Religious Confusion?

Question

So i know i should go see a priest for this but i figured any advice would be worthwhile.

Ive gone to church pretty much all my life but never feel spiritually enlightened. I see it as a good activity to do with my family. When im at school i dont really go to school and I often question a lot of the rules the Roman Catholic church follows. (no roman catholic church bashing please) I want to get in touch with god but i just havent been persuaded and sometimes i find myself jealous that people are so into god. Does anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

I hope you find peace in your journey. I was Roman Catholic too. If you feel that the religion is the right one for you, I would say read as much as you can about the religion and books by Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul II. You can also read about other religions to see if one of those makes more sense to you on your path.
I'm sorry some of the people who answered bashed your religion as you clearly asked them not to. The comment about priests raping boys is obviously written by someone who is ignorant to the fact that clergy of many religions (like Baptists) have also been charged with pedophilia. I really feel sorry for people like that.

Answer 2

One thing you could try (since you have a lot of questions about the Church) is to attend an RCIA class at your parish, or maybe another one at a different parish..if you feel more comfortable. It's a great way to ask those questions that you have nagging at you, and also to get straight answers from the source. Also, you'll probably find other people who are in the same boat as you, and will be able to connect with them and share your thoughts :) You never know where that will lead you, but at least it will lead you to more understanding in something that is great and you're already a part of!

Don't get down on yourself about being jealous of others that are into God...you seem to have a huge spiritual hunger, and that's a wonderful thing. Continue to pray and ask for guidance in talking to the appropriate people--people that you can trust and confide in. You'll get there in perfect time :)

Answer 3

Yeah, you've already figured it out. Get out of the Catholic church.

Catholicism is about rituals and rule-following and has nothing to do with what God wants for you.

Get a Bible and start reading the New Testament. Find a church that teaches directly from the Bible every Sunday and encourages its members to do Bible study on their own. You'll find it's a completely different experience than anything you've seen in the Catholic church.

Answer 4

Leave out denomininations and seek a church family where there is not so much red tape. Its ok to have rules and guidelines to go by, but when it takes away from your relationship with God, it is really bad. You have to learn how to differentiate. The Catholic church is one of those churches I am personally against. I don't agree with them. Its too leagalistic and not enough attention to the true intentions of man's heart and his personal relationship with God.

God wants your sacrifice but it means absolutly nothing to him if its not given with empathy from the heart.

Answer 5

~I was in the same situation you are. What worked for me was reading about different religions. Buddhists and Wiccans caught my eye the most. They are very in tuned with their spirituality, and they strive for enlightenment. Just because your church does not give you the satisfaction you need, does not mean you have to turn your back on it. perhaps you just need to find a new way to worship. I have found meditation to be extremely helpful too. Through meditation you can commune with God, and he/she will give you the answers you need. Don't forget to write it all down! Journaling is very beneficial.

Good luck and Blessed Be!

Answer 6

OK....let's leave the church out of it for a moment and just focus on you.

God is close to you even when you don't feel him. Accepting his forgiveness is the first step. (I am not "bashing" any religion, but you need to know that you may go to God personally...though Christ...that is how it is supposed to be).

Forget the "doing" part and begin "being". Accept Christ's atoning sacrifice and allow Him to do the work in you.

Blessings...praying for you.

Answer 7

If you can, try to go to the Traditional Latin Mass. There is a quality to it that has changed many people back to a closer union with God. You can see if there is a Traditional Mass near you by going to page 41 of the directory at http://www.traditio.com/tradlib/masslat.pdf
The devil will look for any way to sow doubt in your soul and take Our Lord's peace from you. Ask Him in prayer to give you courage in this battle against principalities and powers. God bless.

Answer 8

Thousands of Catholics have said the same thing to me over the years.

Have you ever tried looking for God from the non Catholic point of view?

Check out the web sites below:

Pastor Art

Answer 9

It is through seeking the truth we receive the gift of faith and through faith we receive revelation and by revelations we begin a personal relationship with God. When we seek God in his word and prayer and meditation we grow in our faith and in our relationship with God. I strongly recommend seeking God on a regular bases I am one who drifted away and reached a point where I did not know God. When I sought God again he revealed to me many ways he was there the whole time but I was blinded. God Bless You.

Answer 10

If you believe God exists and is all that He says He is, moreover rewards those who seek Him, why not talk to God in your heart and ask Him to reveal Himself to you? He will. The key is the person and the work of Jesus on the cross. It is thanks to Him that you may now have personal relationship with God. By taking your sins upon himself on the cross, Christ did away with them and thus destroyed the wall between you and Holy God. Pray and you will receive. Seek and you will find.

Blessings,

jack