#breakingtradition

[ejaydoeshisbest]

Breaking Free from Religious Guilt: My Journey of Faith, Doubt, and Self-Acceptance

Introduction: A Journey Through Faith and Doubt

Growing up in the Philippines, being part of a deeply religious culture is often more than just attending mass; it shapes how you see yourself and the world. For me, being raised in a devout Catholic household was filled with traditions: rebultos, statues of saints, stood watch over our home, their gazes unblinking and ever-present.

Like the serene Child Jesus or the Virgin Mary, they saw as each guest brought their stain on our floors. Supposedly, they can eavesdrop on our private conversations and snatch them up as they pass through telephone lines. Despite that, I had to whisper and cover my mouth as if the statues were actual people with keen eyesight and sensitive ears. 

God was watching. God was listening. He observed every action, thought, and word. This belief gave me comfort as a child, thinking that an All-Powerful Being was protecting me. But as I grew and my understanding deepened, it became a source of inner conflict, especially when my own thoughts began to diverge from what was considered “right”. It was later I realized that some of our beliefs were just self-righteous.

The Emotional Weight of Questioning Beliefs

I was taught early that questioning faith was wrong. It was a sin that could invite punishment, whether divine or parental. To my conservative, religious family members, the mere act of questioning and doubting was already blasphemy. But how could the gift of human curiosity and intellect be seen so? The expectation was clear: obey without doubt, limit desires, and strive for heavenly rewards. It was a paradox I struggled with: how could we be free if even our thoughts were monitored and judged?

Still, I tried my best to be a good Catholic boy. I didn’t want to disobey my parents. So I prayed the rosary with my grandmother and recited nightly prayers. None of these erased the unease I felt under the sense of surveillance from an Omnipotent Being. How can I be comfortable with the idea that even showering or private moments were under divine watch? I had to flush the toilet with the seat closed when taking a dump. I had to close the curtains while I hurriedly put on my underwear and shorts. This constant awareness that "even my thoughts were sins" led to self-censorship and anxiety. For a child, this burden can be suffocating.

Experiencing Religion Beyond Home

When I moved to Riyadh and later returned to the Philippines to attend a Catholic school, the teachings became more rigid. Religion transitioned from personal devotion to mandated routines, where worship was no longer an act of love but an obligation. One was not a good Catholic if one failed to meet certain criteria–power-hungry men made criteria I suspected with nothing better to do.

We were told that every blessing was solely God's doing, leaving little room for recognizing our own achievements. My questions resurfaced, intensified by seeing that faith wasn't just shared by Catholics. How could we claim to be the only true path when there were Muslims, Buddhists, and others?

The Clash Between Faith and Personal Identity

My greatest struggle came with understanding my sexuality. I was a teenager at this point. For years, I tried to deny that part of myself, feeling only guilt, fear, and isolation. Every lingering glance to any handsome boy in the class scorched me with guilt, making me recoil.

In my mind, I was not just different. I was inherently flawed, an "abomination" unworthy of God's love. This shame made every moment of teenage curiosity feel like a prelude to condemnation. While all teens face discouragement for exploring their identity, being LGBT compounded this pressure, making me believe that acceptance and safety were unreachable.

Finding Truth Beyond Religion

College opened my eyes to a world outside religious constraints: philosophy, science, art—contributions from diverse minds that religion alone couldn't offer. I began to see life beyond strict dogma, realizing that the world was far more colorful than black-and-white beliefs. I listed my grievances: how could anyone be sure of an afterlife? Why was it acceptable to judge others harshly under the guise of faith? I saw relatives who were fervent in church but quick to gossip or judge others' choices, highlighting a painful hypocrisy.

Over time, I learned that who I am and what I feel is normal, and I embraced that. The freedom to accept myself brought a sense of peace that religion had denied me.

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Understanding

This journey taught me that true morality is not defined by blind faith but by understanding, empathy, and authentic living. To anyone struggling under the weight of religious guilt, know that goodness comes from who you are, not just from attending church. Your worth isn't determined by following every rule but by finding your true self and being kind to others. We can honor traditions and our past without being trapped by them, creating a world where faith, identity, and personal truth can coexist.

Words: Ejay Diwas

[rpetersphoto]

About to see how many light-displays can be seen in a single night… #haasters #breakingtradition https://www.instagram.com/p/CmC9pt-pn-A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beautifulsoul247]

https://www.netflix.com/us/title/80198306?s=i&trkid=258593161&vlang=en watching only surya bonaly’s episode so great she did so many sports too I love it so much yo

[leadindia011]

We delve deep into the concept of customary marriage, shedding light on its significance and exploring the possibilities of dissolving such unions. Customary marriage, also known as traditional or tribal marriage, refers to a type of matrimonial union rooted in cultural traditions and practices specific to certain communities or regions. It's a union formalized without adhering to the civil or religious ceremonies commonly associated with marriage.

