I'm really feeling distant from God. Need help

[WannabeSaint]

I’ve been feeling so distant from God, his church, and quite frankly; everyone else.

It all started a few months ago when I started to obsess over the problem of other minds. I realized that I can’t be certain that anyone other than myself is a conscious being (not an unconscious being that only APPEARS to be conscious).

The only other being I am certain is conscious is God. But I don’t know what God is thinking or what he declares as true. I can’t rely on Scripture, because if the theory holds, I can’t be certain that Scripture was even written by a conscious person. I can’t rely on Church teaching because I can’t be certain they are conscious either. I can’t rely on the stories of the saints because I don’t know if they were conscious beings. Even if God were to speak to me himself, I couldn’t be certain that it was actually God talking to me.

This may seem silly to most of you, but to me it’s really tearing my life apart not having any certainty on what is really God’s revealed truth and what isn’t. All I can rely on is “common sense” that God created everyone else with a rational mind and Jesus was a real person just like me, but I’m not sure what is so “common sense” about it since it is often said “God’s ways are not our ways.”

“Why wouldn’t he create a world where I"m the only conscious person in all of existence?” These kind of thoughts keep popping in my head.

 

[Soubirous1]

my friend, i would talk to a priest. I’m sure he could advise you which direction to turn. meanwhile I’ll be praying for you.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

In addition to talking to a priest, please consider going and sitting in front of the Eucharist for an hour and asking Jesus to please clear your mind and help your unbelief. If one hour doesn’t do it, go back the next day or as soon as you can and see him for another hour.

I will pray for you also.

 

[aroosi]

I realized that I can’t be certain that anyone other than myself is a conscious being (not an unconscious being that only APPEARS to be conscious). The only other being I am certain is conscious is God. […]
“Why wouldn’t he create a world where I"m the only conscious person in all of existence?” These kind of thoughts keep popping in my head.

Please define conscious. What makes you think that you are the only conscious being in all existence except God? I am honestly baffled.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Seek out the counsel of a priest. Pray and ask for God’s help.

 

[Servant31]

Hey friend. So it sounds like a philosophical question, but also one of context.
In science, for example we technically can’t know anything. Even gravity. We don’t know gravity exists, and how it behaves, at least not with 100% certainty… we are, through countless experiments relatively certain how it works… But where do you draw the line…99% certainty, 99.9%, 99.99843%? At some point we say we know enough to know. We still design airplanes, skyscrapers, cars, etc…

So in your argument I guess it’s impossible to know in that absolute certainty sense. However in the practical sense it’s absolutely possible to know.

So I would try not to get too caught into philosophical arguments if they are affecting your life in such a drastic way. Logicians might spend a lifetime on this question. But we are called to love, not necessarily solve all the problems of the universe. Sometimes intellectual development might actually be an obstacle.

 

[NoelFitz]

The only other being I am certain is conscious is God. But I don’t know what God is thinking or what he declares as true. I can’t rely on Scripture, because if the theory holds, I can’t be certain that Scripture was even written by a conscious person.

Thank you so much for a deep, thoughtful and honest post.

You show great courage and integrity in your thinking. I do not know your age or background, but you strike me as a person of deep intelligence, who questions the mystery of things. Do you have scientific or philosophical training?

At first I thought of you as a modern Descartes and then as a modern St John Henry Newman, who wrote in his Apologia Pro Vita Sua:

I retained it till the age of twenty-one, when it gradually faded away; but I believe that it had some influence on my opinions, in the direction of those childish imaginations which I have already mentioned, viz. in isolating me from the objects which surrounded me, in confirming me in my mistrust of the reality of material phenomena, and making me rest in the thought of two and two only absolute and luminously self-evident beings, myself and my Creator;—for while I considered myself predestined to salvation, my mind did not dwell upon others, as fancying them simply passed over, not predestined to eternal death. . . .

Always it is good to try to strike a balance, pray and try to lead a normal healthy life. It would be great if you had a spiritual friend that you could relax with and who understood you.

Your doubts about Scriptural are understandable, that is why being Catholics we are fortunate not having to rely on our own personal interpretations. You raise good, scholarly questions, as to the authorship of the Bible. Also it is impossible to know the mind of God, as we are not God.

I admire your sincerity and hope all will be well. Keep searching for the truth.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Perhaps seeing a priest, who has not specific knowledge or interest in philosophy or psychology or even visiting the Eucharist, may not be the best approach for you at present.

With all due respect, the OP has thought himself into a hole, and he’s unhappy.

Why would you dissuade an unhappy person from speaking with their priest or visiting Jesus in the Eucharist? It’s like you’re telling a sick person to avoid doctors.

 

[Theban]

I recommend reading “Orthodoxy” by G. K. Chesterton.
What you’re describing is no more than the logical consequence of Scepticism, which Chesterton makes a good case against in his book.

 

[NoelFitz]

With all due respect, the OP has thought himself into a hole, and he’s unhappy.

Why would you dissuade an unhappy person from speaking with their priest or visiting Jesus in the Eucharist? It’s like you’re telling a sick person to avoid doctors.

Not being a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor or philosopher I would not offer specific advice.

Tis-B may be correct and the OP may be in a hole

I would avoid telling a sick person to see a priest and would recommend a medical doctor.

---

What you’re describing is no more than the logical consequence of Skepticism, which Chesterton makes a good case against in his book.

