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Those of you who follow your religion fairly closely, attend services regularly, try to follow all the rules, etc... does your religion bring you happiness and peace? Or do you just worship because you are afraid of eternal punishment if you do not follow your religion?
I am realizing that religion, especially Church services, and having to follow so many rules, does not bring me any real happiness in life. I don't see how following God's rules has made my life in this world any better. The only reason i try to be somewhat religious is because i am fearful of the afterlife.
Do other people feel the same way? Or do most religious people get happiness from following God?
I choose to. I find it fulfilling. Otherwise, why get out of bed on a perfectly good Sunday morning?
Ha, that's exactly why I've been finding it difficult lately. The glad handing suburban priests who do "tea and cookies with the ladies" REAL well and the busybody parishioners who I really don't want to get to know. So, I don't find it that fulfilling. I know that what I've been taught (about 95+% of it) is still in my heart. I'm comfortable enough with that.
1John 4:18 says: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lpfan921
Those of you who follow your religion fairly closely, attend services regularly, try to follow all the rules, etc... does your religion bring you happiness and peace? Or do you just worship because you are afraid of eternal punishment if you do not follow your religion?
I am realizing that religion, especially Church services, and having to follow so many rules, does not bring me any real happiness in life. I don't see how following God's rules has made my life in this world any better. The only reason i try to be somewhat religious is because i am fearful of the afterlife.
Do other people feel the same way? Or do most religious people get happiness from following God?
It's not about rules. Not with genuine Christianty. Genuine Christianity is about relationship with God thru Jesus.
Rules are what Man has done to Christianity.
I can assure you that if you seek God, walk in the Spirit and forget this Rule thing you will be much happier. Find a church that is not Rule centered, but God centered.
And yes, my religion does bring me happiness and peace. My focus is on my relationship with God. I am sorry that your reason for being religious is based on fear of the afterlife. I really don't know anyone, personally, whose faith is fear based. Have only seen it on the internet.
Personal choice for myself. although for the most part my wife and myself worship at home with very little contact with others of our faith.
I worship for the single reason, I believe God(swt) is worthy of worship and my worship is my way to thank and praise him. I have no expectations of any gain. I do not know if I will got to heaven or hell. My worship is not for that purpose. I trust in the mercy, and fairness of God(swt)'s judgement and know I will jugged with perfection and fairly.
Personal choice for myself. although for the most part my wife and myself worship at home with very little contact with others of our faith.
I worship for the single reason, I believe God(swt) is worthy of worship and my worship is my way to thank and praise him. I have no expectations of any gain. I do not know if I will got to heaven or hell. My worship is not for that purpose. I trust in the mercy, and fairness of God(swt)'s judgement and know I will jugged with perfection and fairly.
Pretty clear there. There are many, many people who really chose religion and derive a great deal from it and cannot imagine not having it in their lives.
There are also those who feel obligated in some way to follow it, to please a spouse, because it is a community thing (I have relatives who do church stuff for community reasons and don't believe a word of it) or for who knows what reasons.
My relationship with Christ has freed me from following a set of "rules". I made a choice to become a disciple of Christ. It is not a burden, but rather a joy.
Pretty clear there. There are many, many people who really chose religion and derive a great deal from it and cannot imagine not having it in their lives.
There are also those who feel obligated in some way to follow it, to please a spouse, because it is a community thing (I have relatives who do church stuff for community reasons and don't believe a word of it) or for who knows what reasons.
Your answer just made me realize that because of the population structure here, We may not represent the majority. I wish we did, but I suspect we don't.
Just my opinion but I suspect people who participate in forums on line, are more open minded and freer thinking than the general population.
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