Churched Childhood?

[TPol]

On a scale of 1-5, how religious was your upbringing?
1 = I didn't think much about religion or God; my family didn't go to church or involve themselves and/or me in religious practices.
2 = I was aware of various religious ideas and thought about it some, but didn't participate nor have a drive to do so. My family did or didn't participate -- either way, I wasn't made to participate.
3 = I and/or my family went to church or religious ceremonies once in a while, but it was mostly for social reasons. We weren't "practicing."
4 = I and/or my family went to church or religious ceremonies regularly. Or, I studied religion on my own. I didn't buy into all of it, but I participated out of curiosity or because my family did. I did spend at least a good part of one day a week thinking about my spirituality.
5 = I and/or my family participated in church or religious ceremonies a great deal. I studied religion on my own. I really enjoyed it, and it taught me a lot of things I still value. I spent a good portion of each day thinking about my spirituality.

[Helios]

Umm, despite what you may have gathered from some of my other posts, I would score a 5. Thinking about or having spirituality does not make one a holy monk.

But I think the way I aproach it so different from most people it is outside their understanding, even among people whom I would "share" beliefs with I keep mum, cause the way I think about it is sooooooo different and tends to upset most SJ types.

[Lee]

Bleh, I voted 1, I should have voted 2.

It is something I thought about frequently, but my family are not religious... bar one or two of em'.

Lee family history - My great grandad came from a deeply religious Catholic family from Ireland, he was a bit of an outcast because he refused to follow along, he was an agnostic (NT perhaps). Anyway the proceeding generations that he helped spawn have since been agnostics/athiests... all pretty much by there own choosing, no views were ever forced on anyone.

[cjs55]

Raised Mormon, 5 until I was about 13. Was convinced it was false by 15.

2 years is about how long it takes for all of my important intuitive theories to come to fruition.

[s]

Raised Mormon, 5 until I was about 13. Was convinced it was false by 15.


No shit? Me, too. Almost the same ages and everything.

Freaky.

[MacGuffin]

4

[Sir Isaac Lime]

Raised Mormon, 5 until I was about 13. Was convinced it was false by 15.

2 years is about how long it takes for all of my important intuitive theories to come to fruition.

Raised Mormon from 8 to 18. Went to Church every Sunday, every morning before school and every Wednesday night.

Was pushed into going on a mission, which I went along with - but ultimatly led to me moving out to escape it. Today I have quite a bit of animosity towards Churches and organized religion in general

[cjs55]

And the jack mormons come out of the woodwork!


Was pushed into going on a mission, which I went along with - but ultimatly led to me moving out to escape it.

I had a huge blowup confrontation with my family when I was 17, and I was firm enough to not only separate me quite a bit from them emotionally but at least also to not feel any pressure to go on a mission. The amount of pressure I felt before that to go on a mission was insane, definitely larger than the pressure I felt to go to college. I told them that their religion has had a harmful effect on their lives and that when you die that is it, game over. Religious SJ's don't take that sort of thing very well.

...Now are there any INTPs that are actually still practicing mormons?

[Sir Isaac Lime]

Cj, My parents are SJ's too. I actually had to move back in with them - and they "required" me to go to church with them on Sundays.

Re: Escape from the Weasels haha

[cjs55]

Luckily for me, my Dad hasn't gone to church in a long time and my rants on it have actually turned him somewhat to my side. My mom is a pushover SFJ, so I haven't been forced to go to church since my 18th birthday (which is when I obtained freewill according to them, although they let me 'decide' to get baptized when I was 8). I have a couple of insane grandparents who call and bug me all of the time about going to church however.

[Sir Isaac Lime]

Luckily for me, my Dad hasn't gone to church in a long time and my rants on it have actually turned him somewhat to my side. My mom is a pushover SFJ, so I haven't been forced to go to church since my 18th birthday (which is when I obtained freewill according to them, although they let me 'decide' to get baptized when I was 8). I have a couple of insane grandparents who call and bug me all of the time about going to church however.

Mine weren't so pushy, but more subversive. For example - inviting missionaries over for dinner when making my favorite foods and setting up other kinds of situations. In fact, i'd say the whole Mormon influence is like that - they'll purposely influence coincidences and wait for one to click - hoping you'll think it was some kind of act of God.

[coffeezombie]

My mother's second husband was Roman Catholic and I was forced into that religion at age 13 or so. I didn't really have the spine to rebel or anything, but I never really believed any of that crap as it was taught to me.

