From where did you begin?

[Mysterious]

Just wondering what everyone's background is like. Whether you came from a pagan background, a non spiritual one, or another religion.

My family is mostly Christian but that wasn't the right path for me (they can't see that htough) and here I am today.

[Isil Darkmoon]

I was raised Methodist, and actively participated for most of my younger life, but was getting restless.

In the beginning of high school, I became Pagan for the wrong reasons. (Mostly, my best friend who I hero-worshipped was Pagan, and thinking she could do no wrong, I should do it too beause after all she's perfect right?)

I began to realize that this wasn't all fun and games and it was quite real... scared myself and ran back to Christianity where I became more devout than I'd previously been.

By the end of high school, I was once again searching, and came back to take a second look at paganism. I met up with the local pagans at college when I arrived here. Once I began to serously study and investigate it, I realized it was the proper place for me to be. So here I am today.

My parents still do not know, and will not until I graudate college and am financially independant. It's better, really, for all involved that way.

[xzyon]

raised to believe that I would make good choices whatever they may be. my mom's faith never seened pressed upon me and I was raised with an eclectic background...

[jodarius]

i grew up in a family of catholics, though it was rare for us to attend church. then when i was about ten or so i realised i didnt believe in their teachings, nor did i like them, i mean a god that held a grudge from the begining of human existane and was still supposed to be this great benevolent being, it just idnt work for me. so i delved into other religions, the norse being one of my favorites. it was really about a year or so ago that i turned to paganism, and eventually learned of my being otherkin. my family thinks its just a stge but i now feel more complete and well i have found a place in this world finally.

[wok-tok-weasel]

Raised Roman Catholic until (as George Carlin quotes) I reached the age of reasoning. Nothing against the Catholic church. It's got it's problems, but what doesn't? And it is what it needs to be for whoever needs it... however, as I became more inquisitive in matters of my spirituality, I found myself chastised on several occaisions for simply asking why. It's a good faith, but it's also a very blind one (for most people). It seemed that ever time I asked what certain things meant, or why we did things we did, the only answer i would get is because "That's just how it is". People really didn't like questions. SO, I couldn't continue that path as I found no sense of fulfillment from something I wasn't allowed to ask about, I didn't feel at home. I took a 2 year break from following ANY religion, and instead looked into MANY. Found quite a few interesting ones, but then i found the road of ecclectic paganism, and here I've stayed now for a couple years. So.. yeah.. that's my story..

[Hyalucent]

I was raised in a marginally Christian household (went to church every Sunday but nobody's a Bible thumper or a Theologian). When I left home for university, I wanted to broaden my horizons. Since there were a heck of a lot of paths I could look at, but mostly since I have an interest in genealogy and history, I opted to start with studying the Celts. I think my interests in ghosts also made me a bit predisposed to other views of spirit, the afterlife, etc...

So the more I read, the more I fell in love with the myths and I actually felt a bit shortchanged that these things weren't heavily promoted as our cultural heritage. By this time I was also reading a bit of secondary fluff, burning a lot of candles and incense, and listening to Enya CDs on constant repeat.

I was, and still am, a bit of a nighthawk-- so in the early hours of the morning at the university residence, I was the one that was around for conversations. A lot of folks on the backshifts dropped in because they knew I always had coffee brewing at 3am. That's how I met a good friend of mine. He worked security and stopped in to help himself to a cup of coffee. He noticed some of the books I had been acquiring and brought up the subject of paganism. He was into Asatru and the next thing you know, I was invited to a small Winter Solice ritual (that would have been December '93).

I stuck with it for a few years, attending rits and festivals and continuing to study-- but three years ago I left to go overseas for a while and I've since lapsed. There's no one around me to practice with, and I don't have access to the same study materials I used to either. I also lacking a sense of grounding, being away from my native soil.

BUT... I am repatriating at the end of this month, which is why I joined this forum. I plan to get back into paganism more fully, and get back in touch with my old hearth/grove mates. I'm also hoping to settle a small farm so you might see me posting some questions on the greenery thread later. :D

Can't wait... three more weeks.

[FaerieGothMommy]

Non-religious background. None of my family are religious... We've never been to church only for weddings, christenings etc... But i've never been brought up with any religion.

[Radocs]

I used to be Catholic.

[enchancea]

Catholic for me. We were never really active. I dont remember ever going to church but I do remember going to Sunday school and nightly bible things.

[banondraig]

i voted other. i was in a nominally christian household until i was about twelve. then my mom started going to church regularly and dragging me along. this roughly coincided with the beginnings of my finding peace in nature, making weird soupy purple mixtures out of friendly local plants, etc., which was not yet a full-blown interest in paganism. i went through a brief catholic phase as a strange from of rebellion (mom was raised catholic, now methodist like her then-boyfriend, who i detested). as i related in another discussion, i was dragged into confirmation class for lack of an articulate reason not to go. it just felt wrong, for no reason i could understand, let alone explain. i started really looking into Goddess worship/occult (astrology) when i was fifteen, now 27. i wandered off the path for a while, onto no path, really, and have ben back for about the past four years.

[Bainidhe Dub]

Actually, my parents never made me go to church - that is until I got interested in my aunt's tarot cards, and got to go on a trip to Lilydale, NY (beautiful area, btw, you should go lol). Then my paternal grandmother literally threw a fit and I had to go to church; that didn't last too long, because we moved out of state a few years later, so it wasn't too bad.

When I moved to NC, my best friend was a devout Catholic, but was very sympathetic to other religions. She gave me my first book on the Craft (Cunningham's Air, Water, Fire, Earth book - I still have it :) ) From there it was very natural for both of us to gravitate towards other "Pagan - friendly" kids, which, it turned out, made up most of our advanced art classes LOL. We were really lucky too, in that both of our art teachers were of "alternative" religions - we even got a chance to go to one's handfasting my senior year.

All in all, I think I had it pretty good in terms of my chosen religion. My parents don't care what I do as long as I'm not sacrificing babies or the cats don't start disappearing. (I guess they're not too worried about the dogs LOL)

[Hyalucent]

When I moved to NC, my best friend was a devout Catholic, but was very sympathetic to other religions. She gave me my first book on the Craft (Cunningham's Air, Water, Fire, Earth book - I still have it :) )

Heheheh. I got my first book from the minister's son back in my old church. Coincidences. :D

[~ Monk ~]

I had a brief bout with Christianity in my teens but never any formal religous upbringing.

