Faith doubts

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todoeldiapulpin

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This question is intended for catholics firm in their faith; if you aren´t, you´d better not continue, for the following are spiritually dangerous topics.
Forgive me, for I don´t know where to put this. Feel free to move this thread to where it´s most suited.
I am feeling the temptation to leave the faith. What you are doing (living your faith) is ridiculous, it´s a farse, life is ridiculous, become an atheist and be free of this, for you are just being an hypocrite. That´s more or less how the temptation goes. I think that I have to resist by praying, but it goes again saying that yes, I would be stronger, but, like the saints, I would be another mindless sheep (it is something like that). Maybe God does not exist, it goes.
Maybe it is my fault, for I have read secular and anti-religious literature. But I am in the university, someone like me has to read it, right?
What advice can you give me, besides to keep praying?
P.D.: I have felt some existential crisis, my head hurts sometimes and I suffer from epilepsy (a very mild case).
 
Have you looked into finding a Spiritual Director? They will be able to give you sound guidance & direction.
 
Whenever I felt that insidious doubt try to creep into my mind I would remember our Lord’s holy burial cloth. This cloth bears His miraculous image, not made by human hand. You might want to read some of the many books about it. A good place to start would be: “THE SHROUD” by Ian Wilson. Prof. Wilson has been conducting historical research on the Shroud for many years.
Another must read is “TEST THE SHROUD” by Mark Antonnaci. Here you will learn about the “historically consistent hypothesis” which is a theory that explains the Shroud mysterious blood stains as well as the strange carbon-14 dating.
 
Good spiritual reading can help…biographies of saints…talking to a priest who has a good reputation for spiritual direction…prayer times every day whether you feel like praying or not…
Hanging out with people who are strong in their faith…a great bible study at a parish near you…etc.

This life is short…a stepping stone to eternity!

The world is in crisis. We need the Lord!

Blessings to you,

Dorothy
 
todoeldiapulpin said:
This question is intended for catholics firm in their faith; if you aren´t, you´d better not continue, for the following are spiritually dangerous topics.
Forgive me, for I don´t know where to put this. Feel free to move this thread to where it´s most suited.
I am feeling the temptation to leave the faith. What you are doing (living your faith) is ridiculous, it´s a farse, life is ridiculous, become an atheist and be free of this, for you are just being an hypocrite. That´s more or less how the temptation goes. I think that I have to resist by praying, but it goes again saying that yes, I would be stronger, but, like the saints, I would be another mindless sheep (it is something like that). Maybe God does not exist, it goes.
Maybe it is my fault, for I have read secular and anti-religious literature. But I am in the university, someone like me has to read it, right?
What advice can you give me, besides to keep praying?
P.D.: I have felt some existential crisis, my head hurts sometimes and I suffer from epilepsy (a very mild case).
Click to expand...
Don’t worry, you’ll grow out of it (I’m not talking about the epilepsy).

And, no, you do not have to read every stupid piece of literature that’s around just because you are a university student.
 
A lot might have to do with the particular image of God that you hold.
 
todoeldiapulpin said:
This question is intended for catholics firm in their faith; if you aren´t, you´d better not continue, for the following are spiritually dangerous topics.
Forgive me, for I don´t know where to put this. Feel free to move this thread to where it´s most suited.
I am feeling the temptation to leave the faith. What you are doing (living your faith) is ridiculous, it´s a farse, life is ridiculous, become an atheist and be free of this, for you are just being an hypocrite. That´s more or less how the temptation goes. I think that I have to resist by praying, but it goes again saying that yes, I would be stronger, but, like the saints, I would be another mindless sheep (it is something like that). Maybe God does not exist, it goes.
Maybe it is my fault, for I have read secular and anti-religious literature. But I am in the university, someone like me has to read it, right?
What advice can you give me, besides to keep praying?
P.D.: I have felt some existential crisis, my head hurts sometimes and I suffer from epilepsy (a very mild case).
Click to expand...
The modern universities often have a way of distancing people from their faiths. Did you ever see the movie, “God’s not Dead”? Also, I would recommend, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”.

I will pray for you during this time of trial.
 
todoeldiapulpin said:
I would be stronger, but, like the saints, I would be another mindless sheep (it is something like that)
Click to expand...
Is it the saints who are the mindless sheep, or is it those who buy in to the relativistic secular world who are the mindless sheep?

Look around the world and you will see who the real sheep are:

Their necks are craned down staring at their devices like zombies. They sit next to people in waiting rooms in silence, avoiding conversation because they are absorbed in their own reality. When their is a disaster or someone is hurt, their priority is to live stream it instead of help.

They can’t donate to charity because of their shiny new car payment. They don’t have time to help or contribute to solve homelessness because they are too busy and too financially strapped by their giant mortgage for their too large home. Their income is all devoted to buying the things that society says they “need”.