[gems-by-rae]

The usual design of a RuYi jadeite pieces are set vertically. Breaking that norm, I’ve chosen to set this icy piece horizontally with a smaller gold Ru Yi resting at the top as a bail. Now you’ll get double the prosperity:) #jadeite #jadeitejade #gemsbyrae #如意 #finejewelry #breakingtradition #jadedesign #18kgold https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_J2U6vM-i/?utm_medium=tumblr

[timikaschambers]

Domestic Violence: What Happens At Home Doesn't Stay At Home

Domestic Violence: What Happens At Home Doesn’t Stay At Home

Causing another pain is never a home affair. What we do to others has a direct and indirect effect on others. What we accept from others has a direct and indirect effect on others. Listen as I share my thoughts on how domestic violence isn’t just a home matter. Make this lifetime great! You have the power to do so! Timika Sign up for my quarterly newsletters to receive tips on how we can break…

[pinkcloudcoach]

Measuring your success by whether you drink or not is one of the greatest pitfalls of traditional recovery. . Most of us already feel pretty lousy when we get to the realization our drinking habit needs to change. . The last thing we need is to feel like we’ve failed because we do what has become natural without time, intention, and practice to create a new normal. . Progress can be measured in many ways than just how many days you managed to abstain. . #soberrevolution #pinkcloudlife #sobernotabstinence #author #lifecoach #soberisfreedom #whollysober #theprimeddrinker #breakingtradition #breakrecoverytradition #soberexplorer https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cuC5YJy7E/?igshid=o2g57m2rg9gx

[balluprojects]

miron, 2015

[havashivemind]

Center Ring. @havasnyc #breakingtradition #sincenow

[freakluver87]

Anime North 2019... This will be the first year since 2012 that I will not be attending... Crazy! Crazy to think we've gone that many times. Oh the memories! #anime #animenorth #havefun #enjoyingnatureinstead #sorrynotsorry #costumes #breakingtradition #tryingsomethingnew https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxp26XwFn9c/?igshid=u81iarxc4in1

[poz-piercer]

Fresh freehand Scapha / Helix piercing using @industrialstrengthuk beautiful Prium jewellery [ So this customer fell in love with this but alas the shape was not suitable for her by traditional standards so we decided to break tradition and came up with this instead, this sits 100℅ flush on the ear ] #freehandpiercing #industrialstrengthuk #priumjewellery #industrialstrength @industrialstrengthaustralia @industrialstrengtheurope #helixpiercing #scaphapiercing #breakingthemould #breakingtradition #trendsetter #repost (at Scarz & Barz - Piercing - Landing Page) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwf8mQNAlDE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rxgpggfxq1j3

[xunique13]

You can't judge us, but we went to The District instead of Chico's Tacos for tacos this trip to El Paso and.... THEY WERE BETTER BUT THE SAME!!! * GASP* Paulina took us there and indeed they were like the old Chico's Tacos but slightly better. My world is shook! · · #elpaso #thedistrict #chicostacos #wth #foodporn #roadtrip #eating #localfood #shook #breakingtradition #mexicanfood (at El Paso, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvhtR8ojWjg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1im0ghymjrr3

[naturecrusader-blog]

This is a chart explaining forms of non-monogamy. I believe there is a need to know multiple options and ideas. I don't believe life should be simple. Things should not be one way or another due to tradition or for simplicity's sake. Life is not simple and to try to make it so is self-limiting at best and tramples the rights of others at worst. Simplicity's place is usually in the arts. In my opinion, it is not okay to go through life on auto-pilot. Critical thinking is crucial. Questioning everything is crucial. I may hold many liberal opinions, but not because of some loyalty to an ideology, nor my emotional affects, but rather due to questioning and critical thought. In fact, I do hold some viewpoints that could be considered conservative as well. As result, I present to you a petition I found, that I felt I could support, that also would hypothetically affect me and others I know personally, should things reach that point. I hope you read over it and really think if you support it. If so, sign, if not, don't. Thank you. http://marriage-equality.blogspot.com/p/polyamory-and-polygamy.html?m=1 https://www.change.org/p/united-states-supreme-court-protect-the-underage-legalize-plural-marriage #polyamory #metacognition #criticalthought #marriageequality #polyandry #polygyny #polygamy #fresno #559 #unitedstates #california #breakingtradition #usurping #revolution #revolutionary #democracyinaction #donotfear #freedom #outdatedparadigms #informedconsent #logic #allnecessarydata #options #insanityprobablyintellectdefinitely (at Mayfair Elementary)

[eric-eztli]

Should you marry someone before moving in together? We did everything in reverse. We moved in first. We lived together in Santa Cruz and in Los Angeles. We decided to have a baby one day - yes - we talked about it and decided. Then we finally decided to get married. Doing things in reverse never felt so right, and I truly believe the traditional ways are too old school to always be right for every couple. Sometimes breaking tradition is the only way to approach new life transitions. I’m happy we did things exactly the way we did. #livinginreverse #breakingnorms #breakingtraditions #newtransitions #reflectingonlife (at Norwalk, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bto7X0Uhuva/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=w6s1ic31hyhj

[leadindia011]

We delve deep into the concept of customary marriage, shedding light on its significance and exploring the possibilities of dissolving such unions. Customary marriage, also known as traditional or tribal marriage, refers to a type of matrimonial union rooted in cultural traditions and practices specific to certain communities or regions.

[cutecutebibaforever]

I want to be the "Tita" nah inaabangan when to go home and the "Tita" who always have her travel stories to the younger brood and generations ❤️ #thisiseurope #breakingtraditions #cutebiba dress from #HandM #grateful #happiness #black #europe #ferrol #blessed #oldcities (at Ferrol, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEgjD4JImPbjESPfDrNfE6ZAs1au3Pf5s9cqHE0/?igshid=n5xgga8odv79