[zakzekezedd]

I'd have to vote non-religious. I was baptised and confirmed into the Luthern Church, but home wasn't what I would call particularly religious..except for maybe some of my grandpa's favorite epitaths ;) (ex-Navy y'know....)..I've always had a strong "bond" with nature and animals, and began exploring the metaphysical world in my late teens. Of course, it took me another 35 years to finally realize that Wicca was the spiritual path I was seeking..I'm a "slow child" what can I say...

[DixieWitch]

I was raised in the Baptist and Catholic church. I didn't find Paganism until I was about 16 or 17. My family, other than my husband, doesn't know of my path. Unlike LadyPhoenix's family, mine would think I am sacrificing babies and cats. They're closeminded to even learning what Paganism and Wicca is about. Anything that doesn't follow the Christian, Catholic or Jewish religion is considered "bad". And the Jewish part is only recent since my sister started dating a Jewish guy. This Path just feels more comfortable to me.

[Pesha]

I was born Jewish and lived that way until at age 19 I began to feel I was different and so began my search and my finding my path in Wicca/Witchcraft.

BB
DS.

[Aylwyn]

I made a mistake, I meant to choose Religious background (not pagan). Opps.

I was raised very conservative christian. I'm sure like many others I found the christian religion that was shown to me by my parents to be very dissatisfing and not in tune with my internal sense of morals and values.

I would like to say however, my parents are very moral and possess strong values, And are ultimately very kind hearted people. They'll simply think that you'll go to hell if you don't believe in their religion (sigh).

So here I am.

[Flaire-FireStar]

My mom is Baptist...... therefore, I was Baptist, but never baptized. :huh:

[FaerieLuma]

I was baptized in a Catholic church when I was born, but my parents were not religious. We used to go to church only once a year or so... I have to say that my background is not religious because my parents never emphatized a specific religion into our lives.

[Autumn]

I was raised in a home where my parents believed in god and jesus but nobody went to church unless they wanted to...I wound up rather confused living in an area where most of my friends were catholic but my parents clearly did not respect the church...my mom was nominally raised catholic and didn't like it...my dad was raised to distrust catholism...weird and confusing huh?

I found wicca through astrology and went on from there...

[Felidae]

Non-religious background. Lapsed Episcopalians, to be more precise. My dad was very open-minded, my mother less so...

Nevertheless, we went to church when I was young; then it seemed like one day they just stopped going. No real reason given. Just better things to do/not do...

:whatgives

[Tzhebee]

I chose non-religious background. My mother always told me it was more important to have a belief than a faith. So long as you believed in something.

That's not to say I didn't have religion all around. Southern Baptist G'ma, Catholic G'pa, Jewish Aunt, Jovohah's Whitness Aunt, Athiest Uncles, etc. But, I'm the only Pagan that I know of.

[Heathen Dawn]

Raised an atheist. Experimented with Orthodox Judaism (two years) and Spiritualism before I arrived here. And my journey isn’t over yet—I’ve just found out Wicca is not for me.

[Avalon]

Roman Catholic through my Confirmation--->lapsed Catholic with interest in crystals--->Catholic with New Age philosophies--->Wiccan--->plain ol' Witch :D

[dragonkin]

In the beginning my parents took me to church because thats what my grandparents on both sides expected. By the time I was 10 this stopped and my Mother stressed the importance of following my heart and finding a spirituallity that best fit who I was. When I was 12 I discovered as my Great-Grandmother was dying that we came from several (very broom closeted as it was illegal) generations of witches. My great-grandmother hid her doings very well under veiled christianity as it was expected but she was a Kitchen Witch.

[Heathen Dawn]

[...] my Mother stressed the importance of following my heart and finding a spirituallity that best fit who I was.

That’s great! :thumbsup:

[blueiris]

christian (episcopalian) but i never thought it was for me. alot of it just seemed really hyprocritcal to me (i'm not smashing Christianity, only to me it didn't make sense) and I found out about paganism...i told my mom a while back but she still made me take confirmation classes which was interesting, I learned alot about spirituality, and I also learned that Christianity was definitely not for me (so i didn't get confirmed). and here i am!

[Ceallach]

I chose non-religious. My parents said they were Baptist, but never actually practiced anything. As I got more curious about spirituality, I realized that they were intolerant of all religions, including the one they professed to have. Every time I showed any interest in spirituality, I was warned obsessively about cults and fanatics and the like. My parents would have a hay day if they knew I was a Pagan now!

[Cappy]

Cool. I'm the only one with a pagan background. My dad's into Native American Shamanism and my mom's into new age fluffy bunny stuff. They're both open minded and happy that I've found my path.

[Convallaria]

My mom was a christian, dads an athiest. For that reason I was raised religionless, with some christian values slipped in here and there from my mom...

[Tea Leaf]

I was raised in a spiritualist household (well... my mom is a spiritualist). It was great. I have wonderful memories of my mother and grandmother communicating with spirits, and looking to the future with tarot cards and astrology.

[GypsyGirl]

i never really had a set religion. my dad is (/was?) episcopalian and my mom's catholic. i went to catholic church up until i was 8, got the first communion thing, and then just didn't go back for some reason. *shrug* i should ask my mom that one day; could be interesting lol

[Equinox]

Hi!

My path has been Christian, to Humanist, to Pagan Humanist. I've written out the whole story here:

http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~leta/TREATISE/tjchap1.htm

To get just the skinny, you might want to just read chapters 1&2, then skip to chapter 8, which describes my current Pagan Humanism. Interesting stories everyone! It's interesting that there are a lot of former Episcopals here, especially since they are a relatively small denomination (2 million, or less than 1% of the US population).


-Equinox

[Mysterious]

Despite not converting people it looks like Paganism does a good job of drawing us away from other religions all on its own.

[azure spirit]

I come from two very distinct religious influences. My father was raised in a Jewish household, however since then he's moved away from that. I was primarily raised Catholic, but we were never really active. Since then, Paganism just seems to make more sense, and it really ended up fitting me worlds better. I guess I appreciate the balance.

[Faery-Wings]

Very strict Catholic Italian household for me. That explains a lot of my personal hang-ups. :spaceman:

And it is what it needs to be for whoever needs it... however, as I became more inquisitive in matters of my spirituality, I found myself chastised on several occaisions for simply asking why.

