Lack of Faith

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Hi. I dont know if this the right sub forum to post this. But lately, I’m having a lack of faith. To me, I feel that religion is a strange thing. Its like each religion is a complete equation. There are many religions out there, and I’m worried that although I do believe right now I feel that it is because I was brought up catholic. So thats the reason I see the catholic faith as whole.

However, Im sure that other religions too have their own teachings and if i were in the other religions the faith would be whole too. When I say whole it means “complete” like it can explain the afterlife, meaning of life, creation of life etc. Also, one big reason for my faith is the origin of the world. As catholics we say that it comes from god and if following cause and effect we can infinitely regress each cause then god would be the only thing God just is! But sometimes I still doubt… because I’ve read an atheist article saying that the same attribute that is given to god as just is can be given to the universe. It just is. And maybe we dont understand it well enough yet.

I have been trying to get closer to God. I’ve been fighting sins, going to mass regularly and have even taken the step to become a cathecis teacher so that I can live the faith more. However, my faith still has not grown much. I feel my faith is so small. I know there is a quote in the bible that says something to the likes of search and you will find, knock and the door will open? I feel like I am searching and I am not finding.

Also, the way god judges people seems overly harsh? Im not saying I know how he judges people but from reading this forum I get the sentiment that if someone does his best trying to love and search for god… but makes a slip up due to habit before getting to confession he goes to hell? I’m talking about grave sin here. I know there is the rebutal that if he was doing his best he would not slip up but somtimes people lack faith in a few moments and a sin is done. I’ve talked to some priests who say that the sin is not mortal but the site here says it is. I know the priests can be wrong but then again it is more than one. Additionally, im inclined to believe the people i meet in person because the site has just apologists typing up answers on a forum. (Who from my POV may not be as credible because you never know its the internet.) I find myself obsessing over this. For me, I really want there to be God. I hope soo much there is a god but I find my self hard on faith. Like I have lots of hope but little faith. I want to be a good person but I find it very hard if there is little faith. For me sometimes I feel that if God does not exist then there is no purpose in living… Right now I still believe he exists.

Please pray for me and share your insights if any of you have been where I’m at before.
 
I think you might be thinking that if I don’t “feel” faith or have great faith that I’m in trouble.
Faith is not based on feelings any more than forgiveness is. what are you defining as faith or having great faith? Everyone goes through cycles of faith. Some of the saints struggled with this. Read “Dark Night of the Soul” by St. John of the Cross. Try to think what you are defining as faith or great faith. Continue the habit you have of going to Mass daily and becoming a catecist. You also might try to find a spiritual director to help you. Likewise,
you must keep in mind that most of the posters on CAF are just like you, Catholics trying to live out and practice our faith. Only a few are truly experts and studies theology in great depth. Different people have different angles and takes and view points on things and not everything posted should be taken as “thus sayeth the Church”.
 
Hi there.

I apologize for not being able to answer your questions, but I am willing to tell you some experience of mine.

I was also raised Catholic, Catholic parents, not really practicing. I myself not practicing either, just going to catechism because I had to, I didn’t really take anything seriously. I considered myself a believer, but that’s as far as it got. Didn’t read scripture. Same luke-warm prayer every night. Full of pride.Struggling with sin that I at the time did not even know was sin. I new nothing about the faith, or anything about Christ except that he died for us, and God loved us.

A year ago in this month, I started having scrupulous thoughts that bothered me day after day, blasphemous thoughts that I thought were mine. I had no one to turn to except God, I cannot justify in words what he did for me. I just can’t. I don’t know how many months I went with anxiety, and also food poisoning, I could barely eat. It sucked. I would go to sleep with anxiety, wake up with anxiety, dreaded getting up every morning,… And as crazy as it sounds, I am thankful for that now, a year later. If it were not for those hard months of my life, I would have never changed, I went to confession after 6 years, or a bit more, I saw the things Christ was doing in my life. I stopped having the blasphemous thoughts I was being tormented with, which I know were from the enemy ( I thought they were mine and that they were sins, but they were intrusive and not mine) I could finally eat right and stopped having anxiety. I got closer to him and learned more about the church. But of course this took lot’s of prayer and some help from some good priests 🙂 . I even got to be closer to the Blessed Mother. I recommend the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Christ is opening doors for me. And I guess it took something I lacked…patience.
Of course I am not perfect, I still struggle with some sin, prayer and going to mass, but I truly want to persevere

I hope you persevere through this as well. And ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. And for Jesus to strengthen your faith and for it to grow.

