Do I even have a religion?

[NeedsFaith]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

 

[ricko]

Hi and welcome to CF. I would not recommend Islam my friend. There are many things about it which are very troubling. For one it is not the church/religion that God established. He established only one Church/religion and that is the Catholic Church which by the way does have the answers to your questions. You probably did not know where to look to find the answers. Jesus is God and the proof is in the bible in many many places. Have you read it? If you did you probably passed over them without knowing it. “I and the Father are one, the Father is in me and I am in the Father” is only one of those many.

 

[Henning]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. **I feel it is all difficult and hard **to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus says)
“Come unto me
all ye that labour and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest
take my yoke upon you
and learn of me
for I am meek and lowly in heart
and ye shall find rest unto your souls
for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

I am a convert to Catholicism.

I used to be very anti Catholic.

I now realize that God would not leave us without a guide.

 

[Allnamesused]

I don’t really have any advice, but I do have a request…convert to anything but Islam…anything!!! Become a Catholic, Mormon, Hindu, Scientolgist…hell become a freaking Wiccan; but please please please don’t curse this planet with another Moslem. The last thing we need is another Mohammed worshiping, woman hating, infidel killing, member of a religion that appears to be permanately stalled in the dark ages in all areas save bomb making and effigy burning. Look, the book of Mohammed (AKA The Koran) is a book that is nothing more than the insane ramblings of a man who by all historical accounts was nothing more than a warmongering mad man. He was a warlord who delivered his maggot ridden faith to all of Arabia at the end of a spear. For God’s sake man, he married a six year old girl and had her preganant by age 9!!! This is the man who invented the religion you want to join!
Sure Moslem peach some commonsense type wisdom: alcohol is bad, don’t use drugs, raise you children to be good martrys…etc., but you don’t need to become a head bobbing moron just to live a clean life. Be your own man!

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

History and the bible attest to the fact that Jesus existed and that the people who were his apostles and disciples were convinced by his miracles and teachings that he came from God. He said, “I and the Father are one.” and “no one knows the Father except the Son.” He promised to send the Holy Spirit to lead them into truth. Some of the Jewish leaders arranged for his death because he claimed to be one with the Father which they said was blasphemy because they knew that meant he was saying he was divine.

His disciples saw him crucified by the very efficient Roman forces. Some of them took his dead body (severely beaten up, massive blood loss, stabbed by a Roman soldier, etc.) and buried it in a tomb. Then only 3 days later they saw him walking around (no blood transfusions or hospital) in better shape than ever. And on the basis of this experience, they went out to tell other people about him. They didn’t get or expect any material gain from this. They just preached what they had experienced. They were non-violent. Most of the apostles were killed for their teachings. His teachings were not restricted to the people of one culture but spread throughout the world. His main teaching was to love God and one another.

The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the beginning of the Church. The Church still exists today. Jesus still calls us to love God and each other. He still gives us the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came to tell us that his Father, who is the creator of everything, LOVES us. He sent his son, Jesus (who is one with him) to live with us and die to reconcile us to him. He wants our love as well as our obedience. He want to be our Father. He wants us to live a good life that is a result of our relationship with Him. His followers are to be peacemakers.

Muhammad denied Jesus. He denied the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. He claimed that God is unknowable except that he is above all and requires our submission. And that to submit to God means we have to believe that Muhammad is his prophet. And we have to live a certain way that Muhammad says. And this message is to be spread by the sword if necessary.

Maybe none of this is convincing to you. Maybe you need to ask God to guide you to the truth in his own time. If you keep asking, I think he will answer your prayer.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Why do you say religion has given you endless madness?

 

[jblake]

Allnamesused;:

…convert to anything but Islam…anything!!! Become a …Scientolgist.

That makes $¢I€₦to£o₲¥ sound as if it has some virtue.

xan

jonathon

 

[Allnamesused]

That makes $¢I€₦to£o₲¥ sound as if it has some virtue.

xan

jonathon

No no no no…Scientology is naught but brain shriveling drivel; none-the-less I’d recommend it over becoming a Muhammadite in a heart beat. Infer from that what you will.

 

[Nickkname]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

Yes, Jesus said He was God. He clearly calls Himself God when He calls Himself “the Way, the Life, and the Truth” - titles which Jews at that time only used for God! If you’d like to understand Jesus and His Church better, I recommend you read it’s footnotesand.

If you’d like to understand the Church even better, you can check out her history, the long succession of Popes, the writings of the Church Fathers, and various saints of the Church - all of which you can find on the Vatican’s website: www.vatican.va

If you’d like to understand Islam, I recommend you read the Koran and this article on it: newadvent.org/cathen/08692a.htm

I hope you find the truth!

