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"Religion is among the most personal\u2014and divisive\u2014topics out there. What we believe (or why we don't) and how we express our faith (or lack thereof) are questions everyone considers at some point, and part of growing up is figuring out the answers for yourself. Read on for readers' thoughts on God and spirituality, and share your own in the comments.\n\nThe Believer\n\n \"I come from a very religious Methodist community, and believing in God is one of the ways I find comfort in tough or fearful situations. If I didn't have my faith, I don't know how I'd be able to have hope for the future; I think everyone needs something to give them hope in some sort of a way. I'm on my own path with God, and even though I stumble on that path quite often, I know I'll continue to believe.\" \u2014Sydney S., 17, from Iowa\n\nThe Explorer\n\n \"I've always been really curious about other religions. I wasn't raised with any one in particular and have always been free to experiment. There are certain aspects of many religions that I love! Instead of completely pledging myself to one or the other, I've taken the parts I like and practice those in my everyday life. I also try to stay as open-minded as possible regarding my friends' religions. Even if I don't always agree with their views, it's important we respect each other. As I've gotten older, this has definitely become a bigger thing for me since my friends have gotten more intense in their views. I've learned that when people try to push their ideas on you, it's important to have a strong sense of what you personally believe in and who you want to be.\" \u2014Justina S., 16, from California\n\nThe Questioner\n\n \"I haven't really figured it all out, but I'm probably a mix of atheist and 'somewhere in between.' I've always been drawn to religion, but it's something I've also been avoiding at the same time. Religion is power: It unites so many people, but it drives others apart. It's also an otherworldly experience I don't think science will ever be able to explain, and that scares me a bit. You have to wonder: Is this real? Was this a story that was mistaken as fact at one point? If God is controlling everyone's destiny, why do bad things happen? Am I just so desperate to believe in something that I'm making all this up? When does your religion start controlling your life? There's a lot to think about.\" \u2014Iris Z., 14, from California\n\nThe Observant\n\n \"I'm a religious Modern Orthodox Jew. I attended Jewish day school my entire life, and the normal path after graduation is to go to a Jewish all-girls college after a year of seminary in Israel. I decided I had no interest in doing that and was extremely interested in fashion, so I applied to design school in New York. I was surrounded by non-Jews and non-observant Jews, and it was a huge culture shock for me. All my friends were in Israel learning about our faith and growing spiritually, while I learned about the difference between Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. I realized that it wasn't just me feeling left out\u2014I really missed the Jewish classes and being surrounded by girls who were similar to me. I started listening to famous rabbis' lectures, reading books on women and Judaism, and dressing more modestly. During my spring semester, I applied to an all-girls Jewish college and haven't felt any sort of regret.\" \u2014Sara S., 22, from Florida\n\nThe Atheist\n\n \"A few years ago I began to lose touch with religion. I started to question why I believed in God growing up and why church was so important to me at the time. I realized I believed in God only because I was told to. Same with church\u2014I went because I was forced to. During my freshman year of high school, I claimed to be agnostic. The thought of a higher being not existing constantly ran through my mind. Now, as a senior, I describe myself as an atheist. When I see people bash others for their beliefs, it makes me think no one is right. I see people who live by the Bible, but spread hatred and aren't accepting of others. People like that add to the reasons why I'm no longer a believer. I respect everyone's beliefs, but I would rather live a life of my own.\" \u2014Britney S., 17, from California\n\nThe Devoted\n\n \"I'm a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. When I was younger, I never spoke about my religion outside of church because I was afraid people would call me weird. I keep the Sabbath, which involves taking a break from all secular activities from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday. My family and I usually spend\u00A0Friday nights\u00A0resting and reflecting on the week and Saturdays in church. As\u00A0I've grown older, I've learned to embrace my religion as an integral part of who I am. It has instilled a strong faith and set of values in me that I'm true to everywhere I go. I've also realized that through my religion, I'm always able to find a community. No matter where I am, I can depend on a Seventh-day Adventist church to make me feel at home. I'm proud to be a part of my religious community, and it's helped me feel comfortable in my own skin even when I stand out.\" \u2014Asha B., 21, from New York\n\nThe Spiritual\n\n \"I grew up in a religious family. We always went to church, and I met many of my core friends there. Summers were spent at Bible camp where my parents were counselors, I've been out of the country on various mission trips, and my family jumps at the opportunity to volunteer and help those in need. But then I went to college; the freedom that I have now has pushed me away from the church. I've only been to an actual service twice since I moved away, and I don't really mind it. I have religious friends at school, and I try to read my Bible every once in a while, but I like being involved with other things and meeting other people. I still consider myself religious, it's just that I've realized I can believe and be a good person without spending hours in church. I don't need to have a structured practicing time or ceremony to know that I'm not alone and that there is a greater plan for me.\" \u2014Sarah H., 19, from Indiana"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/religion-spirituality>