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Sorry if this makes no sense, it's just one of those "type what you feel" things...
Why is it that I need to think of an afterlife? I've given up Christianity... and now I'm questioning all religion itself, but I find it so hard to think of this as all we've got. I really wish that I was never taught of religion so that I wouldn't stress over this, because it really bothers me. Am I that shallow that I can't find any God? Because I've tried so hard. I used to pray, every single day since I can remember, and when my prayers just became a routine that I wanted to get out of my way I began to question my religion... and when God disapointed me I questioned my religion...
So Christianity wasn't right for me, and I thought I had another idea of spirituality, but it just doesn't seem to make sense. As I think to myself.. I just realize that all I'm doing by creating these beliefs is just trying to create the idea of an afterlife to comfort myself, even though almost eveything is explainable through science. So, am I shallow because I have no spirituality anymore? Does it make me more shallow because I once had religion and lost it.... I'm so lost right now that it hurts me... I need guidance and I can no longer look to any God.
I would say 'come back home to Jesus,' but based on your postings in days past, I don't think you would do it. I would just say that some of the longings and yearnings that you have for more than this life offers is because God does exist and He placed them there.
I've been in your shoes but finally I got to a point that I knew there was a God. Takes lots of pondering time to yourself and it will come to you.
Go with what you feel now. Your feelings will change eventually and you'll feel better about it.
I used to pray, every single day since I can remember, and when my prayers just became a routine that I wanted to get out of my way I began to question my religion... and when God disapointed me I questioned my religion...
Jesus clearly wants us to act, but isn’t praying inaction?
I don’t understand the need to pray. I mean if someone is drowning I’d imagine that the drowning person would want you to actually jump into the water and rescue him instead of you staying on land praying that he’ll be rescued.
I also think that praying for yourself is just plain selfish. I don’t believe God to be some kind of magic lantern which you have to rub the right way so you can have all your wishes granted.
Quote:
I do not pray... I do not expect God to single me out and grant me advantages over my fellow men... Prayer seems to me a cry of weakness, and an attempt to avoid, by trickery, the rules of the game as laid down. I do not choose to admit weakness. I accept the challenge of responsibility. Zora Neale Hurston
Sorry if this makes no sense, it's just one of those "type what you feel" things...
Why is it that I need to think of an afterlife? I've given up Christianity... and now I'm questioning all religion itself, but I find it so hard to think of this as all we've got. I really wish that I was never taught of religion so that I wouldn't stress over this, because it really bothers me. Am I that shallow that I can't find any God? Because I've tried so hard. I used to pray, every single day since I can remember, and when my prayers just became a routine that I wanted to get out of my way I began to question my religion... and when God disapointed me I questioned my religion...
So Christianity wasn't right for me, and I thought I had another idea of spirituality, but it just doesn't seem to make sense. As I think to myself.. I just realize that all I'm doing by creating these beliefs is just trying to create the idea of an afterlife to comfort myself, even though almost eveything is explainable through science. So, am I shallow because I have no spirituality anymore? Does it make me more shallow because I once had religion and lost it.... I'm so lost right now that it hurts me... I need guidance and I can no longer look to any God.
I really think that I can relate to what you're talking about. I suppose I was about 18 when I officially lost my belief in any god. I'd had the notion for a long time. I couldn't get past the idea of god. After all, everyone I knew believed in a god, why did I have to be different? Why did god not make any sense to me? I guess that perhaps I reverted to logic and reason associated with scientific evidence. I suppose it felt much like discovering that Santa Claus isn't real. At first you're a little bit dumbfounded, perhaps disappointed, but then you realize that by being logical about it that you don't have to worry about getting a bag of coal if you're bad. I suppose that's similar to going to hell if you're bad?