 

[NeedsFaith]

Why do you say religion has given you endless madness?

It makes me crazy to think about it!
I have spent the last 15 years worried about “which” path is to God and I feel like I have gone insane! Its all I think about. Day and nite, no joke. I cannot spent the next 40 years doing this. I am ready to give it all up just to get some peace in my life.

Thanks for the help.

 

[nebula]

It makes me crazy to think about it!
I have spent the last 15 years worried about “which” path is to God and I feel like I have gone insane! Its all I think about. Day and nite, no joke. I cannot spent the next 40 years doing this. I am ready to give it all up just to get some peace in my life.

Thanks for the help.

You should probably think about the end product for a while and focus on what you DO believe. What do you believe in in your heart of hearts?

 

[Sister_Amy]

Greetings.
Over the last 7 years I have been interested in Islam.
And here lately I feel like Islam lifted the veil of mysteries that the church has shrouded me with; but I am not sure if this is the right way to go. I feel Islam has many unanswered question ; but in my eyes so does the church. I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.
I am unsure Islam is true? But what hard is it to just belive in GOD?
I really am ready to give it all up and just “BE”. I am tired of the endless madness religion has given me. Some days I cannot think because it just makes me crazy.

Any help from converts or reverts appreciated.

Hi there–

I embraced Islam a few years ago, and can try to answer any questions if you have them, or if you just want to talk.

Like the poster “nebula” above me, I think it’s good for you to think about what you believe. Your userid “NeedsFaith” might say something about you, though your question is about religion.

I think faith is a good place to start, though. If you are trying to develop your faith, what do you think it is important to have from God, to help you in your faith, or in your life?

 

[xixxvmcm85]

Greeting to you too!

I’m Bryan. I am in the process of converting to the Catholic church from a religion with similar beginnings as Islam. I was born and raised in a family of staunch Mormons.

The Mormons:

1. Revere a prophet who is alleged to have “restored the truth”
2. Accept a scripture foreign to Christianity and elevated above the Bible.
3. That scripture was given to the “prophet” by “an angel” because the Bible was “corrupted”.
4. Believe/accept/use many of the same characters, words, and expressions as to Christians but with COMPLETELY different meanings.
5. An example of such is belief in Jesus but NOT as God.

Compare this to Islam:

1. Revere a “prophet” who is alleged to have “restored the truth”
2. Accept a scripture foreign to Christianity and elevated above the Bible.
3. That scripture was given to the “prophet” by “an angel” because the Bible was “corrupted”.
4. Believe/accept/use many of the same characters, words, and expressions as do Christians but with COMPLETELY different meanings.
5. An example of such is belief in Jesus, but NOT as God.

With this in mind, I quote you:

Greetings.

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.

In the cases of both Muhammad and Joseph Smith (the founders of Islam and Mormonism respectively), both had access to the “corrupted Bible” from which it is very likely that they got many of their ideas. They were able to IN HINDSIGHT claim that corruption had occurred and they were there to fix it.

The only reason why Islam and Mormonism have scriptures that mention Biblical figures (and even the corruption of the Bible itself) is because the Bible was canonized before either “prophet” came into the scene.

In other words, it’s not much a prophetic feat to “reinterpret something the way you want to” when you have the original at easy access. Muhammad as well as Joseph Smith were familiar with Christianity and had plenty of Christian acquaintances to pull off their forgeries.

If there really are “errors” in the Bible, why didn’t our omniscient God prevent the errors in the first place by sending a Muhammad/Joseph prototype BEFORE it was canonized?

 

[sambos671]

It makes me crazy to think about it!
I have spent the last 15 years worried about “which” path is to God and I feel like I have gone insane! Its all I think about. Day and nite, no joke. I cannot spent the next 40 years doing this. I am ready to give it all up just to get some peace in my life.

Thanks for the help.

What are you really looking for? A faith? There is so much data out there that yes it can be overwhelming. However, most people believe something. What is it you believe in? What is important to you. What do you hope for?

The message of Christianity is simple. Jesus died for your sins and you can be forgiven by believing in him. You will be made right with God by following him (living life as he did) There are two commandments that all the rules and laws fall under 1) to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and 2) love your neighbor as yourself. That is a simple message. Pray that the Lord will lead you into understanding and he will be gracious with you.

 

[notacat]

I really am confused when it comes to religion. I feel it is all difficult and hard to grasp. I don’t doubt in God but the rest seems to be fuzzy at times…

Maybe the problem is that you’re looking for a religion rather than for God.

Have you really studied your Bible? God’s Word is where you find the Truth.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17 KJV)

 

[Ruthie]

NeedsFaith,

Welcome to Catholic Answers. I’m a Catholic convert.

