Ask Lemmy

Once I hit my early 20s I had a goal for myself: to find out what the truth is, whatever it may be, even if it shatters my most cherished beliefs. I went through so many different belief systems. I explored every kind of mindset I could regarding everything I could. I would get very involved with some belief system or ideology for a time and absorb what I could from it and then move on to something else.

Over time, I saw a ton of patterns emerge and I saw that ideologies of any kind place a limited filter on how one views reality. I decided that what makes the most sense to me is to simply seek to do the most good while doing the least harm. Whether or not one believes in a god is irrelevant as life does as it will anyway. Adhering to a political party is just team sports. Social norms are basically attempts to not be uncomfortable and only pretend to be about safety and order (neither of which exist regardless of what social norms exist).

Grew up in a moderately catholic home, had a strong sense of faith as a kid. Hormones took over as a teenager and resided to not knowing if God existed. Had a spiritual moment in my mid twenties (no, I won't go into online) became a pentecostal Christian. Put myself through the church wringer for a little over 10 years. Started deconstructing my faith and asking a lot of questions about what I believe and why a few years ago. I still have a strong faith in God but how I live that faith is very different to the last 15 years and is very different to what I consider "mainstream" Christianity. I'm so much happier not being in "church" and I feel free to accept myself and others more than I ever had. Still working on myself though. So yes, I still consider myself a Christian but had to spit out a lot of bullshit taught over the years.

I thankfully was raised in the exact region and community with the correct religion and prevailing political views. /s

In reality, humanities courses in university, living in the many different types of communities (urban, suburban, rural), and good parents who taught me not to take claims at face value.