My sister was given the news that she has cancer. Now she is thinking about going back to her church, suddenly believes in god again. I just don't understand how one minute someone can be so against something and the next back into it, acting all preachy and stuff. Why do they do this??
2006-09-06 19:03:28 · 39 answers · asked by a_rose_by_another_name 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well..It's a combination of things. First off this is usually an indication that the person never was against a belief in a god, or against religion. Secondly it is very common for people facing death to want to reconcile their religious beliefs, or to at least seek out a higher power in the hopes of recieving comfort if not a cure. Most people are their most zealous about religion when faced with difficulties. The saying: "There are no athiests in foxholes", basically indicates that everybody believes in a higher power when under duress, or the fear of dying is enough to bring any "non-believer" back to the fold so to speak. If going back to the church gives her comfort than I suppose this is a good thing..The idea of death is a scary one, and no one can predict how they will feel when faced with such a permanent factor. Trust me..Realizing there might not be anything after death, but darkness is not something most people accept lightly. Just try to be patient with her, and be there for her, in this, her time of illness. Hopefully she will respect you enough to not demand that you join her in her newfound spiritual journey (if that is not something you are interested in.) Tolerance is the key in all things..(even if most religious people don't understand that.) And after all she IS your sister! :) I hope she gets well soon!
2006-09-06 19:14:54 · answer #1 · answered by All I Hear Is Blah Blah Blah... 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sometimes people think that they don't need God because they figure they can do everything on their own. Just living normal lives than to worry about taking the time to thank God or spending time with God or having a relationship with Him.
Now there will always come a day that everyone is going to need God, no matter who they are. And when that day come, you just thank God.
We should be happy when one returns to the Lord.
And as for your sister, church can not save her. Only God can.
2006-09-06 19:12:46 · answer #2 · answered by Donovan J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people are greedy, no offense to your sister, its all people. they do what they want all through life when it seems like there is no end. When the end becomes visible, there are a few reasons. one is a mad rush to find the "meaning of life". another is covering their asses by hoping for salvation. just in case there is a god watching, they grasp onto the beliefs with the hope that they will be treated in an afterlife as if they were pious the whole time.
greedy, but understandable. why not cover your bases. plenty of people carry pepper spray in hopes of warding off rapists, even if they never need it they're covered. same idea. near death, religion cant hurt, just in case
2006-09-06 19:09:49 · answer #3 · answered by sexydp 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because sometimes we as people seem to think we know it all. We get to a point in our lives that we no longer trust things we can not see. we sometimes allow knowledge, book knowledge to over come our faith. We no longer understand that the impossible is possible for One. Until the unthinkable happens, until something that man cannot fix happens then we remember that there is One that can fix everything and make anything happen.
2006-09-06 19:20:48 · answer #4 · answered by JennieJen01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sudden embrace and preachyness associated with it is all a result of fear (fear of death, non-existence, etc.). It's the result of our identification with ourselves as individuals with bodies, etc. Once that goes away, real spirituality occurs (which can be in the context of christianity,judaism, islam, buddhism, no religion, etc). And those who get to this point realize that they're something beyond this 'bag of skin' (as one zen master calls it). Have compassion and understanding and realize that whatever state she's in is ok -- whatever she grasps onto shouldn't be judged or preached against. She needs to go thru whatever cycles she needs to go through and people need to just accept and BE with her.
2006-09-06 19:11:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
mz_sassy_glitterthong,
She's found peace in Him. I can relate to that. At such a bothersome time she has found hope in Him. It's God's nature, but only for those who trust Him. The rest do what you are doing. Not that I am kicking against you, but that you are favoring your choice in how to look at things.
I have come under the same scrutiny. My own family has doubted me, refused the message of the Gospel. I don't have cancer, and I have trust in God.
If you never have believed those who believe in God through Jesus Christ before, at least remember this:
God allows those that He wants to come to Him. No one else can come to Him. If He does not want them, they won't know Him. He wants your sister to know Him, and I know Him.
Be glad for her. And know that she has found the peace that only God can give when our lives are threatened. I hope that you find Him too.
2006-09-06 19:16:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's like the saying "there are no aethists in a foxhole." When faced with your own mortality, the thought of an afterlife suddenly appeals to you. Nobody wants to die thinking all they get is to become a worm feast.
2006-09-06 19:07:27 · answer #7 · answered by Avia 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of people drift away from God because they get caught up in their day to day lives and the things that are important to existence on earth. If someone knows they are dying, it puts a whole other perspective on how they see the world, their life, other people ect. and they begin to wonder what will happen in the next life. That is why people who are dying tend to become very religious.
2006-09-06 19:07:07 · answer #8 · answered by Lucrecia2001 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because no one wants to go to Hell. Most people want to live life the way they want to and don't want to be held accountable to a higher authority or God. The fear of death and the afterlife usually makes people do some churchy stuff; whether or not she is truly wanting to follow and love God, that's for God to judge and decide. It is not mine or your place to say one way or another. Man looks on the outside, God looks at the heart.
2006-09-06 19:13:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The same reason most people escape to church to get something for themselves. They know that there will be alot of attention waiting on them from all the "giving"" type members.So they just leach on like a parasite untill the trouble has blown over.Then they can go back to old escape pattern of pizza and beer or whatever.
2006-09-06 19:10:36 · answer #10 · answered by James007 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