Anonymous
06/20/2023 15:31
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:I read this thread because of the complaint in website feedback. I am an atheist, I feel like I'll be up front about that, but I am a lapsed Catholic and have spent a lot of time marinating on these topics and I do not have ill will toward religion (although I do believe some people have used religion to do evil throughout history).
OP I think many people are experiencing a version of what is happening to you in many aspects of life. Many of the activities and groups and communities we used to connect with one another have been damaged by the pandemic and the time apart. It is an adventure we are all undertaking to find a way back to one another. I would take solace in the fact that it is still new and it will likely take another couple of years for us all to find our footing in this new normal. While I can't necessarily speak to reigniting faith, I do feel like reigniting passion in any activity takes time and commitment and openness and, critically, consistency. Showing up and putting yourself out there can make all the difference.
I think its really unfortunate that a few posters wanted to label you a troll and appear to have fabricated arguments with atheists to bring this thread so far off topic to argue about whether all gods are the same. I think it is less complicated than people are making it out to be. There are Christians and Muslims and Buddhists and on and on and there are some people who are agnostic but see the common threads from cultures and believe in a god that they are uncomfortable naming and there are people who believe in no god. Simply believing different things is not disrespectful. It can be true that a Muslim and a Christian believe fervently and truly that their gods are not the same, and that an entirely different human sees the similarities between them and comes to the conclusion that they are based on the same God. It could be that none of the three are right, it could be that any combination of them are right. Faith is when you choose what to believe, but the reality is that we are all just trying to find an explanation, and generally we're not trying to be mean to one another when we disagree.
I think the divisiveness here (which I am surprised to see I think comes from a Christian who is preemptively aggressively postured against atheists) is not going to help OP find a way back to their faith. I think the best advice you will get here OP is to get off of DCUM and find a more supportive community.
The moderator deleted some of the more hateful atheist comments, so you don’t see them now.
For the record, I’m not the person calling OP a troll and I think that was just one poster. I also raised no objection to OP exploring Buddhism.
As an atheist you’re perhaps oblivious to how some of the atheist posts are landing. As early as the bottom of the first page an atheist starts pushing the argument that religion is man-made and pursues that line of argument for several pages. At the top of the second an atheist snarks, “yeah my god is better than your fake god….” and then later on page 2 an atheist threatens to post “crazy stuff” from the Bible. By page 3 an atheist is claiming the NT is anti-women. None of which OP asked about, and all of which represent hijacking.
IMO the basic problem is that Christians actually expect to be able to ask questions and get sincere answers, which runs hard up against atheists’ special animus for Christians. Note that Muslims and Jews rarely start threads—they seem to have learned to get their religious advice elsewhere. Christians should take a page from their book and stop bothering with this forum.
Anonymous
06/20/2023 15:09
Subject: Re:Feeling cut off from God
^ good post. But there were some supportive, helpful responses, which the OP acknowledged.
Anonymous
06/20/2023 15:04
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
I read this thread because of the complaint in website feedback. I am an atheist, I feel like I'll be up front about that, but I am a lapsed Catholic and have spent a lot of time marinating on these topics and I do not have ill will toward religion (although I do believe some people have used religion to do evil throughout history).
OP I think many people are experiencing a version of what is happening to you in many aspects of life. Many of the activities and groups and communities we used to connect with one another have been damaged by the pandemic and the time apart. It is an adventure we are all undertaking to find a way back to one another. I would take solace in the fact that it is still new and it will likely take another couple of years for us all to find our footing in this new normal. While I can't necessarily speak to reigniting faith, I do feel like reigniting passion in any activity takes time and commitment and openness and, critically, consistency. Showing up and putting yourself out there can make all the difference.
I think its really unfortunate that a few posters wanted to label you a troll and appear to have fabricated arguments with atheists to bring this thread so far off topic to argue about whether all gods are the same. I think it is less complicated than people are making it out to be. There are Christians and Muslims and Buddhists and on and on and there are some people who are agnostic but see the common threads from cultures and believe in a god that they are uncomfortable naming and there are people who believe in no god. Simply believing different things is not disrespectful. It can be true that a Muslim and a Christian believe fervently and truly that their gods are not the same, and that an entirely different human sees the similarities between them and comes to the conclusion that they are based on the same God. It could be that none of the three are right, it could be that any combination of them are right. Faith is when you choose what to believe, but the reality is that we are all just trying to find an explanation, and generally we're not trying to be mean to one another when we disagree.
I think the divisiveness here (which I am surprised to see I think comes from a Christian who is preemptively aggressively postured against atheists) is not going to help OP find a way back to their faith. I think the best advice you will get here OP is to get off of DCUM and find a more supportive community.
OP I think many people are experiencing a version of what is happening to you in many aspects of life. Many of the activities and groups and communities we used to connect with one another have been damaged by the pandemic and the time apart. It is an adventure we are all undertaking to find a way back to one another. I would take solace in the fact that it is still new and it will likely take another couple of years for us all to find our footing in this new normal. While I can't necessarily speak to reigniting faith, I do feel like reigniting passion in any activity takes time and commitment and openness and, critically, consistency. Showing up and putting yourself out there can make all the difference.