*nods* For me this started as early as first grade as I was preparing for my First Communion. Even though I was Catholic, I don't think I ever truly felt it in my heart.

[kewlhippiechick]

I'm a recovering Catholic (no disrespect to Catholics, btw). All my life people would call me a witch, and I would correct them and say, "No. I'm Roman Catholic". It wasn't until my early 20's that I gave in to destiny and began studying Witchcraft and Wicca. And thank the Goddess I did! :floating:

[TornadoAli]

Southern Baptist, bay-bee!

(yikes!)

[luna rising]

Very non-religious. I have been in churches 12. maybe 15 times in my life. I was not even baptised as an infant, because my father didn't think it was fair to make that kind of choice for another person. He made a lot of other decisions for me along the way, :lol: , but I have always respected him for standing up to the elders of my family who were/are convinced that I would go to hell for not being baptised.

[Cev'aq]

I grew up in a very Christian home. My father is a nondenominational preacher, and my mother's faith is just as strong. I accepted it all and believed it all until I was a teen, and started wondering why I believed it all. I figured out that it was just because that's the only religion I'd been exposed to, I didn't know anything else, so how could I believe anything else? I began studying and chose paganism after an unidentified goddess-like woman came to me in a dream.

[BrightStar]

Hi all!!
No religion.
I was always agnostic,it takes a LOT of faith to be an atheist!
Peace and Love
BrightStar

[CrystalShadow]

Okay my little religious backing.

My mom's side is Presbyterian so I was baptized a presby and went to that church.

My dad's side is Catholic so I went to a Catholic elementary school and now am going to an all girl Catholic high school.

I went to a Methodist preschool and Kindergarten.

I have a few relatives that are severely Christian.

My grandmother and great grandmother were interested in magick and I would get along with grandma...if she had her mind still.

So I'm a lone Wiccan in a Christian family.

My mom claims she was a "white witch" but continuously tells me this is just a scam religion, but at least my Dad has interest in Wicca and the occult.

[BellaWild]

I was raised mormon but was never ever happy with that. My parents said I had to go to church and practice that religion until I was eighteen, and then I could do what I wanted. Three years non mormon and feeling peace and spirit every day! :)

[Aidron]

My mum raised me to follow whatever path I chose. Growing up she did affiliate me with a christian church and I was baptized, though only for exposure to a variety of path's. She taught me about many faiths, since she herself had been apart or could relate to most on some level. She herself was a student of witchcraft for awhile a few years before I was concieved, and is just now after many longs years of feeling "Eh, I don't care anymore. God shmod." coming back to it out of simple desire.

[Lil Miss Witchy]

I was raised in a VERY strict Lutheran household; and my family went through the roof the first time I told them that I didn't think Christianity was meant for me...

They still believe I'm in a "phase" (Right, 7 years is a phase!!) but that I will "Come back home" eventually...

I just wish they'd at least TRY to understand sometimes!

[Nevwyn]

I was raised a southern baptist :hairraise , but was kicked out for asking the wrong questions... or the right ones. :lol:

[Druchii]

And I don't really know why...

[Dextra]

My mother's family is Baptist and my father's family is Catholic. Talk about growing up confused. :hrmm:

[AuroraSilvermist]

Another recovering Catholic, here. I went to Sunday school and the whole bit. First communion, confirmation. Yeah. I was in my mid-30's before I realized I didn't really buy what they were selling me. I'm still grateful for my Christian upbringing, because I learned a lot...but it's not for me NOW, and I know it will never appeal to me again.

[Dark Phoenix]

Raised Catholic went to sunday school and did the first communion and confirmation but was happy to be done with sunday school (who want's to spend sunday stuck in school anyway?). In my early teens I floated around and diden't give religion much thought till I found my first Pagan book at 17 and three years later here I am.

[Thalias_Smile]

My mother was what i call a recovering Catholic and my dad was raised Lutheran (figure THAT one out)...They decided early on that they would not force religion on their children...that we would decide for ourselves if we wanted to go to religious services. From a very early age, had a definite fascination w/Native American shamanism, and loved stories like Ms. Witch, Bunnicula, & Dorrie the Witch.

[Rowan MoonDragon]

I went to a Luthern church when I was younger but it never felt right to me. My Dad is religious, my Mom believes that there is a higher power but she's never felt comfortable in churches either. My Mom's side of the family has always had strange things happen to them. I started looking into paganism and the craft about 5 years ago and actually found myself. it felt right and it still does.

[rain_fallen_tears]

Like so many others....I was raised Catholic...I found Paganism( Wicca in particular...) that I felt comfortable...that I could breath for once, after years of suffocation through Christianity...I found myself through Wicca....and I thank the Goddess and God everyday.:)

[Shanti]

My mom was chatholic and my dad wiccan(they did get divorsed after 21 yrs of marrage). I chose pagan cause I believe in a little of everything and not in just one thing.

[Haruka2077]

I wasn't taught anything particularly religious when I was really young. When I was 8 or so I started to feel that there was "something else" out there, and I made my parents take me to church (cuz all I knew was that's where everyone went). Their church is United Church of Christ, which is a very mild Protestant place. I insisted on being baptized (at 11). Then, my parents sent me to Catholic school to get me out of a horrendous situation in public, and I was thrilled. I learned everything I could about Catholicism and really embraced it, although I never actually became Catholic. I started reading about Wicca when I was 13 and it slowly percolated in the back of my head until I was 19 or so when I decided that it seemed worth really exploring.
It wasn't really hard to make the transition, because I didn't have anyone pushing me one way or the other, but I did go back and forth quite a bit on my own till I found a place that seemed right to me. I did go to Catholic school for 10 years and I owe a great debt to that faith, but being Pagan now for almost a decade, I've found I can't even attend Mass anymore. *sigh* I tried to go on Christmas Eve (for the candles) and I realized that now that I know where the meanings of most of it came from, it seemed almost like a parody. It was kind of sad for me actually.
OK, *OFF ramble*

[ArKane]

Both sides of my family are strict Catholic. After 7 years of going to a Catholic school, I finally realised the path was not for me. I'm a officail rebel in their words.

[SimDug70AD]

I was raised a baptist. Taught Sunday school all through my teen years, even though I didn't really know whether I believed all of that.