[file cabinet]

dad is a pastor. I chose option 4.

[Xenophon]

Both my parents are Ministers, however they are Unitarian Ministers, which is not exactly normal. I went to church every week, but very rarely did I sit in the service. I took care of kids in the nursery and taught Sunday School when I was older. Unitarianism is a church is a sort of mishmash religion where everyone has to find their own spiritual path and belief system. So, in a way I am very strictly Unitarian, as I will never take someone elses word as law. Until I was 19 years old I would have said that I was an atheist, but now I am beginning to realize the subjectivity of nature, and therefore the existance of god.

I chose 4.

[mgb]

I'm 2. I went to church camps. That's as close as it got.

[moni]

never went to church and my parents never really brought up the topic of religion (i think they may be agnostic as well). the only time i've actually seen some sort of church service was when i volunteered to play piano for a buddhist church.

funny story... when my dad went to college (only for like 3 months or so, then he dropped out) he argued with his religion class teacher that a "virgin birth" is not humanly possible. the professor failed him, heh heh.

[CosmicDust]

Mostly 3 on average (which is what I answered) with episodes of 4 in mid-childhood and adolescence.

[Shai Gar]

raised anglican in a family full of priests, was convinced it was bullshit when i was 13 and from then on only went to church to support my father, and then only rarely

[Eileen]

I chose 5, although now I worry that this poll might have been specifically for INTPs...

Grew up in a conservative Lutheran church, went to church and Sunday school on a very regular basis, attended the intense two year confirmation classes, did Vacation Bible School, substitute taught Sunday school, was forced to be in Christmas pageants until I was 18, etc. I liked church a lot, but near the end of high school, I started to deviate in my thinking. I went to a couple of different churches in college (Missouri Synod Lutheran and then United Methodist) before I settled into a very small congregation of progressive Episcopalians, which I now call home despite the fact that it's 2 hours away from me.

I'm still very religious (in my way, I guess... I'm still a little "deviant" to most mainline Christians) but I haven't been to church in a long time. I'm going with my Mom this week for Mother's day.

[philonightmare]

3- when I was growing up my mother would take me to religious congregations when she had time and I'd my yearly supply of spiritualness shoved down my throat. Can I just say, I absolutely HATE being forced to do anything? And that includes being forced to go to religious Sunday schools for 12+ years! Surprisingly, my family isn't that religious and they still forced me... makes little sense.

Other than that, I have always been fascinated with the historical aspects and became well-versed in that over the years. I'm slowly going back toward being more spiritual and trying, I repeat desperately trying to get back the faith I once had in God. It's very difficult to go from practically Agnostic to faithful again.

[Sally]

Lapsed Catholic.

[Helios]

Wow what is with all the Mormons? I would have made a shite Mormon, they don't even drink freakin' TEA, don't even think about booze!

I met this girl (another model) doing a show in NYC a few years ago.We started chatting 'cause both our mom's familys had fled Russia during the Rev of '17,but she had much to her family's horror coverted from RusOrtdx to Mormonism! I have ran into her, here and there over the years. It was weird cause she still hung out with everyone, she'd goto the clubs and afterparties and such ,everyone would be high,drunk and fucking. some how she never touched so much as a sip of vodka. (she did make out, however). I thought she was nuts, but I respected her, and yeah she was hot too, that helped.

[cathmc]

Another cradle Catholic here. Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, Catholic school K through 12, etc. I was pretty religious in h.s. and even some into college, though I was drawn to the less conservative version of Catholicism - liberation theology, social justice, that kind of thing. (Which was systematically squashed by JPII and will probably also be by the new guy...)But religious faith didn't survive my early 20s. I kind of miss it but just can't buy it. Though the rituals are still meaningful to me somehow - weddings and funerals in particular.

[Biff_Loman]

5 all the way.

Led by my parents to accept Jesus into my heart at the age of six; brought to church every Sunday; devotions every day at breakfast. Attended Christian summer camps from grade three until I was seventeen. Went to a private Christian high school and became a hardcore Christian apologeticist in my teens (Ravi Zacharias, anyone?).

Amongst my peers in high school, I was a Christian hero: I was super-spiritual. Who could have known my private battles with sexual temptation? :lol:

My faith pretty much evaporated during first year university. The hollow remnants persisted until teacher's college, then finally died. Poof.

