Organized Religion Raised Me
Faith, Culture, and Finding God for Yourself
We were raised in the church — but our faith didn’t stop there. Organized Religion Raised Me is an honest conversation about growing up in faith, navigating culture, and learning that a personal relationship with God matters more than denomination.
Raised in Faith, Shaped by Culture
For many of us, faith wasn’t introduced — it was inherited.
In this episode of SHAIDY Conversations, my longtime friend Irene and I unpack what it meant to be raised in organized religion, shaped by culture, and eventually led into distinct, personal faith walks.
She brings the perspective of growing up African.
I bring the lens of being Jamaican-American.
Different cultures.
Different church experiences.
Same God.
Church Taught Us Structure — Life Taught Us Discernment
We talk openly about:
Growing up deeply rooted in church culture
The unspoken rules we learned alongside Scripture
How fear, discipline, and tradition sometimes overshadowed relationship
And how adulthood forced us to ask harder questions about faith
Our journeys didn’t lead us away from God.
They led us closer to Him — just differently.
Faith Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
One of the most important truths from this episode is this:
You can honor God and still question systems.
You can love the church and still acknowledge where it hurt you.
You can be rooted in faith without being boxed into a denomination.
We emphasize that every faith walk is personal — and that maturity in faith often looks like discernment, not blind adherence.
A Shared Disclaimer — Spoken With Love
Throughout this conversation, we are clear about one thing:
We are not advising anyone on what to believe, where to worship, or how to practice faith.
We are simply sharing our truths — honestly, respectfully, and without agenda.
This is not about dismantling faith.
It’s about deepening relationship.
Culture, Identity, and God
Our cultural backgrounds deeply shaped how we experienced God:
Expectations around obedience
Views on shame, grace, and repentance
Gender roles within the church
And how “good faith” was often measured by behavior, not heart posture
Untangling culture from conviction was part of our healing.
Where We Landed
Despite different paths, we landed in the same place:
Faith rooted in God, not performance
Relationship over ritual
Discernment over pressure
God never left us.
We just learned how to hear Him for ourselves.
Final Reflection
Faith evolves when it becomes yours.
Not inherited.
Not forced.
Not fear-based.
Just real, rooted, and guided by God Himself.
___
Episode Guest:
Irene Stafford — Day Care Owner │ Photographer
Instagram @florajanetphotography
🌐 A TSS Motif, LLC Production
🧡 Follow us on Instagram @SHAIDYConversations
🎤 Hosted by Shaina Mowatt, Your Legacy Curator
🎙️ Audio airs every Sunday on Spotify
🎥 Video Airs every Monday on YouTube
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