[Athena my Goddess]

I used to be Christian.My father is a very catholic man (as my sister and brother and all the rest of my family)but my mother doesn't believe in the Christian God.She's full of Celtic,Indian and Buddhism believes(she's a celtic chaman):she believes in A god,"the Great Architect"as she calls him.
As for me,I used to be Christan in my chilhood but I never was very believer. Since I've been 10;I've always loved mytholigy:I started liking Egyptian Gods and then,as I was rather 11,I discovered Athena in one very ol mum's book. It has been my calling.She charmed me by her personnality and a something I can't explain. Since this moment,I've believed that there were many godsa and goddess on the Earth:I called them the "Nature forces"but I didn't really know who they were.I started feeling "things"at their contact but it wasn't very clear.Then,i read a book talking about Wicca and it opened my eyes:all the things I thought without daring think it was "true" was in the Wicca belief: different gods(God and Goddess),the forces of the Nature,ect ect.As this,I became Pagan.

[Brinclhof]

I was raised Methodist. Not only methodist but my father is a Methodist preacher, turned psychologist. IT gets better, my dad is a 5th generation methodist preacher

I'm still a methodist and probably always will be and am working to figure out how to balance all my beliefs into one big homegenous (sp) stew of ideas.

For example I am a creation evolutionist. I believe God created the world through evolution so both creationism and evolution are correct just depends on the details.

[WrathofCirce]

I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I was schooled in private Catholic schools. I was trouble from my first religion class in 2nd grade, however. I always wanted to know "why?" and soon found out that that was not a kosher question. I was labeled a "doubting Thomas" from a very young age, and was almost backhanded by my sixth grade teacher for declaring that I did not believe Mary remained a Virgin, and had doubts that she conceived that way. I was strong-armed into making my confirmation, which, in my mind, I never made. I didn't say "I do" to any of those questions, and I saw "being an adult in the eyes of the church" as my opportunity to stop going to church and proclaim my doubts even louder. All of the priests who ever crossed my path learned to hate me. I was not disrespectful, but I refused to follow blindly. In my mind, blind faith caused the Holocaust. I asked tough questions and did not allow them to argue "faith". I wanted facts. Later, through my love of museums and history, I found Isis, and I continued to ask the tough questions, but found more answers than questions.

[Khaelo]

Mom's a (liberal) Catholic, and dad doesn't care, so I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic schools from pre-school through graduation. My questioning began around 12, when I first "got it" about monotheism and how poorly it fit with what I knew. I went through an agnostic period from 13-14, and finally accepted my true gods around 15 or so. Knowing that they wouldn't be accepted, though, and having no name for my beliefs, I continued to call myself "agnostic" until 18. Then, for a book report in my Catholic religion class, I picked up a random fluffy book on "Paganism" (in hindsight, watered down Wicca). While a lot of the material was and is nonsense to me, the very idea of modern polytheism opened my eyes. After that, I poked around natural magic and Wicca and such, but have always returned to the same core polytheism that brought me here in the first place. I'm now 22.

Hmm, I say I've been pagan for about five years because...I can't count? When does "pagan" start? When you accept the gods or when you accept the label? :lol:

[Melissa]

I was raised a Catholic, then a converted to a Baptist, and now I just consider myself a Christian.

[SylverStar]

Well I put non-religious. My dad say he raised me Catholic, but we stopped going to church when I was 6 and we never talked about religion really other than him mentioning a couple times how he wanted me to go to Catholic school but could not afford it. I also started exploring religion on my own when I was a little older. I went to a couple Baptist chuches which I didn't like and than I also spent a few years hanging out at the Mormon church (I never went to sunday services) and participating in Mormon actvities. Though I loved the people the religion never held true for me.

[FroggieThePunk]

I was atheist with my father for a long time, then we started going to an Asemblies of God church. Then we moved, and started in on Lutheran. I was a satanist for awhile (a harmless one) and then I found Wicca. That is my progression. ANd I find that I feel the most fufilled in Wicca, so YAY! for me!

[Gwyndara]

born and raised christian Thats where I began.

[Jenne]

I was raised a baptist. Taught Sunday school all through my teen years, even though I didn't really know whether I believed all of that.
Wow SimDug, that was me! I was raised southern baptist in the bible belt of so cali...yes, we do have one out here! :lol: I was so well integrated that I didn't start questioning what I really believed in until I hit college. I was in the midst of a great wash of works (youth puppet ministry, college group study, bible study in my dorm room) when I started realizing that I was a part of something that wasn't me after all.

So I began to explore, and about 9 years later, I found Paganism...

[Eowyn]

I took Other since I started out from the very begin with a non religious backround but then when my parents divorced when I was 5-6 my dad started to go Christian... hmmm... I think I prefer the paster past with the none religious backround thing because... it was nicer... no mean talk about other people (well from my dad it was about my mom but besides that). :)

[tallulah]

My family was nominaly Christian, I was baptised Methodist and attended church every Sunday until I was in kindergarten or first grade. I'm of the opinion that we went to church so I could get cheap pre-school, but I don't know for sure. When I was in 4th grade I decided I'd like to go to church again, but not the methodist church. I had a friend that was UU and I visited her church a couple times and decided I liked it there. My parents and I started going, but never really got involved with the church community like I wanted to- my entire family is composed of shy introverts. I learned quite a bit there before my parents stopped taking me. In Sunday school they taught us about a great number of different relgions and that's where I had my first exposure to paganism. Later I was "exploring" my sister's room and found a few books on paganism and Wicca. I decided to look at them and, since I worshipped my sister (who was 8 years older than me) I decided to become one. That sort of faded after a while because I'd gotten into it for the wrong reasons, but I was searching again a year or two ago and rediscovered paganism, although I was almost converted to a Baptist last year (I can't help it...I love music and they had an award-winning church choir. as well as teen and adult handbell choir, and orchestra). But now I've found myself an eclectic pagan and am happy in having a definition for myself and my beliefs.

[serenarian]

Mine is a kind of weird mish-mash really - I suppose if you pushed me for a definition then I would say I came from a Protestant background, although none of my family really were religious. We never went to church, except for weddings and funerals. But my father has always appeared to me to have Buddhist leanings, and my mother's side of the family are largely Catholic. But if you asked either of them, they'd say they weren't religious. Personally, throughout most of early high school I would have considered myself agnostic. But then I found out about Paganism and Wicca, and began to study it earnestly. That was four years ago, and I've been a practising Eclectic Wiccan for two years now.

