Doubting catholicism

[An_Murong]

Dear readers,

First of all I would like to state that I am a person of good will. I am not here with any intention to do something that is offensive, in any given way.

I was baptised into the Catholic Church as an infant and went to church probably every sunday morning with my mother starting with my First Communion. My father and little brother are not active catholics. Currently I am studying Applied Sciences at college.

So to speak, I am a VERY and I mean very rational thinking person. I think all the time. Can you imagine how hard it is to get into sleep at night, because I just do not know what “not thinking” is like or how to do that.

I do not have any emotion in me. I “feel” nothing, zero. I am just very rational. An example: “normal” people might have friendships based on love or inexplainable affection towards that person. I have friendships based on what they can do for me. If they helped me do something, they rise in “rank” if you get what I mean. It is like a big ranking, where the best friends take number one. But not emotionally; really hard to explain.

Therefor, reasoning about the Catholic faith about love, offering and such things mean NOTHING to me. Just for the simple fact that I do not know what those things mean, I cannot understand what they mean and thus those reasonings do not aid me in my quest to understanding catholicism. I cannot just “believe” or “feel” God, because I do not know how to do that due to my lack of emotions.

I am aware of the fact that this is an online message board, and you do not know me in person. But I am doubting catholicism. I am doubting the existance of God; at this moment I do not believe in God. As a matter of fact, I do not consider myself catholic now…

Due to personal issues, I cannot read books on catholicism so that is not really an option. Any thoughts? Those are greatly appreciated.

P.S. If I posted this in the wrong section, I apologize.

 

[TruthSeekah]

Sheldon Cooper meets Dexter!

Sorry man, I had to to lighten the mood a bit.

Anyways… given the state of discribed situation, I would think that trying to resolve if you are Catholic or not would be least of your problems. How about will to live, social interactions and functioning in everyday life. That is not a problem at all?

If you have NO emotions, why do you care if you believe in god or not? Wouldn’t caring about these things imply some emotion, ie: wanting to believe?

Cheers!

 

[An_Murong]

Sheldon Cooper meets Dexter!

Sorry man, I had to to lighten the mood a bit.

Anyways… given the state of discribed situation, I would think that trying to resolve if you are Catholic or not would be least of your problems. How about will to live, social interactions and functioning in everyday life. That is not a problem at all?

If you have NO emotions, why do you care if you believe in god or not? Wouldn’t caring about these things imply some emotion, ie: wanting to believe?

Cheers!

Well, I function just fine at the moment. That is not a problem.

I “like” the practical parts of catholicism. Mass and all that. I also would like the content part so it does not seem so empty for me, so outward.

 

[TruthSeekah]

Well, I function just fine at the moment. That is not a problem.

I “like” the practical parts of catholicism. Mass and all that. I also would like the content part so it does not seem so empty for me, so outward.

Which practical parts of catholicism do a man without ANY emotion at all like? And why? Why do you call mass? It doesn’t make it easier for you to survive, does it? If you have no emotions, mass is pretty useless. You are also not afraid of eternal damnation and stuff, so you’re just fine. If you can, elaborate please, I’m really interested!

Why would you want the content part of catholicism? Do you think it will somehow fill the emptiness inside? Why do you want to fill it, if you have no emotions at all?

God bless ya.

 

[An_Murong]

Which practical parts of catholicism do a man without ANY emotion at all like? And why? Why do you call mass? It doesn’t make it easier for you to survive, does it? If you have no emotions, mass is pretty useless. You are also not afraid of eternal damnation and stuff, so you’re just fine. If you can, elaborate please, I’m really interested!

Why would you want the content part of catholicism? Do you think it will somehow fill the emptiness inside? Why do you want to fill it, if you have no emotions at all?

God bless ya.

Well I like the fact that it is not ordinary like some other things. I like Latin language, walking around in special clothing and trying to serve perfectly. But like I said, it is all appearance for me. I do not understand anything else of Mass. But after a while, things get boring for me because it is the same time after time. Nothing different with EF Mass here, I am not as interested in it as I was a month ago.

Well I want the content part of it because otherwise it feels like pretending to be something I am really not. It bothers me to “be” catholic and have to be catholic while I am not, judging from the content part. Why not leave the Church you might ask? Well I am a sacristan currently, which I like but again for the appearce part. I like to see the nice golden chalices and the nice buildings.