There are two major differences between Christianity and Islam.

The first is political. Islam is a form of government as well as a faith. Christianity certainly wants to affect government, but does not want to rule. We believe that all people have the right to exercise free will. (I admit that this has not always been true in the past, and there may even be a few that disagree with me today.)

Under Islam government, Jews and Christians are second-class citizens, who must pay a special tax and submit to Islamic rule. Pagans are to convert to Islam or die. (Read this, and this.) Those who convert to Christianity from Islam are sentenced to death. (Read about one case here.)

The second, and even more major difference, is that Christians believe in Christ, as the Son of God, and especially in His death and resurrection. Islam claims that He *faked *His death, and is no more holy than any other of the lesser prophets. (Lesser to Mohamed, that is.)

A defense of the Resurrection, in three parts, was printed in This Rock. See here, here, and here. I am also reading an excellent book, The Case for the Real Jesus, by Lee Strobeck. It comes from a Protestant viewpoint, but is giving me lots of apologetic ammo!

So it comes down to this. If you believe in the separation of Church and State, Islam is **not **for you. And if you believe that Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and was resurrected, Christianity *is *where you belong.

Another Christian posted one of my favorite Scriptures: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28, RSV) Jesus said it and it’s true. He has done that for me, many a time.

Another favorite Scripture of mine is 1 Cor 13:12, and it fits right in with the above. Paul says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” So we don’t *have *to understand everything, for now. (You have no idea how comforting that is to me!) For now, I can be content with being fully understood by God. Later, we will meet Jesus face to face, and then we will understand everything. No more asking, “Why?”

I pray you will decide on Christianity.

God bless you in your struggle,

Ruthie

 

[ralphinal]

Hello and welcome.

If I were you, I would pause from all of it for a moment and contemplate this line of thought.

First, who are you and why are you here? You are a human and you are here to know God, love God, and serve God in this world so that you may be with him in the next.

Second, who made you and for what purpose? God made you. He made you because his love was too great not to share with creation. He made you to love him in this world and the next.

Third, what is your relationship to the one that made you? That depends on you. You can be a slave or be a child. You can be a faithful slave or a rebellious one. You can be a faithful child or a rebellious one.

Now, which relationship is one of love? Islam says that you are a slave. A master NEVER TRULY loves a salve. And a slave NEVER TRULY loves his master. No, only Christianity shows you the love that GOd has for his children.

Personally, I would rather be a rebellious child then a loyal slave. A child is always welcomed back if he says he repents. A slave is never loved.

 

[Callin]

It makes me crazy to think about it! I have spent the last 15 years worried about “which” path is to God and I feel like I have gone insane! Its all I think about. Day and nite, no joke. I cannot spent the next 40 years doing this. I am ready to give it all up just to get some peace in my life.

I’m not a convert or a revert. However, this reminds me of my first year of college, when I was exposed to more viewpoints in more depth than I was ever used to. A time in which I felt very torn between whether to be a Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, or atheist, and others to a lesser degree, and it drove me crazy.

I did two things.

1. 
   *]Lots of research. I read credible articles from each group’s members, and from the members of other groups. Both sides. If one belief system was accused of having inconsistencies or shaky reasoning (which you mentioned), I looked at its followers’ explanation. Things became less and less fuzzy. I also learned some Greek in the process.
   *]Ask God for help. Prayed for wisdom and the ability to see which was correct, prayed that he would lead me to the truth. Sometimes I begged. I did NOT pray that he would show me that ------ was right, or ------ was wrong. No bias, so I knew I was asking for the truth, not whatever I might have thought was the truth at the time.
   
   In the end, I made a decision - Catholicism - but I still pray and do some research each day.

 

[M0nkey]

I am unsure id Jesus really said he was god and even if the bible is accurate.

At least you have serious concerns about this, in this sense you are half way there.

I went through a similar period in my life where I questioned the nature of God, what’s the deal with this guy named Jesus? Is He a prophet? Is the Bible accurate? Are Christians committing blasphemy? I beat it down to the point where I believed in God the father, but did not know who God is in Christ Jesus.

The first step to unravel this mystery would be to consider the intrinsic nature of God. If you were to ask me, “Who’s God?” I would say, “God is Love.” “Why is God Love?” Then I will quickly pull out a crucifix.

Imagine, the full power and majestic power of God fully revealed to men through the cross of Jesus Christ. A cross that in the first century was a sign of a sad miserable death, it was humiliating! How He chose to HUMBLE himself and became flesh. How He chose to lead by being a servant to all, and giving of His divine blood for the salvation of many. This is a powerful message that has touched the deep senses of my heart as I am madly in Love with Him.

Hope this helps in your search…