[DarkDancer]

I grew up with a mom who was an A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) and a father who was a believer but not a follower. So, I went to (and slept through) church, pretty much every Sunday with my mother. It was never a very good fit for me (thinking about it, it was not that great a fit for my mom either, I think she would have done well in one of the spiritualist churches), well, first of all, I slept through church mostly so I didn;t find it very engaging. I also had all sorts of weird beliefs, I believed in reincarnation and psychic penomena, ghosts, etc. I never prayed to Jesus, didn't see the point, I went straight to the source (it was all I had at that point). I also (just to throw this in) went to a Catholic school for 5 years.

When I started college (this is just to giveyou sort of aan age framework, the two are really unrelated) I got invited to go to a meditation. It wasd a new age event, held at a new age store. Loved it, started going every week. I was still technically a Christian at that point. Then somehow, as years went by, I realized that I seriously believed in The God and Thye Goddess....It wasn't a giant conversion experience, it was a subtle change.

[GaiaDea]

Baptized Methodist, raised Presbyterian, pagan since the age of 3 and I realized I saw and heard things that others didn't. Found out about Wicca in my teens, and have been studying religions since 8th grade.
Mother was a lay minister, father a devout Methodist, grandparents Presbyterian and Methodist.
I am raising my daughter with respect for all religions, and the understanding that she should follow the faith that fits her best. She has recently decided she wants to know more about our brand of paganism and that she feels that our beliefs fit her best. She is 11. (She once asked a minister who God's wife is! And she never got an answer from him!)

[RunningRiot]

My family was Christian, and my grandparents and extended family were all very strict about it. My mom was still good at teaching us about it, but became lax and we found our own beliefs.

[Whitewolf]

I started out as a Reform Jew. Went to temple and celebrated all the holidays. Eventually I stopped going but that was after my Bat Mitzvah.



-Jessica [aka Whitewolf]

[Kalika]

I was raised Methodist.

[LyraDragonStar]

I grew up Christian,I don't know what denomination, but my mom was Christian. Yet, we would hardly ever go to church at all. I went a few times, but I never thought my mom was religious.

A month ago, I found out otherwise. She's more religious than I thought, but she doesn't go to church. So I never went to church.

Now, I stumbled upon Wicca when I was around 11 and I managed to study and learn bits and pieces since then. 3 years ago. Almost 4, I think.

I admit that my teachings are very dabbled in, and mostly bits and pieces of stuff. I have never actually tried to study one specific thing at one time.

As a solitary teen, I think I'm doing alright. Especially since anything related is supposed to be out of my house. :lol:

Hope that makes sense.

[phoenixblayze]

ummm raised southern baptist
i know i know, the horror
*runs in terror*

[farm girl]

I grew up interfaith. Jewish/Christian.

[Philosophia]

Never raised within a religion of any kind.

[XanderAmon]

I said "non-religious", but that's not 100% true. My mother is Catholic, my father Jewish, and although we celebrated much of the cultural aspects of both sides, we didn't ever get too far into the... religous-ness.

It was always up to me where I would place my faith. :)

[Vincent Verthaine]

Family is Penacostal.I discovered it wasn't for me when the preacher was trying to explain heaven to me.I asked if heaven had comic books and monster movies(I was 6 at the time).When he said "No",I replied "heaven must really suck then".Got my ass whooped good.I have very neophilic personality.I am not easily brainwashed.Made growing up a living Hades.
Always was a neo-pagan at heart.Tried (secretly)wicca when I was a thirteen,but that didn't go anywhere either(the ones in my school were way to northern euro-centric for this dark choclate cuties taste).Got into taoism when I started taking tai chi classes,but still something was missing.A friend turned me on to the "Principia Discordia" when I was fifteen,and I knew right then and there that that was THE ONE TRUE RELIGION(tm.).Been a Childe of Eris ever since.

[Pandy Fackler]

Ah yes... The good ol' Roman Catholic church brought me up. 12 years of having Jesus and an angry 'God' shoved down my throat.
My parents, actually, never really re-inforced the religion except for making me go to church. But when I told my mom I was exploring more ecclectic religious paths (this was when I was about 16) she was okay with it. Luckily, my mom has always been very accepting of me!

[CoolJ]

my family isn't religious.... neither am I

[Galaxia]

Ω

[SilverMaiden]

My parents exposed all of us kids to different religions. My mother is Catholic at heart but ex-communicated and my father is protestant with an alien influence. We attended all kinds of christian sect churches, christian and jewish events, discussed atheism, agnosticism and judiasim. Muslim and paganism was never on their radar, until me.

Neither of my parents really approves of organized religion, but they like the comfort their spirituality gives them. Mom still loves attending Mass, but can not abide by some of the outdated stances the Vatican takes.

They wanted us kids to be able to choose what was best for us when we got older. Sure sometimes my paganism gives them the heebie jeebies because of their history yet they still respect my choice.

[Akeyla]

I was raised Roman Catholic. Changed over to Christianity in my teen years and shortly after I moved out of the house. I started looking in other directions. It took me a while before I found witchcraft and buddhism, that made sense to me, anyways.

But my journey isn't over yet and I keep looking and researching many different religions and beliefs. You know the old saying, it's not the destination that matters but the journey. Well I am deffinately enjoying the journey and taking in all I can.

It's a blast and thanks to sites like this, it doesn't drain my pockets at the bookstores either. Got to love the Internet and Mol and all the Admins, too.

[forbidden_vengence]

I was born into a very religious Christian family....

[Catiana]

I was raised in a completely non-religious family. I explored on my own and ended up Catholic before I became pagan.

[DoktorSick]

Well i was raised christian(southern baptist) my family was really involved with church so that meant i had to get into the mix as well.
I was an usher, in the choir and I even taugh a youth class.

[Garnet]

My parents raised me as Roman Catholic; I even went to a couple of R.C. schools & catechism classes from time to time.
I left Catholicism as a teen; I had some problems with some church doctrine.
I tried witchcraft as a teenager, but I learned it from a fairly silly "Say the Lord's Prayer backwards' book. In my 20s, I converted to Reform Judaism. My parents were cool about that, since they had converyted to Catholicism.
There is a long tradition of converting to another religion on both sides of the family.
I practice withcraft & worship feminine deity, but do not consider myself Wiccan or Pagan. I am still a Jew. As I study & age, I find myself moving to the left spiritually, but to the 'right' religiously. It wouldn't surprise me if I ended up as an Orthodox Jewish witch.

