Apathy

[Awake]

I want to have an intimate relationship with God, but I just have a hard time caring. What can I do to cure apathy?

Scripture doesn’t speak to me. Most of the OT seems barbaric and archaic. Reading the NT, Jesus seems like an intriguing figure, but I don’t feel any personal connection with him and I don’t get any desire to give my life for Christianity. A lot of what is in the Bible just seems silly and absurd to me.

Theology seems meaningless. I am well versed in Catholic theology, but it all just seems pointless. Theologians debate on obscure details that have no barring on one’s life and ultimately the only reason they can use to defend their viewpoint is that they know God better than the other person. The debate of the filioque is the epitome of the this.

Prayer doesn’t do anything for me. God doesn’t speak to me, directly or indirectly. People speak of how great prayer is and how close a relationship they gain with God. I have no idea what this is like. Every hour I spend in prayer does nothing more for me than waste an hour of my life. I actually find myself in a better mood when I don’t pray. I have tried all sorts of prayers and and all sorts of methods, but nothing works.

Even though I have studied the Catholic Mass extensively, I’m still bored when I go. All sorts of miraculous stuff is supposedly going on, but I don’t feel any desire to be there. Mass is supposed to be the highlight of one’s week, but I always look forward to it being over.

What it all comes down to is that God doesn’t speak to me through scripture, theology, prayer, or mass.

I’ve always thought that if I just spent a little bit more time in prayer, or a little more time reading the Bible, or went to daily Mass, or read more spiritual or theological books, than it would all click. If I did just a little bit more, I would understand what it is like when people say they have a relationship with Jesus. And that’s the only advice I’ve ever really received “just pray about it” or “learn about it and you’ll have more of a desire”. Well I’ve tried, and I’ve tried and I’ve tried, and it doesn’t work.

I don’t know what it is like to have a religious experience. Nature, music, literature, mathematics, and science all speak to me. But when it comes to Catholicism, God, Jesus, etc., nothing speaks to me. And people tell me I’m evil because God isn’t the most important part of my life…

What am I doing wrong?

 

[littleone]

I want to have an intimate relationship with God, but I just have a hard time caring. What can I do to cure apathy?
It all comes from the “faith” God alone can give you, and you must ASK for it. It may not come over night but it will just keep on asking ( forever).

DarkRed"]OK! here are some points.
1 DON"T try to have this big “theological” relationship it won’t work. You have to think as the bible such as “God made us all to His likeness” so think,if you want to fall in love with a person then look for the things they do that make you excited in being with them.That is how you would relate to wanting to be with that person. Well think of the good things, the love that Jesus has for you that no other person could ever give you, then LET GO of your humanness and want to love Jesus.

Scripture doesn’t speak to me. Most of the OT seems barbaric and archaic. Reading the NT, Jesus seems like an intriguing figure, but I don’t feel any personal connection with him and I don’t get any desire to give my life for Christianity. A lot of what is in the Bible just seems silly and absurd to me.
**COLOR=“DarkRed”]Try reading with the word “truth” in front and then ask yourself if theology, or humanness could ever give you this love, or if any other person could ever speak this way to you, give their life for you, **

Theology seems meaningless. **Theology is basically meaningless and without “faith in God” it will always be meaningless.
Prayer doesn’t do anything for me. **

God doesn’t speak to me, directly or indirectly. People speak of how great prayer is and how close a relationship they gain with God. I have no idea what this is like. You can have this relationship and it all goes back to No 1 asking for “faith” “believing” that what Jesus did NO OTHER person will ever do ( is that not worth giving your life to that person)

Every hour I spend in prayer does nothing more for me than waste an hour of my life. I actually find myself in a better mood when I don’t pray. That is the very reason why it does not work, because you have already told yourself that it will not work. Change your thought patterns, TELL Jesus that no other person has ever done what He has done, admit it. Read his life again with a different fervor ( thought pattern think GODY)

Even though I have studied the Catholic Mass extensively, I’m still bored when I go. ** yeah it can be like that if your heart is not there, it is your heart ( the same as any other persons) that has to change.**

All sorts of miraculous stuff is supposedly going on, but I don’t feel any desire to be there.** And that makes sense when you have not been in the situation so you will not feel it, because love is not your motivator. But it can be. **

Mass is supposed to be the highlight of one’s week, but I always look forward to it being over. Been there to and it was not until I let go and gave it all over to Jesus, when I told Jesus I could NOT do any thing that He had to do it, because I didn’t have the strength that it started happening.

What it all comes down to is that God doesn’t speak to me through scripture, theology, prayer, or mass. He does but we have to listen with ears that want to hear what GOD want’s us to hear, NOT what we want to hear.
What God tells us usually contradicts our human thought or expectation.

