What if you want to believe in God but cannot?

[Meteora]

I have a hard time believing. I envy people who get so much strength through their faith.
Are some people simply not made to believe? I have major trust issues and therefore seem to be unable to trust God.

 

[Agon321]

I have an identical problem. As a child, I was extremely religious (I took my faith seriously for my age). I even wanted to be a priest. At some point I lost my enthusiasm. I was just bored with it all. You could say that due to my laziness, I completely abandoned Religion. At some point, I also began to notice the inconsistencies and senselessness of all religions in the world. They all started to look stupid to me. I didn't see the point in all this. At this point I don't believe in anything at all. I'm not even an atheist. I like to imagine different scenarios after death, but I do it more for fun. For example, I imagine that after death I will be God (at this point I am a heretic for most of the world's religions :) ). I envy believers a bit because they have at least some minimal goal. I don't have one at the moment. For me, at this point, death is game over. I don't believe there is a hell for evil people. I don't even believe there is a division into good and evil. I don't believe in anything, but at the same time I don't rule out any of the options. Maybe, for example, Catholicism is right and I'll be screwed. I don't believe it, but I don't rule it out completely. I want to believe in something, but I don't have anything to believe in. Nothing convinces me and everything seems irrational to me. The only thing left for me was to have fun coming up with interesting (for me) scenarios.

 

[theboy]

You can always believe in God if you want to with all your heart.

 

[Meteora]

I don't even believe there is a division into good and evil.

Neither do I. It is too limited, I think.

Nothing convinces me and everything seems irrational to me.

Yeah I feel similarly. I guess faith doesn't have to be rational, though. That is maybe the trap.

You can always believe in God if you want to with all your heart.

Not everybody can.

 

[cantthinkofusername]

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but you can always try psychedelics. If you do enough drugs, you'll start to believe in god. Maybe it's not for you, but it's interesting to read about, if you're interested.

 

[Homo erectus]

There are people who believe in many gods and other people who are very worldly and believe only what they "see" (science), and many variations in between. Basically it's the belief of the source of truth, and they are all religions after all. Then the religious authorities attach more rules of their own to make things more difficult.

 

[Meteora]

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but you can always try psychedelics. If you do enough drugs, you'll start to believe in god. Maybe it's not for you, but it's interesting to read about, if you're interested.

I m not against it but it is dangerous in my case. I m too vulnerabe and instable, way too anxious. I have a very obsessive mind and it could get to the point where I get stuck. Horrible to only imagine. Gonna read it, though.

Then the religious authorities attach more rules of their own to make things more difficult.

I agree things are modified they way it suits them.

 

[InAgony]

I would say do research so that you can rely on logic, rather than just trying to believe.

For instance, there was a journalist/lawyer (Lee Strobel, I think it was) who set out to disprove God and Jesus being the son of God using his training as a lawyer, but he ended up becoming Christian as he said rather than disprove, he proved it to himself.

Maybe after reading apologetics, look at some of the apparitions of Mary on youtube....Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Zeitoun, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe, are a few. Also eucharistic miracles, the shroud of Turin, and statues crying water or oil.

 

[Meteora]

I would say do research so that you can rely on logic, rather than just trying to believe.

Don't think that would be a good approach for me. I m too nose-heavy anyway.

 

[R_N]

Maybe you can find some strength or peace of mind in certain religious practices regardless if you believe in higher power or not.

 

[Ulrich]

Faith begins precisely where reason leaves off.

 

[DarkRange55]

I have an identical problem. As a child, I was extremely religious (I took my faith seriously for my age). I even wanted to be a priest. At some point I lost my enthusiasm. I was just bored with it all. You could say that due to my laziness, I completely abandoned Religion. At some point, I also began to notice the inconsistencies and senselessness of all religions in the world. They all started to look stupid to me. I didn't see the point in all this. At this point I don't believe in anything at all. I'm not even an atheist. I like to imagine different scenarios after death, but I do it more for fun. For example, I imagine that after death I will be God (at this point I am a heretic for most of the world's religions :) ). I envy believers a bit because they have at least some minimal goal. I don't have one at the moment. For me, at this point, death is game over. I don't believe there is a hell for evil people. I don't even believe there is a division into good and evil. I don't believe in anything, but at the same time I don't rule out any of the options. Maybe, for example, Catholicism is right and I'll be screwed. I don't believe it, but I don't rule it out completely. I want to believe in something, but I don't have anything to believe in. Nothing convinces me and everything seems irrational to me. The only thing left for me was to have fun coming up with interesting (for me) scenarios.

I'm curious when you say, "not atheist" because atheism has no structure or dogma. It's simply by definition a-theism. Meaning the lack or absence of belief in dieties. It doesn't mean, for example, an atheist must believe in evolution or as an atheist you do believe in evolution. And it's not associated with the big bang because it doesn't have anything to do with that. Some atheists believe in it, some don't. Some atheists believe in ghosts or reincarnation or aliens and stuff. But thats the whole point, there is nothing beyond the fact they don't believe in any gods.
Anti-theists actively work against religious institutions. So atheism isn't synonymous with that either.

 

[Agon321]

What I mean is that on the one hand I don't believe in literally anything, and on the other I don't rule out other options. That's why I don't want to call myself an atheist, because I don't rule out the possibility that there is a deity that is compatible with Christianity, for example. If I were to define myself, I am closer to an agnostic than an atheist.
@DarkRange55

 

[Pluto]

 

[Meteora]

I wish I was homer....

Faith begins precisely where reason leaves off.

Guess so. But that is ok and normal I d say. Isn't it?

