Do you belong to any religion?

If yes, how does your membership in that religion / religious

affiliation shapes you?

Yes. I belong to the Members Church of God International (MCGI) and the way of being a
Christian; which is what we are called within the church, really changed me the way I am up until now.
My religion has formed and molded me as a human since the beginning. It has played a significant
part in my life and has been used to justify why we, the members within the church, do or do not do
certain things. Our religion has affected not just our moral standards, but also how we conduct our
everyday lives. It has influenced how we interact with others, how we dress, how we treat others,
why we behave the way we do, and so much more. Our religion used to be the source of
disagreements between people, which led to conflicts. But as we are taught and disciplined by the
true teachings of God, we are given the opportunity and chance to understand how and what
decisions to make as true Christians.

Being in our religion gives me much more courage to face my problems and life contentment
despite what others say about our teachings being ‘strict’. It never make me feel constricted, because
this happiness that I feel everyday is the result of being in the social benefits of participating in our
regular services and thanksgiving. Getting together with the other members in the church really
helped each of us to establish social networks, tighter friendships, and, ultimately, higher life
satisfaction. And also, it makes me feel better by making me feel like I am part of a bigger culture.
Through the years of being in the same religion, it gave me a higher self-esteem and better
psychological adjustment. Thinking about God being with me and asking for His everyday guidance
helped me alleviate the stress that comes with making errors. And relying my life with Him really
helped me cope with my anxieties, have more social support, better coping skills, and a more positive
self-image.