, nor uses in its meetings and in its practices: altars, images, candles, processions, sacraments, grants of forgiveness, alcohol or hallucinogenic, incense, smoke, talismans, amulets, horoscopes, cards, pyramids, crystals or any other objects, rituals or forms of exterior worship. Spiritism also never deal with necromancy (divination by the dead), as well as any other kind of divinatory system, although it establishes communication with the dead to get instructions and learn from them or about them.

The basic precepts are summarized bellow, from the Spirits’ Book:

The beings who thus enter into communication with us designate themselves, as we have said, by the name of spirits or genie, and as having belonged, in many cases at least, to men who have lived upon the earth. They say that they constitute the spiritual world, as we, during our earthly life, constitute the corporeal world.

We will now briefly sum up the most important points of the doctrine which they have transmitted to us, in order to reply more easily to the objections of the incredulous.

"God is eternal, immutable, immaterial, unique, all-powerful, sovereignly just and good.

"He has created the universe, which comprehends all beings, animate and inanimate, material and immaterial.

"The material beings constitute the visible or corporeal world, and the immaterial beings constitute the invisible or spiritual world, that is to say, the spirit-world, or world of spirits.

"The spirit-world is the normal, primitive, eternal world, pre-existent to, and surviving, everything else.

"The corporeal world is only secondary; it might cease to exist, or never have existed, without changing the essentiality of the spiritual world.

"Spirits temporarily assume a perishable material envelope, the destruction of which, by death, restores them to liberty.

"Among the different species of corporeal beings, God has chosen the human species for the incarnation of spirits arrived at a certain degree of development; it is this which gives it a moral and intellectual superiority to all the others.

"The soul is an incarnated spirit, whose body is only its envelope.

"There are in man three things -(1.) The body, or material being, analogous to the animals, and animated by the same vital principle; (2.) The soul, or immaterial being, a spirit incarnated in the body; (3.) The link which unites the soul and the body, a principle intermediary between matter and spirit.

"Man has thus two natures.: by his body he participates in the nature of the animals, of which it has the instincts; by his soul, he participates in the nature of spirits.

"The link, or perispirit, which unites the body and the spirit, is a sort of semi-material envelope. Death is the destruction of the material body, which is the grossest of man's two envelopes; but the spirit preserves his other envelope, viz., the perispirit, which constitutes for him an ethereal body, invisible to us in its normal state, but which he can render occasionally visible, and even tangible, as is the case in apparitions.

"A spirit, therefore, is not an abstract, undefined being, only to be conceived of by our thought; it is a real, circumscribed being, which, in certain cases, is appreciable by the senses of sight, hearing, and touch.

"Spirits belong to different classes, and are not equal to one another either in power, in intelligence, in knowledge, or in morality. Those of the highest order are distinguished from those below them by their superior purity and knowledge, their nearness to God, and their love of goodness; they are "angels" or "pure spirits." The other classes are more and more distant from this perfection; those of the lower ranks are inclined to most of our passions, hatred, envy, jealousy, pride, etc.; they take pleasure in evil. Among them are some who are neither very good nor very bad, but are teazing and troublesome rather than malicious are often mischievous and unreasonable, and may be classed as giddy and foolish spirits.

"Spirits do not belong perpetually to the same order. All are destined to attain perfection by passing through the different degrees of the spirit-hierarchy. This amelioration is effected by incarnation, which is imposed on some of them as an expiation, and on others as a mission. Material life is a trial which they have to undergo many times until they have attained to absolute perfection; it is a sort of filter, or alembic, from which they issue more or less
purified after each new incarnation.

"On quitting the body, the soul re-enters the world of spirits from which it came, and from which it will enter upon a new material existence after a longer or shorter lapse of time, during which its state is that of an errant or wandering spirit¹.

"Spirits having to pass through many incarnations, it follows that we have all had many existences, and that we shall have others, more or less perfect, either upon this earth or in other worlds.

"The incarnation of spirits always takes place in the human race; it would be an error to suppose that the soul or spirit could be incarnated in the body of an animal. "A spirit's successive corporeal existences are always progressive, and never retrograde; but the rapidity of our progress depends on the efforts we make to arrive at perfection.

"The qualities of the soul are those of the spirit incarnated in us; thus, a good man is the incarnation of a good spirit, and a bad man is that of an unpurified spirit.

"The soul possessed its own individuality before its incarnation; it preserves that individuality after its separation from the body.

"On its re-entrance into the spirit world, the soul again finds there all those whom it has known upon the earth, and all its former existences eventually come back to its memory, with the remembrance of all the good and of all the evil which it has done in them.

"The incarnated spirit is under the influence of matter; the man who surmounts this influence, through the elevation and purification of his soul, raises himself nearer to the superior spirits, among whom he will one day be classed. He who allows himself to be ruled by bad passions, and places all his delight in the satisfaction of his gross animal appetites, brings himself nearer to the impure spirits, by giving preponderance to his animal nature.

"Incarnated spirits inhabit the different globes of the universe.

"Spirits who are not incarnated, who are errant, do not occupy any fixed and circumscribed region; they are everywhere, in space, and around us, seeing us, and mixing with us incessantly; they constitute an invisible population, constantly moving and busy about us, on every side.

"Spirits exert an incessant action upon the moral world, and even upon the physical world; they act both upon matter and upon thought, and constitute one of the powers of nature, the efficient cause of many classes of phenomena hitherto unexplained or misinterpreted, and of which only the spiritist theory can give a rational explanation.

'Spirits are incessantly in relation with men. The good spirits try to lead us into the right road, sustain us under the trials of life, and aid us to bear them with courage and resignation; the bad ones tempt us to evil: it is a pleasure for them to see us fall, and to make us like themselves.