 

[TruthSeekah]

Exactly! This is very good! Thanks

I’m also very rational person and I have started a thread called “Crisis of faith”… which makes me think I’m not the best person to answer your questions, am I? I was just interested. And interesting it is!

Good luck mate!

 

[mab23]

You say you do not believe in God - I too at a point felt this way

but with further research on many arguments from design , creation of the universe , the universe is made to be temporary, objective moral values I found the evidence sufficient for having a creator

then I looked to religion - Christianity how it came to be has an amazing history and is Unlike any other religion since it was largely unpopular and a death sentence back then. but looking to the bible , the testimonies and reading and observing the historical and archaeological evidence the bible and other ancient documents have obtained or given to us. the fact that the Roman Catholic church has survived for the last 2000 years and we still believe in the same core doctrinal beliefs of the early Catholic Christians - the evidence is there - its not largely overwhelming but it is sufficient

you sound like your having troubles with love, open yourself up, join a ministry or volunteer somewhere , attend Eucharistic adoration, do something to make a difference I notice I tend to feel love the most when I give it. so start giving love to people

that is my advice - I hope it helps

my prayers go out to you

 

[Myqyl]

Consider :

What is the probability that the universe as we know it could be the result of random events with no external “Guiding Force”?

Give this some thought… I believe you will come to the conclusion that the “Probability” of God is very nearly 1.0 … (Personally i couldn’t get past the placement, size, and motion of the moon without that conclusion and that is a very small part of the whole)

The “Nature” of God is a much tougher one… But once you have a high degree of confidence in the existance of God, you can narrow your search to “What is God” instead of “Is God”… And you can ask God to help guide you toward Him…

For me a study of the major religions of the world brought me to the Catholic Church, as it has the most rational, probable explaination of the Nature of God.

I will pray that you be guided by the holy Spirit in your search.

God bless

 

[PennyinCanada]

Well the good news is that love is not a feeling all the time, it is more action. When a mother gets up in the middle of the night because of a sick child, that’s an action. When you’re somewhere and rush to open a door for a person carrying an armful, that’s an action. When you smile at the cashier who looks like she’s ready for home an hour ago, that’s an action.

When you doubt God, you make the choice to believe. You make the choice to pray and ask, God I believe, help my unbelief!

You can function very well without feelings as a Catholic.

When you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and in prison, you would have done it for Christ Himself. No feelings required there, and if you feel no satisfaction, your action will have more merit. People who get a lot of satisfaction from helping people have less heavenly reward because there is a reward for them in this life.

Example. Your neighbor broke his leg so you cut his grass for him. He’s a pleasant guy, offers to buy you some beer or something else you enjoy. You cut his grass and it feels good. The other neighbor is in a car accident, and he’s the grumpiest, most disagreeable fellow, and no one wants to help him out. His grass grows tall and no one looks that way when they come home. They are actually handicapped by their feelings and have lost the motivation to do some good. Someone who isn’t so influenced by feelings may very well go over and cut grumpy’s grass, and be a greater witness to the Christian virtue of mercy.

I know many people who are so affected by their emotions, they just can’t think straight, and can do the stupidest things, reckless and crazy things, and basically live their life like a train wreck about to happen. God doesn’t want that either. Our passions can pull us in all kinds of directions, so with all of us, finding the balance to walk our faith is something that takes a conscious effort, and a constant ‘hands at the wheel’ so not to end up in the ditch.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

First of all I would like to state that I am a person of good will. I am not here with any intention to do something that is offensive, in any given way.

Good to hear!

Can you imagine how hard it is to get into sleep at night, because I just do not know what “not thinking” is like or how to do that.

No need to imagine. I think must of us have experience compulsive thinking at one point or another.

I do not have any emotion in me. I “feel” nothing, zero. I am just very rational.

Sounds quite anhedonic.

An example: “normal” people might have friendships based on love or inexplainable affection towards that person. I have friendships based on what they can do for me. If they helped me do something, they rise in “rank” if you get what I mean. It is like a big ranking, where the best friends take number one. But not emotionally; really hard to explain.

…sounds a little utilitarian. I personally might not call that a friendship, but it is a type of relationship.

