How can a person force themselves to believe if they don't?

Question

I was raised in the Catholic church and still belong, gone to several bible studies, born again and had many awesome spiritual experiences along the way. My faith used to be extremely strong.

Now, for the past few years I have been having growing doubt. First it started with my daughter having her doubts then telling me she was agnostic. Then lately I have become disallutioned by the leaders in this country with their beliefs and idiology that I used to look up to.

Now I question what I really believe in. Is the story of Jesus raising from the dead really true? I ask myself that but I still have a little seed faith that I am clinging to that it is true. Otherwise I would not be able to stay in the church and receive the Eucharist. Maybe I should not be allowed even do that. I don't know if it is a sin to receive if I have so little faith?

When I look back I can't believe how far away I am from what I used to believe. I wish I could force myself to believe but I don't know how?

It is also Christian leaders who I looked up to and who have made national news because of being such hypocrites and breaking the law that has caused me so much doubt.

Answer 1

Your faith is between you and God, my friend. Don't look to the conduct of our national leaders, or ANY human leaders, or your daughter, as proof or disproof of the validity of your faith. Yes, Jesus is our RISEN Savior!

We all go through "dry seasons" in our spiritual lives. That's exactly when we need to cling to Jesus mostly closely, by our very fingernails if necessary! Talk to Him, and above all TRUST in Him. Pour out your heart to Him, and ask Him to show you His faultless, boundless mercy. And keep at it--never, NEVER give up! God has a plan for you, and if He's letting you experience a time of thirst in your soul, you can be sure He'll use it to work a blessing in your life or in the life of someone you know, in His own time.

Remember, sister, we don't ever have to walk alone. E-mail me if I can be of help in any way. I'll be praying for you.

~EDIT~
Please don't try to force yourself to believe; that can only lead to trouble. Just keep on praying and wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Think of Romans 5:3-5;

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Answer 2

I don't think you can "force" yourself to believe. However, I might be wrong.

I do not think that there is anything wrong with doubt. That is where most people start from... not from a strong sense of their convictions.

My belief is that we all have free will. Questions and doubts are human nature and perfectly normal. Our degrees of faith change all through our lives.

There is also a difference between Dogma (and rhetoric) and personal spirituality (what you call "born again"). The stories that we study about faith (i.e. those from the Bible if you are Christian, from the Quoran, or other religious writings) so that we can gain understanding about what we believe (I mean "we" in the larger human sense). The things that are found (not just the recent "tomb of Jesus" if that is what it turns out to be, but also the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic Texts, and other archaeological finds) are not necessarily "bad" or "good". At many point in history, there have been changes and shifts in perspective. These bring us a chance for reflection and introspection and should not be feared. Remember, in early Christianity, the masses did not know how to read, yet there was still faith. When people learned to read, that was not a knock to the faithful, just another opportunity for learning. So too are these new archaeological findings.

Bottom line is: Having doubt does not mean you do not have faith. Asking questions is a good thing. Looking for answers is a good thing. Thinking about what you believe is a good thing... its called growth.

Best wishes

Answer 3

I know how you must feel right now. I had a very difficult time for awhile myself. Though I am not a Catholic I am a Christian. I was having a hard time because I begin believing in evolution as I was taught but I found I still believed in Jesus and it was driving me up the wall because it conflicted with about everything I had been taught about the Bible. I prayed and prayed about it until I came to realize One or the other was teaching me wrong. Then I thought maybe It was just because I had bin learning It wrong. Maybe all the Bible wasn't meant to be taken latterly Didn't Jesus speak in parables. They weren't meant to be taken latterly. Maybe many other parts of the bible such as Geneses were written in sorter of parables and wasn't meant to be taken latterly either. Geneses and much more. I have found I have bin able to retain by belief in Jesus Christ our Lord and much more confidence in the bible now that I have begin to understand it better. You must try Prayer and I will Pray for you.

