Agnostic/atheist (it varied) since birth. Family background Anglican/United Church but noone on either side of my family had been much into church for a couple of generations. They're mostly anti- to very anti-religious, and generally cynical/scientific/intellectual/materialist (although I now realise that there is a whole lot of intellectualism involved in Orthodoxy in terms of its theology - you can talk for hours upon hours about Orthodoxy if you want to). Was never baptized until I entered the Orthodox Church. I was baptized on Holy Spirit day last year. I had been casually exploring spirituality but was very nervous and confused about how to take a real leap. I didn't really know anyone of a religious leaning, and most amongst my different groups of friends scoffed at religion. I therefore tended to keep my mouth shut about my interest (I was cowardly), other than telling people that my explorations were purely academic. But there were a number of things that I could not reconcile, not only in non-Christian religions but also in western forms of Christianity (despite the emotional upheaval I felt when attending a small Roman Catholic service - this gave me a hint, but not an answer to my quest). However, Orthodoxy never quite occurred to me until I met the man who is now my husband, and the first few times (actually, it still happens on occasion) I attended the Divine Liturgy and Vespers I cried. It was so emotional. However, I had to make sure that I wasn't responding only to the incense so I did a lot of research and EVERYTHING fell into place. I was home. Of course I still have a lot to learn, and I do not do all that I should do; it's a huge transition for someone with my background. Plus my husband grew up atheist/agnostic in the Soviet Union so he's still fumbling about a bit. Yet I'm so impatient to become closer to God. I guess I'm still a product of my mass culture. I'm working on that! :-)
Mind you, my friends and family think I'm a bit odd (but then they always have so I'm used to it), and the other day my mom "jokingly" suggested that I was getting sucked into a cult. My dad thinks it is "cute" (although deep down I think he wishes he could get past his cynicism). Sigh.
