Knowing What I Believe

I was born and raised an Adventist. I never questioned the religious beliefs and practices of my church, thinking they were the “norm” and that everybody believed the same things, did and didn’t do the same things, and worshiped on the same day (Sabbath).

It was only in high school that I started asking questions and sought out serious answers to the reasons behind such beliefs and practices. It was only then that I had a need to.

I went to a Roman Catholic school during my entire high school life. All the while my classmates would ask me questions that at that time, I didn’t quite know how to answer.

Why don’t I eat pork?

Why can’t I come to school on Saturdays?

Why can’t I join them go disco dancing or clubbing?

Why can’t I drink alcoholic beverages, or even softdrinks?

Why can’t I smoke cigarettes?

Why didn’t I pray the rosary, memorize prays, or repeat my prayer over and over?

Why didn’t I believe in Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) immortality and mediation for mankind?

Why don’t we have statues of saints in our churches?

The list was endless. And shake my faith it did—in a good way because they motivated me to seek Bible-based, history-verified, and scientifically-proven answers for myself.

Today, I’d say I can pretty much “defend” my faith (although I don’t have the Bible memorized the way some people do). I know now why I believe what I believe. And I know now why I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that those beliefs are all strictly Bible-based.

Written by hand on November 17, 2007 at 12:12 A.M.