I’ve always thought that if I just spent a little bit more time in prayer, or a little more time reading the Bible, or went to daily Mass, or read more spiritual or theological books, than it would all click. ** Sure it might “let go and let God” tell Him that you will not give up, that you want to have that relationship. **

If I did just a little bit more, I would understand what it is like when people say they have a relationship with Jesus. And that’s the only advice I’ve ever really received “just pray about it” or “learn about it and you’ll have more of a desire”. Look at what Jesus has done for you fall in love with that person think how wonderful that person is giving their life for you to have the right to be with Him in heaven.

I don’t know what it is like to have a religious experience.

Nature, music, literature, mathematics, and science all speak to me. But when it comes to Catholicism, God, Jesus, etc., nothing speaks to me. **Here is a saying that might help" “The person who sees the creation may never see the creator, but the person who sees the creator has already seen the creation for they are one and the same”
IF you don’t understand this I will explain.
**
And people tell me I’m evil because God isn’t the most important part of my life…

You are not evil since you are made to God’s likeness, only a persons actins can be evil. I don’t concider you evil.
Godbless.

 

[arvinsim]

I think if you are just starting your journey toward God, it is normal to feel that way. Just keep on going and persevere on seeking him.

 

[JonW]

Faith is not always, or primarily, or even necessarily in any way, a feeling. Get over yourself. Live for God.

God Bless

Jon Winterburn

 

[KingAlfred]

I want to have an intimate relationship with God, but I just have a hard time caring. What can I do to cure apathy?

Scripture doesn’t speak to me. Most of the OT seems barbaric and archaic. Reading the NT, Jesus seems like an intriguing figure, but I don’t feel any personal connection with him and I don’t get any desire to give my life for Christianity. A lot of what is in the Bible just seems silly and absurd to me.

Theology seems meaningless. I am well versed in Catholic theology, but it all just seems pointless. Theologians debate on obscure details that have no barring on one’s life and ultimately the only reason they can use to defend their viewpoint is that they know God better than the other person. The debate of the filioque is the epitome of the this.

Prayer doesn’t do anything for me. God doesn’t speak to me, directly or indirectly. People speak of how great prayer is and how close a relationship they gain with God. I have no idea what this is like. Every hour I spend in prayer does nothing more for me than waste an hour of my life. I actually find myself in a better mood when I don’t pray. I have tried all sorts of prayers and and all sorts of methods, but nothing works.

Even though I have studied the Catholic Mass extensively, I’m still bored when I go. All sorts of miraculous stuff is supposedly going on, but I don’t feel any desire to be there. Mass is supposed to be the highlight of one’s week, but I always look forward to it being over.

What it all comes down to is that God doesn’t speak to me through scripture, theology, prayer, or mass.

I’ve always thought that if I just spent a little bit more time in prayer, or a little more time reading the Bible, or went to daily Mass, or read more spiritual or theological books, than it would all click. If I did just a little bit more, I would understand what it is like when people say they have a relationship with Jesus. And that’s the only advice I’ve ever really received “just pray about it” or “learn about it and you’ll have more of a desire”. Well I’ve tried, and I’ve tried and I’ve tried, and it doesn’t work.

I don’t know what it is like to have a religious experience. Nature, music, literature, mathematics, and science all speak to me. But when it comes to Catholicism, God, Jesus, etc., nothing speaks to me. And people tell me I’m evil because God isn’t the most important part of my life…

What am I doing wrong?

Some people have no sense of religion, or simply can’t get enthused about the religion handed down to them by their parents. My entire family is like that. I’m the only religious person in the bunch.

 

[Awake]

It all comes from the “faith” God alone can give you, and you must ASK for it. It may not come over night but it will just keep on asking ( forever).

I have asked. Many many many times.

DarkRed"]OK! here are some points.
1 DON"T try to have this big “theological” relationship it won’t work. You have to think as the bible such as “God made us all to His likeness” so think,if you want to fall in love with a person then look for the things they do that make you excited in being with them.That is how you would relate to wanting to be with that person. Well think of the good things, the love that Jesus has for you that no other person could ever give you, then LET GO of your humanness and want to love Jesus.

That’s the problem. I’ve tried this for so long unsuccessfully that I don’t have much desire left.

**COLOR=“DarkRed”]Try reading with the word “truth” in front and then ask yourself if theology, or humanness could ever give you this love, or if any other person could ever speak this way to you, give their life for you, **

Ok.

Theology is basically meaningless and without “faith in God” it will always be meaningless.

Agreed.

You can have this relationship and it all goes back to No 1 asking for “faith” “believing” that what Jesus did NO OTHER person will ever do ( is that not worth giving your life to that person)

I’ve tried asking for faith.

