Losing/Lost My Faith...?

Question

A few months ago, I decided to re-discover God and the Church. I began going to mass again, praying, went to confession, etc.
But for some reason, I am losing belief in my faith. I am having difficulty believing in God and Jesus and the bible. Sometimes it just doesn't seem logical to me. Sometimes it all seems like a fairy tale. I watch alot of shows on EWTN for guidance and inspiration.
I have often prayed for Jesus or Mary to appear to me to help me with my faith but of course, I never got such an apparition. I guess I am like Doubting Thomas in a way.
Then in doing some Google searches, I came up with this horrible website that I will not name here, but it's a site that gives a lot of different reasons for why God and the bible are not real. Unfortunately, alot of the reasons given made sense to me :(
What can I do? Will I ever get my faith back? I am going through a real tough time right now with an anxiety disorder and my lack of faith is worsening my symptoms. Can ne-one help?

Answer 1

I am going through the same search for myself, and coming up with many of the same answers and questions. It's a hard question to find a believable answer to because everybody believes what they believe and they have no logical reason for what they believe. They just expect you to believe them because they KNOW what they are talking about.

I take comfort in the thought that whatever the truth is remains the truth no matter what I (or anybody else) believes. If there is a god, he knows that we are trying our best. Knowing or not knowing the truth does not change it. You (and I) will come up with an answer that makes sense for us.

As far as the anxiety disorder, there are some logical answers as to how to cope with that. I think that just knowing how the mind and emotions work and what makes people suffer from anxiety can help a lot. Maybe you could look into professional couseling.

Answer 2

Let's start with the word "faith". In English it is passive, however, the Greek word used in the New Testament is faith/believing.

What you believe is yours. It is what you are. It sounds like you are raised Catholic, so there is God (the Trinity), Jesus, the written tradition (bible) and the oral (tradition). From the Vatican point of view, it is all or nothing. From the American view, it is not so cut and dry.

Let talk about the only of many website that claim they can prove religion false. Where do the concepts that they wish to prove false come from? Revelation, reveal knowledge. Where does proof come from, science the observed knowledge. Simple put: God reveal, man observed.

Let take one statement from the bible: God existed before and created everything man can observed. Does the bible prove this? No. It assumes it.

What about science? Can science prove this or not? Science has theories to explain facts and facts are observation by men (note plural) independent of location. Are there facts about God? A God that exist inside and outside of all we can observe. Obviously, the answer is no.

So where is this doubt? Has your faith/believing changed? Do you know what you really believe? Remember you believe what your believe. Nothing more, nothing less.

In tough times we lose our focus, we lose our way. The rational man wants to control where we are going. But the fact is we are always coming from somewhere and allows us or force us to choose where we are going. What goes with you is what you believe even if believing it makes no sense. God reveals, man observes. What do you accept?

Answer 3

hey listen. when I woke up from my christian dream it was 16 years ago. I was about 50% sure and 50% undecided. Over the years it has been a healing and recovery process from the delusions of god. It is bad at first because it's almost like you were on drugs or something. If you are finding information that can help you decide, why not share it with others or continue to search. I know the feeling, what am I going to do now. now that I don't believe. It's hard but most importantly, make your own decisions based on reality and not hearsay. good luck

Answer 4

Since you mention mass I am going to assume you are a Catholic.

I suspect you are suffering under the delusion that there is only one true religion.

I would recommend you get the DVD series Joseph Campbell and the Power Of Myth.

This is not anti Catholic or anti Christian.. it is an examination of religions and myths. Joseph Campbell was a Catholic, and became a theologian. There are interviews with him at Lucas ranch before he died.

He points out that the bible is a set of metaphors, a guide if you will, for how to live life, to overcome the lower animal nature. That rituals are the recreation of a myth. (which there is nothing wrong with as you recreate it to experience it.)

Equate religion to software.. when you have a program that does not work for you.. you go and find a program that does... (or if you are a programmer you make one that does)

You do not have to give up on faith, although Mr. Campbell will point out that he does not require faith as he has experience..

I am not a Christian.. I am a follower of the Tao. It is not that God and your bible are not real.

It is your perception of what they are that is perhaps not spot on.

Answer 5

Honor what you know inside. A lot of people find comfort in christianity, but just as many people are like you and don't find the answers they need. This happened to me when I was in my twenties. I followed my heart and now am comfortable in my beliefs. But it took a long time and a lot of searching. I am not christian, but I do believe in a loving giving God. I have a personal one-to-one relationship with God rather than going through the church where the preacher told us what was right. Now I go straight to the Source.

I believe everyone must find their own path. One way of believing is not right for everyone. Continue to trust in God, but maybe you need to search beyond the christian interpretation of what God is and what is required of us. The book "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch is a good place to start.

Answer 6

It's normal to stress out with Religions, Churches, and all the perspectives, I was like that at one point of my life, it takes time to gain knowledge to know and see some of what God has in store for you. You are who you are for a reason, you're part of an intricate plan. God allows things to happen to shape your heart, so that into his likeness you'd grow.
The last thing you want to lose is your faith, I've learned to lose the religion, if you feel you have to, truly you don't need religion, God is there, trust him, seek him through prayers, be patient, and don't expect to see much, have faith spiritually, be open, listen, and pray often. God is real, I felt his presence intervene to me on a job site, during a meeting, and I felt the warmth of God's presence and the happiness, and felt what he said to me, in that moment of truth during the meeting, God said to me in my head, I felt him say clearly," I am happy with you"

Don't let these people, and these sites rob you of the eternity God has for you, it's better and safer to have Hope in Heaven than Hell.
God bless you

Answer 7

Maybe it is time you try the real thing. Romans 10:9-13 KJV.
Forget about asking Mary for anything, she is not God, she is not Jesus and she was not the one who died on the Cross for you. Try putting your faith is Jesus and I guarantee you will have a whole new out look on things and your faith will become strong and your life will change

Answer 8

Satan is roaming about the earth seeking whom he may devour. Unfortunately you are one of those he is fighting for right now. Why would you want to let him win your soul? Maybe you are seeking God in the wrong places. Maybe you won't find Him in your church. What's wrong with going to another denomination to look for Him there? It's better than going to the websites you are checking out that try to explain God out of existence. Many have prayed and asked God for signs of His existence. I believe He gives us those signs in our everyday lives. We are just to hard and worldly to recognize them. Faith is a tough one. It's not like you can just go down to the store and buy more of it when it runs out. You must find it deep within your own soul. Read the Bible, pray, seek God. He is there waiting for you to come back home to Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29 (New International Version)
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

God bless you and keep you in your journey to Him.

Answer 9

well i don't know why your praying to Mary who is she what can she do for you? and the confession to who the church it is none of there business. your relationship is between you and God. some of these churches are so nice but yet so cold in the relationship with God. now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11,1 . Jesus talks threw your heart remember he is not in the physical realm but the spiritual

Answer 10

I know your website said that God and the Bible aren't real, but often science proves that they are real. I recommend that you keep reading your Bible and ask your pastor about your doubts. The more faith you have, the more you will see the miracles that God works and the more you will know that He is real.