[Boneca]

Almost everyone in my family, including my grandparents, are/were atheists.

[LuridLemur]

I was raised Catholic and went to a Catholic school for 9 years. Religion class everyday and church every sunday. I think it took my until I was about 13 to stop believing it and until 14 or 15 to get out of going at all. My parents are still religious but my mom stopped going to church and I don't know if my dad does (church is at 11:30 on sunday and I get up around 2 or 3 so I've never asked).

I chose 4.

[Spartan26]

I put four. For me growing up Christianity was more of a moral base and good for providing activities but it wasn't until I was out on my own that I really sought to know Jesus. I wasn't forced to go to church once I got into middle school. I'd say I grew up in a Christian household and I can see more now how it developed my outlook/attitude/response/whatever to other people, and to such issues as sex, money and power, etc. but there wasn't like leaving PTL on the TV or Bible verses posted everywhere (wink) or anything that'd be greatly distinguishable at first glance.

[Miss Anthropic]

My parents were Presbyterian but my dad quit going to church because he described the members as a bunch of "social climbers." I attended various churches with friends when I was in grade school. Mostly I was curious about the process, however dubious of the whole God, Jesus concept. (I love the folderal of the Catholic church--the rituals and ceremony are so over-the-top) My mom worked full time so when I was preschool age, I stayed with a babysitter who was extremely Lutheran--pics of Jesus and crosses with Jesus on them everywhere. Perfect setting for religious brainwashing. I didn't buy into it for a second. I went from being Atheistic to happily Agnostic. I like having my own belief system.

[kafkaesque]

2 is probably the closest approximation.
My dad is agnostic and has animosity towards organized religion in general, he knows the bible pretty well.
Mom is kind of a pseudo-christian; she believes in god and angels (she also believes in fairies) and that all good people go to heaven. She does not attend services or read the bible much though.

[jjt]

5, My father was a Baptist minister. He ensured I became a Christian at 5 or 6. I just went along with it, church 2 x on Sundays, Bible readings everyday at dinner. I got very penticostal at 16, went to a large meeting and got baptised in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Use to be so moved I spoke regularly in front of the Church.
Started to become confused when I lost the 'high' and got confronted with sex, and an alternative way of living on leaving home at 17. As God did not come forward to questions I was confused about - I gave it all up at 18. No strong feeling one way or the other since.

[iponjs]

Both my parents are Ministers, however they are Unitarian Ministers, which is not exactly normal. I went to church every week, but very rarely did I sit in the service. I took care of kids in the nursery and taught Sunday School when I was older. Unitarianism is a church is a sort of mishmash religion where everyone has to find their own spiritual path and belief system. So, in a way I am very strictly Unitarian, as I will never take someone elses word as law. Until I was 19 years old I would have said that I was an atheist, but now I am beginning to realize the subjectivity of nature, and therefore the existance of god.

I chose 4.

Cool! I found the UU church on one of my late-night rabbit trails. Been thinking about it, just don't feel the need to actually go to a church. It might appease my ISTJ wife who feels the need to do something. It aslo was a great way to shut down my over-zealous southern baptist deacon co-worker who keeps pushing Christianity on me...

My mom was raised Catholic. her mom beat the crap out of her and when she told the nuns, priests, etc. they did NOTHING. Of course, the 40s were a different time, but I picked up her cynicism. Then, when my great-Aunt was too far into Alzheimer's to go to church, her congregation (of 50 years mind you) sent a letter: Since you are unable to join us, we're sending the collection plate to you. NOTHING about how are you, missed you, need a ride or a meal. Fucking scum...

In general, I find Christians to be incredibly insecure and unwilling to test their faith by hearing something else. Seems to me something that important MUST be tested but what do I know, I am a heathen...

Oh yeah, I did read the Satanic Bible and did a book report on it in high school - got an A+ from my conservative Methodist teacher too. I think she was relieved that I didn't do some sort of sacrifice during my oral report :devil:

[Watermark]

I was steeped in religion but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. My family attended church every Sunday, and special masses. I attended Catholic schools as a child. I can't remember exactly when I started having doubts. I was quite young. I think the first thing that I disliked about religion was the ritual aspect of it. The only ritual I liked was having lunch with my relatives after mass every Sunday. It felt like a reward for being so patient. I suppose I started objecting to the metaphors and the interpretations of the bible when I was a teen. It was in my early twenties I decided no longer to observe and admit I was agnostic. My father has his doubts and my husband is unquestionably atheist. Thankfully I have someone in the family to have decent discussions with about alternative views about God, Jesus and religion in general.

