Could I be doing somerthing better?

[Austere]

After seeing a similar thread on the forum, it got me thinking into whether or not I could spend my time doing something else than living the days-in-days-out of a failing Catholic. This is what I wrote:

“I feel like you too mate, my relationship is just so on/off with God that I feel it’s just not worth the hassle and beating myself up over things I can’t stop doing, no matter how much I pray for the strength to overcome such temptations. The concept of a spiritual life is practically dead from my own experience, so I agree with your sentiment of doing religion but not spirituality. Especially with the general disagreement on 'there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church”, the fact that there is a possibility of non-Catholics going to heaven invalidates the purpose of the Catholic faith when I could easily follow the example of such a person’s example. I’m really at a dead end here."

So that begs the question, why should I bother with the faith anymore, considering the fact that it is so erratic between bouts of faithlessness and faithfulness, the former being the most prominent. Prayer just never seems to work, especially if I ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary or the Saints. I’ve never had a spiritual life and I doubt I ever will. I don’t why I bother with the faith anymore.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Greetings.

The Apostles walked and talked to Jesus…saw Him perform many miracles…and they still doubted.

Peaks and valleys are normal occurrence in life and in matters of faith.

Go to the gym and watch these muscle heads walk out with their ripped up bodies. They got that way by fighting through the pain and exercising regularly.

And we can do the same…we can exercise our faith and be spiritually strong, or we can be a spiritual wimp.

I think when we die God will have two major questions for us…what was your relationship with my Son, Jesus? And what did you do with the talents I gave you? Personally, I hope to stand unashamed on that day.

It’s a marathon not a sprint. Persevere and you will be fine.

 

[pianistclare]

After seeing a similar thread on the forum, it got me thinking into whether or not I could spend my time doing something else than living the days-in-days-out of a failing Catholic. This is what I wrote:

“I feel like you too mate, my relationship is just so on/off with God that I feel it’s just not worth the hassle and beating myself up over things I can’t stop doing, no matter how much I pray for the strength to overcome such temptations. The concept of a spiritual life is practically dead from my own experience, so I agree with your sentiment of doing religion but not spirituality. Especially with the general disagreement on 'there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church”, the fact that there is a possibility of non-Catholics going to heaven invalidates the purpose of the Catholic faith when I could easily follow the example of such a person’s example. I’m really at a dead end here."

So that begs the question, why should I bother with the faith anymore, considering the fact that it is so erratic between bouts of faithlessness and faithfulness, the former being the most prominent. Prayer just never seems to work, especially if I ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary or the Saints. I’ve never had a spiritual life and I doubt I ever will. I don’t why I bother with the faith anymore.

So why do you think Jesus Christ bothers with you?
He died for you, no?
He instituted the Catholic Church to help you get to heaven, I wouldn’t toss that aside for ANYTHING.

 

[Abiding_in_Love]

Peter denied Jesus three times. Paul killed some of Jesus’ early followers. We are going to make mistakes from time to time. The important thing when we fall into the mud isn’t to wallow around in it and ask why we didn’t avoid the mud puddle better or be full of self pity; we need to pick ourselves right back up, tell Jesus we’re sorry, go to Confession, and continue on the path.

 

[puzzledtoo]

To the op: Greetings,
There is a thread here on caf that asks the question why are atheists without hope? I read quite a few posts here where it seems that those with religion whether catholic or non are without hope. I for one don’t have a religion I follow but do consider myself spiritual and am quite happy with the path I’ve chosen or that has chosen me. Learn to be comfortable with uncertainty. You’ve gotten much good advice in the few posts that are here, meditate on them and take them to heart. Be well-blessings.

 

[Austere]

To the op: Greetings,
There is a thread here on caf that asks the question why are atheists without hope? I read quite a few posts here where it seems that those with religion whether catholic or non are without hope. I for one don’t have a religion I follow but do consider myself spiritual and am quite happy with the path I’ve chosen or that has chosen me. Learn to be comfortable with uncertainty. You’ve gotten much good advice in the few posts that are here, meditate on them and take them to heart. Be well-blessings.

Of course my friend, but I believe I’m pulling away slightly from the faith and whether it can be stopped or whether I can stop it, is debatable, if not very unlikely. From further reflection, I question whether I had genuine faith but from looking at other people, I’m in the frame of mind mind that I had the appearance of faith but that it lacked any essence. I said my prayers, did the Rosary, went to confession, took the Eucharist but I felt very little during it. Maybe I was trying to convince myself I did have faith but in reality, there was anything but. I do want to have faith but I doubt I could actually possess it.

 

[puzzledtoo]

“Could I be doing something better?” I don’t exactly understand the question. Christianity or any faith tradition is not designed to be easy, there are always ups and downs, progress and backsliding. Could you be doing something better? Certainly, we all could. No one here can tell you what that something is. Meditate on that question and sooner or later(who knows when) you will get an answer. Having patience is all the strength we need(I forget who I paraphrased this from). In my view too often we need instant answers and validation.
Think of the things you say in your prayers and recite at mass-the creeds etc… see what isn’t working for you and go to the catholic catechism and or see your local priest to have him help you through the rough spots of feeling rote. Maybe that is one way of doing something “better”. I’m a fan of sitting in silence and doing nothing but to breathe and listen. Blessings to you and yours.

 

[Austere]

“Could I be doing something better?” I don’t exactly understand the question. Christianity or any faith tradition is not designed to be easy, there are always ups and downs, progress and backsliding. Could you be doing something better? Certainly, we all could. No one here can tell you what that something is. Meditate on that question and sooner or later(who knows when) you will get an answer. Having patience is all the strength we need(I forget who I paraphrased this from). In my view too often we need instant answers and validation.
Think of the things you say in your prayers and recite at mass-the creeds etc… see what isn’t working for you and go to the catholic catechism and or see your local priest to have him help you through the rough spots of feeling rote. Maybe that is one way of doing something “better”. I’m a fan of sitting in silence and doing nothing but to breathe and listen. Blessings to you and yours.

I thank you for your good intentions my friend, but I think I’ve transitioned away from the faith now at this stage and to be perfectly honest, I read that thread you suggested and even wrote my own response, implying that atheists are more than likely to have greater hope than the religious/theistic person and in this case, the Catholic. What could inhibit an atheists or even a deist from having hope? That they would be mindful of actions that have very little or no consequence to them such as ridiculing or critically-examining a person beliefs? Tangible things are better than intangible things, as opposed to the tripe that the latter is of more benefit than the former. If I were to ask my father to help me by loaning me some money while ask my supposed “true” father to help me fight the onslaught of a particular sin I’m facing and no help is erstwhile received, which am I more likely to trust and ask for further assistance? The answers are obvious to me now, especially when I look at death. It looks far more peaceful than acknowledging the possibility of an afterlife spent in pain and torture perpetually or eternal bliss, knowing the greater majority of mankind winds up in the former, a sliver in the latter. Human problems can be fixed by human hands!

 

[puzzledtoo]

“Tangible things are better than intangible things,…” I believe that we see what we believe. I happen to be of the belief that the spiritual/intangible is far superior to the tangible.
This is a quote from Thomas Merton: “We have what we seek, it is there all the time, and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us.”
Transitioning away from your faith may give you a new perspective-or not. Hope these seeds you are now sowing will be fruitful and give you much peace. As I posted earlier I like to breathe and listen. Blessings to you and yours.