Albeit I am not as religious as my parents, I do identify myself as an agnostic. Allow me then to take you on a short journey which will show you how my life was impacted by religion or specifically - Roman Catholicism.

"Roman Catholic teaching holds that there are seven sacraments which Christ instituted and entrusted to the Church. Sacraments are visible rituals that Catholics see as signs of God's presence and effective channels of God's grace to all those who receive them with the proper disposition." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacraments_of_the_Catholic_Church#Eucharist

So, when I was born the first Sacrament that was performed on me was Baptism - it is when a holy water is poured onto a newborn's head and the words of "In nomine patri et fili spiritu sancte" are said which means "In the name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit".

When I turned 7 or 8 years old, I had my first Eucharist, or you may know it as Communion. Eucharist is when you partake the Blood and the body of Jesus.

When I turned 16 I had my Confirmation. Confirmation or Chrismation is the second (third for me) sacrament of Christian initiation."It is called Chrismation (in the Eastern Churches: anointing with holy myron or chrism) because the essential rite of the sacrament is anointing with chrism. It is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace."

It is conferred by "the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite."

But how did it impact my life personally?

Well, being from a very deeply religious country - Poland, we have lots of different traditions and values that are tied with the Catholic church. For example we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December, instead of the 25th.

I also had to go to church - a lot. Pretty much every Sunday. I was praying every night before I went to sleep when I was a child because that's what I was taught. In school I had priest teaching us Religion.

But honestly, it hasn't impacted me in any negative way - I don't think it really made a difference.

Actually - I think it did make me a better person; I was told I'd go to Hell and stuff by my parents if I was misbehaving and whatnot - I was a good child afterwards :) . Catholicism also taught me that it's important to help others in need, and it also taught me a lot about history and how Christianity spread throughout the world etc.