I will pray for you and God Bless you on your journey. Keep the good fight.
 
well to answer the question on your lack of faith (thoughts) about Catholicism

we can always look back at the evidence of a created Universe coming to the conclusion or implication of God , then we look at the evidence for religions out there, none pan out like Christianity all other religions are Mans attempt to reach God in many times warped ways.

in regards to the uneasy feelings of the being good and committing a mortal sin right before you die and going to hell is a scary thought - I have a hard time thinking about it myself especially like as you posted about some priests have a different idea of what mortal sin is… I mean some Catholics I know think Mortal sins are rape , adultery and murder , instead of committing a sin with the knowledge that its a sin and doing it anyway.

but I confide in the church and her teachings so I just pray for strength and pray for the forgiveness of all souls and ask for God’s mercy on a daily basis. along with attend mass/ confession weekly

hope this helps you are in my prayers :gopray:
 
The man on the cross next to Jesus was a murderer. Jesus STILL took him with Him the day He died to the Father!
 
I am a student of philosophy and a lover of science, and after years of searching i have found nothing contradictory in the Big bang theory with the Christian (or Catholic) idea of the universe being created out of nothing by God. Nor for that matter have i found anything in other religions that convince me they are better than Catholicism, the miracles in the Church, its beautiful and rational view of everything and its long history make it a faith i wouldn’t want to leave.

When it comes to trusting the people who run this site i would tend to do so, they submit their tracts (essay type things) to a bishop for approval and if they didn’t act very catholic (which i have not seen them do) then they would be called out on it like crazy on the forums (which i have not seen happen). In any event if you want to really be sure you can always check in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it was produced by the Church after the Second Vatican Council and probably has something on whatever is troubling you. (and i believe there are versions of it online, one at the USCCB’s site, and another at the Vatican’s official site.)
 
James1990 said:
Hi. I dont know if this the right sub forum to post this. But lately, I’m having a lack of faith. To me, I feel that religion is a strange thing. Its like each religion is a complete equation. There are many religions out there, and I’m worried that although I do believe right now I feel that it is because I was brought up catholic. So thats the reason I see the catholic faith as whole.

However, Im sure that other religions too have their own teachings and if i were in the other religions the faith would be whole too. When I say whole it means “complete” like it can explain the afterlife, meaning of life, creation of life etc. Also, one big reason for my faith is the origin of the world. As catholics we say that it comes from god and if following cause and effect we can infinitely regress each cause then god would be the only thing God just is! But sometimes I still doubt… because I’ve read an atheist article saying that the same attribute that is given to god as just is can be given to the universe. It just is. And maybe we dont understand it well enough yet.
**
I have been trying to get closer to God. I’ve been fighting sins, going to mass regularly and have even taken the step to become a cathecis teacher so that I can live the faith more. However, my faith still has not grown much. **I feel my faith is so small. I know there is a quote in the bible that says something to the likes of search and you will find, knock and the door will open? I feel like I am searching and I am not finding.

Also, the way god judges people seems overly harsh?
Please pray for me and share your insights if any of you have been where I’m at before.
Click to expand...
Hey James, I’ve been where you are.

Your search for truth is commendable and not a bad thing at all. I also would have a difficult time swallowing what I felt was a lie.

There are so many ways to go about this. In the end I could write you a book on how I’ve gone about opening up to the possibility of a supernatural then looking at others and also finding, as you say, cohesiveness and internal integrity and then that my faith is the best interpretation, on and on, on my journey for truth and Truth. However, I won’t write that book right now since I can point you to better sources. Listen to Peter Kreeft’s argument for God’s existence. (you’ll have to do some googling) then read his selected writings on other religions (found on his website) also I found Fulton Sheen to be wonderfully helpful. Listen to Sheen’s “Line up the claimants” (then listen to. All his other works!).

