By yourself, I mean, you, who you really are. Like your natural interests, hobbies, talents, likes, dislikes, etc.
If not, are you happy? If you are, how can you be when your religion doesn't allow you to like yourself?
If your religion does make you feel good about yourself, why?
2007-05-22 19:26:21 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Beliefs don't make me feel good about myself. Relationships, activities, and life make someone happy. Beliefs just get you there.
2007-05-22 19:30:05 · answer #1 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am happy. I believe in God, but religion is all the man made rules that clutter up the relationship.
I love art, and reading, I love music, and dancing. I love hiking and rock climbing. Religion does not interfere with any of the things that I love.
If your religion does not allow you to like yourself, maybe you should read what that religion believes. If you read the Bible, then you will see how much God has demonstrated love for the whole world. There are sins, that God requires us not to commit. These are things that as a general rule society agrees that these things hurt people, except covetousness which is something that only God could determine anyway.
2007-05-23 02:35:17 · answer #2 · answered by little black dress 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes, it makes me feel good. I feel a sense of love due to the redemption of Christ. There is no love greater than the sacrifice of Christ. However, religion isn't just about feeling good. Sometimes, frankly, I feel awful, because I know that I can never measure up, no matter how hard I try. Even if I suddenly became the world's biggest humanitarian overnight, I'd just be filth in God's eyes, because of His perfection compared to my insignificance and moral failure. Sometimes, it's important to get that reality check. It stops me from attaching too much importance to the pathetic and pitiful things that I try to accomplish, and focuses me back onto a spiritual path. As for my hobbies and interests, they may very well be irrelevant to God. He has better things to do than concern himself with that sort of thing. My talents only matter in terms of how they're used, meaning if they're used to praise God or help my fellow man. It's easy to believe in a sunshine-and-light religion and feel jolly all the time, but that's not what life (or religion) is all about.
2007-05-23 02:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My life's experiences and wisdom gained from them make me feel good about myself and it's has nothing to do with religion. That's two different entities and a person has a choice of which religious belief to practice. For instance a person raised in the Catholic faith doesn't HAVE to remain that once they realize what free will is all about. And who's to say a person has to have a religious belief in the first place? There it is again. FREE WILL. I have a strong faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but that does not dictate whether or not I like who I am.
2007-05-23 02:55:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 'religion' is all about recognising ones true nature. And since my interests, hobbies etc are all part of that then yes.
Because, inherently we are all good. Just as we are. Perfect maybe (though that doesn't stop us from deciding that we will be different).
So yes, I feel good about myself. And though there are things I know I want to change, I'm not going to beat myself up about my 'shortcomings'. I'm only human after all.
.
2007-05-23 16:16:16 · answer #5 · answered by Wood Uncut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a christian baptist, I was an emotional wreck. Being a little girl at the time, I always asked my sunday school teacher questions about the bible. Many of those questions were some she couldn't or refused to answer. Later on, I read some books, did my research and watched some programs about the bible and other religions. I saw many contradictions and falsehoods. I saw that my parents wanted me to become one of the many blind followers of christianity. I came to realize that I was truly not happy.
When I turned sixteen years old, I was looking through some books at my school library and I read one about Buddhis. After that, I looked on the internet, did more research and this year, I finally went to a Buddhist Temple. As soon as I stepped in there, I felt a sense of peace and calm. I felt truly at home. You see, christianity to me attacked me for thinking freely and asking questions about the world that did not fit into the straight and narrow way of thinking. To top it all off, I am a bisexual female. Buddhism taught me that everyone is human and we all make our own destinies. I am happy now that I have choosen this path for myself. I want to teach my kids that it is alright to be who they want to be, and not worry about someone else's version of heaven and hell.
-Namu Amida Butsu-
2007-05-23 02:47:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being a Christian makes me feel good about myself, others, and everyhting!
because although in my own eyes i do not see myself as any more special then the next person, i know what God says about me. about His creation. How much He loves each and every one of us unconditionally, how we were all (wether we choose to follow God or not) born with a God-given purpose and destiny, that we werent just an accident but God knew us before we were even formed in the womb. He adores us and wants all things good for us. He cares so much He sent His only son for us.
Just knowing that the mightiest, strongest, most superior, most amazing being, God the Father, loves little ol us, is enough to make anyone feel amazing :-)
i feel good about myself and all mankind because my "religion", Christianity, in its pure form, teaches me the potential, purpose and love, for every single person that ever will exist.
:-)))))
2007-05-23 02:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see those things as all that related. People tend to feel good or not about themselves regardless of their belief system. I'm trying here to avoid the term "religion" because to me that means an external system as opposed to a person's internal faith experience.
In general, how one feels about oneself has more to do with basic temperament, upbringing, self-esteem, etc. than with one's faith and beliefs.
I guess one way in which it helps is that it helps me remember that I can do more than I think I'm able to ( like finish grading all those exams) because God's help is with me.
2007-05-23 02:38:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To thine own self be true.....
I believe that when one is spiritually bankrupt, happiness is never real...just an illusion...and life is filled with chaos and serious delusions of control....at least that's how it was for me.
Now that i am more in tune with my spiritual beliefs, i can release the chaos and be happy knowing who and what i am...simply divine! I am content and try to remain humble.
I no longer think that I am at the center of the universe...it is not what i can get out of life, but what i can put into it that is so rewarding!
Blessed Be!
2007-05-23 02:38:55 · answer #9 · answered by trinity 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No.
You have to understand the difference between "Feeling Good" and "Feeling Good About Yourself". Doing what you Believe is right will usually make you feel good, but the feeling usually doesn't last much longer than the experience. Doing what you Know is right will make you feel good about yourself, and the feeling is much longer-lasting.
To be truly Happy you must feel good about yourself; to feel good about yourself you must Know yourself; Knowing yourself is an act of Self-Love. Feeling good is just Self-Indulgence.
2007-05-23 02:45:49 · answer #10 · answered by Champion of Knowledge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My faith in God makes me feel good about myself, because it allows me to express myself how I choose.
I believe that God has given me so many blessings amidst the trouble and hardships I have faced, and it makes me feel good to be thankful.
I do not find that my faith hampers my talents, natural interests or likes instead it enhances it.
2007-05-23 02:32:49 · answer #11 · answered by Beverly B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