Why is it so hard to have faith?

Question

I sometimes feel like having faith is wrong. Like I'm stupid, or wrong for being a theist. I feel like people scoff at me, or look at me like someone to be pitied.

I was raised Catholic, and I believe in parts of what that faith teaches, but not eveything. Same goes for other faiths I've studied.

I think religion and science are both just ways to connect with some higher purpose or meaning. For me, that's a God.

I continue to go to a Catholic church not because I believe everything I'm told, but because I believe the basic morals taught are important. I feel that people look down on me for that choice.

I'm 20, by the way.

Answer 1

Arrogant pretentous people will look down on you from either side of the debate. If you have faith in yourself and faith in what makes sense to you to have faith in, then it is not a struggle. But you are having a problem with other people telling you what you are SUPPOSED to have faith in. if you blindly believe then you deserve to be ridiculed. if you believe what is real an important to you then you do not deserve ridicule.

Answer 2

I think everyone should find what they believe in. Only then will you have true faith in it because it means something to YOU. Not what you were raised to believe in. It's a good starting point, but it shouldn't end there. By no means. I am 24 and was raised Catholic as well. I don't agree with alot of what the church says and does. But it was the best my parents could do not having questioned their faith before. You say religion is a way to connect with some higher purpose. Start there.

Answer 3

Action my friend.... I don't care if you are atheist or religious, the bottom line is how you treat people, is how you make them feel and how they make you feel. As long you know you are doing good to others, Who cares what they think of you.

To have faith is believe with out reason....

Faith that you will get vacation from work
Faith that people will love you
Faith that you will still be here tomorrow

The call on our lives is to hear the word, to study the word and to know the word, but not to stop there, then we are to “DO” the word. And when we do, we will instinctively work together to help change the world. "This are my believes" You see! I might think different than you but it not make a different as long I respect you and vice versa.
You do believe the basic morals taught are important; that is faith and that is good and just remember that everyone is different and think differently, not everyone think and act like you so you will always have those stereotype people pleaser's that they really don't know what they want, need or feel. Don't worry and don't waste your energy on them.

Don't let anyone take your joy away , don't let your personality on the packets of others. That will be your choice.

Wish you enough and Happy Holidays!

Answer 4

I think you need to, in fact already are, questioning your faith.

If having faith were easy, there would be no reward for it.

But at your age, you should be asking questions, which, eventually, will help you settle on exactly WHAT it means to have faith (to you). Religion, as an adult, is usually a very personal experience, which is difficult to teach to children. That's why it's always taught as absolutes.

Speak to your priest and anyone else in the church who is learned enough to be able to explain the answers to your questions.

Personally, I adore the rituals of the Catholic Church. It is steeped in beauty and wealth, and the most somber of churches has a serene beauty. Still, it isn't a faith that works for me. But with the right guidance, you can find how it works for you. Or you might find that something else will.

Still, religion and science are NOT mutually exclusive. It is possible to make them come together.

You might want to read The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, just for fun. Angels and Demons was sort of set on a backdrop of trying to reconcile the two disciplines. Very interesting, and in any case, a very good read. Both of them.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Ella - Have you heard of the story of the Prodigal Son? A son gets his inheritance early, goes astray, and begs to be taken back when he hits bottom. God loves you through all of your struggles, and rejoices in the lost who retun to Him.

People do scoff at Christians - and even Christians are intolerance of other demoninations - and the world is hostile toward us. That doesn't make us "wrong" about God. You believe or you wouldn't keep attending Mass.

Take some time and talk to God. You can't do it a "wrong" way. I think if you spend a few minutes a day in solace with Him, you will find the answers you are looking for.

Good luck. I will say a prayer for you.

Answer 6

This is a hard topic and I understand how you feel. Sometimes it is hard to have faith when bad events in our life have occurred that make us wonder why would a God allow such suffering and pain. Science has never been a road block to faith, it has been more personal matters.

I feel that it is perfectly fine to be scientific AND faithful. God would not want us to be ignorant.

I feel that faith and religion are a personal thing. It seems that too many people are getting into your personal business. There is no reason for other people to have make you feel bad about your beliefs. As you get to know people you can tell who you can have intellectual conversations about religion with and who are the closed-minded ones. Until you figure that out, just keep your beliefs to yourself and save yourself the headache.

Answer 7

I would say:

1. It should not matter (more precisely should not figure in your decision) that people scoff at you.

2. Neither does this "for me" crap. God either exists or not and it does not depend on your viewpoint.

3. "religion and science are both just ways to connect with some higher purpose or meaning":
a. Why "religion and science"? What has religion got to do with science and vice versa? (Read http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_noma.html or the first chapter of http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-Catholic-Understanding-Ressourcement-Retrieval/dp/0802841066/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198091884&sr=8-2 )
b. Science is NOT a way to "connect with some higher purpose or meaning". Its an attempt to describe and explain the nature in terms of natural laws.

4. There is no necessity for religion to behave ethically. There are plenty of arguments to show how religion is used to justify immoral acts. At root are you saying that the Israelites wandered through the desert thinking that murder, perjury and adultery were fine until God told them to cut it out?

5. Finally if you go to church and you do not believe it then are you not being dishonest?

Answer 8

Now that is a loaded question. I suppose my first question to you in response would be...how can you have partial faith? If you believe partially in the Bible...which parts are you NOT believing? The Bible makes the claim that it is true...so...honestly a person must either embrace it in its entirety, or throw it in the garbage. If a person was to honestly read through the Bible...partial faith is just not an option. I would challenge you to search the Scriptures. All the answers you will get on here is simply man's opinion...which is fundamentally flawed by personal feelings. You will only find the honest answers to your questions by searching through the Bible. A study Bible will also help...MaCarthur Study Bible is a great help.

Answer 9

Many times having "faith" is much easier than not having it. Isn't it a lot easier to just believe what you're told, rather than questioning it and investigating to see what the truth really is?

Why would anyone consider blindly believing what they are told to be a GOOD thing? The people that consider it good are the same ones that are trying to get you to believe things without evidence. Think about it.

Answer 10

There is a predominating influence of secularism in our post Christian society. There is great effort to always put belief in the category of anti-intellectual and that science and faith have no relationship. This creates a duplicity for believers who know that they are not "anti-intellectual" and yet have a heart for God and good and truth.
There is great intellectual basis for faith based on logic that validates faith and objective reality.

Some good material for 'validation' can be found at www.reasonablefaith.org with William Lane Craig. Often times people don't want to do the work to lay down a strong foundation for their faith so it is easier to feel ambivalent in the face of secular critics who only want to cast you as a simpleton, homophobic, redneck etc.

They will do this despite the millions of dollars that Christians save them yearly on inner-city ministries, helping the homeless, and reducing crime rates by working with trouble teens. So keep your chin up and be glad you do not cower to their image that we are all about hate, pot calling the kettle black.

Have a Merry Christmas, and rejoice that God is into you!

Answer 11

I am glad that there are still people who think about faith. Faith is what we are sure of even if we did not see it (Heb 11:1). Also read Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ... Take your Bible and read Hebrews 11. After you have done that read the complete letter to the Hebrews. Every time before you read a passage, ask the Holy Spirit to make it clear for you.

Your purpose on earth is very clear in the Bible. You are placed on this earth to pleases God your Creator. But because of our sins we are not pleasing God and don't do what he expected us to to. God is both mercy full but He must punish us for our sin. That is why He send His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for for our sins. You and me can now appear before God with out sin because Jesus died for our sin. To belief that with your whole mind and heart that's faith.

If you have more questions, ask them. God bless