Anyway, when I talk about logic and reason you have to first ask yourself "If I chose god, what makes me so sure that it is the right one? Wouldn't I be in the same boat as an atheist if I picked the wrong one? Aren't we all atheists except that true atheists go one god further? Doesn't science give me better answers than an invisible man in the sky? Who has the burden of proof? The person who believes in the invisible man in the sky or the person who doesn't? Is there any concrete real evidence whatsoever for a god or gods?"
Do not let yourself feel selfish. I try to avoid double negatives but: It is not selfish to not believe in something that other people do. Do you feel selfish for not believing in the bogeyman although hundreds of kids swear they've seen him? How about Santa Claus? The Easter bunny? Allah? Ra? Vishnu? And just as such you should not feel guilty about your lack of belief in any god.
Believe me, I can cope with you. But once you rid yourself of the burden of the giant surveillance camera in the sky you feel much better. Just as people do not want to be spied on 24/7, not only does the burden of being spied on occur to them on a daily basis, but they must also realize that apparently their thoughts are being read too. Now, to me, I prefer not to deal with that stress and rightfully so because I have answered all of my above questions.
I highly recommend that you watch this video. It is rather long, but it does a fantastic job of explaining why god does not make sense. I also recommend that you read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and I have also heard, but not read, that the book "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens is fantastic. But, this is a speech by Christopher Hitchens who puts it so fantastically it made me wish I was religious so I could deny god all over again
I really think that I can relate to what you're talking about. I suppose I was about 18 when I officially lost my belief in any god. I'd had the notion for a long time. I couldn't get past the idea of god. After all, everyone I knew believed in a god, why did I have to be different? Why did god not make any sense to me? I guess that perhaps I reverted to logic and reason associated with scientific evidence. I suppose it felt much like discovering that Santa Claus isn't real. At first you're a little bit dumbfounded, perhaps disappointed, but then you realize that by being logical about it that you don't have to worry about getting a bag of coal if you're bad. I suppose that's similar to going to hell if you're bad?
Anyway, when I talk about logic and reason you have to first ask yourself "If I chose god, what makes me so sure that it is the right one? Wouldn't I be in the same boat as an atheist if I picked the wrong one? Aren't we all atheists except that true atheists go one god further? Doesn't science give me better answers than an invisible man in the sky? Who has the burden of proof? The person who believes in the invisible man in the sky or the person who doesn't? Is there any concrete real evidence whatsoever for a god or gods?"
Do not let yourself feel selfish. I try to avoid double negatives but: It is not selfish to not believe in something that other people do. Do you feel selfish for not believing in the bogeyman although hundreds of kids swear they've seen him? How about Santa Claus? The Easter bunny? Allah? Ra? Vishnu? And just as such you should not feel guilty about your lack of belief in any god.
Believe me, I can cope with you. But once you rid yourself of the burden of the giant surveillance camera in the sky you feel much better. Just as people do not want to be spied on 24/7, not only does the burden of being spied on occur to them on a daily basis, but they must also realize that apparently their thoughts are being read too. Now, to me, I prefer not to deal with that stress and rightfully so because I have answered all of my above questions.
I highly recommend that you watch this video. It is rather long, but it does a fantastic job of explaining why god does not make sense. I also recommend that you read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and I have also heard, but not read, that the book "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens is fantastic. But, this is a speech by Christopher Hitchens who puts it so fantastically it made me wish I was religious so I could deny god all over again
My personal opinion is that a person needs to search for the good things of this life that he or she already has. Then, once those blessings are acknowledged, other great vistas will open up. THEN, you can make plans for an afterlife. Enjoy the present one first.
I know, you are thinking that I don't understand what you are going though......well, maybe I do. But I also know that no matter how bad or empty things may seem to be, that it's better than nothing. You were able to get up this morning??? Give thanks that you did it unassisted. Had food to eat? Fed yourself? Are you going to be able to get out of the house today or at least sometime soon?
There's so much going on in this world today. Study it. Think about what you would do if you were in Charge Of The World. And, Think about whether or not it is better than other times like the Depression Years.
