I'm curious, resident theists, what is the base for your beliefs, as in what or who is your personal authority on determining what to believe and why
So here's some questions, with no intent of attacking your beliefs and stuff
1) Are you of the same religion as your parents or that you were born into?
a) If not, what made you change? What was the process of discovery like for you?
b) If so, have you questioned your religion, tried other ones?
c) If so, what made you come back to your original faith and what was interesting about the religions you tried?
2) Do you follow the bible/Quran/Torah?
a) Do you interpret it literally or metaphorically? To what degree?
b) Would you consider the bible/the Quran/Torah to be the base for your beliefs?
c) Would you say that the bible/Quran/Torah is the main source of your morals?
3) Do you follow your religious organisation's doctrine? (please state what your church is, if any)
a) Why/why not?
b) If so, would you say that you do it because it corresponds to your personal beliefs or are your personal beliefs shaped by the doctrine?
4) Are there any pastors/rabbis/imams/priests/theologians/etc that you follow?
a) If so, what made you follow their teachings?
5) What is your train of thought in deciding what to believe?
6) What would it take to make you lose your faith (hypothetically)?
*7) Elaborate on the above or your beliefs in general if you like
TA for reading and potentially answering in advance
Ex-theists are welcome to answer what was true for them when they were religious and include why and what and how changed
So here's some questions, with no intent of attacking your beliefs and stuff
1) Are you of the same religion as your parents or that you were born into?
a) If not, what made you change? What was the process of discovery like for you?
b) If so, have you questioned your religion, tried other ones?
c) If so, what made you come back to your original faith and what was interesting about the religions you tried?
2) Do you follow the bible/Quran/Torah?
a) Do you interpret it literally or metaphorically? To what degree?
b) Would you consider the bible/the Quran/Torah to be the base for your beliefs?
c) Would you say that the bible/Quran/Torah is the main source of your morals?
3) Do you follow your religious organisation's doctrine? (please state what your church is, if any)
a) Why/why not?
b) If so, would you say that you do it because it corresponds to your personal beliefs or are your personal beliefs shaped by the doctrine?
4) Are there any pastors/rabbis/imams/priests/theologians/etc that you follow?
a) If so, what made you follow their teachings?
5) What is your train of thought in deciding what to believe?
6) What would it take to make you lose your faith (hypothetically)?
*7) Elaborate on the above or your beliefs in general if you like
TA for reading and potentially answering in advance
Ex-theists are welcome to answer what was true for them when they were religious and include why and what and how changed