Converting to a religion, as an adult

GraySaturday

Has anyone had any experience converting to a religion as an adult, for either marriage or just self interest?

I was wondering if I could pick your brain about the experience.. if you don't feel comfortable chatting about it on the open forum, but want to share, please PM me.

riffrandall

I converted about 2 1/2 years ago. I was raised one religion, but never really felt close to it & had a truly spiritual experience around another religion. Shortly after I decided to do what I needed to do to convert- and the religion I picked is one that people normally only convert to if they are marrying into it.
Really wonderful, very enlightening experience. Please feel free to PM me. It's not a secret (by any means) what religion it is, I just prefer not to put it in an open forum because the experience was not about the "brand" it was just about the spirituality that it brought out in me.

sponger

I think I once almost converted to christianity. I was flipping through radio stations one day when I inadvertently tuned into a christian rock radio station.

The song that was playing was "Flood" by Jars of Clay, and I immediately took to rocking out to this song. When I later found out that Jars of Clay is a christian themed rock group, and that "Flood" has loose metaphorical references to bible, I wondered if that meant that I believed in God.

I think the trick to overcoming a situation like that is to contemplate what it is about religion that draws you to it. By approaching the problem from the source, which is the self, then it becomes easier to understand the reality of the circumstances.

So, after thinking it over, I realized that it was not the christian themed innuendos about "Flood" that drew me to it, but rather the catchy rhythm, excellent vocals, and imaginative lyrics.

In other words...whew, that was a close one. But, we each have to find our own method for overcoming the temptation to immerse ourselves in the obliviousness of religion.

And, again, the question is what it is about religion that is drawing you to it.

GraySaturday

sponger wrote:

In other words...whew, that was a close one. But, we each have to find our own method for overcoming the temptation to immerse ourselves in the obliviousness of religion.

It's responses like this, that sadly make me have to add the clause into my thread about PMing me if they don't want to discuss it in front of everyone. This is a thread about people that have converted and their experience going through it. I think thats a really ignorant thing to say in this thread. Totally uncalled for.

sponger

GraySaturday wrote:

It's responses like this, that sadly make me have to add the clause into my thread about PMing me if they don't want to discuss it in front of everyone. This is a thread about people that have converted and their experience going through it. I think thats a really ignorant thing to say in this thread. Totally uncalled for.

Like I said, I ALMOST converted to religion, and I think that qualifies me to respond. Alas, I thought my way through it, and the comment you quoted was part of the basis as to why.

Therefore, it was an opinion that I held, and which was not directed at anyone in particular, and for you to say that I did not have the right to say it is to say that we are not entitled to express our opinions on a given subject.

If it bothers you to hear negative opinions about religion, then it would do you good to indicate that you only wanted to hear positive opinions the subject.

Posting threads on a message board often requires an element of maturity about being able to stomach differing viewpoints and not casting them down under the guise of politeness.

Furthermore, if a person has truly converted, then his/her faith should not be shaken by the mere pejorative blatherings of an atheist, and it is unnecessary to offer the opportunity to speak in private.

Allie

I haven't done it b/c I think my parents would be too upset but I was born Jewish and I would very much like to convert to Christianity. If I marry a Christian man I would convert for him and to do whatever necessary to marry in a Church. I don't know if that helps at all though?

Indian Summer

My wife and I have been discussing how we are going to raise our children in regards to religion. I was raised Southern Baptist, and she is Catholic. We dodged the bullet for our wedding, and got married on the beach in Jamaica. But that's gonna be a little tougher when we choose to have children. We both have big issues with the others religion. But we want to raise our child with some sort of belief.

I know this is kind of off topic, but has anyone had to deal with this issue?

fuck

I know several people who converted as adults, including my sister-in-law. it's pretty interesting to see how converts are, in many cases, more religious than people born into that religion. it's like people take it for granted or something.

fanch75

GraySaturday wrote:

Has anyone had any experience converting to a religion as an adult, for either marriage or just self interest?

I was wondering if I could pick your brain about the experience.. if you don't feel comfortable chatting about it on the open forum, but want to share, please PM me.

I have toyed with becoming Catholic over the years. My wife is a Catholic and we had a Catholic wedding. I took jumped on the end of RCIA classes (these are classics the Church offers to adults who are exploring becoming Catholic).

I have not converted yet, I still am considering it. There's a few things I need answered/changed in my own life. I don't want to do it half-heartedly or for the wrong reasons. If I do it, it will make my wife very, very happy.

fanch75

_outlaw wrote:

I know several people who converted as adults, including my sister-in-law. it's pretty interesting to see how converts are, in many cases, more religious than people born into that religion. it's like people take it for granted or something.

Well, if you convert as an adult, you are making an active decision to be part of a certain faith, as opposed to just being born into it. I guess I'm stating the obvious.

iluvcats

a man at work remarried several times. I think he said he had changed religions four times! When he left us, he was Jewish.

I have not converted but I am Protestant and I belong to a Catholic church with my husband.

pirlo21

"...more religious than people born into that religion..."

How can anyone be born into a religion?! Isn't religion about faith, and that individual's belief in that faith?
A child being born into a religion simply means a child who has the religious views of it's parents forced upon them.

It should be left to the child (at whichever time in their life they decide) to choose their path when it comes to religion/faith etc.

South of Seattle

pirlo21 wrote:

"...more religious than people born into that religion..."

How can anyone be born into a religion?! Isn't religion about faith, and that individual's belief in that faith?
A child being born into a religion simply means a child who has the religious views of it's parents forced upon them.

It should be left to the child (at whichever time in their life they decide) to choose their path when it comes to religion/faith etc.

I agree . . . Unfortunately that's not how it is :(

Maybe not always forced upon them, but influenced.

pirlo21

"Maybe not always forced upon them, but influenced."

You're right, maybe the word 'forced' is a bit strong!!