I have to post this alot because even though I try to strengthen my faith, I keep getting back into New Age. please help, I pray The Rosary and St. Michael prayer but it doesn’t seem to be working, I need something very strong!!! Thank you!
Edit:
I keep going on and off, and I know why I go off, God really wants all of us to follow him and I’m trying but I feel like I have let him down… I don’t want to though
I think that there is a time in everyone’s life for a very stable, unwavering orthodoxy. I am hearing that desire in your posts.
The Catholic Church is just the place. As opposed to new age, the Church’s orthodoxy is founded on thousands of years of guidance by the Spirit, where new age is more of a conglomeration of many modern ideologies. It seems to me that if what you are needing is stability, then what is called for is a commitment on your part, though, a commitment to a faith.
Once you have committed yourself, there is no reason whatsoever to discontinue respecting friends who are into new age. “New Age”, though difficult to describe in terms of standard theologies, has plenty of good ideas and well-meaning followers and concepts. When new age includes ideas of love and forgiveness, then it has much in common with Christianity. When new age includes ideas of two powers, one great evil and one great good, it shares the dualistic ideas of the Manichean heresy, which is much more prevalent among Catholics than people realize.
Remember, Catholicism is not “just another religion”. Catholicism, as with all Christianity, focuses on the person of Christ Jesus. My own reverence and commitment is focused on Jesus and all that He is. The gospel is an amazing story of a man who forgave everyone, even those who condemned and killed Him. Jesus as a person escaped slavery from His human nature, (not that human nature is bad). The passion is a story of a man who freed Himself from His human drive for status and popularity, freed Himself from the human drive to condemn and punish. We can look at the crucified Christ and remember that He forgave us, unconditionally, from that very position. Does this reflect the Father you know within?
So, why not take the leap? Find a community of believers you like, and rest in the security of commitment. (BTW, if your faith is more supported as an Episcopalian in a family of believers, that still may be the best for you.)