Kristin123

I was never christened or raised in any religion but I guess when I was a teenager I used to believed in some kind of higher power – without subscribing to any one label, religion or belief system. I used to read a lot on the subject – buddhism, bible mysticim, kaballah, hinduism, paganism, wicca, spiritualism (parapsychology/ghosts/ESP)..I also loved reading about ancient Greek religion and the poetry of William Blake.

But now, like you said, I too feel jaded by the world sometimes. I don’t really believe as much anymore – I don’t have answers. It’s a constant tennis match in my mind – do I believe? Do I not believe? I thought I had discarded many beliefs because I felt they didn’t work for me anymore but sometimes I still can’t help but internally debate whether they are true or not. I am a sceptic but I like to think I am open-minded – at least now I am able to see things more objectively.

Joe

Dear Kristin123:

You asked: “what energy started the (big) bang?”

I have the answer.

No, just kidding. But I have this point to make: we can’t know everything. We can know a whole lot of things but not everything. This is the trap of a lot of people: they have to know everything and if they don’t, they doubt the things that are there in front of them, very possible to know. For example: gravity exists, we know that. It is reality regardless of what started the big bang. Not knowing what started the big bang doesn’t take away from the reality of gravity.

Here is another thing I know: if I care a whole lot about a person who is suffering a lot, who is in pain, and I have all the power in the world to help that person who I care for and who is suffering, why, I would help them right away. I will not trust a person who sees my suffering, can help me, has all the power to help me, and yet he or she doesn’t.

I don’t need to know anything more about such a person who sees the suffering of a young child, has the power to help the young child and chooses to not help the young child, day after day, year after year. I don’t need to learn more about that person to know that I don’t like or trust this person to be good.

And there is no way I can find comfort in this person’s (god’s) words, not as long as he doesn’t help the suffering children.

anita

My new outlook is that if you believe in yourself, than you believe in God. God is the spark with in you. I find more access to my own personal power that way, because I am not groveling to an imaginary being outside of me.

a-moore3, I agree. There are so many horrible things happening in the world today. Everything looks so bleak. I wonder through all these things, where is God? Why is he not showing himself in the midst of such tragedy.

I believe that bad things are done by those who are not in touch with God. God, to me, is available as a source of strength and enlightenment. Given we are human, we cannot avoid suffering and/or death. Is it the responsibility of God to get you that date with the girl/guy you want to go out with? Is it in God’s hands to get you that job you really want? I don’t think so- your life is a series of events, of cause and effect. Simply put- God is not to be confused with a Genie who makes our lives perfect, with everything we want, with no real effort on our part.

i don’t believe in the Christian God, i was raised Anglican, and while i was was devout for my childhood, i lost the connection, which caused me to question, which resulted in my soul searching and i concluded Christianity wasn’t for me. however, i’ve always been a very spiritual person so i kept looking until i found the path that completed me. I’ve been Wiccan for 12 years now [and counting] and i’ve connected with my God and Goddess, so to me they’re real because i’ve felt their presence.

spirituality is personal, so no one can tell you it’s real or not, you need to discover your own path. research other faiths, go to other spiritual leaders and speak to them, meditate, journal, pray, go to church, read The Bible, go to other holy temples and observe a service. just be open. there is no one true path [in my view anyway] and they all lead to the same divine energy. i personally believe in reincarnation, but no one really knows what happens, find what speaks to you. God is always listening, you can try speaking with him if you still feel Catholicism is the right path.

while i converted, my mom and sister are still Christian, and they say it’s thanks to my spirituality they decided to return to church. my mom had some major low points in her life, but she decided to focus on the things she wanted to, and she chose to be optimistic about everything. so if aspects of the world has left you jaded, cut them out. i don’t want you to be ignorant to the suffering of the world, but put a filter on your life. constantly reading stories about how horrible people do horrible things will leave you raw, try subscribing to a newsfeed that talks about charity work, or people helping others. heck, try joining your local church for any volunteer work. [i’m not Christian but it never stopped me helping the Anglican church when they were low on volunteers.]

I believe in God and a follower of Christ.