[waxwing]

5 (minus the enjoyment factor)

I grew up in the non-denominational bliss. My father is a deacon and a music minister. My mother saves a spot for him in the pew and often obsesses about the format of the service.

I was forced to attend church with them for much of my life. Not attending due to not feeling well or having a cross country meet was not only frowned upon, but my mother would actually call my coach and tell him that I would not be attending the meet because it was a Sunday. If I did not feel well, my mother told me I could lie down in the coat room. God forbid a kid in my 3rd grade class invited me to his birthday party at Skateland. (Enter the wrath and judgment of God).

If you can imagine, this type of indoctrination and legalism was suffocating, not to mention invalidating. Doctrine of the church holds such authority for my parents that anyone who does not agree or even questions a point is not only wrong, but lacking in spiritual discernment.

So being the natural skeptic, my parents did not appreciate me at all. In fact, I was a disgrace to them, even if I did attend church every Sunday. They live their lives believing that their children are a reflection on/of them, and in my case, the reflection was shameful for them.

Yes, I was turned off. Never wanted to walk into a church again, despite my occasional experiences with a God I tried to have faith in on my own. I attended an Anglican church for a while thinking that perhaps the historical elements of church (sacraments, liturgy) was what I'd been missing. Something without all the fluff of worshipping "God of the Fuzzy Green Pew Cushions." I was sick of emotional displays of faith. While the liturgy held more meaning temporarily, I eventually faded away, disillusioned by the local body of Christ, but thinking that by focusing my attention outward I might be able to find meaning and have faith. So, I did. During college, I prayed for the 10-40 window, became involved in various service projects, short term missions trips, and found many of the experiences worthwhile. However, I was slowly losing my grip on the God I never really knew, partially resenting my parents for not allowing me the freedom to choose God, but knowing that they could not allow it; within the bounds of church and biblical law they adhere to, they could not.

I became more of a disgrace to them as I went through high school and college. Went 1000 miles away to college and rarely talked to them. Started experiencing more intense symptoms of manic-depression and flashbacks from my fucked-up childhood, and entered some serious period of what to them was downright lethal spiritual, philosophical, and theological exploration/testing. I had absolutely nowhere to turn. I often thought I longed for some evidence of unconditional love and hope, but came up empty. Church to me was a game, the most sickening demonstration of hypocrisy imaginable.

I'm fascinated by theories of redemption, and at times am overwhelmed by my need for forgiveness, not in the evangelical tradition, but in a deeply private confession of my nothingness. I privately study theology and listen in on many debates, but have a difficult time accepting anything someone says if the Bible is their only source. Sad because I really enjoyed my class called Literature of the Bible.

The exploration is far from over, though.

[coffeezombie]

I privately study theology and listen in on many debates, but have a difficult time accepting anything someone says if the Bible is their only source. Sad because I really enjoyed my class called Literature of the Bible.


What other "sources" would be acceptable to you besides the Bible when it comes to theology?

[Sally]

Lapsed Catholic, expanded:

I had it pretty easy, actually. The whole (extended) family's Catholic, but mostly in an observe-the-rituals sort of way. People rarely talk about religion outside of Church. (New Orleans Catholic, mind; you could say we express our devotion to God through ardent appreciation of the food He has seen fit to provide us.)

Mom is the most spiritual in my immediate family, and even she doesn't attend Church every Sunday, disagrees with some decisions made by the Church. Dad's an agnostic, sister's agnostic, and me... I realised I didn't believe in what I was reciting in Church when I was twelve or so, stopped going, explored my own beliefs, and realised I was atheist.

Of course, we did move away from New Orleans, so we lost that particular Church network, and the reinforcement of the family network. I think Mom felt guilty for a few years because she's rather passive and had failed to guilt the rest of us into sticking with Church, and she herself didn't get much out of it sometimes. ...But it seems like she's been comfortable with everything for a few years now, so that's good.

I don't hold any bitterness, probably because I didn't have much of an emotional connection with the Church to begin with. I never got into any huge arguments with a priest. I liked the idea of the rituals (but not always the execution) and I did develop a taste for dry red wine.

I am also very prejudiced against Evangelist-type religions. Coming from a very Apollonian religious background, inducing strong emotion through a religious service is wrong. It's brainwashing; it's cheating.

