Unfortunately, I am having trouble holding on to my faith.?

Question

I am afraid it may really be over, and I could possibly be willing to accept that. I really don't like to think of myself as an agnostic...I'm having a hard time with this. My religion has been a big part of my world. Without it, I feel there is no sense in doing anything. Even loving my child: without God, how can there be love? What is the point, then, in anything? I feel very lost without God. Is there, perhaps, like a web site that can help me as I am going thru this? Something NICE, not aggressive?

Answer 1

Try exchristian.net -- a lot of the people who post there have similar feelings to yours.

As for your child -- come on, now, you still love the kid, right? So you know that no god is required for that. Please allow yourself to notice that you have a brain and you can figure some things out for yourself.

Answer 2

First of all let me tell you this may happen to some believers more often than you might think. And probably it happens to most believers, even if so briefly they may not even recognize it. Second, don't have such a hard time with it. On the contrary use this to put into practice "exercises" for your own well being. How? Well, just look around you and see what you have accomplished in non-materialistic things, such as been a good mother in so many different ways.

And I'm pretty sure you've been a great person all along. Think of the ways you've helped others, wether family, relatives, friends, and even perfect strangers! Think of how other people would have acted different by being mean, selfish, arrogant, jealous, envious, etc., in any particular situation, and see how at least most of the time you acted with compassion, holding your words. Not doing onto them what they probably deserved at that moment.

In other words, think of how many times you have been tempted to blurt out many more things you know are true, but didn't do so because you are a better person.

Not loving your child because you think you no longer believe in God?!!! You won't believe this but I personally had exact feeling not so long ago, regarding family in general, and one person in particular!!! These are crisis, but sometimes they are not faith crisis, but emotional ones up to a certain extent, with a bit of hormonal as well. So it'll do wonders for you to talk to yourself as much as possible. Be loving and trusting of yourself as much as possible!

If there are any problems in your family or job or anywhere relating directly to you or which you subconsciously think concern you, try to face them as best you can.

Regarding there being no love without God. Try thinking, there being anything without God! God is not because of us. We are because of HIM!!!

Answer 3

If you are having trouble loving even your own child because you may not believe in god, does that mean the only reason you ever loved your child was because god told you to? I don't know you, but I would tend to think the answer to that is no. You love your child because he/she is your child.

You can be a good person, a moral person without god. There are plenty of atheists who prove that. You do not have to be told to be a good person. If you do, then you're not really a good person, you're just a suck up to god (or whatever deity tells you to be moral).

Try reading 'Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist' by Dan Barker. It's a good book that will help you through this transition. If a preacher can make it, so can you!

Best wishes, dear.

Answer 4

Hi, I'm a person who went through the same process. Only thing which can help you is the understanding of the truth. truth abt the world & the God. And I must agree with you that it's a tuff time; it's like giving up your parents or loosing all you believed in your whole life time. But unfortunately it's the bold truth.
I'll ask some simple questions. Do you know who the God is. I guess your ans would be no as you haven't seen him. talked with him in person. Again Do you know what's in my pocket. The ans would be NO. Then can you love the thing in my pocket? NO because u don't know what it is then how can u love a god u don't know.
When I was 14 yrs old I found many suspicious things abt the Christianity & God. Then I tried to build a theory to find out whether it's true or not. For that I had to think out of the box against the rules of Christianity. within abt 2-3 yrs finally I understood there is no one or nothing called a god. It's more like your imaginary super hero. ppl like to think that there is a person above hi m looking @ him protecting him, willing to help him. It's what you like to think; but not the truth.

There is No GOD! It's only you whose there. Use you thinking to find the week spots of Christianity so you can come up with your own theory like me to prove that there is no GOD.

Just think that there is no God, there was no God, it was only me & my strength which brought me upto here.

If you don't wanna believe the truth that there is no GOD; don't worry. He cant do thing; he can't punish you; he can't put you in hell. Because if he do so, he won't be a God anymore.

Answer 5

There's a big difference between becoming disillusioned with organized religion and losing your faith. Organized religion is all about everything the spiritually wise should shun: power, control, money, political influence, hatred and subservience to men. You need to re-forge your connection with God from a place of innocence. Forget the churches, and look for God's wisdom in the world around you. If you choose to read the Bible, great--but read it without hearing anyone else's words, so that you may interpret it for yourself. God is real. Religion isn't.

Answer 6

Love and compassion exist independently of any gods - they existed before any of the man-made religions were created.

You'll eventually see that the great majority of the values you cherished as a believer can be preserved as an agnostic, except you will not accept them at face value. Love will remain as important as ever, because in the end, all we have is each other.
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Answer 7

this is just a first step on the way to finding your true path, whatever it may be. losing faith in the religion you were raised with is not a bad thing, it simply means you are intelligent enough to ask what the truth really is.

Next thing you might want to do is start reading about all the different religions to see what they think, then take what you like from them and leave what you don't and formulate your own beliefs instead of bothering to join any of them.

Religions are constructs of man used to control the population for the most part, but truth as well as lies can be found in all of them. go find the truth and reject the lies.

Answer 8

It depends...are you attending any type of church? From my experience, my faith is always stronger when I am in regular contact with others of like mind.
Are you involved in some type of Christian service? I can also tell you that giving of yourself on a regular basis while asking nothing in return is soooooo good for the soul.

Maybe it's just time for a change? A plant will die without water, light and healthy soil...so will a Christian.

Answer 9

Ask yourself, what brought you to your faith to begin with? Why do you doubt now? You see other people in other religions love their children. So you know that love is not exclusive to your faith alone. What about those who are spiritual but don't believe in god? Happy searching.

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Answer 10

Kicking every habit, good or bad, leads to withdrawal.

Cigarette smokers can't see how they will be able to cope without smoking, Coffee drinkers can't function without caffeine, Overeaters can't handle stress without food. Parents suffer separation anxiety when their kids leave, and drivers can't slow down when the speed limit drops.

Until they actually change or stop the habit. Then life is no longer defined by that old habit. They find that they are far stronger and more functional than they gave themselves credit for. And there are many, many others who have functioned just fine without the habit in the first place.

Of course your capable of normal human functions without religion. You inherently know that already, but your fear (or guilt) won't allow you to admit it to yourself. Just let go of the guilt and the umbilical cord, and you'll find that you are a fully functional human being with normal drives, emotions, fears, and pleasures. Whether you return to your faith or not, you'll find a renewed sense of personal worth along the way.

Answer 11

I'm sorry, I don't understand what is the matter with you. Why do you think that God left you ? Even we turn our back on God, He does not cease to love us. He stretch His hands towards us and wait that we go back to Him. Please, pray to God even if you think you have no faith now. My prayers are with you. You have a child. this is a blessing from God. If you want you can write to me trough my profile, you are welcome.