In the end, Faith is an act of the will (and a gift from God) just like Love is. It’s not just some mushy feeling, it’s an active process. God wants specifically you to have faith but faith in and from the RIGHT thing. Not everything will be spoon fed, and honestly that’s okay because if there is indeed a god and Christ is He then He promised He would make the path straight but sometimes we must struggle a bit, the path can be uphill and downhill but it does lead to Him as long as we stay on it.

You’ll find that all religions have some part of the circle of Truth but I have found Catholicism to have the full circle.

If you are unable to believe, it is because of your passions since reason impels you to believe and yet you cannot do so. Concentrate then not on convincing yourself by multiplying proofs of God’s existence but by diminishing your passions. You want to find faith, and you do not know the road. You want to be cured of unbelief, and you ask for the remedy: learn from those who were once bound like you and who now wager all they have. . . . They behaved just as if they did believe - Blaise Pascal (read this if nothing else peterkreeft.com/topics/pascals-wager.htm)

Speaking from personal experience I can tell you that this is an all or nothing game. It’s like Pascal says “Wager ALL I have.” I’m either all in or all out when it comes to Truth and truth. Sin is sin, and sin is wretched no matter how attractive we dress it up. If and when we come to believe, sin is not only an offense against God but also against our very self. We hurt ourselves and turn ourselves into hypocrites and liars. The only way to stop sinning is with God’s grace and when/if we fail to humble ourselves and through ourselves to His feet and ask that He clean us. He wants to and He will.

Why bother concentrating on wither God is harsh or not according to some contrived scenario? The commandments are RELATIONSHIP not law. If I break one I’m not breaking the law I’m breaking my unity with God.

I’ll be honest, if sin made me happy, joyful and fulfilled I wouldn’t be here. But here I am.
The only reason I’ve stopped to take a moment for God is because He kept poking me in the side like a thorn until I finally gave in and started to learn about Him. Just like it seems He may doing for you. I have been on many roads and have learned that sin never has nor never will fulfill me. Ever. I can go with God or from Him but it’s one or the other, never both and never neither.

I heard once that everytime I think of Jesus it’s because He’s thinking of me.

Our hearts are restless until we rest in God. Welcome home, this is where you will find peace.
 
My antidote to a lack of faith is a well informed mind. Read the books of those who can explain about the faith so that your understanding is deepend. Spend time in the word of God, but the utilize the ministries of men like Scott Hahn who help us learn to read the Bible from the heart of the Church. Read Bible Basics for Catholics by David Bergsma to learn the point of the Bible. Read about the saints and how they gave everything and realize how easy you have it.
An African friend of mine says that in Aftica, the churches are packed and faith is strong. Some of my friends were discussing why this is and one of my friends said: maybe it is because life there is harder. Sometimes the best remedy for weak faith is a severe trial.
Remember that you have an enemy who tells you lies sugarcoated to look like wisdom. God is truth and we have only this life to live by faith. As James says: as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without wisdom is dead. Start living a sacrificial life of thanks and service and immersing yourself in truth.
Btw, I might hold off on teaching others until you are solid. Jesus has pretty harsh words for those who lead children astray.
 
Hi James, have you prayed The Jesus Rosary daily at all? Thereafter, if you have not felt or communicated with Jesus and Our Lady Mary (knowing they are there) I would be astounded. The same applies with Our Lady’s Holy Rosary.
 
Thanks for your advice everyone. I will try to do the tips you have given. Im going through Peter Kreeft’s videos on youtube about the existence of God. Also, thanks for the prayers and reassurances!

However what AT Cross said has got me questioning… (By the way I still believe… just little) will I make a good catechist? Right now I still think so because I believe and though it is little faith it is still faith. Plus, i think knowledge wise I should be covered because if theres anything that I dont know I can ask here 👍
 
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