Comments about ‘Changing religions not uncommon, survey says’

As a devoted member of the coolest religion, I have never changed. Of course no one asked me so I am sure that no one cares.

It shouldn't matter what church one is raised in.

If you've never doubted, or never questioned for yourself, you're not really a true believer of anything.

True beliefs are made when you're by yourself, for yourself. Between you and the Creator.

Anything else is just following the herd.

Perhaps what we're seeing is more of a commitment to spiritual principles rather than religion. A belief in God as a higher power is far more important to one's long-term sense of well-being than any church could ever be. The church adds the padding to one's strong core beliefs, so find one where you're comfortable.

Everyone believes something. It's just a matter of what and why. So, what is your source of truth? I learned a long time ago to ask the simple questions: "Who said it first? Who said it best?"

Those who seek earnestly and honestly will always find themselves at the feet of Jesus who alone is able to save.

If you want to discuss this further please feel free to write...mike@mikeruggles.com.

I didn't change my religion. It changed. And changed. And changed. I practiced my Episcopal faith in same way for 50 years then the prayer books changed. Some of my old saints had sainthood revoked. I am sure this bothered me much more then it did the long dead saints. Now the church is splitting asunder. When parish priests send great amounts of money from a parish to England to a school while the congregation wants to start out reach missions in community there is something wrong. Now the Episcopalian leadership is in flux over "who gets the money" in a total split of some from the Church.

My parish where I spent a lifetime is no long associated with the Episcopal Church. So who left and who changed?
And its as bad in the Methodist and Baptist churches.

It's all always nice to hear some one who was raised without a faith come to accept chirst. Know matter what religon he or she might be it always makes a huge difference then not beliving at all.

I had to leave my religion to regain my faith. When an organization or religion puts itself between you and Christ and demands loyalty to itself which rightly belongs to Christ, then it's time to leave. Christ called people out of oppressive religious systems to a way of life. "I am the way, the truth, the light,"he said. Salvation comes through Christ, not through a specific denomination, church, creed, or religion.

I see the conclusions as backward from your interpretation...It's dood News Brand Loyalty is Down, and Bad News that people still cling to their superstitions.

I was raised as a catholic, became an atheist, then an agnostic. I found atheism and agnosticism to be a spiritual desert. I started practicing Buddhism which brought to me the spritual guidance I needed. There is still no place for mysticism in my life. One can certainly practice a religion, or some kind of spirituality and not believe in a super power mystic god.

Religions are like beers, it is good to sample them all, but like religion none of them are good for you no matter how good they make you feel. I recommend you stay with reality, even though it hurts at times.

I was raised Protestant, then I converted to Catholacism before becoming disaffected with the Catholic Church. I studied a variety Doctrines, Faith's, and religions from other forms of Christianity, Judaism, read the Quo'ran, even eastern faith's and the Eastern Orthodox Church. I finally decided none were right. Then when studying with a certain group, I was scared about death and dying more than I already was, and I called the "Mormons". Studying with them, and learning about the "Restoration" over a few months I became convinced that the Book of Mormon was of God, IT IS ANOTHER WITNESS OF CHRIST, and of the Bible! The gospel had been restored to the earth as promised in the New Testament! It gave me a testamony of Jesus Christ and a loving Heavenly Father! That was near Buffalo, NY in 1994-95. I continue to study, learn and "Investigate" for TRUTH and Light! I have learned that all religions spring from one source and if you study and investigate hard enough you will find the answers as to how and why. Some people change faiths for their own desires, and some because they want to get closer to God.

At 19 I stopped two missionaries on the street just to tell them how wrong they were... I did not want to join their church, but found myself battling with what they told me. Nothing was new, all that they told me was something I had known before. Then I realized that I was taught by the Holy Ghost. and my battle was over. Now, after joyful 42 years, I can say, that the only thing that matters is what one is taught by the Holy Ghost. Belonging to something for the sake of anything else is in vain. Because one was born into their parent's faith (whatever it is from unbelief to ultraconservatism)is never a reason.
Luckily I was raised in a home where I was allowed to change, because my family saw the change in me and joined while I was on my mission (one year after my baptism).
I have learned to respect all people who live their convictions. AND agree with some of the writers in this column, that CHRIST is the SALVATION - that is what no man taught me, but the Holy Ghost.

The LDS church shows a net decrease in converts according to this article. It would be interesting to know what goes on in detail, what factors into why people join and leave the LDS church (are the leavers the same as those that converted or different people, are we losing multi-generational members and is the rate faster than 10 years ago, etc.).

My experience is that people leave religion when they are not experiencing challenges in the their lives and feel they are making it all on their own. Our 40 year economic boom has made a lot of people feel they don't need God anymore. Some who are experiencing trials also feel abandoned by religion if they do not turn to God for help.

I don't like rule obsessed religions prefering those who emphasize spiritual growth and attainment of knowledge.

Once I came to this conclusion, I thought my view would "obviously" take off, among others whom I shared this new found value too.

I was wrong. It turns out that some people like all the rules their religion has to offer, nevermind that the rules seem to make little sense.

I now believe that different religions exist to accomidate different personality types.

It seems some people appreciate and desire structure in their life, other people just enjoy the social, other people seek after knowledge and spiritual growth, other people attend what church they do out of tradition. Others are in a bad fit, but feel bound.

I wish that all people were like me and all religions like me, I hate to see the stupid rules that some people feel bound to follow and people who are a kindrid spirit to me, feeling like they are in a religious prison they are afraid to escape from, out of fear of being thrust to hell.

Charles, your comparison of beer to religion is humorous. I don't agree with it, but it did make me chuckle. When you speak of "reality" I would ask a rhetorical question -- whose reality? My being able to speak to people on the other side of the world on my cell phone is a reality. However, tribes with no outside contact to the world living in the Amazon rain forest cannot talk to people on the other side of the world -- cell phone or otherwise - that is their "reality". They may not even know the rest of us exist. So what exactly IS reality? Can we communicate with people we cannot see or can't we? Perhaps that's a poor example. Bottom line, "reality" changes as our understanding increases. I won't close the door on the possibility of learning all I can about all subjects -- in short, seeking for truth where ever it is found regardless of whether or not some may define my search as not living in reality. But that's just me.... Everyone has to decide for themselves what is true and what isn't. The beauty of truth is that it doesn't change.

How about finding out what is truth and choosing to beleive it you will never go wrong there since man can't tell God how to save them.

Judy 6:46pm
Ditto.... I agree with you 100%.When an organization/churh demands loyalty to itself, it is not of Christ.

I agree, we need more research why people join a faith or leave it. From my own experience, I left my faith because it became so irrelevant to my life. I was told to give my wages away--and I'd be blessed if I did so--while everyone around me was losing their homes to forclosure and their incomes to bankrupcy. I didn't see the justice in paying the church before I paid my creditors. I also didn't see the use in teaching my daughter that her noblest aspiration in this world is to be a stay-at-home mother when the hard fact is she will probably have to work alongside her husband. There are lots of other examples, but I'll close here for now.

my musings @6:39
I think you are more insiteful than you realize. First you say that "I now believe that different religions exist to accomidate different personality types.", then you say "I wish that all people were like me and all religions like me".

Think about it.

It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Of course you may be sincerely wrong.