by Marco H.
My first memory of Abrahamic religion, Christianity to be exact was going to Sunday school as a child. I studied the Bible of the Church of England but didn't attend for long as we moved to a new house. My sister went to Sunday school at the new household.
After this my household wasn't a particularly religious household. Yes, God was mentioned now and again and prayed to at times of need, but that was about it really. As a child I was more the sort of person to go out playing sports, etc.
I always believed in a God though growing up, but it wasn't until later in my life, in my 40's to be exact, that I started taking more of an interest in God. I started to study the Bible as both my Grandparents on both sides of my family were religious My Nan's side of the family were Roman Catholic and on my Grandads side, it was the Church of England. I discussed this with my Mum.
My Mum's Italian relatives are based here in England, as well as in Italy. Because I have Italian blood in me, I wanted to follow the religion of my Italian relatives. This religion was Roman Catholicism.
I thought I would like to become a Roman Catholic and made enquiries at the local parish Church. I was gladly welcomed into the congregation. Everything went ok for a while until I started to doubt the Bible and the sacraments. I thought it was all false and for show and to get money out of the lay people.
I was never confirmed into the Catholic Faith, as just before the confirmation ceremony I decided to leave the Catholic Faith.
After leaving the Catholic faith I became an Atheist. I didn't believe in God at that particular time. I was disillusioned with the Church and God. Becoming Atheist gave me peace of mind for a while but I still wasn't satisfied because I believed that there was a true God out there.
I had a longstanding illness which stopped me getting out much. So I researched for an Online Church. I came across an open liberal church This church had roots in the Old Catholic Faith stemming back to Utrecht in the Netherlands. I got in touch with them and was welcomed as a member. This church Confirmed me as a Christian. Non denominational of cause. The church's Archbishop had wrote numerous books on life in the Church and even wrote a loving, inclusive version of the New Testament. I was satisfied for a while, but then realised that this wasn't for me. The liberal church still had roots in Abrahamic faith.
After researching the internet again I came across Deism and the World Union of Deists website. After reading some of the articles and about the God of Nature at www.deism.com I thought "this is for me." I liked that there was no dogma and it was a personal philosophy.
Deism has freed my mind and I have broke away from the shackles of the Abrahamic religions. Reason is so much better than Faith. I feel finally at home in Deism.