Guess I should share my story... I'll try to keep it short, but it's hard to condense a lifetime's spiritual journey into one post
I was raised in a very strict Catholic household. As far as my dad was concerned, Vatican II never happened. We abstained from meat every Friday, went to confession and Mass every Saturday, my dad used to do the "old-style" Lenten fast where you fasted every day, etc. I was sent to Catholic school through 5th grade, and was only allowed to transfer out when my father realized that the public schools provided a far superior secular education.
As I got older, I started to realize that there were things in Church doctrine that I wasn't too thrilled about, for example, the infallibility of the Pope. I also had a bad experience at CCD where I asked a question and was basically told "Don't ask questions, just accept what you're told."
(I was right, too!)
I thought very hard about whether to go through with confirmation, but I knew I would have been thrown out of the house if I didn't, so I did it.
I had a lot of Jewish friends growing up, and through them I learned a lot about Judaism - both the beliefs and the culture. When I got to college, I found myself drawn to a newly formed local sorority, all of whose other members were Jewish - and from them I learned even more about Judaism, and did some research on my own. Eventually I began to study with a rabbi, and came to the conclusion that I wanted to be Jewish.
One thing that particularly attracted me to Judaism is that you are not only allowed, but encouraged, to ask questions and debate things. That was not my experience with the Catholic Church.
While all this was going on, I met a wonderful young Jewish man who is now my husband. At first glance, it looks like I converted for his sake, but I did not; I chose Judaism for my own reasons, I was not coerced in any way, and I really hate it when people assume otherwise. He would have married me whether I converted or not.
My parents were, and are, unthrilled with my choice. My dad wouldn't walk me down the aisle at my wedding, and almost didn't come at all. My mom wishes that I would have at least remained a Christian... but while I have a lot of respect for Jesus' teachings, I just don't share the Christian belief that he is God.
I hope I have not offended the Catholics and other Christians here
- it just wasn't the right path for me.
Apologies for the long post.