i'd moved out, when i started uni this year. my mom, christian...apparently. i said something to her like, so how's church and she was like, i don't go anymore. so i started asking questions and she now says she doesn't know if there's anyone up there.....how could she lose faith just like that? did she really have the hholy spirit in her? surely if she did, she wouldn't give up when a few bad thing happen in life. that is the reason....life hasn't been too smoothe for one reason or another lately for her so she was like, welll why isn't God helping me....what do i say to her?
my family attends a non-denominational church.
don't tell me my mother has got her head screwed on now and is following the right path....atheism. i know there is a God, so don't tell me otherwise.
2007-01-11 03:34:32 · 28 answers · asked by Annie 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no, my mother does not have depression! there's just been a few hings that have happened lately, she's upset about them....and she's blaming God I guess....
i don't know if talking or giving her my love will work, i have tried, she won't listen, she walks out on me.
2007-01-11 03:50:44 · update #1
Pray for her. Support her in her trials, give her your love. It is not uncommon for a person to become dejected to the point of losing faith, but this allows that person's friends and loved ones to grow in faith by witnessing for the affected person. Stay strong, have faith that God will call her back. She is still a temple of the Holy Spirit and she will be laden with grace to bear her sorrows.
2007-01-11 03:43:40 · answer #1 · answered by Jack Hip 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
People can loose faith during trials. Something maybe happening in her life that she blames God for. Perhaps an unanswered prayer.
You can have belief, faith, and the holy spirit and still question God. Just read Job and see...
Talk to her and ask why she feels that way. Work through it. You might find someone hurt her and had no one to turn to. She might have had a prayer that recieved no answer. Some church or christian might have hurt her. There can many reason but the first step is to bring that reason into the light.
Depression can also hurt everything in a person's life including their spiritual life. Renewing her mind in the word is good but that may not come until the dark cloud that is over passes away or at least acknowledged.
David himself had depression from time to time and wondered what he could do. Check out the Psalms. Solomon was also depressed at one point, check out Eccleisastes.
As always pray for her but actively help her too.
2007-01-11 11:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do too. I used to be agnostic. If she had Real, empirical evidence, would she believe again? Ask her. I know you said you're non denominational, but have her look into some of the recent miracles. Our Lady of Fatima, the various Eucharistic miracles, Padre Pio, The fact that many saints bodies don't rot, etc.
It sounds a lot like she also has what we papists call scrupulosity. Constant questioning and inability to just trust Jesus. It's the same problem Martin Luther had. I suggest doing a search for the real evidence with her.
The next question is "Why?". Why do I suffer like this? It seems so pointless. Well, it isn't. There is a reason in this world and the next. It could be just so she can develop trust. It could be for purification. It could be to help someone else. God only knows. Get a book for her called making sense out of suffering.
Also, there are some people who can help you at catholic.com. There's a wealth of info and they have people who just answer questions all day long.
There's more, but my fingers are getting tired
2007-01-11 11:58:32 · answer #3 · answered by Everything you know is wrong 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While this is clearly upsetting to you, your mother is her own person and (obviously) an adult. If she is no longer sure there is a God, then that's what she believes and it's not your place to try to change her mind back and sway her opinion.
Also, is she happy? If she's happy, then clearly she's come to the correct conclusion for her. If she's unhappy, then there's probably an underlying cause that has led to her deciding that God doesn't exist, and she's likely not just unhappy about God's existence or lack thereof, but many more things. If she's questioning God's existence because she's unhappy, then when she's worked out whatever she has to work out and is happy again, she may go back to believing in him. You should simply be supportive and try to help her work through whatever she's working through.
Keep in mind that if your family attends a non-denominational church, it's very possible her faith was never that strong to begin with, and that's entirely her business. Unless she's trying to convince you that there's no God, keep your opinions to yourself.
)O(
2007-01-11 11:54:06 · answer #4 · answered by thelittlemerriemaid 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have been there myself. I chose to consume myself with my physical pain of my disability which led me to emotional ruin. I kept asking why me why me, It was when I was at my lowest point when my husband took me aside and said " why do not allow God to help you anymore ". I said he left me. He took the bible out and showed me that he never left me it was I who left him. It was I who stopped listening. When I started relying more on my Faith again it is when I began to accept and become strong. Just because I for a little while lost sight of God's Love did not mean I did not believe or Love God. I just needed some time to deal with what it was I was going through. Hope this helps some.
2007-01-11 13:26:25 · answer #5 · answered by krizma 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stop thinking everyone has to believe what you believe and follow your path in life. Just live and let live.
And yes, it is possible to be a Ex-Christian. Look at http://www.Ex-Christian.net And don't assume that your Mom gave up her faith because she is going through a "trial". That's a common mistake many a Christian make, they think if someone looses their religion it's because something bad happened to them. Why don't you just talk to your Mom? Ask her these questions.
2007-01-11 11:45:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its called the "empty nest syndrome". In many churches there is a family feeling and its nurtured by people caring for each other, as in helping each other over such hurdles as the children moving away. If its not availiable ask her to start such a group which will give her a new purpose in Gods family. Oh, and if she says she isn't skilled in such remind her that God decides on what skills are required, not us. We just serve the needs.
2007-01-11 11:51:32 · answer #7 · answered by Marcus R. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When people feel like God is not there any more is because something has happened to them that has made them not believe in God anymore.
She may be feeling upset or something is also troubling her and she has stopped believing in God because of this.
Pray for her and set a time aside to pray and keep pressing into God because God will answer you and he will let you know what is causing her to not believe anymore.
My Pastor at my Church was preaching one night about "God Can" basically meaning that God Can do anything you ask of him be it speaking into your mum's heart to reveal to her what is going on and how to resolve it.
Don't give up because that's what the Devil wants you to do. The devil wants to Kill Steal and Destroy but don't let him do it.
Message me your mum's name and i will make sure that she is in my prayers tonight :) and also ill put in a prayer request at my church :)
God Bless you so much and i ask that God will get you through Uni passing everything Test that comes along.
2007-01-11 11:48:44 · answer #8 · answered by Jimmy G 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have to learn to respect other people's views on these things without lurching straight into the "She can't POSSIBLY think she's right!" attitude. It sounds like your mother has been doing a lot of thinking. She hasn't lost faith, as you presume, "just like that". You don't have to consider that you might be wrong yourself. But being a little less sure of yourself with regards other people would be a good thing (and probably more Christ-like). I hope she is happier now.
2007-01-11 11:42:58 · answer #9 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
SHE is dealing with something very very heavy on her shoulders was she okay with you going to school has there been a death something to that sort sounds like she wants you to talk her like a son the one she raised up to be be strong now when she is weak pray and ask for GOD'S guidance on what you can do for her!!! REMBER GOD knows all SEES ALL IS ALL TO ALL OF US some people stumble that does not mean she will fall ...............hope this helps in some way
2007-01-11 11:48:41 · answer #10 · answered by THE WAR WRENCH 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would suggest getting to the root of her unhappiness. It is unlikely that her life is perfect and it is only her religious life that is suffering.
Sit down and have a heart to heart with her. Ask her how her life is going. If you listen with caring she may give you the answer, tell you what is bothering her. Once you have the root cause, then you can help her 'fix' it. Once she is happy again, then she may go back to church. But then if she doesn't it is her choice.
2007-01-11 11:42:27 · answer #11 · answered by saopaco 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