I go along with St Thomas (Doubting).

Theban, I admire your sincerity and hope all will be well. Often it seems to me the best approach is negative or apophatic theology. Most theology is ‘beyond my pay grade’, and following Gregory of Nyssa and other Fathers of the Church I think that apophatic is correct.

We can only know what God is not. If I knew what God is I would be God.

In truth, charity and humility I would not be too harsh on skepticism, correctly understood.

But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker, “Why have you created me so?” NABRE, Ro 9:20.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” NABRE, Ro 11:34.

 

[Anna4]

Hi there! Thank you for being brave enough to share all of these private thoughts with us. We can rest assured that this response will be loving.

I used to be in the New Age where I actually thought that everything was God and I was God and the only one in existence! What a scary thing to think! So I can understand these proverbial mind-fs. One day I was meditating because I wanted to know God and I got the message that I should get to know Jesus. My partner was a very loving Catholic and he helped guide me towards God. But he was never judge mental and never forceful. When I told him that I wasn’t sure God exists he just told me to relax and that the answer will be revealed to me in the perfect time. That is the advice I’m giving you.

I think the first thing to do is to start to feel grateful for what you have. To write a gratitude list of 10 things that you feel grateful for every morning. To fast from eating from a full day and notice how grateful you feel for the food you have received from mother Earth, which was created by someone very special.

When you look into a tree leaf, or the beautiful waves of an ocean or the clear blue sky, all of these things were created by some divine being. Notice how a pinecone opens up and sheds its seeds far far away from the cone. It literally popped itself open. Who has to be the creator of this magnificent and intelligent thing?

And if you look at the work of Thomas Aquinas, if everything has a cause, the primary cause must be God. Because who could’ve started this whole entire mess?

Much love to you on your journey and may God grant you wisdom!

 

[Anna4]

What a loving and deep post! Thank you for being so kind to OP. Searching spiritually is not easy, but always yields rich rewards.

 

[Theban]

We can only know what God is not. If I knew what God is I would be God.

You bring up an interesting point, though I’m not sure I see the relevance of negative theology with regards to Skepticism?

In truth, charity and humility I would not be too harsh on skepticism, correctly understood.

Seeing as how I am not even so educated as to write Skepticism correctly* (thanks for the correction), I grant that I may have misunderstood parts of the idea.
I still recommend the OP read “Orthodoxy”, as my point was really that that book presents a way of viewing the world which can be helpful to someone caught in a skeptical loop.

*Edited to add: Apparently I was doubly wrong, Skepticism can be written with a c as well. Just goes to prove the point I guess.

 

[Servant31]

Hey op, your getting some responses, did any of us hit the question?

 

[po18guy]

Sorry to hear this. As to feelings = they mislead. Rather than feelings and emotion which wax and wane, try a little focus on the intellectual aspect of the faith - the teachings. i.e. You are never alone, despite what you may “feel”. Focus on the Holy Spirit dwelling within you (“Don’t you know that you are tabernacles of the Holy Spirit?”). The intellectual aspect of the faith is a rock foundation - unchanging - your life preserver when you are drowning in a sea of emotions and doubt.

Tis_Bearself gave the best advice yet. Adoration. How can you reasonably “feel alone” when you are in His true presence, contemplating His countenance? And. if you have doubt about His presence, tell Him! Lay it all out. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. And when you are convicted that He is there, you will be changed.

 

[englands123]

We as humans expect things … Human nature I guess…

A example being.
We have an item and enjoy this item very much our pride and joy. But in our local store there’s an upgrade which seems so much better.

So do we decide to work harder to pay for this lovely upgrade or do we borrow to have the upgrade quicker ?

But once we have the upgrade we realise after a while another better upgrade is soon out…

Sometimes waiting patiently can far out way having something straight away. As you feel more rewarded.

God already knows what we all want even before we ask in church , confession or prayer.

He wants to see us prove it first by coming to him and being in his presence. Opening our heart to him.

[Zechariah 1:3]
"Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.

 

[WannabeSaint]

Hey op, your getting some responses, did any of us hit the question?

They are good responses but I’m looking for more affirmation that God wouldnt make me the only conscious human in existence.

 

[EXdrinker]

They are good responses but I’m looking for more affirmation that God wouldnt make me the only conscious human in existence.

Look outside your circle of reasoning. Why would God make so many of us that look like humans that lie to you and say that we are conscious beings? To torment you? Look at nature, the son of a lion is a lion, the son of a dog is a dog, you are the son or daughter of humans who passed on their nature to you. Part of that nature is having a consciousness.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

They are good responses but I’m looking for more affirmation that God wouldnt make me the only conscious human in existence.

With all due respect, it’s somewhat insensitive/ insulting to your fellow humans, including everybody answering on this thread, to think that God made you “the only conscious human in existence”. It’s like you’re saying the rest of us are zombies, or something less than human, or something less than you yourself.

I know you don’t mean to be insulting, but you’re really putting yourself on a pedestal when you start thinking “God made me the ONLY conscious human in existence”. I can assure you I’m conscious. God did not make you or anybody else super special and unique with regard to consciousness.

 

[WannabeSaint]

Why would God make so many of us that look like humans that lie to you and say that we are conscious beings?

It’s not that they would be lying. If they were truly unconscious, they couldn’t lie. They would just appear to be saying something when they really arent.