[Fire's Shadow]

Born in raised in a strict Catholic family. My mom and dad both came from catholic backgrounds and I come from predominately Irish ancestry. Let's see... I had to go the church. My dad almost kicked me out of the house for not going. The bishop switched out our priest and my family started to split up and go to different churchs and I finally got to stop going to church. I disagreed with too much of "the" church's teachings and just became the spiritual person I am today.

[AlleyCat]

Non religious mostly my parents didnt give two figs about what I believed I refused to go to scripture since I was in Kindergarten and the hippee lady next door since I was little helped develop my pagan interests, although shes a bit of a stoner and I dont agree with some things shes done shes pretty cool and Im glad she helped me open up and develop my beliefs instead of being in a stiffling closed minded environment (ignoring the father I mostly ignored his stupidity and condescending remarks of my stupidity and oddity)

[Mirrored Wolf]

:floating: My mother is athiest, my father is christian... I think, he's never prayed (that I've seen) Never seen him go to church... Anyway, my grandparents are firmly religious. Most of my family is religious

[aqua empath]

i was raised to be cathloic supposedly. however my family was never in to this. they were into drugs. i was never really taught anything or participated in church things. i was removed from the home at an early age and repeatedly put through stuff that was bad. the only thing i found comfort in was mythology it always seemed really interesting. so i began to look up stuff about it. because of my interest and my comfort in nature and the forces i turned to paganism as my religion. i then began to favor certain gods and goddesses more than others but still held respect for the other gods. all have their purpose. i am still learning cuz it has only been in the last 2 yrs that i have fully become a pagan till then it was just a facination. i look foward to learning all that i can in the course of my studies. for there is alot to learn.

[Xirian]

I was raised around the Jehovah's Witness religion until I disassociated myself at the age of 17.

[SageofThyme]

I was christened but my mother and her mother really were witches (My grandma would say she was a witch not a pagan -purely because she associated the word pagan with a lot of claptrap as she put it, but going by her beliefs she was pagan)

I was actually reading my old books from my childhood recently and there is little doubt they were pagan

I also was friends with witches and gypies from an early age -so really from birth I was pagan but I didn't call myself pagan until i was older

But for me nothing changed when I became "pagan" it was just the same as it was before

[Dawa Lhamo]

Pagan background. Wow, there are five of us over nearly two years of the poll! One of those crazy born and raised Wiccans. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

[Imbrium]

To put it simply, my father was non-religious, and my mother was a religious eclectic. I was new-agey and fairly neutral until 17 when I had a hard core conversion to Christianity. Ended up in an extreme fundi group, and when I finally realized that it was impractical to tithe 100% of your income, I began to question my values...

Well, yada, yada. Now It's 15 years later and I'm pagan. What a learning experience it has been.:achug:

[catgirl]

I was forced to go to a "Christian" church until I moved from my mom's household to my dad's at age 15. Then he told me I didn't have to go to any church if I didn't want to, or that he'd drive me to whatever church I wanted until I got my driver's liscense. So I went ot no church for a couple of years until a foster sister (dad and stepmom were foster parents) decided she wanted to go to a Baptist church so I went there with her for a couple of years. Then went to another Baptist church for a little while until I got disgusted with the behavior of the members and quit going all together.

I never fit in with any of them anyway. I was always questioning and kept an open mind and no one much liked that at any of those churches. I've always felt more at home outside in nature than any church. Recently I started doing some research and realized that my beliefs meshed well with Paganism and so I'm here. :-)

[TerminallyUnique]

Christianity couldnt answer my questions, Catholisism allowed Guilt to grow, thanks to that I resolved never to trust anyone, nor anything, and so now I prefer to sit at the mouth af gaping emptiness, allowing my gaze to fall.
Thanks for the thought though! :)

[LostSheep]

i wouldn't call it a religious background exactly, my grandparents were churchgoers and I started out going to a Catholic school, but it wasn't rammed down our throats (I rather liked the robes though - cassocks, whatever they're called.) I wished I could've worn them. But then that's just me. We sometimes got to play with candles, which was nice.

Anyway, as I grew up I gradually realized that I didn't actually take every word the Bible said literally, and I didn't really like the idea of God that we were asked to buy - this big guy, telling everyone that 'thou shalt not' do this or that, then the attitudes of the church about the place of women, and homosexuality, and so on, so i went off religion altogether, but I kind of felt that something was missing, and I realized that I felt a kind of spiritual lift watching the sun rise and set, and the moon, then found that there was a religion where these things were important, but where we weren't constantly told that 'thou shalt not' do this and that ...

.. now all i need is to find me a coven so i can wear those robes. :)

[Christo Pagan]

I was raised in an Evangelical Christian home before turning to Gnosticism (which in turn led me to Wicca) in my early 20's. I've been practicing a form of Gnostic Wicca now for five years.

[Amryn]

I was raised a Methodist, because that's what my father was. I'm not sure what Christian denomination my mother was raised in. We went to church every Sunday and I had to attend Sunday School (no getting out of it). I never felt like it fit me. I was basically there in body. In my early teens I was fascinated with astrology and tarot cards, but didn't find witchcraft until I was in my 20's. Everything started to click then.

[Novembers River]

I was raised Roman Catholic. Did the whole sha-bang through confirmation at 18. I disliked church and CCE, but my mother made me go. She said after confirmation I would be an adult and could make my own decisions. Well, at 16 I discovered wicca which lead to discovering paganism in general. After confirmation I never went back to church and continued down the pagan path.

[Arion]

Just wondering what everyone's background is like. Whether you came from a pagan background, a non spiritual one, or another religion.

My grandparents are super-religious, my parents...not so much. My great-grandfather on my dad's side was an Anglican minister, he raised my grandma to be pretty strictly religious. Not the typical "no sex, no boys, no swearing, and lots of church" kind of thing, my grandma was actually quite boy-crazy back in the day, so i hear, lol. There were just certain rules and expectations to be followed. My grandma is a feminist's worst nightmare, however. She has said things like "take care of your sister, she's just a girl" and "every girl needs protection" not to mention the classic "i was lucky enough to give my husband 3 sons, unfortunately for your other grandfather, he only had daughters. every man takes joy in having sons." My mom flipped when I told her about that one. There are just a lot of expectations to live "normally." Grow up, get a wife, have children (especially sons :p). When I was growing up, I wanted nothign to do with all the typical male crap (still don't) and I always felt like I was under a lot of pressure from that side of the family to be "normal." Not so much a religious thing, but it was influenced by religious rules. Oi, English people are a silly bunch.