[waxwing]

What other "sources" would be acceptable to you besides the Bible when it comes to theology?
I wouldn't limit sources here. I would say that rather than adhere to the Bible as the final authority, I see the need to cross-reference, to play with many other theories not cemented into biblical "truth," so to speak. Science, philosoply, Apocrypha, historical accounts, 1st hand research, natural law (but not in the biblical sense). If one decides that the Bible is his/her authority, then okay. I simply see the need for stripping it of its authority so I can understand what it's actually authorizing, if anything. Is that what you were asking?

[atypical]

I went to church with my parents every sunday (minus a few) from birth till age 16. I took it for granted that it was all true, and would have called myself a chrisitan, but i became a "born again" christian at about 15, thanks to christian camps. It definately wouldn't have been possible without the framework years of mindless faith had set up tho. Became a pro at arguing for creation (i could beat the pants off any of my peers, although few of them even cared) and tried to convert people. Started going to a pentecostal church at 16, over the next half year the excessive irrationality of the pentecostal breed of christianity showed me how much of a sham mainline christianity is as well, and by 17 1/2 had decided to become an atheist.

[Pierce]

Dad was an ISTJ athiest, mom was an ENFJ Christian. Lots and lots of friction. Dad would furiously rail against God, preachers, the Bible and church. Mom would sneak us off to services, pray constantly and she literally wore out several Bibles (and she was a compassion magnet for people in trouble). I related well to my dad's T and my mom's N, but I thought they both jumped to conclusions (must be their J's).

As a result of moving regularly (Dad's military career) I experienced a lot of different churches growing up. From an INTP child's point of view, some were terrible (obvious hypocrisy, excess emotionalism, silliness) and some were wonderful (thought provoking sermons and some engaging, genuine people -- I admired from afar). Worship varied from uninspired and off-key to rapturous and spine-tingiling (which always made me uncomfortable -- I didn't like the confusing stirring of my own emotions). Much more influential than churches were my parents. Of course, I rebelled against both of them and became agnostic -- at least for a while. I couldn't get faith to reason out, and yet I was unable to dismiss the uncanny spirituality of my mother...

Well, my mind has drifted off wondering about the amazing turns and unexpected events that shape ones life and I've no words to express it... not right now anyway... maybe later.

[ohnoaninfp]

Raised Catholic. Age 15-19 went to Hell (Catholic School, Highschool is still hell regardlessi f it is public or not) Hated the school plus some people but not the faith. Now in college and still Catholic

[Star Cannon]

I rate myself as a two. I did used to go to sunday school but for the social reasons. Eventually, I stopped going to church. Sometimes I have arguments with my classmates regarding the universe, God, and the world of today.

Star Cannon

[Serotonin]

Voted 1, in retrospect I should have voted 2.

Mum (INTP)'s family is atheistic going back generations, Dad (ISFJ) was raised in a strongly Anglican family. Dad slowly lost his Christianity in as his relationship with Mum developed, and now he is also an athiest/agnostic.

But I remember the time on Thursday mornings that the public school system devoted to (spiritual learning), where the local Baptist minister would take us. Lots of colouring in of pictures of arks, crosses etc. Every year I'd start off going to them, my parents deciding that I should be exposed to it and make up my own judgement. Bringing home stories of violence, fire and brimstone from the classes made me uncomfortable and so I'd go to "non-scripture" i.e. reading in the library for the rest of the year, with a permission slip from my parents, of course. By age 11 I had grown tired of the charade and have not had any formal scriptural teaching since. I've explored Christianity since in my own time and have formulated my stance in regard to it: :thumbdow:

[nonsequitur]

i said "1".

mum (ENFJ) and dad (INTJ) both believe in a "God", though not necessarily a Christian one. that's probably because of my asian background. attended church a number of times, that number probably can be represented on one hand. used to be an atheist, though i was always very interested in spirituality. read the children's bible on my own when i was about 7. still read up on theology, though most of my readings are buddhism-based.. was a very adamant atheist until last year of high school - when my sister convinced me that utter rejection is not very logical. now i'm very strongly agnostic.

[Thor]

Oh man... If there were a 6 on this list....

