About the Author: Raised Outside Religion
I have always had pride in my unique religious upbringing. When I was young, my parents did not tell my sisters and I what religion they practiced, if any. We knew they had both grown up in the Catholic Church and did not go anymore. The only exception was that my Dad occasionally went to Christmas Mass (though I would later learn it was just because "church acoustics are sick" and it reminded him of his grandmother). Generally speaking, our parents encouraged us to explore freely and carefully form our own opinions. They suggested trying out church with our friends after Saturday night sleepovers, reading about world religions, trying meditation, and above all else remaining curious. My religious Journey went something like this... 0-4 years old: Not capable of having thoughts/believed in reincarnation without knowledge of Buddhism; really freaked out my mom when I asked who I'd get to be after I died 4-7 years old: staunch atheist; got in trouble in kindergarten for te...