Cultural appropriation by religion??

Question

Sorry ladies, this one is a bit long. I apologize in advance if this is the wrong group.
A bit of background: I am mixed with black and white. My ancestry consists of roughly 48% African from regions like Cameroon, Togo, Nigeria, Benin and Mali. The other 52% consists of countries like the UK, France, Spain and Sweden. I struggle with clinical depression, anxiety and mild bi-polar disorder.
My whole life I've been so confused about religion. My mothers side is Christian, while my fathers side are mainly Jehovah witnesses. I have tried my hardest to please my families when I was younger with following their religions..but neither of them made any sense to me. I hated that my families thought of themselves as pure and righteous, yet could be so hateful. They could judge without thinking, criticize with no regard to who's feelings they might hurt. Some of the old testaments seemed cruel and unusual to me. I actually became atheist at one point in my life.
It wasn't until I was about 18 when I started researching other religions. Desperately trying to find something that made sense to me, that felt right. After some searching, I came across Buddhism. I loved everything about it. After reading more about it and trying my best to practice it, after a while I became happy. I felt so happy that I had finally found something that works for me, something that made me actually want to get up every morning.
I was talking to one of my co-workers the other day. He is Jamaican and I come to find out, SUPER religious. Hes a nice guy and very respectful- until the other day. He asks me what my religion is. So I tell him "I am currently practicing Buddhism". He looked at me in shock, and says "You are only half black, but I believe you are smart enough to know the one and only God is black and from Africa". He then proceeds to preach to me how being attracted to both women and men is incredibly sinful, and I will go to hell if I do not nourish and purify my soul. Tells me that I am appropriating Asian peoples culture and religion, because its not my own culture. That I must follow my African ancestor's roots and religion to be excepted by my own people.
Like what in the actual fuck?? I have already found something that nourishes my soul, I believe it. It really broke my heart to hear someone bash my beliefs so much. Again, I'm not of Asian descent. Am I appropriating their culture?? Am I wrong? I feel so lost 😞

Answer

You’re not wrong. Don’t listen to his bullshit. Religion and spirituality are very personal. Practice what you want, how you want. 
Religion, God, faith, spirituality, etc., should never be used to spew hate, bigotry, inequality, fear or division.

Answer

I’m asian. Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Korean, Thai and French. My Cambodian and Thai side of family practices buddhism. My Vietnamese side are catholics. My chinese and korean side are christians. I think that religion has nothing to do with background or color or race or whatever else. Religion has to do with what you truly believe in and are at peace with. If you’re happy practicing buddhism then do you girl! I’m an atheist so🌝 my family is upset with that, but they also understand that everyone has their own beliefs and never forces a person to be someone theyre not. I

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People convert to different religions all the time... Sounds like he’s just mad you don’t agree with his particular beliefs.

Answer

This is odd, your race has nothing to do with religion. Yes your co worker is an asshole but he is saying what his religion says is wrong, and those are his religious beliefs.

Answer

Yeah, he’s stupid. Like he said, he’s one of those religious, possibly Christian, Black person and from firsthand experience, it’s so hard to have a religion outside of Christianity around them. It’s one of the reasons why I haven’t told my family I’m not one - they’ll probably curse me out.
You aren’t appropriating nothing - it’s a religion, if it fits you and your beliefs, then go for it.
Also, he must know nothing about African culture and ancestors because our initial ‘religion’ wasn’t even Christianity - there were different Gods and Goddesses depending on the people (Yoraba, Bantu, etc) and the tribes within them.

Answer

No you’re not appropriating any culture by practicing the religion you believe in. Ignore what he says. It’s ridiculous to say that you have to follow a specific religion based on your race. If that’s the case then why are there so many different forms of Christianity? I’m white so I should be a catholic right? I can’t be anything else? That’s just silly. You can believe and practice ANY religion you desire. America was literally founded on the premise of having religious freedom (assuming you live in America, but even if you live elsewhere everything I said still stands.)