I'm looking for some help on my path. Can someone help me through my thought process?

Question

OK, So I was raised Christian. My family was a holiday-only church-goer type. A lot of things in Christianity bothered me. I thought it was because I didn't understand it fully, and needed to be more serious. I wentto church every Sunday to start, then to Bible study groups, and soon I was reading and studying the Bible, including talking things over with my Pastor everyday. Things still didn't make any sense, so I studied the other major world religions and quickly found I was stuck between being Pagan or Atheist. I see "God" like Spinoza, but I understand the need to anthropomorphize "God" in order to connect easier with It, and that's what I've been doing by puting the faces of Isis and Osiris on "God". I've just always been comfortable with the Egyptians, can't explain it.
More to follow...

Now, after more study, I find myself leaning more towards defining "God" as literally Nature. Just the natural world we live in. So, what I'm wondering is where that puts me among all the labels out there. I'm I closer to Atheist than Pagan now? Where do my beliefs fit better?

Yeah, you Christians are barking up the wrong tree. I'm 100% sure that's not my path.

I think I need to review what I believe a bit more. I guess I'll dump a bunch of points asking questions on here tonight, lolz

Answer 1

We have a few atheist pagans on here. Cool people.
You just need to let your thought processes roll. Read as much as you can about anything that interests you. When you hit the right answer, you'll know. Trust me.

edit: by the way we have a few Kemetics here and I studied it for a while. I have a healer friend who is Kemetic. I'll help you in any way I can.

Answer 2

Really interesting stuff. Your upbringing sounds pretty similar to mine. My parents divorced when I was young; I started going to church when my mom & step-dad started going (I was around 11 or so). I didn't mind going when I was young and enjoyed hearing the teachings & lessons, but never really believed what was being said that much. We went to a Southern Baptist church, and I ended up getting baptized, but I did it just because that's what people did. I never heard the voice of God or had an epiphany or anything like that; I just did it because that's what people did.

At the age of 17, I had to deal with a pretty major catastrophe (the deaths of a parent & a sibling), which really caused me to start questioning the teachings of Christianity. As I studied more & more (I took a Bible class in college, which got pretty in depth in its teachings), I started to see that I didn't really believe, and never really believed, what I had learned during my years in the church.

I very rarely attend church now, only going when I visit my in-laws (who are religious). I'd say my views now are probably more agnostic than anything else. I've learned a decent amount about some of the other major religions, and think that each of them have points that are positive, but don't see any of them as being an absolute truth. I think that most religions stem from man's need to question his existence & the purpose of life. Most people can't believe that this is all there is, and that there must be something more. Maybe there is, but I haven't seen any proof to make me believe it.

Answer 3

Now, searching for that "God" has been explained symbolically with an example, in Indian philosophy... It is said that there is a type of 'deer' which has that fragrance of 'musk' within it, and the deer starts searching for it all around due to the fragrance, little knowing, that the fragrance emanated right from within the deer itself!
If there is a God, with all the attributes we know, then, that God has also to be there right within us too! Now what better place would there be, than within ourselves, to search for God.
To start with, please try deepening that self-awareness, a gift so unique to just we the humans. When this self-awareness evolves deeper and deeper into a pure state of uninterrupted pure witnessing state, things would start happening! The perception (possibly) would deepen beyond the sensory levels. What ever we study, would afterwards then serve as reassurances that we are on right track. The Bible would become very clear then! And if eager, all other talks, works, religious preachings of all other religions too would become clear.
Let us make it happen!
Best wishes.

Answer 4

If I may, I would like to work with you on this. God is the creator not just nature. The Bible makes allot of sense and so called ministers are not always the best source to go to. I was pronounced dead in 1978 do to food poisoning. What I saw and felt has been experienced by many who have had the same thing as I. I seen the wall of the heaven to come and felt the goodness of God. It has made me a believer but what I think is the real problem is you went to the church man created for answers. We must clear our minds of mans church and seek God. His words are true and clear to those who seek him. I am willing to continue to speak to you if you wish, I am also very understanding about things and people and I am willing to also so no more if that be your wish. I pray you continue to seek the truth and be careful to not to fall for a lie. Take care and be blessed

Answer 5

Its hard to connect with someone who is preached to have no imperfections. You need to follow what feels the most right to you. I don't agree with everything my church says, but I believe in at least the basics. If you decide that you find a religion that suits you spiritually, then chances are that is the best way to go. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to explain the same things you have been hearing in a different light, and you will find yourself connecting with religion easier. Don't give up on God yet, you never know when things start clearing up . Good luck in finding the right path.

Answer 6

Hey man go with whatever you want to believe. You don't actually have to pick a certain religion to follow either, which might make you feel really out of place spiritually. But really the road to self discovery often involves creating your own little religion of what you think the world is all about. Even if that combines idealogies from Christian to Egypt to Buddha. I myself am a Buddhist/Agnostic/Athiest/whatever

I personally don't even see "god" as a person, but as an entity, kind of like a spiritual connection that underlines human thought and emotion. Some sort of constant energy that flows in between all of us somehow

Answer 7

I do consider that there are persons who we are supposed to pass paths with, however I additionally consider that a few of the ones happenings are easily coincidences. I consider you in no way quite recognise till the connection has blossomed somewhat bit. There have been occasions whilst I although I attached with anyone and we have been intended to be peers, simplest to discover out that that could not had been extra from the reality... Or probably we have been meant to satisfy, however they have been simplest intended to be in my lifestyles for a season. Who is aware of? BQ: A lot.

Answer 8

Atheists have no need to define God, nature or otherwise. There is no God. You sound more pagan to me than atheist.
But I guess time will give you your answer. It took me several years to be an atheist. I would just study more, and also try and connect with others who are on the paths you are interested in. Ask lots of questions. Eventually you'll find an answer that feels right for you.

Answer 9

You are leaning towards pagan, the whole Egyptian thing and nature sounds kinda druidic. If you were once Christian then you know that belief in Jesus as Lord is the core of Christian belief not isis or nature or anything else.

Answer 10

The mind is a battle field to a born again believer.....you need to exercise the weapons of your warfare The Lord has equipted you with.....Let me share this with you it is the message translation...2Cor 10:3-5 The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way--never have and never will.
The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.
We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.and again it is written....... Eph 4:14-15 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.
Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.