That is the very reason why it does not work, because you have already told yourself that it will not work. Change your thought patterns, TELL Jesus that no other person has ever done what He has done, admit it. Read his life again with a different fervor ( thought pattern think GODY)

No, that’s not true. I go into prayer every time thinking this time I’ll actually gain faith. But it never happens.

** yeah it can be like that if your heart is not there, it is your heart ( the same as any other persons) that has to change. And that makes sense when you have not been in the situation so you will not feel it, because love is not your motivator. But it can be. **

That would be nice.

Been there to and it was not until I let go and gave it all over to Jesus, when I told Jesus I could NOT do any thing that He had to do it, because I didn’t have the strength that it started happening.

He does but we have to listen with ears that want to hear what GOD want’s us to hear, NOT what we want to hear.
What God tells us usually contradicts our human thought or expectation.

I have had a number of discussions asking people how to find out what God is telling me. Nobody has ever been able to give me a good answer.

** Sure it might “let go and let God” tell Him that you will not give up, that you want to have that relationship. **

I’ve tried that. It’s brought me nothing but distress.

Look at what Jesus has done for you fall in love with that person think how wonderful that person is giving their life for you to have the right to be with Him in heaven.

I don’t know what Jesus has done for me. I only know what people have told me he has done for me.

Here is a saying that might help" “The person who sees the creation may never see the creator, but the person who sees the creator has already seen the creation for they are one and the same”
IF you don’t understand this I will explain.

You are not evil since you are made to God’s likeness, only a persons actins can be evil. I don’t concider you evil.
Godbless.

I’m glad you don’t think so.

 

[Awake]

I think if you are just starting your journey toward God, it is normal to feel that way. Just keep on going and persevere on seeking him.

What do you consider just starting? I’ve been at this my whole life, but much more seriously the past 5 years.

 

[Awake]

Faith is not always, or primarily, or even necessarily in any way, a feeling. Get over yourself. Live for God.

God Bless

Jon Winterburn

Ok tough guy, your profile says that you’re a former atheist who was given faith by a conversion experience. Who are you to tell somebody to get over themselves when they haven’t had the same conversion experience?

 

[Awake]

Some people have no sense of religion, or simply can’t get enthused about the religion handed down to them by their parents. My entire family is like that. I’m the only religious person in the bunch.

Does that mean that there’s no solution?

 

[Mark_Robert]

Faith is not always, or primarily, or even necessarily in any way, a feeling. Get over yourself. Live for God.

God Bless

Jon Winterburn

Amen. We live in a very “ME” oriented world where self-gratification is seen as the highest good and the guiding compass for a person’s life. When we are baptized we die to self and are buried with Christ. Only by dying to ourselves, will be find new life in Christ. This means renouncing the self and the world for the sake of God’s glory. Dr. Feel Good need not apply. Saints are those who perservere in faith even though it may not “feel good” or inspirational. They live for God and His glory alone.

 

[Mark_Robert]

Some people have no sense of religion, or simply can’t get enthused about the religion handed down to them by their parents. My entire family is like that. I’m the only religious person in the bunch.

That’s very, very true. In fact, there are a lot of people who have no desire or taste for religion whatsoever. They live purely for the world.

 

[Awake]

That’s very, very true. In fact, there are a lot of people who have no desire or taste for religion whatsoever. They live purely for the world.

It’s people like you that make me want to be an atheist.

 

[TrueFaithSeeker]

I want to have an intimate relationship with God, but I just have a hard time caring. What can I do to cure apathy?

Scripture doesn’t speak to me. Most of the OT seems barbaric and archaic. Reading the NT, Jesus seems like an intriguing figure, but I don’t feel any personal connection with him and I don’t get any desire to give my life for Christianity. A lot of what is in the Bible just seems silly and absurd to me.

Theology seems meaningless. I am well versed in Catholic theology, but it all just seems pointless. Theologians debate on obscure details that have no barring on one’s life and ultimately the only reason they can use to defend their viewpoint is that they know God better than the other person. The debate of the filioque is the epitome of the this.

Prayer doesn’t do anything for me. God doesn’t speak to me, directly or indirectly. People speak of how great prayer is and how close a relationship they gain with God. I have no idea what this is like. Every hour I spend in prayer does nothing more for me than waste an hour of my life. I actually find myself in a better mood when I don’t pray. I have tried all sorts of prayers and and all sorts of methods, but nothing works.

Even though I have studied the Catholic Mass extensively, I’m still bored when I go. All sorts of miraculous stuff is supposedly going on, but I don’t feel any desire to be there. Mass is supposed to be the highlight of one’s week, but I always look forward to it being over.