"The communications of spirits with men are either occult or ostensible. Their occult communications are made through the good or bad influence they exert on us without our being aware of it; it is our duty to distinguish, by the exercise of our judgement, between the good and the bad inspirations that are thus brought to bear upon us. Their ostensible communications take place by means of writing, of speech, or of other physical manifestations, and usually through the intermediary of the mediums who serve as their instruments.

"Spirits manifest themselves spontaneously, or in response to evocation. All spirits may be evoked: those who have animated the most obscure of mortals, as well as those of the most illustrious personages, and whatever the epoch at which they lived; those of our relatives, our friends, or our enemies; and we may obtain from them, by written or by verbal communications, counsels, information in regard to their situation beyond the grave, their thoughts in regard to us, and whatever revelations they are permitted to make to us¹.

Spirits are attracted by their sympathy with the moral quality of the parties by whom they are evoked. Spirits of superior elevation take pleasure in meetings of a serious character, animated by the love of goodness and the sincere desire of instruction and improvement. Their presence repels the spirits of inferior degree who find, on the contrary, free access and freedom of action among persons of frivolous disposition, or brought together by mere curiosity, and wherever evil instincts are to be met with. So far from obtaining from spirits, under such circumstances, either good advice or useful information, nothing is to be expected from them but trifling, lies, ill-natured tricks, or humbugging; for they often borrow the most venerated names, in order the better to impose upon those with whom they are in communication.

"It is easy to distinguish between good and bad spirits. The language of spirits of superior elevation is constantly dignified, noble, characterised by the highest morality, free from every trace of earthly passion; their counsels breathe the purest wisdom, and always have our improvement and the good of mankind for their aim. The communications of spirits of lower degree, on the contrary, are full of discrepancies, and their language is often commonplace, and even coarse. If they sometimes say things that are good and true, they more often make false and absurd statements, prompted by ignorance or malice. They play upon the credulity of those who interrogate them, amusing themselves by flattering their vanity, and fooling them with false hopes. In a word, instructive communications worthy of the name are only to be obtained in centres of a serious character, whose members are united, by an intimate communion of thought and desire, in the pursuit of truth and goodness.

“The moral teaching of the higher spirits may be sumnied up, like that of Christ, in the gospel maxim, 'Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you;' that is to say, do good to all, and wrong no one. This principle of action furnishes mankind with a rule of conduct of universal application, from the smallest matters to the greatest.

They teach us that selfishness, pride, sensuality, are passions which bring us back towards the animal nature, by attaching us to matter; that he who, in this lower life, detaches himself froni matter through contempt of worldly trifles, and through love of the neighbour, brings himself back towards the spiritual nature; that we should all make ourselves useful, according to the means which God has placed in our hands for our trial; that the strong and the powerful owe aid and protection to the weak; and that he who misuses strength and power to oppress his fellow-creature violates the law of God. They teach us that in the spirit-world nothing can be hidden, and that the hypocrite will there be un-masked, and all his wickedness unveiled; that the presence, unavoidable and perpetual, of those whom we have wronged in the earthly life is one of the punishments that await us in the spirit-world; and that the lower or higher state of spirits gives rise in that other life to sufferings or to enjoyments unknown to us upon the earth.

"But they also teach us that there are no unpardonable sins, none that cannot be efaced by expiation. Man finds the means of accomplishing this in the different existences which permit him to advance progressively, and according to his desire and his efforts, towards the perfection that constitutes his ultimate aim.

Such is the sum of spiritist doctrine, as contained in the teachings given by spirits of high degree. Let us now consider the objections that are urged against it.... (Spirits'Book, Introduction, item VI)

Best Regards.

I'm a Josh-ist.

A Pastafarian?!?! HA! HA! HA! HA!

That's awesome!

As for Christian church affiliation? Some points:

1. Jesus never mentions the word "church" as we know it. The word He used meant "gathered ones" or "selected ones". Not a building or organization. It always refers just to people.

2. Jesus never said you have to be "Christian". That didn't exist then. And since He praised many people who were pagan, being Jewish was obviously not a forced issue either.

3. There is a story where Jesus' students came back and told Him that someone was casting out demons using Jesus' name, and they forbade them because they don't follow them. But Jesus said that it didn't matter. That if they are not against Him, they are on His side.

4. Continuing on, the Letters(I think from Paul) condemn sect. People saying "I am of Paul", "I am of Appolos", "I am of Lucia", "I am of Methodist", "We are Borg", etc. The teaching says that all are members of a spiritual body. Not a physical one.

5. No where does Christ teach that we need to meet on Sundays, sing songs in front of others, listen to a Pastor, and then give him money. (If people want to, you know, cool. But I don't think there is grounds to force it)

Leafar,
Welcome to the UM!!!

I am what I refer to myself as a Christian Mutt, because I refer to myself as being to the "spiritual" aspect of being a Christian with Christ... Which some Christians dont want to acknowledge the spirit aspect of Christianity. And some also refer to it as being just wrong to acknowledge the spirits and the purposes of their levels... But its there, and cant be denied. And shouldnt either. I am happy to find another that understands this perspective of the other relm of existance inclusive with Christ....

My main focus is with Christ. Dont get me wrong. He is always Forefront and first in my life. As all good comes from the Lord, and all centers around Him.

I enjoyed reading your post.

I agree with your description of the Spirits...

The higher their intelligence, the closer to the Light they are, and thus, the higher their level, and thus the closer to the Lord and that which is good and true...and those on the outskirts so to speak,are those which are of lower level intelligence and have not yet earned their place .
And as described the Angels are of the highest mentioned and closest.

There are many levels of intelligence for both the good and also the evil spirits.

My friend, you are right on the mark!! I'll PM you also....

Blessings