What religion were you raised?
What age were you baptized Catholic?
I was born in America. I was raised to be an American citizen. I grew up having great respect for the Declaration of the Independence and the Constitution of the United States. My parents were Democrat, so when I reached voting age, I registered as Democrat. Ten years later, I registered as a Republican.
Growing up, I most wanted to have a horse and a dog. I had neither. I still have neither. I wanted to be a nurse (like my aunt and my grandmother) but decided I liked writing more and worked as a reporter and in public relations for a few years. What I definitely did NOT want to be was a teacher, absolutely loathed the idea. Because of a move from one state to another, into a small town, who needed only teachers, I've been a teacher for almost thirty years, and love it.
Oh, religion. I've been interested in religion since I was a toddler. I grew up in a family of Catholics, Protestants, atheists, and later on, Buddhists. At age ten I knew I would be Catholic because basically Catholicism dropped me directly into the arms of God. This was re-confirmed when I was thirteen, and periodically thereafter. The only religion/faith I was told that was not for
me is The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints. I emphasize 'me' because I was NOT told it wasn't for others.
I loved fairy tales. They all had an element of magic. There is no magic in religion. I loved mythology and all those gods and goddesses who were essentially related to one another and behaved like any other dysfunctional family and sibling rivalry was a given. There is no sibling rivalry in Trinity. Fables personified animals and their different traits were used to teach lessons to human children.
I believe I've told you before. I am not one of the blessed who believe/have faith without seeing. I can testify God IS. I can testify that His love for all is indescribable--it's that great. And I can testify He is nothing like a fairy tale, a myth, a fable, etc. He is not only truth, He is
reality.
My point is,
rightwinger , our environment does have an effect on who we are and what we do. However, there are other forces at work as well--chaos if you will--that boots one into situations that have an even deeper impact on where you were born and how you were raised--or even what you planned your adult life to be.
