How do you choose your religion?

[DrFree]

Originally Posted by Alan Davie

Now my question is should we let our beliefs evolve naturally over the course of a lifetime or should we be looking to define our beliefs by way of organised religion? And if the latter, how does one go about choosing a religion? There are so many and how can they ALL be "the way"?

I can only tell you how I chose my faith community after I grew out of years of naive atheism. None of the one true answers felt like more than ill-considered dogmas, but atheism itself only said what I didn't believe, not what I believed.

I joined a Unitarian Universalist congregation, because their fundamental principles include respect for everyone regardless of faith and a continuing search for spiritual truth. They admitted that they didn't have the answer but were willing to search.

Later I had an opportunity to work with an interfaith group that spanned Christians, Jews, Bahai, Buddhists, and so one. I quickly learned that all these faiths have really good people. (They all also have some extreme exclusionists.)

As a result I can now say that Interfaith is my Faith. Every faith that encourages you to love one another, and work with one another, is a valid expression of God's love. The faith that is best for you is the one that allows you to express that love most fully.

If none of the religions you've tried does that, if they exclude you because you are (fill in the blank), then keep searching. I would suggest you try out your local Unitarian Universalist congregation, but that's because it worked for me.