I had it rammed down my throat. If not from my heavily Catholic (at the time) family, then by the rabidly Mormon community we lived in. You're a kid, outnumbered 250 to 1 and they ALL think it's their duty to convert YOU. Imagine being a freshly cooked steak tossed into a pit of hungry wolves and you get the idea of what it was like. The only way to defend yourself and your family is through becoming pretty intense, indoctrinated and educated on the subjects. You've got to know what YOU believe just as much as you need to know what they believe, because "I don't know" is just an open invitation to be messed with. It was a constant struggle right up until I left rural Utah at age 19. It's been 11 years and almost instantly, once I no longer had to fight for the ability to believe differently, I mellowed. Much of it is still with me, but I'm generally very private about it.

[Thor]

Mine weren't so pushy, but more subversive. For example - inviting missionaries over for dinner when making my favorite foods and setting up other kinds of situations. In fact, i'd say the whole Mormon influence is like that - they'll purposely influence coincidences and wait for one to click - hoping you'll think it was some kind of act of God.

Heh. I was dating a woman who had left the Mormon church but her family was still *heavily* LDS. She was out at my cabin with me one day when a 4x4 pickup pulls into the driveway and out jump two missionaries. Now, it basically takes GPS coordinates to find this place and the ONLY people who knew anyone was out this way were her family. "Oh, we were just in the area and thought we'd stop by and introduce ourselves." There IS no 'in the area' out here and it's out of the way. The missionaries don't take a 4x4 pickup if they're just going to be 'in the area.' We came to the conclusion that "Grandma" tipped them off.

[NightCrawler]

In my lifetime, I have missed a sunday-church less than 30 times, I think.

[Jennywocky]

My father did not attend church, although he had been brought up in the "higher protestant denominations"

My mother had been raised in a Bible church.

I was taken every week. It wasn't really "forced" on me, and I learned voraciously. (As a child, I attended over the years a Lutheran church, a Baptist church, a Church of the Brethren, and a non-denom church program.)

God was just assumed to be real by my mom. My dad didn't talk about it either way at all.

[Ivy]

My parents were so devout that no church was good enough for them. They had Lord-offs at a number of churches and either left on bad terms or split off with a faction to form a new mini-church. Eventually they ended up alone at home, having Easter foot-washings in the living room.

All this made me exceedingly uncomfortable, but I was fairly spiritual myself in another direction. I had parted ways with my parents (internally-- didn't make waves by telling them I thought they were misguided or anything) by 9 or 10. I went to a Quaker school for grades 6-9, and I left that school as a self-identifying Quaker. I had an atheist interlude between maybe 16 and 19, but returned to an easygoing, uncomplicated belief in my 20s. When we married we joined the Episcopal church together and now I like to think of myself as a Quakepiscopalian.

[Lateralus]

My parents were your stereotypical right-wing evangelical Christians. I had no choice in going to church, growing up. I wasn't allowed to have non-Christian friends (not that this stopped me). I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music (not that this stopped me, either). My parents considered me very rebellious, when objectively speaking, I was simply open-minded and strong-willed. As a teen, I saw so much hypocrisy in church that it disgusted me. I was a Christian, in name only, until I went off to college.

Despite all of that, I still find myself defending Christians against militant atheists.

[Pooja]

My parents are devout hindu-jain (a weird hybrid, of which they steadfastly ignore the philosophical implications, and choose to focus on the SJ rituals). They used to make me and my sister go to "hindi lessons" for 2 hrs every sunday, and then spend saturday mornings praying in a "bhujun" (church setting).

They also sent me and my sister to a catholic school, which made us attend church every tuesday and thursday morning for an hour each time. Oh, and there was 90 minutes of religion class every day, which was called "jesus time".

God sucks balls.

[Jennywocky]

Despite all of that, I still find myself defending Christians against militant atheists.

Yeah. :rofl: Word.

[Anonymous]

Option 5 is rather off. You can be heavily steeped in religion, and have bought into it, but then deconverted yourself as well, such as I did, and no longer value any of it. I voted a 5, but I've been a strong atheist for about a year now.

[Ferrus]

Yes, I was expected to go to chruch every Sunday. I stopped believing about 13, but I will still go when I am at home. An hours worth of meaningless mummery for the sake of a peacable sojourn is worth it.

[djm]

I scored 2, both my parents are Church of England but are not regular attenders so I was expected to go to weddings, funerals etc, and that's about it. I still turn up for family events at church, but I will not pray or sing hymns. I will also ensure that I am not given a religious funeral or burial (it would just be hypocritical).