I think its really unfortunate that a few posters wanted to label you a troll and appear to have fabricated arguments with atheists to bring this thread so far off topic to argue about whether all gods are the same. I think it is less complicated than people are making it out to be. There are Christians and Muslims and Buddhists and on and on and there are some people who are agnostic but see the common threads from cultures and believe in a god that they are uncomfortable naming and there are people who believe in no god. Simply believing different things is not disrespectful. It can be true that a Muslim and a Christian believe fervently and truly that their gods are not the same, and that an entirely different human sees the similarities between them and comes to the conclusion that they are based on the same God. It could be that none of the three are right, it could be that any combination of them are right. Faith is when you choose what to believe, but the reality is that we are all just trying to find an explanation, and generally we're not trying to be mean to one another when we disagree.
I think the divisiveness here (which I am surprised to see I think comes from a Christian who is preemptively aggressively postured against atheists) is not going to help OP find a way back to their faith. I think the best advice you will get here OP is to get off of DCUM and find a more supportive community.
Anonymous
06/20/2023 02:26
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
We can't help it. I mean we're created in God's image, right? So there's your answer.
Do you believe in the Christian God?
Anonymous
06/19/2023 09:18
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Listen to religious music by your favorite artist.
Anonymous
06/19/2023 09:16
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
You speak with certainty about the divine, but don't say where that certainty comes from.
the Bible? your pastor? something you devised yourself that helps you cope with life?
And you mention a "translation" - you mean of the Bible? How does hearing god's word in a different translation help?
the Bible? your pastor? something you devised yourself that helps you cope with life?
And you mention a "translation" - you mean of the Bible? How does hearing god's word in a different translation help?
Anonymous
06/19/2023 07:35
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
When did you last feel connected?
What was that feeling like?
What about the feeling is missing now?
Each of us experience the divine differently as our journey to it is different. The language that we use today, the text and traditions that we have called on all shape our expectation and interpretation.
If your current tradition isn't providing a solace, could you take it a step back and get closer to the source? A different, older translation?
Or can you just sit in silence and accept the emptiness on it's own, without wanting more? What can that teach you about yourself and your relationship?
What was that feeling like?
What about the feeling is missing now?
Each of us experience the divine differently as our journey to it is different. The language that we use today, the text and traditions that we have called on all shape our expectation and interpretation.
If your current tradition isn't providing a solace, could you take it a step back and get closer to the source? A different, older translation?
Or can you just sit in silence and accept the emptiness on it's own, without wanting more? What can that teach you about yourself and your relationship?
Anonymous
06/19/2023 07:25
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
God give you what you need for salvation. Perhaps a person with little to no suffering is learning compassion and empathy another way or for some reason already went through that in a way we can’t understand. Obvious there is no single guide to salvation.
Anonymous
06/18/2023 18:42
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
We can't help it. I mean we're created in God's image, right? So there's your answer.
Are you saying that humans can be evil and cruel to each other because God is cruel and evil? That can't be true. It goes against religious teachings that God is good and we should worship him.
Anonymous
06/18/2023 18:31
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
We can't help it. I mean we're created in God's image, right? So there's your answer.
Anonymous
06/18/2023 18:27
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
God doesn’t require people to suffer?
Then why doesn’t he heal amputees? Why did he create cancer?
Anonymous
06/18/2023 18:17
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
they're exercising their God-given free will.
Anonymous
06/18/2023 18:14
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
You are putting words in pp’s mouth.
There is only one way salvation, through Christ.
It doesn’t matter how much or little we suffer- God doesn’t require people to suffer.
People sure seem to like to cause their fellow man to suffer, though.
People cannot get enough of murdering their fellow man, raping their fellow man, stealing from their fellow man.
Everyday, we know hundreds of thousands of people are hurting their family, friends, strangers. I wonder why people do those things to each other?
Anonymous
06/18/2023 17:03
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)
Are you saying that suffering is the only way to achieve salvation? What if you're lucky -- or blessed. -- and you life doesn't involve much suffering, especially compared to other people -- does that mean you can't get close to god? Why would god require people to suffer? Maybe because his son did?
Anonymous
06/18/2023 15:44
Subject: Feeling cut off from God
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have spiritual lapses, but they don't happen from not going to church. More something that makes me question my faith. Usually what happens is something occurs that again makes me believe - a positive event.
sounds like your faith is more dependent on what's happening in your life, than on belief in God
Yeah. God never promised everything on earth would be peachy. He never promised every prayer would be answered in a way we would like. He never promised that we would always be happy here on earth.
I get it gets hard to keep going in times of crisis or when things get rough. But if you are a Christian and your goal is salvation, you have a goal that isn’t dependent on earthly situations and those situations can be viewed from your Christ centered perspective.
Not to discount suffering- it’s real.
are you saying Christians should keep their eyes on the prize, i.e., salvation?
I’m a NP but what I think is that suffering is what makes us grow and that growth brings us closer to salvation.
I think you should meditate on your suffering and ask god how will this bring you closer to god. Perhaps it makes you think money doesn’t make you happy… that could bring you closer to god. Not worshipping money. (Just an example)