i truly want to be a devout catholic, but my mind will not allow me not to question the existence of God. i study, pray, listen, but cant erase the doubts
2007-12-01 02:54:26 · 17 answers · asked by sammy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You can start by reading this.......http://www.ucg.org/booklets/LF/
2007-12-01 03:20:24 · answer #1 · answered by TIAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says as we seek God ( draw near to Him) He will draw near to us. Keep looking. He is there. I am protestant, so you may not agree with this. If you don't already, read and study the Bible. Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. If you can get some scripture tapes to listen to, do that and listen. Read the scriptures out loud to yourself. Study the book of John. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This says God came as Jesus for you. And if it were only you, He would have done it...for just one!! Isn't this a wonderful thing God did for us!
I will pray that your faith will increase, and God will be real to you.
†Prayer Warrior At Your Request†
2007-12-03 11:52:21 · answer #2 · answered by electroprayer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep praying, if you have one use a study bible, the notes help. Did I say keep praying? I'm praying for you. Alot of people have had doubts, our rational mind questions everything. However, faith to the mind says you may not understand everything but you know. The mind can't handle that, but with prayer and study you will be okay.
2007-12-01 03:00:05 · answer #3 · answered by g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you question God Jehovah existence than you question your own existence. Get a King James version of the Bilbe and read Psalms 19: 1-3, and then go to Job 38-41 and any question of God Jehovah will be anwsered for. Psalms 18:3 identify god by name, and Exodus 6:3 also explain that it was not known to others. Because in 1Cor 8:5 it reads " For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, ( as there be gods many, and lords many,) you must learn who Jehovah God is through yourself and begin to identify him by name, just as you are identified by name. Look at your hand, and ask yourself who's hand is it, and you will answer mines, and if it is your hand, how can it be you?
2007-12-01 03:13:51 · answer #4 · answered by keisan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say study, what type study do you do? If you have a concordence bible, do try study, keep your mind on God and all that is good. Get out there and practice your faith, it will come. Faith is like any other muscle, the more you exercise it the stonger it gets. So you need faith and works, go out and help people in your community, get involved, make a difference.
2007-12-01 03:01:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you go on reflecting and reflecting and reflecting as you do, and question and question and question that which you would like to be allowed to not do, then, when you least expect it, you might reach some point of insight where you might experience a strong glowing feeling of reinforced faith.
I do not think it is wise to ever bluntly repress one's sincere doubts, I do not think it is wise to impose a prefabricated faith on oneself and on others.
I dare add that Faith has a particular life of her own, just like a human being has a life. Faith can appear spontaneously, or helped by planning and nourishing, and it can become something spectacular, or something miserable, or something causing great harm to oneself or to others or to the world, and it can even become something totally unimagined in advance.
You can strengthen your faith by allowing her to develop freely the way she wants to develop, trying to accept the paradigms she wants to accept. Listen open-mindedly to her, accept her certainties and reflect diligently upon her doubts as if those doubts had a precious and constructive life of their own, and she might tell you something very new for you, something utmost impressing, something that will transform your life and make possible your sincere devotion.
2007-12-01 04:07:25 · answer #6 · answered by pasquale garonfolo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Friend...let me put your mind at ease...God is not afraid of you questioning His existance. In fact, He has given us such a powerful questioning mind for a reason - He does not want us to be gullible to the lies of the enemy.
He won't be angry for questioning His existance either. And that is why He has done so much to show us He does exist. He wants us to explore and know for sure He does exist. He does not want us believing just because others have told us it is safe to do so.
There are many good books to read that explore this. Check out Lee Strobel and Josh McDowell...you will find plenty for the intellect to chew on and still come away satisfied in being sure of God's existance.
I want to join you in praying that you will be able to find answers to your questions and be able to see the doubts for what they are...shadows, and not mountains.
† Travelling Prayer Warrior †
2007-12-03 07:43:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The doubts are a good thing to have. They keep you asking questions about your belief in the Faith, and asking questions shows a keen interest to learn more.
To strengthen your Faith though, the way is not to use the mind, but to follow the path of your heart.
You "think" with your mind, and you "feel" with your heart.
Good luck searching and God bless.
2007-12-01 02:59:51 · answer #8 · answered by Rich 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is natural to doubt, after all we aren't just some sort of pre-programmed machines but we have our own feelings, ideas, beliefs. These often change throughout our life, so someone who is an absolute believer in one stage of their life might become an atheist in another and then come back to religion.
I don't think anyone can ever go through their whole life having absolute belief in something (and I mean anything, not just God) so it is natural to doubt. Just keep studying, praying, listening and you will be ok :)
2007-12-01 02:59:44 · answer #9 · answered by . 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Try fasting with your prayers and studies. I have done this, and it really increased my faith and brought me closer to the Lord. I don't know if you have any medical conditions that require you to eat food every four hours, like diabetes for example, and if you do, then you can fast from doing the things you like to do everyday, such as watching television or going on the Internet. I will be praying for you. God bless!!!
Lovingly,
Virginia
2007-12-01 15:00:27 · answer #10 · answered by Virginia B (John 16:33) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you almost have to doubt to get started. It's Ok. God wants people to know him for real, not because some other person told you to believe.
When I accepted the fact that I can't even make a rock, and that God is a lot smarter than me, my faith started to grow.
2007-12-01 03:04:17 · answer #11 · answered by Keith S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