Answer 4

Well first of all, you have seemingly put your faith in the wrong place... in man! (Rather than in God). The second one, I hesitate to mention because I know how defensive people are about their chosen "religion", but... I would suggest you get out of the Catholic church and find a Spirit-led non-denominational church. Suffice to say here, that the Catholic church is too deeply embedded in pagan rituals, (to put it mildly!), for a true Christian to grow in. See for yourself! Attend a well-grounded Christian church and notice, (feel), the difference! You've obviously come to a plateau in your Christian walk and it's time to move on where the Spirit leads you so that you can continue to grow spiritually. All "religions" are man-made, so don't get hung up on labels. It's the Holy Spirit you need to pay attention to, not any one man or church. I promise you'll be blessed ..."IF"... you step out and seek the Truth!
(Don't allow yourself to "die" on the vine).

Answer 5

The living waters response is a great idea, start there.

Next, don't be afraid of God, he loves you whether you are believing that right now or not. Be honest with him.

Go to him in that little seed of faith, and say "God I'm tired of doubt, I'm tired of being miserable. I want that abundant life your bible talks about. Please help me.

Next get around strong committed Christian people you can be honest with. They will share what God is doing for them and it may encourage you. Read the book of Psalms. David went through a lot of struggles too and he turned into the apple of God's eye.

Hang in there. No one said that being a Christian is easy but it sure is worth it in the long run.

May God bless you in your search.

Answer 6

Religion and faith are born out of thoughts. These are changable. That is why even the Bible changes over time (which people claim that it was the word of God and can't be changed...) --these are not true understanding, not reality which one has experienced.

Experience don't change over time. It is something that one has already 'known' and 'felt'. You can't tell a person that cold is hot or hot is cold when you know that they are the opposite. This is the problem with faith-based religions.

You should understand better that the main problem with Christians are they are often told to believe or be 'damned' in hell for ever after. This doesn't seem 'fair'. What do other religions say about their own religions? Have you learnt about them?

Perhaps you should do some more study and learn more about what the bible (or the scriptures of other religions) tought. You should truly understand through your experiences in life, how the bible or its teachings can help you, or how practical it is?

Its no point to force anyone to believe in something that someone don't. Its a waste of time and dangerous to a religion. Psychologically dangerous too, and it can be hazardous to your mental health.

The internet is a wide open space of knowledge. You can seek more about the various teachings of other masters, and compare them with what Jesus taught.

In your case, check out this link, you might find it interesting to see what you are experiencing...

http://www.geocities.com/ahseow/beyond_belief.htm

Answer 7

You can't force yourself to believe (I know; I've tried). That doesn't mean you should stop seeking God and trying to do His will, though. Might you just be going through a period of spiritual dryness, which is perfectly normal? Try praying, "I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). As for receiving the Eucharist, I would talk to a priest about how I was feeling and see what he says.

Answer 8

Faith is the gift of God.

Not something you devise on your own.

If you are serious, pray---believe that Christ is God revealed in human flesh--and that you are saved because of what Christ did, not because of anything you did or will do. He said it is finished.

Then you will receive the gift of faith. also go to berachah church. org for free original language bible studies. no phone calls, no mailers---just free material. I hope you will do this. It really will help.

Answer 9

Speaking of someone who was raised one way and through my experiences have discovered that the right faith for me was something differant, perhaps this crisis is not about forcing yourself to believe but embarking on a journey to find out what God (or the Gods if you wind up polytheistic) and manner of worship you are meant for.

And for those who would say that Judeo-Christianity is the only way, I ask why the God of the Hebrews would be jealous of his people following other Gods and why in Proverbs 82:1 it says "The Lord sits in the Congregation of the Mighty, He judges AMONG the Gods" (Thus providing BIBLICAL proof that the People of Israel recognized that their God was not the ONLY one....)

Answer 10

You can try to find a reason to love. Like find a passion or put more beauty in your life and more positivity. I guess sometimes God gives life, and we get loving families and food, and shelter, but it's never enough. We will always want more. I always say that people have it a lot worse than I do, like people are starving or they die unjustly, so I always consider that I live in grace and try not to complain, but that works for me, maybe not for you.