What it all comes down to is that God doesn’t speak to me through scripture, theology, prayer, or mass.

I’ve always thought that if I just spent a little bit more time in prayer, or a little more time reading the Bible, or went to daily Mass, or read more spiritual or theological books, than it would all click. If I did just a little bit more, I would understand what it is like when people say they have a relationship with Jesus. And that’s the only advice I’ve ever really received “just pray about it” or “learn about it and you’ll have more of a desire”. Well I’ve tried, and I’ve tried and I’ve tried, and it doesn’t work.

I don’t know what it is like to have a religious experience. Nature, music, literature, mathematics, and science all speak to me. But when it comes to Catholicism, God, Jesus, etc., nothing speaks to me. And people tell me I’m evil because God isn’t the most important part of my life…

What am I doing wrong?

Hello Awake,

Have you talked to God about all your struggles? I would talk to Jesus Christ about all the pain that you are going through and ask him for his healing, love, and mercy. Remember that God loves you and He wants the best for you. I would recommend spending one hour in silence in front of the Blessed Sacrement and try to listen to God in silence with thanksgiving for all what God has given to you and especially the greatest gift of Love to you (by Him dying on the cross for you) there is no greater Love than that, always mediate on God’s Love for you. In your silent moment, ask God to speak to you. Here is a nice picture of Jesus

i.pbase.com/u11/mansour_mouasher/upload/38044668.292.jpg

Think of Jesus as your friend

Also, I would recommend going to confession (try to find a good priest and schedule an appointment with him and talk to him about your struggles) and recieve communion and ask Jesus that you really want to believe in Him with great faith. So I would recommend talking with God about your current struggles infront of the Blessed Sacrement and God will grant you peace that the world can’t grant.

God bless you and help you

 

[TrueFaithSeeker]

This is the picture

http://www.apostolate.org/apostolate/ANE_PG_Manual/SHJ-IHM-lg-pic.jpg



God loves you

 

[Awake]

Hello Awake,

Have you talked to God about all your struggles? I would talk to Jesus Christ about all the pain that you are going through and ask him for his healing, love, and mercy. Remember that God loves you and He wants the best for you. I would recommend spending one hour in silence in front of the Blessed Sacrement and try to listen to God in silence with thanksgiving for all what God has given to you and especially the greatest gift of Love to you (by Him dying on the cross for you) there is no greater Love than that, always mediate on God’s Love for you. In your silent moment, ask God to speak to you. Here is a nice picture of Jesus

i.pbase.com/u11/mansour_mouasher/upload/38044668.292.jpg

Think of Jesus as your friend

Also, I would recommend going to confession (try to find a good priest and schedule an appointment with him and talk to him about your struggles) and recieve communion and ask Jesus that you really want to believe in Him with great faith. So I would recommend talking with God about your current struggles infront of the Blessed Sacrement and God will grant you peace that the world can’t grant.

God bless you and help you

The thing is that I’ve never been able to think of Jesus as my friend. A friend is somebody I can have a good talk with or enjoy spending time with. Jesus is silent and invisible. When I read about him in scripture, I find him to be an intriguing character, but I don’t feel any personal connection to him.

I’ve spent many hours in front of the blessed sacrament, all fruitless. I always go in thinking that this will be the time that I’ll actually get to know God or at least receive the gift of faith. But every time I walk away frustrated.

 

[Awake]

God loves you

I sure hope so…

 

[Nordar]

Faith is not always, or primarily, or even necessarily in any way, a feeling. Get over yourself. Live for God.

God Bless

Jon Winterburn

That was rather uncalled for~ The OP is asking very serious questions.

 

[arvinsim]

Originally Posted by arvinsim View Post
I think if you are just starting your journey toward God, it is normal to feel that way. Just keep on going and persevere on seeking him.

What do you consider just starting? I’ve been at this my whole life, but much more seriously the past 5 years.

I’m just saying that it just won’t happen overnight.

5 years is pretty long though…and seeing that I am underqualified to give advice, you may want to refer to other posters though

 

[Awake]

I’m just saying that it just won’t happen overnight.

5 years is pretty long though…and seeing that I am underqualified to give advice, you may want to refer to other posters though

Thanks anyways. 5 years is a long time…

 

[littleone]

Faith is not always, or primarily, or even necessarily in any way, a feeling. Get over yourself. Live for God.

God Bless

Jon Winterburn

I guess that since Faith and feelings can never be accepted as being the same then it is not feelings that God wants or that will build a relationship with God.
It is Love, and love comes from faith and faith comes from hearing the word of God.
It is the gift that GOD alone gave us and as Jesus tells us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed then we could possibly move mountains.
Jesus also tells us that if we build the faith we are given then we can gain more, depending on God’s choice.
God bless