I am Beginning to Lose my Faith?

Question

Hi, I am girl from Umbria, Italy.

I was raised Roman Catholic, but I am disappointed by so many of clergy problems. I am scared that all they want is money. I enjoy roman catholic holidays, but I don't really think they are holy. I don't want to disappoint my parents too much though. I love them much!


What are your advices for me? Many thanks.

Answer 1

Firstly, you must find what is best for you and do what convicts your spirit and soul.
Secondly, if you do things only to please others, it will eventually hurt you.
Thirdly, It is better to be spiritual than to be religious
Fourthly, the best religion is to love yourself, others, and the Divine.

Answer 2

Hello Isabelli

Don't focus on disappointing your parents. Which can be very hard, but right now you need to focus on you. If you have problems, struggling as it seems with very hard questions, ask them for help. Especially if they will not judge you for doubting.

The clergy problem has been blown way out of proportion. You know, less then 1% of American Catholic priest have been accused of doing these things? And most of the claims should never have been brought to court. I don't mean that some didn't happen - the majority just seem to be about money. I am an abuse victim (a neighbor, not a priest) and I can tell you money will not take that away. My old parish has fallen vicitm to claims against the dioceses and the accusors won't rest until they have all of the money and land - even though the majority belongs to the parishoners. This is greed, not victims.

I think you need to sit down and study the Catholic faith. Learn exactly what it is about. There are several good books out there by Catholics - but I do not know what's available to you in Italy. The best thing to do is to talk to your priest. You can also visit this website http://www.newadvent.com It's a Catholic website that explains the faith in detail.

Only you can decide whether or not to be Catholic, or even Christian. Don't let fear of your parents stagnate your faith. You can only grow in faith by exploring it. If you have questions about the faith please contact me. I taught the faith for many years.

Answer 3

First, clergy are human, not God. Clergy will make mistakes they will sin! With any organization that is so large there will be bad apples, don't let them chase you away from God. Money, yes they want your money, its unfortunate but the world revolves around money, even for the church its not cheap to feed cloth house build etc.... and promote the world of God. This country has dulled the Holiness of the holidays, but if your faith is strong and if you remember the meeting of the holidays and share and pass it on to future generations then the holiest will return to you and yours at least. Having faith is not about disappointing your parents or not, faith is about you and God. Forget about the nonsense of "man" and put your faith in God and live with and by his word, see where this takes you.

God Bless!

Answer 4

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Thus, you don't lose faith if God is the one who gave it to you. If you're losing your faith that someone else gave you, fine, dump it. Disappoint your parents. This is your soul that you would like to see secured in holiness. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, and only Jesus sends Him. I was raised Roman Catholic, so I can say with authority that I never heard the gospel the eight years I was there. The gospel is that you're a sinner and you can't do anything about it. Therefore, Jesus came here, lived as one of us, died for us, rose again to prove He's God and Savior, and ascended to heaven to pray for us. We need only accept these facts and ask His forgiveness and to be born again in our spirit to be able to fellowship with Him.

That's a faith God has you keep.

Answer 5

You cannot 'lose' faith. You either have faith or you do not. God chooses to test you and your faith in many ways. As a Catholic (like myself) your faith and your religion is put to the test everyday. When you go into church and you make the sign of the cross with the holy water, remember that this is to remind you of your baptism in the Lord. As you make the sign remember, In the name of the Father (the forehead) is to remind you to always think about God, the Son (the heart) is always keeps Jesus love with you to share, The Holy Spirit (the shoulders) to remember to ask the Holy Spirit to make your shoulders strong to bear your cross as Jesus did.
You are feeling despair, not losing your faith. Pray for all those around you, and do as Jesus asked us. And remember that at communion, that Jesus is actually there to give you strength. So spend some time praying in front of the Host. All will be well, you are in my prayers

Answer 6

I don't know how old you are so I will be safe with my answer.

I am from southwest Louisiana,USA and I was reared Roman Catholic. Baptized after birth Catholic and celebrated as all catholics do. My father's mother was a devote catholic and her sister was literally a Nun (Sister Joan of Ark).

I grew up believing a lot of things that are in my opinion a complete lie. I do not see how any religious community could allow the things that happen in the catholic community happen.

Today, I do not follow catholicism in any manner, I consider myself non-denominational and a believer.

Answer 7

Read the Bible. There is no mention of Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc., just Christians (Acts 11:26). Christians = obedient disciples of Christ. The only church is the church of Christ.

Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Your obedience to the Lord's will may even help your family.

Answer 8

Creation forms when energy explodes
and interacts with invisible forces known
as Las Of Physics.

As people, we are a constant. It's the time
and space that come and go.

We all get a guess.
My guess is that life works this way, because
this is the way life works. If it worked some
other way, God would design it some other way.

You can love your parents and your holidays,
and still follow your own candle.

Works for me.

Answer 9

Buy a bible in your language and start reading it and studying it. You may even want a study bible. You have been indoctrinated into a religion. Religion is not necessarily bad but you must know the Bible for yourself. Have a personal relationship with God and Jesus. Pray to Jesus an God for guidance on what to do next.
You can lose faith in religion without losing faith in God. Its ok to change religions. God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the important aspects of Christianity. Get to know God. He wants you to read his word - no matter what Catholicism teaches.

Answer 10

My advice would be to look at it a different way. What you are describing is not loosing your faith, it is loosing your religion (or denomination more specifically) I dont know much about you, but I assume you are still a Christian. It is okay to enjoy holidays without thinking they are holy. Our beliefs change as we progress, and this is good. It is good to grow. Hopefully your parents will come to see what you have seen, but even if they dont, do not let them stop you from growing, because this is the ultimate goal *to continue to grow

Answer 11

If you're in it just for the sake of your parents then there's not much to your being there in the first place. God and you is personal. Also, if you're basing your faith on what you see other people do or fail to do, then you also might as well get out now because the failures of believers shall be many in your lifetime.