My mom's parents are extremely religious too. My other grandma HATED sex. It was dirty and sinful and it was just something people shouldn't do. She didn't like to see it, or hear about it or acknowledge that people did it. She only got married and had children because that was just what people did. I don't think she wanted a husband or children. My aunt didn't take my crazy grandparents too seriously, but my mom sure did. She was a Sunday school teacher, and stayed a virgin until she got married at 30 years old (my dad was a virgin too...). She eventually stopped teaching Sunday school because she didn't agree with teaching all the violence, gore and hatefulness of the Bible to children. Seeing my mom now, it's hard to believe she had such a strict religious upbringing. She won't go near a church, she doesn't have any faith in God or a higher power. She sees my grandpa being such a blind follower in his religion (Presbyterian) and how intolerant he is of gays, people of other nationalities/races, and women who want equality. Having a gay son (me :p) has turned her away from Christianity too. She doesn't want to support a hateful institution that people follow so blindly.

The younger generations in my family are a mix of atheists and agnostics. None of my aunts or uncles go to church except on Christmas. My cousins have no interest in religion or spirituality. Well, one cousin does. She is enthusiastic about church and considers herself an Anglican, yet she goes to church about 2 or 3 times a year. I asked her if she considered Jesus the Messiah. She said she hadn't thought about it... Yeah... I thought that was odd. She was lecturing me about how wonderful Christianity is and how come I don't believe in Jesus, yet she doesn't even know much about her own supposed faith. Yet she laughed at me when I said I was a Pagan. The rest of my family follows the rules of Christianity, celebrates the holidays, but has no spiritual affiliation with Jesus. To them religion is a duty, not something joyful. I guess that comes with society too though. Christianity is so woven into our society in a secular way, its hard to seperate yourself from that. I bet even some Pagans celebrate Christian holidays still, even if they don't live with their parents anymore.

That took longer to answer than I thought. Good question Mysterious. :)

[Sage Rainsong]

hmm well I was raised Catholic mostly. My mother always tried to expose me to other religions (mostly different Christian branches) because she was (and is) very spiritual and very eclectic. I did get confirmed but that was more of a family obligation. My father didn't have much to do in my life and I am glad because he became a Jehovas Witness. I found paganism through various books that I came across when I was 14. It stemed mostly for my love of all things paranormal and my love for all things ancient. For me, Paganism was more of a natural progession of my beliefs and interests rather than a rejection of Christianity. Its all very well and good in my house. Today if I go to church its because of a wedding ect.

[lunita]

I was brought up in a non religious family, never went to church or anything, but when i was young if i asked my mum what religion i was she said Church of England. Had no idea what this was and as i got older i described myself as no religion. A few years ago i got interested in wicca but only recently have i begun to take a serious interest in it. Am about ready to call myself a pagan and it feels really good!

As someone said above (sorry can't remember your name!) my parents don't know either. I'm 29 but i know if i tell my parents they will have a big issue of why i have chosen this path so i am choosing not to tell them!

[Bainidhe Dub]

I wasn't raised in a religious household. My paternal grandparents were Methodist, and they made me go to church occasionally, but that didn't pan out well for them lol. My aunt is Wiccan, and between her and friends, I become who I am now :D a very eclectic lil Bainy.

[Limey]

Hm non-religious on the whole. I should have ended up being catholic. My grandparents were both catholic but my gran made my mum C of E to annoy my grandad. So my mum made me C of E too.

Attended church for a few years in my teens because my step-dad was religious but other than that I made my own choices

[CoolJ]

I was raised sort of jewish, sort of christian.. we'd "celebrate" christmas and channukah for example.. .we didn't really pay mind to the meanings though... and it was only once... religion wasn't really shown or taught, much less forced to me.. it was just.. oh, alright.. I knew I wasn't catholic... I remember in elementary school kids asked me what religion I was, I said I was American :lol: I had no other answer...

Now I follow no one religion. I was pretty much religionless most of my life... I found no holy meanings in holidays... for example, my mom and I would paint eggs on easter just because they looked pretty, I didn't know what easter was beyond that... and Christmas and New Year's eve we'd love to have a tree because it was pretty...

[Isis-Rayne]

Raised Roman Catholic, though never endured Confirmation. I was Baptized though.

[Sothis*Crowfeather]

Sorta Catholic....sorta atheiest....but lots of guilt trips.

[Wytchie]

I had a Catholic upbringing, Catholic school, the works...I never actively hated it but never really felt like I belonged either, it took me a long time to work out that I was on the wrong religious path, and I'm still hunting for the 100% right one, but am definitely Pagan these days.

I'm lucky in that my family accept it fine, but seeing as though my younger brother is a total atheist I guess I am not alone in not being "odd" compared to everyone else in the family, which I think helps!

[MoonDragn]

I was born in Taiwan. My grandmother was Buddhist and my parents sort of were but they didn't attend temple regularly. I went there once in a while with them or my grandmother. I don't think I was ever taught about Buddha except that he was very compassionate and that we should all try to be compassionate.

There was also a mix of folk relgions in Taiwan, with respect and worship directed towards many local nature gods like streams, rocks, the moon etc.
One of my uncles told me about the moon goddess and how she would protect good people and wreck vengence on the bad people.

There was also ancestor worship where we treated our ancestors to a meal once a year and burned incense and paper money.

When I was very young, I became sick with the measles, and often I would talk about spirits that other people could not see. My great aunt made this magic talisman pouch that protected me from them.

When I was about 7 I saw what I believe was a real ghost manifestation. It glowed an eerie blue color in the dark and talked to me. Not long after that I moved so I didn't see more. But before I moved, I dreamed about a kid who turned out to be my new neighbor next door.

My parents then came to the states and I stayed at my grandmothers for a year.

When I came to the states, my parents really didn't continue any religious practices except the ancestor meal thing every year. They were not strict about worship and told us kids that we're welcome to believe in anything we want. Their friends started to get them into a chinese christian fellowship church.