They can’t be bothered to volunteer because they are too engrossed in their wall sized TV’s. Their hearts beat not for helping others, but rather for every friend request, like, click, and favorite they get on social media.

They live by the idea that they have to take what is theirs. No one can impose morals on them. Only they can determine what is right. They are “free”.

Artist Steve Cutts has a series of illustrations that show who the real “mindless sheep” of society are:

Illustrations About Modern Society

Take a look at the world around you, and then read about the lives of the saints. Their lives are anything but mundane, sheeplike, or ordinary. Continually, you will see that they answered God’s call and rose above the mindless slavery to sin of the society around them.

God calls each of us to let his grace and love transform us into more than just mindless sheep. He frees us from the bondage of sin and calls us to greatness and true freedom.

The temptations you are feeling are just that; Satan often tempts us by making us feel like our efforts are useless, pointless, a farce. You must hold true that God is real, he loves you, and he has a plan for you. All you have to do is to be open to follow it. Never lose sight of your eternal goal because of the temporal struggles of this world.

You are right about not wanting to be a sheep… don’t be a sheep, rise above and be a saint.
 
I abandoned the faith six years ago because of doubts and the exhaustion of trying to keep up with all the responsibilities of being Catholic. I stopped going to church and embraced a life of hedonism, vowing to live life to the fullest.

But within a few years I was lonely, isolated and on the brink of suicidal despair. The world had nothing to offer but pain and emptiness. Thankfully God had mercy on me and slowly drew me back to the faith. Last year I went to confession for the first time in 5 years and started attending daily mass.

Many days Catholicism seems too demanding and I’m tempted to say “Forget it” … but I know where that path ends.
 
ClearWater said:
The modern universities often have a way of distancing people from their faiths. Did you ever see the movie, “God’s not Dead”? Also, I would recommend, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”.

I will pray for you during this time of trial.
Click to expand...
I’d like to add “A Matter of Faith”

amatteroffaithmovie.com .
 
todoeldiapulpin said:
This question is intended for catholics firm in their faith; if you aren´t, you´d better not continue, for the following are spiritually dangerous topics.
Forgive me, for I don´t know where to put this. Feel free to move this thread to where it´s most suited.
I am feeling the temptation to leave the faith. What you are doing (living your faith) is ridiculous, it´s a farse, life is ridiculous, become an atheist and be free of this, for you are just being an hypocrite. That´s more or less how the temptation goes. I think that I have to resist by praying, but it goes again saying that yes, I would be stronger, but, like the saints, I would be another mindless sheep (it is something like that). Maybe God does not exist, it goes.
Maybe it is my fault, for I have read secular and anti-religious literature. But I am in the university, someone like me has to read it, right?
What advice can you give me, besides to keep praying?
P.D.: I have felt some existential crisis, my head hurts sometimes and I suffer from epilepsy (a very mild case).
Click to expand...
Reading the Bible directly is very important. Even if you can only read a few verses at a time, they convey the Truth and power of God. It’s especially important to read the Gospels, and in my opinion the best book for you in your present state to start with is John. Read it from start to finish. Then go on to read the rest of the New Testament. You don’t have to rush through it. Let it sink in.

I admire your honesty of what you are going through. I also will pray for you…
 
todoeldiopulpin -

I’ve been there. What helped me was attacking the intellectual side of belief. I needed something concrete to, in essence, give myself permission to believe. Keep up your spiritual devotion. Never neglect your time in prayer; that was my biggest mistake. But I would also suggest that you go back to first principles. Don’t try to eat the elephant in one bite. Start with the most fundamental question of all: why is there something rather than nothing? Learn why God must exist, and why he must have the attributes he does (omniscience, omnipotence, etc), then learn why the God we learn about as Christians is the Creator God that you now know must exist. And you build from there, as you’re weak and where you’re weak, though in my case, once the foundation was solid, I had much less trouble with the rest.

I would recommend “On Guard”, by Dr. William Lane Craig. Yes, he’s Protestant, but he’s been recommended before by Catholic Answers (I believe by Patrick Coffin) because his work is at a fundamental philosophical level where we all agree. If you’re not comfortable with Dr. Craig during your times of doubt, then I’ve seen that Karlo Broussard tackles a lot of the same questions, but I haven’t read any of his material yet. I can say that Dr. Craig is so detailed, so logical, and so clear in his written material that it would be hard to find better.

Given that you’re in college, something that exposes the flaws and faults in relativism (which is what you’re being surrounded by and steeped in at the moment) would be of utmost importance. I’m taking Dr. Edward Sri’s course “Who am I to Judge?” right now, and it is excellent. Highly recommended. It’s based on his book of the same name. The book might be more practical for you right now.

I hope that’s of some help.
 
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