The World is a wonderful place even with all it's faults. Give thanks that you have it. Get involved in TODAY'S world. Don't be concerned about what might happen later. I don't think that any god, no matter what you may call him is more concerned about an afterlife instead of what goes on in your world TODAY.
In other words, Give Thanks For Today, and yesterday and tomorrow. Then, maybe you will find what you are searching for. As mothers say the whole world over, "First things, first."
Anyway, when I talk about logic and reason you have to first ask yourself "If I chose god, what makes me so sure that it is the right one?
Staceface, some people get all confused about picking "the right god." Just remember, if there is only one, you don't need to worry about picking "the right one". He already picked YOU; all you need to do is follow the God that is speaking to you... I agree with kaykay that the yearnings you feel is God calling you.... and if you come to Him with EVERYTHING, all your past ideas, disappointments, fears, mistakes, and your present doubts, confusions and yearnings, He will answer. You don't have to wait for a strong, overwhelming belief in God, just acknowledge the belief, however small, that you do have... and tell Him that too.
Well through my beliefs and my outlook on life, there is no supreme being in this world. In my people's creation story, the person that we term "Creator" is but an energy. All of the people in our creation story were but energies. We were created from the land; we are part of that land. Science is only starting to realize this now but my people and all native people have known it for thousands of years. We shouldn't look up to all supreme being because there's no such thing. When we die, our bodies go back to our mother the earth and we help fertilizer her. When our mother begins to die, (which once again the Scientist are only starting to realize now), is that we will start to die also. Our mother is calling for more clean bodies to come to her to help her survive. If we abuse ourselves and worry ourselves a petty little things, we are only making ourselves unhealthy. If we are always drinking and doing drugs and disrespecting our bodies in various ways, what are we giving back to our mother when we die? We can't look to a supreme being because he won't do anything for you, you have to look at yourself in the world and how you're living your life. The only way to change your own life, and better yourself, is by getting in touch with yourself. Learn your true-self and you'll be happy. If you can understand yourself in the huge world that is around us, you will be a happy person. If you are always looking for someone to help you and you're not even giving it an attempt to figure things out by yourself...well you're not going to get anywhere. Like it was mentioned in this discussion....if you keep sitting on your bed and praying to someone who is not there, you're not going to get anything out of it. It all comes down to looking at ourselves and figuring ourselves out before we can make any sort of change in our own lives. Before we think of anything else we have to get in touch with our inner spirit, because that's the only true way to a happy life. Getting in touch with yourself will lay you at rest and you will be giving something good back to our mother. What we do during our time on earth effects what happens in the future. So instead of just praying, get out there and live your life. Get out and plant gardens, pick up that trash that you see lying on the road. To things that are fun; be active and help our mother. She is beginning to die, and if we don't start taking care of her, by first taking care of ourselves, we are all going to perish with her. If we can't take care of ourselves, how are we supposed to take care of the earth around us and all the natural things that we were giving to sustane out lives. We have to be thankful for all the natural world; all the animals, because without them we wouldn't be able to survive. The animals and plants were here before any person EVER set foot on this earth. They are what has enabled us to live on the earth. If we disrespect ourselves, thus causing us to disrespect the natural world and our mother; we are just going to perish along with it. We have to look at ourselves and say, "Who am I in this huge world, and what am I doing with myself that is going to have a positive affect on my life and everything that lives around me? For those are the things that sustain my life." No devine being is going to help anyone through what is going to happen, everyone has to look at themselves and change themselves for us to save our mother. She is crying and slowly dying, what are we doing to help her?
It's not bad to believe in a devine being, but we have to look further than him.
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I would just say that some of the longings and yearnings that you have for more than this life offers is because God does exist and He placed them there.
Jesus clearly wants us to act, but isn’t praying inaction? 
I don’t believe God to be some kind of magic lantern which you have to rub the right way so you can have all your wishes granted.