When I was 18 or 19, I went on one of the first internet chat services called Q-Link, and met this girl with a nickname of Elfgirl (she told me her name was Kimberly) who was wiccan. I was of course instantly smitten with her and wanted to learn all about wicca. She recomended the guilde to solitary practioner by scott cunningham, starhawk's spiral dance, and drawing down the moon by margot addler. I could not find scott's book anywhere but found the other two in the library.

I looked through the pictures in drawing down the moon and read a few pages here and there, but was more drawn towards the spiral dance.

When I started to read that book, an excitement started to build. Here was an explaination of some of the things that happened to me in childhood, the ghost experiences and the sometimes knowing of things I should not have.

One night after I read one of the chapters on energy work, I decided to apply my hands to my head. I felt a wave of dizziness and passed out. When I woke up I felt better than I ever did before and it seemed that the world was in clearer context.

That was my first step towards wicca. Since then I've been through countless online chats and msg boards talking to other wiccans. Been in online and real circles including a gardanian and alexandrian tradition learning circle. I've learned about tarot, astrology and got attuned in reiki.

My intuition is much more in tune than it used to be but I know still have alot to learn.

[RedPhoenix]

I voted other because when I was born my parents were living in a bible community. I guess it was a christian community because they tried to live their lives by the bible. After my 1st b-day they moved out and tried other churches but couldn't find one that fit their beliefs, so I was not raised in any kind of religious surroundings. I am greatful for that because I don't think I would have had a chance to study about other religions if I was. My mother is now open to my beliefs and tries to understand, but I am still searching for my own path so I am of little help to her.

[LadyOak]

I come from a non-religious background. We never went to church, etc. But I do remember as a child feeling closer to the Earth, Moon etc than other kids.

[ViolinGoddess]

My father's a Presbyterian minister. SO I was raised liberal christian. And I am still liberal christian. I just also happen to practice magick as well. I started my pagan practices when I was 23 when I met a friend who was pagan. He and his friends taught me about magick. But they were unfortunately caught up in their own little world of comic book heros and villans in which THEY were the heros and would eventually take part in the battle at the end of the world. (sound familiar?) It was hard for me to realize that they were so very out of touch because all of this magical stuff was new to me. It all sounded so fantastical that I for a while, couldn't tell the difference between the imagined stuff and the real stuff. ALso, I had no other grounded realistic pagans that I knew to tell me the difference. But eventually I moved out of the area and started meeting real pagans. Then I realized what idiots they were and now we don't speak. I had to re-learn a lot of the basics because what they told me was at least partially inflated or imagined or whatever.

Anyway, now I'm still a christian. But I practice magick too.

Violin Goddess

[Bluewillow]

I was raised strictly Baptist Christian. My grandparents were both Christian missionaries and counselors, and my grandfather was a reverend. My siblings and I went to church every Sunday (if not more often at times), were baptized very early in life, read our bibles faithfully (no pun intended), read scripture before dinner occasionally (when eating at our grandparents' home), e.t.c.. So ours was a very religious background. My siblings are still Baptist Christians, whereas I took a quite different route. There were basic tenets of Christianity that did not go over well with me. I don't believe that we are all sinners, I don't believe in hell or the devil, I don't believe that the bible is the infallible word of God. These are a few things that showed me that it just wasn't my path. I remember being a small child and hearing my grandfather talk about demons and how they "oppress" people, and how afterward I was so afraid that if I did anything wrong, demons would come and get me. lol So guilt, sin, condemnation, et.c. didn't go over well with me. Simply my experience, and I mean no offense to those who follow that path. While most of my family is still Christian, I have chosen to study the various forms of Paganism, because as a whole it's something that has drawn me for years, and I feel is more attuned to who I am and what I believe.

[Tanya]

catholic with heavy pagan leanings.

[semi]

Just wondering what everyone's background is like. Whether you came from a pagan background, a non spiritual one, or another religion.

From hell.

[HeavensHope]

Other.

My mom's side is Christians, my dad's side is Buddhist, I was baptised as a Lutheran, went to a Lutheran church for about the first 7 to 8 years of my life.

Than I started going to Baptist churches, Presbyterian and Methodist.
Still kept up with Buddhist teachings though because that's just part of our heritage.

When I was 12 years old, decided neither one was really for me.

[OrionNeb87]

I came from a Christian family. Don't ask me what denomination because to this day I still don't know. My parents were never big on going to church every Sunday or reading the Bible. In fact religion never really played that big a part in my family. I choose to go to church on Easter and Christmas with my grandparents and I choose to read the Bible because I wanted to know the history and I wanted to learn about these beliefs that I was supposed to believe in. By learning however, I grew further and further apart from Christianity. A lot of their beliefs just didn't fit into my view of the world and I disagreed with much. So I broke away peacefully, then discovered Paganism and the rest is history.

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

i was raised in a cult and i still have members trying to get me bk in.. took me years to get away and still they haunt me even though i made my choice clear repeatedly

[Aelfoak]

Just wondering what everyone's background is like. Whether you came from a pagan background, a non spiritual one, or another religion.

My family is mostly Christian but that wasn't the right path for me (they can't see that htough) and here I am today.

As far back as i can remember, i have always had an affinity with nature and the spiritual outlook in life; i have always felt this way ever since i was a small child.

[Æon Flux]

I grew up in a non-religious family. My mother is a hard-core atheist and my father is enjoying not even thinking about it.
I got sent to daycare at the local church though, and got into Christianity. However I've always had more pagan believes. (drove my priest crazy claiming that God HAD to be a woman and that there is no hell... that witches are nice and unicorns are very real indeed)

[NagaiOniHime]

I was born from a Catholic family however my mother did not raise me Catholic. When I was seven, my mother passed and my extended family took my brother and I in. They were Catholic, but hardly acted like it. Went to church for six years and CCD for corresponding time. Grew tired of the patriarchal view of the world, and it bored me. Started studying Eastern religions. I was always interested in the supernatural because I grew up on KungFu and anime, therefore it captured my interest much more than 'You do good, you go to heaven; do bad and you'll go to hell. Forever.'
Freshman year in college, started hanging out with Christian friends, became engaged and interested in their Christian view of the world, but I noticed that they did not walk the walk.

One year and six months later, here I am!:cutie:

I have many things I could say about organized religion, but I'll find another thread to rant in.:bigblue: