Ok, regardless it's my first post on this forum and I am 1hr new on this site, I always wanted to ask this question from others, who consider themselves religious, and more precisely a roman catholic (or does that even matter in my case?)

So anyway, Here I go.

I have been in church about 3 times in my life, that includes my baptism after I was born, another time for a Christmas eve with my mother, when I was about 5-6yrs old, and one more time, when I was still in the Army and I didn't feel like cleaning the barracks.

Regarding about reading the Bible, I did read it, but once - because it was part of my school curriculum back in a school that you'd call high school or something similar, and the twice, when I was just browsing through to see what makes this book so popular.

So, I don't go to church, I don't feel like listening to a pastor and I certainly don't like to participate any sort of ceremony, that involves singing religious songs or actually be able to keep my attention what is being said etc...

I know, this sounds horrible or even offending perhaps, for some religious people, but this is who I am.

So ok, let me get to my main issue. I'm going to describe the way I think , try to bring examples and you tell me , just what I am, ok?

So, here I go.

I explain thing to myself why thing happen the way they happen in this way:
There are sins and there are rewards.
Let me give you an example to explain it. I'm gonna ask the question that people ask the most. "Why did this happen to me?" "Why me"?
So, I categorize it into 2 different groups. One, because 1. I was rewarded for something I have done,
2. I sinned in the past and I am paying the price for it.

Same thing happening to every other people and all these are effecting the way the life goes on this whole world.

Example.
Back in my teen years, once I was gone with my friend on a bike trip. We went on this dirt road for many miles to a river and back. On the way back, it got dark and it rained. Now, I don't know how many of you familiar with certain dirt roads, where the extra fine dust becomes a very sticky cement-like stuff when it gets wet, but this was one of those. So if you try to ride a bike on it (don't think of a mountain bike, but more like one of those old school ones, with a mud flap and fenders) the tires would immediately pick up the mud and block off the wheels completely, making it impossible not only to ride it, but even to push it beside you.
So this is what happened.
We were miles away from any civilization, nothing but wilderness and miles long sunflower fields both side of the road and it was already dark and it was raining.

We two choices, one of them to leave the bikes on the ground and walk, or take grab the bikes and carry it. Now, again, in the cellphone world, this whole situation would probably play out entirely differently, but here I'm talking about the 80s, not to mention this place has no cell cover whatsoever.
So anyway, we chose to carry the bikes on our back along with backpack and to make it better, it wasn't easy to walk either, with my feet felt like a 100 pounds with all the mud sticking to my shoes.
So imagine, 2 12 year old kids carrying their bike home, at night, in the rain and about 10 miles away from any house or town.
We made it, although my back was hurting for weeks after, not to mention, my friend - at one point- broke down and started to cry, around half way, that he had enough and he threw away his bike and started cursing like crazy. So anyway he eventually continued and we felt like we reborn again, when we reached the paved road, after 10 miles of walking.
Ok, long story, I went a little too far with this, but anyway, I felt like this was something that I had to do and I will be rewarded for this in the future, because I didn't believe that this was a punishment, it just didn't feel like it.
And I think it did work, because after this painful adventure, lot's of positive things happened to me and every time I felt rewarded, I was always thinking about that hard night, and the hardest part was - I think- when I convinced my friend to keep up with me and everything will be ok.

This wasn't the first time, when I thought of the world this way, I lived my days like this and I continue to examine of what I do or done in order to figure out, what I should be expecting. Of course, it guides my life in a way to try not to sin as much, because most of the time I knew it right away and I try to correct it and if I can't- because some just can't, for example if I tell someone something I didn't really mean- then if something bad happens I always remember why I'm getting it.

So, many times I also ask the question, why I'm getting punished so hard, and then later realize I'm not getting punished but I am doing all this hard work in exchange that there will be a great reward on the end, I just have to hold it through, no matter how hard it is. And somehow, I'm usually right about this, while other times if I get something too easy, then I either think that the "payment" comes later, or it isn't a reward at all, I just haven't' realized it yet.

So tell me what I am? Religous? Not? Why am I believing this way or is this actually something widespread and I just don't know it?

Excuse me for the grammar, english is my 2nd language.

Looks like you have a bad sun burn to me.

Welcome to Mingle2, and thank you for sharing your personal thoughts so openly.



By my own personal definition of the word "religious", I'd say that you're definitely not religious because you don't believe in formal rituals and ceremonies. (that's how I personally define being 'religious')

What you described to me sounds more like Karma than the results of a judgmental God delving out rewards and punishments.

So I would say that you are recognizing karma, which has been recognized by the Eastern Mystics for eons.

Many religions recognize karma in some form or another, including most pagan, pantheistic, and even animistic religions.

Some atheists even recognize karma in their own way, so it doesn't even necessarily need to have spiritual underpinnings.

If you believe that you have a spiritual essence, then you are spiritualist.

If you adhere to a specific ritualistic practice, or dogma, then you are also 'religious'.

These are my own personal views. Your millage may vary.

I feel the same way sometimes

Mirror Mirror just reflects everything eveybody says.

Some people are actually addicted to some type of religion. With all of the classic problems of any addictive behavior. As far as what you your self may or may not be, I know this will sound like a movie clip but its the truth, the answere is within you. Study the different philosophies on your own, without the prejudice in put of other people that are around to be-little your journy. and you will find the answere. If you paint your own picture, even when the canvas is gone, you will still be able to see it!

i try to obey the ten commandments and avoid deadly sinful thoughts and actions.

i dont really believe much in 'organized' religion.
although i do read my bible and study on my own.
and i do see how sometimes church can be very comforting.
that beinbg said, my daughter goes to church becasue i believe that she can learn things from it. some churchs are filled with hypocrites and I dont find much help being surrounded by hypocrites.

but who knows..someday i might go church shopping and find one that suits me and my family

if i was walking along the side of the road and i found a suitcatse full of money..i would have a hard time returning it. and honestly I would probably keep it.

i dont think going to church makes you religious.


some church people are intolerable for me to be around. my uncle is very "churchy" he mortgaged his house to be his latest wife a dazzling diamond. ya....whatever

am i being judgmental to think this is like a double standard or something??

just be careful not to do this to people "NOTBN"

Thanks...well.. I was guessing the right way..my ex told me the same thing, although I'm not that much spiritualist, I do beleive in a divine power, I'm not sure if it's person (in our meaning) I even think it's supreme being , that is not aware of itself, as we would categorize what is aware or what is not.

Now, that might not make much sense to some, I wouldn't be surprised.

@Mayhem_J -
LOL, it's not a sunburn, it's 2 pictures in one. see it closer, it's a skull over my picture.

Personally I think you tend to believe in yourself, and the idea of Karma as Abra said. Nothing wrong with that. I have always believed that what I say and do reflects what I will receive from any action. It may not happen immediately but it always comes back.

It works for me... what goes around comes around. So simple but so true at least from my experience. No bells and whistles and ceremony.

You are a human like us. Welcome on board equal