I'm all over the place on this one. I wasn't raised in a religious family. My spouse was raised in a very Catholic household. (We have many opposing views because of this.) I believe in the 'idea' of God, that there is someone/something watching over us and putting us in the right place at the right time. I believe every person you cross in life, you have done so for a reason, that everyone has a lesson they can teach you. I don;t think that is coincedence.

I worked in a critical care hospital and saw many things that renewed my faith. Those days I would go home and say grace before my supper. Some days I saw things that would make me think if there was a God that he/she was a horribly cruel and unforgiving God. Working there kind of put me on the fence, swaying back and forth. Perhaps I am still on that fence.

Jewels has never really shown any signs of bashing on this site that I've ever seen.  She is one person here who when a topic is posted she is usually light hearted and I'm not sure I've ever read anything that would seem judgemental.  There are a lot of people who are out "trying to find the God they believe in".  I can usually go back and forth on this topic.  Sometimes...I feel I need proof there is a God.  I don't believe anybody's God is wrong.  I don't think anyone is perfect or without some kind of "closet shit".  That's what makes us human.  God made us (because today I'm believing there is a God) and he could have made us perfect because He is God, right?  But, he didn't, sooooo......people who say they are Christian, I don't expect perfection out of them.  I do expect for them to be a little more forgiving.  Because that is what God is all about.  Forgiveness.

 I'm far from perfect and far from non-judgemental, but I don't throw the name of Jesus, or God around like I'm a holy person.  I have this brother in law, who likes to smack my sister around.  Usually it's because she isn't being "submissive" like the God he believes in says a woman should be.  She talks back a lot, you know?  I'm fairly judgemental towards that little dick.  I don't think My God is going to hold that against me.  Actually I'd like to stick a gun in his mouth and tell him he needs to submit to me.  Maybe My God would frown on me for that one.  He's actually very lucky that I don't like jail. 

Well, I think I lost what I was going to say.  Not sure I was going to say anything.  I believe in God.  He is the God that I have formed in my mind.  He isn't part of some "organized religion".  He is someone who loves us all more than we will ever love ourselves or any other human being. 

Sparks you called me a bully...a bad boy.... Tell me do I really look like a bully to you?lol

I to have a problem with people that want to push their concept of God on me. It kinda weirds me out.  The older i get the more i try and let people be themselves as long as they don't try and push their beliefs onto me. I to have Friends of several faiths. we all pretty much just except each other for who we are. Religion is rarely an issue. I have had Mormons knock on my door here in Teh doing their mission work. They have always been polite and nice young men, often asking if i needed help with anything. I tell them up front that I'm not really interested in their church but i do it in a friendly way and we often have a good chat.

My belief in Christmas is pretty much in agreement with kjanelle.  I don't know when Christ was born.  Does anyone?  I think there are people who truly believe they know.  Did someone mark a Calendar that long ago?  Christmas to me is family.  It's kind of like Thanksgiving with presents.  It's a time when our family is all together enjoying the day.  What is more spiritual than that?  If my family were to ever "toss me out with the trash" because I didn't believe as they do.  Well, I have my husband and kids who are my "true family".  Someone who is religious and can turn their back on their loved ones for believing differently is not someone I could consider religious.

Religion is such a touchy subject.  Like Politics is touches people's beliefs very deeply.  I was talking to Bigdog last night about this post.  There are so many faiths, beliefs and opinions out there.  So, I've formed my own opinion of who God is, because I believe there is a God and who's to say?  Other than getting them all together and asking " Will the real God stand up please" I'm not sure we will ever know who is right.  That's the reason I can't put someone down for what they believe.  I'm like bigdog, if you want to worship a doorknob, I'm ok with that.  I might give you a strange look as I walk passed you during your worship, but.....I give a lot of strange looks to a lot of people. Religion is something that was never forced down my throat.  My mother who is 77, says her biggest regret is that she didn't make us go to Church like she made us go to school.  I myself, thank her for that.  When we did go to church, I always felt awkward and scared to death that they were going to ask me to pray. I believe prayer is suppose to be a personal thing between yourself and your God.  I have 4 kids and I never forced my "Religious Beliefs" on them.  Which is kind of embarrassing at times.  When we have family over for Thanksgiving, or Christmas, there is always someone who will say a prayer before dinner.  (It won't be me, bigdog or my kids).  It weirds my kids out so much that we can't get through the prayer without them snickering or full out laughing.  My mom and sister probably think I've raised Heathens.  But, actually they are pretty good kids.  When Religion is brought up, I usually stay pretty quiet.  It's not something I think God wants you to have hurt feelings or argue over.  Why would he want that? 

If you choose to be atheist, I can't fault you for that either.  When I begin to fault people it's usually because they are running amok with no regard to other people.  I have no tolerance for people who think they can just do what they want, stomping around on other peoples privacy, beliefs, feelings.  I try every day to be a better person.  And as I've said before, most days I fail miserably.  That's my religion, be the best person you can be for the day.

Wow,  kjanelle!  You don't pop up often but when you do you say very good stuff.  Obviously, you have excepted your "fate" when it comes to your family, but I know it cuts deep.  This is one of many reasons I don't hold much faith in religion.  You need to post more often.  You seem to have a lot to say in a very eloquent way.  Crap, are you and scottso like this perfect little family or what, lol =).

Jewels, I am so surprise this hasn't gotten way out hand yet...you have big ones..lol.  I too struggle with this internally.  I was raised Catholic (although I started questioning at a very young age).  At around 10 I really started to not believe.  I know I have personal issues, but emotions aside, it doesn't make sense to me.  I use to call myself an atheist, but as I have gotten older, I am not too sure about that.  I guess you could call me an agnostic, but I don't know.  Do I think that there is something else going on, yes.  Do I believe it is one all mighty being, no.  Do I believe in Karma, yes.  Is Karma God's will, I don't think so.  Do I believe that we should treat all people with love and respect, do I believe that we shouldn't go out and do random harm to one another, do I believe that we all know what truly is right or wrong, YES to all.  Do I need God to tell me this, no.  So like I said before, I am very confused at times on this.  In a weird way, after I had my first son, I almost had to start believing in something.  I know that sounds strange.  Do I celebrate Christmas, yes.  For the reasons mostly that kjanelle stated.  But also because of my kids.  I am teaching them to go with their own heart in what they want to believe.  So I expose them to both scenarios.  I don't go into the different religions with them, just you believe in a one all being or you don't.  And funny as it is, some of my favorite Christmas songs are very religious, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Silent Night, even Amazing Grace I love.  And if there is one almighty God in the end, I believe he will laugh at us that didn't believe but welcome us.  He will say "wouldn't it have been much easier to just believe". 

Too funny, I love ya Bigdog... (smile)   

Janelle great post.  You should post more often.

Colitas I believe in karma as well.  I truly do.  As I get older and wiser and kinder,  I find the saying "What goes around comes around" to be very true.

Ok so i was raised Catholic and the God that I was raised with was a damning God.  Fear was instilled.  I lived my whole life believing in God yet not having faith.  No faith due to the fact that I made some extremely negative choices and the God that I was taught about was going to damn me to eternal fire.  REPENT...REPENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not until about 4 years ago (before i got sober) did I have these life changing events (miracles) happen to me or for me. A series of events took place and I knew for a fact without a doubt, there was a God.  My addiction was so powerful that I still couldnt get sober, even though I knew that God was going to save my life.  I was soooooooooooo f'ed up, I COULDNT STOP.  I guess my next dear diary will depict one of the events that took place that I knew God was responsible for...  Coincidence, maybe, but not to me...