I stopped going to services at school midway through my first term. I realised that muslims could skip morning assembly (and the awful communal sing songs) as they were not Christian, and so refused on the grounds that I did not beleive in god.

From then on I avoided having to go to church with school. English churches are cold musty places, best avoided. It would not be so bad if you could take a book, but as you were expected to listen attentively to the purile drivel spouted by the vicar (and not heckle) I felt it was best avoided.

[attila_the_hunny]

I was level 4 when I was a kid, but when we moved, I was level 3. We usually went to church on holidays.

I never understood church when I was a child. I once told my grandmother church would be more fun if we didn't always talk about Jesus. She said that was the point of going, so I pretty much lost all interest. The only thing I had to look forward to was when it was over so I could play on the playground there.

Some of those sermons are really long as fuck and I remember sleeping a lot on the pews.

[ajblaise]

2.

Dad never went, mom wasn't very religious but made me go. Bored me to death...and I hated having to stand up every 2 or so minutes. Sometimes I would just get up and leave, telling my mom "i think i'm going to be sick/throw up" and would power-walk myself right out of that hell-hole.

[euterpenc]

every sunday for a while, but then I wasn't forced to go anymore, and my family stopped going altogether.

i still feel residual effects of the church attendance, and certainly feel christian morals still have a certain hold of my life.

[Petroleum Prole]

I voted a 4.
My parents got involved in the church when I was still in the womb. So from the time I was born to the age of 16 I had gone to church pretty much every Sunday and often on Tuesdays.
My parents were fairly loose about teaching the ideals. My father moreso than my mother.
My mother's side of the family is deeply religious. I'm talking about born in raised in Alabama, speaking in tongues, spending hours upon hours in church every Sunday ~ real Bible thumpers. I lived with my grandmother for a year, and got preached to pretty much every day. It was mostly just the same regurgitated statements about burning in Hell, God's wrath and all the booby traps Satan has set up.
I've also been to Bible camp about five times in my life. Each time I returned less convicted in my religious beliefs, and finally those convictions were pretty much just gone, though it took me a little while to get past the prudishness. Had to learn how to loosen up.

[ajblaise]

i still feel residual effects of the church attendance, and certainly feel christian morals still have a certain hold of my life.

How did you manage to pay attention long enough for christian morals to take hold?


I went to church all the way up until age 16 or so and feel absolutely no connection to the church....maybe i just had boring pastors or went to too liberal of churches.

The only disturbing part of church that sticks out in my mind is being made to be in a circle with people speaking in tounges. The biggest WTF-lightbright ever went off in my head.

[aether]

Between a 2 and a 3, I grew up in a wanna be communist country.

[cosmic blues]

Five.

Catholic schooling, with church at least every week, for fourteen years. Going to a secular college after all that was a real mindfuck.

[meh]

I would say a 4. My mom was/is very involved in church (went on Sundays, Wednesday nights, even worked at the chuch for a little while). My dad went/goes about every other Sunday. I had to go every Sunday until I left for college. I started having my doubts when I was about 15-16, and after doing some research and realizing that science isn't evil but reality, I came to the conclusion that it was BS when I was about 17. I'm home this summer (should have stayed) and I sleep in every Sunday morning.

[Ghost-Girl]

Both of my parents are religious, but going to church hasn't been important since I was very young. The gradual dissolve of their marriage might have had something to do with it, maybe not.

[epsilon72]

...Now are there any INTPs that are actually still practicing mormons?
Me. I've dealt with plenty of stupid people in the religion over the years, but for the most part its been a positive/uplifting thing for me.

On that scale I think I'd be a 4.5. I definitely don't spend a good deal of each day 'thinking spiritually'.

[sandwich]

My dad's a pastor. When I ran out of library books, I started reading CS Lewis and books with titles like "The Bible According to Peanuts." Also, there was a month when I was grounded from reading any books except for the Bible, so I have an unusual familiarity with Old Testament history.

I voted 5, but as both of my parents are first generation believers, I had a lot of freedom in exploring different doctrinal paths and finding my own understanding of the Bible. My oldest brother, probably INFJ, will have nothing to do with Christianity, but my other brother (INTJ?) and I still stick to the faith, though I'm becoming less and less comfortable around some groups of Christians, especially when they want to "defend Christmas!!!" or gay bash.

[Wolf]

I'd say 5. As a child I seldom missed church. Most of my family is rather religious.

[V Profane]

1. Secular parents, only religion was through school really.