is there a religion for me?

[Everglow.]

I have been christened, but I don't believe in everything christian. my beliefs are spread across more than one religion, because i believe a strange theory that i came up with myself and came to believe.

the theory is about death and what happens next. i believe that life is one big test. basically hell before you die. and then i think if you pass the test, however that may be, you get to go to heaven, or rest. but howerver, if you do not pass the test, you are reincarnated, and forced to retake the test. so you only get rest and peace if you live a way which is classed as 'passing' the test.

i dont know if that made any sence to anyone, but i wondered if there is a defined religion for me. i dont know whether i believe in a God or not, its more of a better safe than sorry thing for me.

anyway, anything you can offer would be great.

- H. x

[TheBabyEater]

Do what I do. Make your own religion. Who needs organized religion anyway?

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Technically, I'm baptized so I suppose I'm Christian. But there are bits and pieces from other religions I like more, and make more sense to me. So, I suppose I call myself a Satanic Buddhist.

You are who you are, you don't NEED label, just believe in what you want to.

[Everglow.]

Ok, thanks. it;s been buggin me for a whilem just what i could be and that. people ask me what i believe at school and often think its a bit strange, coz quite a few of my friends have religions. others dont believe in anything, so they also think its kinda strange. but thanks for this, i guess you're right about the no lables thing.

[TheBabyEater]

Honestly, it's way cooler to have your own thing going on. That way, people don't think of you differently just because you're "Christian" or "Athiest" and also because that means you have your own mind with your own ideas, and you don't just believe every little word out of your preacher's mouth or whatever. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course

[Hiraeth]

I've always found that 'spiritual but not religious' is a decent way to answer questions like these, with the best success of avoiding detailed explanations and additional questions.

Maybe there is an established religion out there that is compatible with your beliefs. But I think only you can determine for yourself, if and when you come across it - because, just as much as it is about core ideas that match, 'feeling right' about identifying with it is equally important.

Others' perceptions of you may depend on the overall dynamics of where you live. I've certainly met many people with unconventional belief systems, and actually - these are some of the most interesting people to converse with. I love discussing (but not debating!) spiritual concepts - one really can learn so much.

Good luck with everything.

[MadPoet]

I am a Christian but I seldom agree with others Christians. I don't believe atheists go to Hell, and I am starting to doubt that there is a Hell at all. I lean more towards your approach than Christianity's. But I still define myself as a Christian, because I believe in God and in Jesus, and to me that's the core essentials of Christianity. If you believe in God and you believe in Jesus, then in my opinion you are a Christian. The other stuff is just the little extra beliefs thrown in. If you want to be called a Christian, be called a Christian. It's just whatever you choose.