Therefor, reasoning about the Catholic faith about love, offering and such things mean NOTHING to me. Just for the simple fact that I do not know what those things mean, I cannot understand what they mean and thus those reasonings do not aid me in my quest to understanding catholicism. I cannot just “believe” or “feel” God, because I do not know how to do that due to my lack of emotions.

Hmmm…that’s an interesting perspective from which to see the world. Different people have different intensities of emotional experiences. Though I’ve only read about (but have never known) any one whose experience is flat-lined. Have you always been this way? If not did the inability to feel emotion happen after an extremely frustrating or demanding prolonged experience?

 

[tafan]

Well I like the fact that it is not ordinary like some other things. I like Latin language, walking around in special clothing and trying to serve perfectly. But like I said, it is all appearance for me. I do not understand anything else of Mass. But after a while, things get boring for me because it is the same time after time. Nothing different with EF Mass here, I am not as interested in it as I was a month ago.

Well I want the content part of it because otherwise it feels like pretending to be something I am really not. It bothers me to “be” catholic and have to be catholic while I am not, judging from the content part. Why not leave the Church you might ask? Well I am a sacristan currently, which I like but again for the appearce part. I like to see the nice golden chalices and the nice buildings.

You are a thinking person, not an emotional person? Fine, that describes me. Yet you have a lack of understanding and reasoning about them does not work.
I must ask, why can you not read about the Catholic faith? That is really the main solution to your problem. There is a wealth of books out there, written just for someone like you.

I am a stuck record on this forum about the folloowing book, but it suits you to a tee. It even describes at the beginning someone “window shopping” catholocism, someone who looks in the window and likes what he sees, the rituals and all; but does not understand them and is even troubled by them. The Belief of Catholics by Ronald Knox. It is wonderful, it will take you from the very basics, to understanding a good framework of Catholocism. It is not a catechism, rather it is truly an intellectual argument for the faith.

But if you can’t read for some reason, I think it is going to be difficult for you. A mind that is always working has to be well formed and guided. My 10 year old son might have a wonderful mathmatical mind, and love to work out simple math problems; but he is not going to develop Calculus on his own.

 

[fred_conty]

Dear readers,

First of all I would like to state that I am a person of good will. I am not here with any intention to do something that is offensive, in any given way.

I was baptised into the Catholic Church as an infant and went to church probably every sunday morning with my mother starting with my First Communion. My father and little brother are not active catholics. Currently I am studying Applied Sciences at college.

So to speak, I am a VERY and I mean very rational thinking person. I think all the time. Can you imagine how hard it is to get into sleep at night, because I just do not know what “not thinking” is like or how to do that.

I do not have any emotion in me. I “feel” nothing, zero. I am just very rational. An example: “normal” people might have friendships based on love or inexplainable affection towards that person. I have friendships based on what they can do for me. If they helped me do something, they rise in “rank” if you get what I mean. It is like a big ranking, where the best friends take number one. But not emotionally; really hard to explain.

Therefor, reasoning about the Catholic faith about love, offering and such things mean NOTHING to me. Just for the simple fact that I do not know what those things mean, I cannot understand what they mean and thus those reasonings do not aid me in my quest to understanding catholicism. I cannot just “believe” or “feel” God, because I do not know how to do that due to my lack of emotions.

I am aware of the fact that this is an online message board, and you do not know me in person. But I am doubting catholicism. I am doubting the existance of God; at this moment I do not believe in God. As a matter of fact, I do not consider myself catholic now…

Due to personal issues, I cannot read books on catholicism so that is not really an option. Any thoughts? Those are greatly appreciated.

P.S. If I posted this in the wrong section, I apologize.

You belong in a unique group, those who lack feelings and whose intellect dominates.
Another unique group are those whose feelings dominate, and the intellect is less meaningful.
And all the rest fit somewhere inbetween.

There have been saints who have this coldness in their faith due to God’s action.
It is more difficult to believe when warmth and emotion is gone, for the emotions make it easier to believe. Mother Teresa was one who had this icy condition.

So what you do not feel is really the same as the saints. They functioned on cold faith.
You have lots of company.

Faith is an assent of the mind to God’s truth, and is not the assent of the emotions.

So it is up to you, as it was up to them.

But one thing the saints taught us for sure, noone, no matter what their condition, will survive without prayer. For without prayer we are saying to God, “I can do it on my own and I do not need you.”

Be at peace.