 

[MyLifeisHell]

Nothing. You won't receive the benefits of that faith if you don't have true conviction in God's existence. So there's normal point taxing your mind like that.

 

[Meteora]

I was always scared to ask God for the courage to end my life. It seemed two things that don't fit together. I was wrong. I feel a connection to God when I beg him to give me the strength.
And funnily I feel he won't betray be.

 

[Pluto]

I can recommend the theological book Conversations with God. It's available online.

I can also recommend browsing this NDE channel where many individuals report direct experiences.

Much of what needs to happen is discarding false ideas.

 

[Meteora]

Thank you @Pluto. I ll have a look at these suggestions. To be honest, sometimes it just seems like these people who talk about their experiences with God have a vivid imagination...

 

[Meteora]

@Pluto watched some of the experiences shared on NDE channel and found out what my difficulty is: when I listen to these people I always think this is how a spiritual experience has to be, like if there was a right and wrong.

 

[Pluto]

@Pluto watched some of the experiences shared on NDE channel and found out what my difficulty is: when I listen to these people I always think this is how a spiritual experience has to be, like if there was a right and wrong.

I agree, and I appreciate the conversation since I'm kind of reflecting on the same issue right now.

If the topic is explored properly, the litmus test for anything God-related is that it should equate to oneness.

Fail
That immediately exposes the traditional Abrahamic God as full of dualistic red flags. The dualities include separation from humanity (God vs. man), good and evil, heaven and hell; they even go so far as to make it a male God. It is a reflection of the personal biases of the men who invented it. You'll notice it getting debunked over and over in NDE reports.

In fact, some of the most primitive and violent people in the world are proponents of this imaginary God, including most terrorists.

Pass
In Vedantic philosophy, the name Brahman is given to ultimate reality. Because it is the essence of everything in existence, that also means it is our own true nature. Brahman can also be equated with consciousness. As one sage put it, "God is man minus ego." Hence, the goal is a subtractive process of removing the false identity to discover ourselves as Brahman.

Most NDEs describe God as an incredibly bright light of unconditional love. This is still not the highest reality since it represents a particular form and a separate entity, but it still gets a pass. Some experiences describe feelings of oneness with everything - even life reviews offer a rudimentary form of this. Researcher Kevin Williams used the word God as synonymous with life.

Neale Donald Walsch's theology goes into detail about the cosmic purpose for human life. That oneness/God could not know itself unless it created the illusion of separation.

 

[Meteora]

Neale Donald Walsch's theology goes into detail about the cosmic purpose for human life.

I came across his book many times. but I never really read it.

I think the experience with God is something very personal. It s not that it is comparable to what others tell. It can be an inspiration though

ff the topic is explored properly, the litmus test for anything God-related is that it should equate to oneness.

I agree and therefore religious war is so stupid and abusive bc if there is a god he for sure doesn t want us to fight against eachother and erase other extistences.

 

[thepiecessatup]

I have a hard time believing. I envy people who get so much strength through their faith.
Are some people simply not made to believe? I have major trust issues and therefore seem to be unable to trust God.

I lost my faith. It has broken my heart. All I can do is keep praying and hope it works. Action can lead to belief.

 

[Meteora]

I lost my faith. It has broken my heart. All I can do is keep praying and hope it works. Action can lead to belief.

I m sorry you got shaken so much . It s true, action helps to belief!

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I seriously do think God or some form of Him is real but contrary to popular depictions of Him, I actually believe he must be intentionally trying to mess with me by causing my despair to get worse and worse. Only someone with his level of power could possibly be causing my life to have gone down the way it has in the past few weeks and I don't know why he seems to be so fixated on making me suffer. I wouldn't be surprised if God somehow finds a way to sabotage my CTB so that I won't even get to do that right.

 

[Meteora]

@Dr Iron Arc I was at the library yesterday and came across a book written by a scientist. The title "Why we live more than one time on earth". Honestly, there is reincarnation. Christianity just doesnt make enough sense.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

@Dr Iron Arc I was at the library yesterday and came across a book written by a scientist. The title "Why we live more than one time on earth". Honestly, there is reincarnation. Christianity just doesnt make enough sense.

I suppose if reincarnation is real I can only hope that my next life actually spawns me as a normie. I mean it's in the term, so being a normal person should be statistically more likely right?

 

[Meteora]

I suppose if reincarnation is real I can only hope that my next life actually spawns me as a normie. I mean it's in the term, so being a normal person should be statistically more likely right?

Hm don't know. It would be desirable

 

[Pluto]

I came across his book many times. but I never really read it.

I think the experience with God is something very personal. It s not that it is comparable to what others tell. It can be an inspiration though

There's also a movie which is now freely available. The experience is personal, but there is a place for teachers who direct us back to ourselves and correct the misconceptions of the various religions that corrupt the G word.

I seriously do think God or some form of Him is real but contrary to popular depictions of Him, I actually believe he must be intentionally trying to mess with me by causing my despair to get worse and worse.

This is partly true. But according to the sources I've mentioned, the explanation - a rather uncomfortable one at that - is that you are yourself God, wearing a human costume as a disguise, mis-using your own powers and experiencing trouble. Hence there is an urgent need to understand what the heck is going on.

I normally don't 'go there' but would be really happy to continue this conversation and answer any questions to anyone who is genuinely open and interested.

 

[Ambivalent1]

I worked hard to deprogram myself from Christianity. It took years and I feel somehow less and more anxious than before. I don't fear hell because I no longer believe in it, but I'm anxious in general because now I realize there isn't some all powerful being looking out for me.

Religion is brainwashing. Just brainwash yourself by going to church and participating. Your brain will align with the new reality since it hates cognitive dissonance.