Was your religion something you found on your own, or was it influenced within your household(or similar place) from a young age?

I was raised a Baptist, I was married in the Methodist Church, and I later converted to Roman Catholic. I just love the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

I was raised in a house without much religion, so when I discovered Paganism, I was very surprised when it didn't go over well. I married a man that went to church every Sunday, but he has lapsed in his faith, and I have not performed devotions for a long while, but we both have a faith, and we are teaching our children to think for themselves about it.

I was raised as a Baptist but as I matured I became an agnostic and joined the Unitarian church. My family wasn't in to politics at all but after discovering that most of the racists are Southern white conservatives [I quickly found this out while stationed at Fort Gordon, GA] it was very natural for me to register as a Democrat.

my parents are Muslims ...so i am .

It wasnt forced on me as a child, I was raised to go to church but certainly was not forced to praise and love God.

It was there forced on me as a child
Now i don't believe in religion

Something I came to on my own.

Religion was barely ever talked about in my family I know most are "christian" sorta I just grew up athiest and now I'm a non-theistic Asatruar because it fits me better.

It was influenced by my upbringing.

My mum is christian/agnostic and my dad is agnostic. My parents never made religion an important thing in our lives. In fact, I'm not even sure if my Dad is agnostic or atheist. I found my own beliefs through my own ideas. I wouldn't call it being 'religious' because that implies that I follow a particular religion with rules and a bible of some sort. I just believe that all religions are different interpretations of the same source. I believe in a God, a timeless eternity, that we are all connected and eternal, that there is a greater purpose for everything etc etc. Religions, to me are just human interpretations, our way of categorising everything into a form that we can understand. Everything is just a different interpretation, really

I was an atheist for the first 26 years of my life, my family are all atheists as are most of my friends, but I'm a Christian.

Dads a catholic--------moms a pagan...... I was made to go to church......found I enjoy the faith of my mother...so thats what I follow

but I love mine

I'm a LaVeyan Satanist, my father is Christian, my mom is atheist. Satanism is just something that I found and I liked and I'm gonna stick with it.

I was never made to go to Church but was encouraged to do so and did so.

dont you feel thats influence? not being made, but bein encouraged would be influence to me

After I went I found that I enjoyed it and I made many friends there. Sure I was influenced as even before I went my father told me stories from the Bible and read verses to me and my brothers. Actually he was my step-father.

so then your answer would be no. since it was an influenced decision

I said yes . Could have answered no, but I thought it to be more my choice than my parents pushing me to be one way or the other. My family were all Baptist and Methodist. I chose to be come a Catholic, but I do not pray to Mary or any saint. My reason for this is they take the sacraments every time they meet and I believe that we should.

My grandmother raised me for most of my life and she was and still is very religious. She never forced it at me, however. She said that she'd teach me about what she believes, and learn with me other religions, so that when I was older, I could make the decision for myself. My father and mother were both supportive of that as well.

i strongly believe that something as important and life altering(as far as beliefs) should be found on our way, with as little influence as possible. Often the "right religion" is the one your parents taught you.

Perhaps that is true for most people, but I know what I believe is right for me, even if it is what she believes too. It took me years to figure out what I believed, and any question I asked, she had the answers, be it her own religion or one she doesn't believe.

I suppose it depends on how a person is told about religion growing up. If a child is forced into it, either they'll believe it (which is the result that occurs more) or they reject it for being forced at them.

At the end of the day, it's a person's life to do what they want, and believe in what they wish.

i agree completely. I feel most people i know chose their religion because its what their parents showed them. I was lucky to be able to explore many paths, never being told one was "the right religion". It sounds like you were too, and if you chose the one your grandmother was , thats alright as well. Whats important is that you chose and the choice wasnt made for you to early for you to question it.

Exactly, Frank! I completely agree a thousand percent :)