Losing my faith

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Please keep it Catholic…

I am struggling with atheism and need advice on how to get my way back to God.
 
At some point in many people’s lives they question things they formally accepted. This is a natural process. You have to come to your own understanding of your faith. Sometimes even adults have a “God as Santa Claus” approach to religion and at some point have a crisis where that perspective doesn’t work anymore. Or, people find they want to reject religion because they don’t like the rules. So maybe it would be helpful to you to search online and read stories about atheists who converted and why they converted. Then you may see what they valued in religion that you may be missing.
 
It’s Christmas. God is with us.
Look outside of yourself and behold the Christ Child. He holds out His holy hand to you.
Take it.
Praying for you to find your way.
God bless.
 
Here is my advice and i think it would not be against your faith. I would keep on reading my bible and pray for understanding. When you get to something that puzzles you, simply ask God to reveal it to you. This may take days,weeks,or months, but just be patient and God will answer,usually when you least expect it.

Shalom,
Jerry
 
Upgrade25 said:
Please keep it Catholic…

I am struggling with atheism and need advice on how to get my way back to God.
Click to expand...
Usually if there’s a loss of faith it’s mixed in with a couple of other things. Sometimes it’s motive for wanting to drift. Sometimes it’s because a clever argument’s stuck in the back of our head. Sometimes it’s just because we’ve been reading the wrong books.

So do you have a thorn that’s bugging you? Is there something that you need to better understand? Or is there a new line you’ve just decided not to cross?

Give a detail. I’m up to bat. I’ll give this a try.

Peace.

-Trident
 
We all have doubts. I use the simple prayer. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Have you talked to a priest about your concerns? Or anyone? As suggested previously, try reading the bible. Or you can read the Daily Readings and get a short 2 minute Homily at usccb.org

Praying the Holy Spirit will lead you back to the Truth.

God Bless you.
 
Thanks guys. I will come back if my cross is to keep bearing these doubts longer. They go down to, “You believe in an imaginary friend.”

The funny thing is, He isn’t imaginary, and I am not worthy to untie His sandals!
 
Upgrade25 said:
Please keep it Catholic…

I am struggling with atheism and need advice on how to get my way back to God.
Click to expand...
Online.read for.free.the book:

“Gloria Polo, Struck by lightning, standing before God’s Judgement,”

Also.download on the kindle app: “Forty Dreams of Saint John Bosco”

Download also on the Kindle app “Get us out of here,” by Niki Eltz (it’s about a woman who had the gift of seeing the souls in Purgatory, who had permission from Pope John Paul Ii to fulfill that mission praying for them)
(these books.are about people who saw Heaven, Hell and Purgatory! Evidence!

Any book.by Michael H Brown, on the kindle app, especially “After Life,” “The Other Side,” and “What you take to Heaven,” (all books about near death experiences of people who saw Heaven and Hell.)

Go to
www.larrycummins.ie
Read online for free his two ebooks, he works in the healing and deliverance ministry, his testimonies will show you God is very much alive.

Google stories of St Padre Pio, and lives of the saints, they saw God.and experienced his miracles first hand.

Google and read Eucharistic Miracles of.the catholic church, there have been over 300 miracles where the Eucharist turned into Jesus actual flesh and blood 🙂
Proof! God is real and.the evidence.is there my friend).
Also Google about blood type Ab on the Shroud of Turin, and Google.the pollen analysis on the Shroud of Turin,
The Shroud has been proven to be Jesus burial.cloth by those two tests 🙂

Read online for free Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s “Dolourous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” a Saint who had visions of the life of Jesus.
Join a Catholic charismatic renewal prayer group.
 
Upgrade25 said:
Thanks guys. I will come back if my cross is to keep bearing these doubts longer. They go down to, “You believe in an imaginary friend.”

The funny thing is, He isn’t imaginary, and I am not worthy to untie His sandals!
Click to expand...
I’ve heard the “imaginaty friend” comment from atheists before. But what do they believe in? That everything that exists is just the product of random chance? They say the universe started with the big bang, but what caused that? What existed before that?

If you’re in certain academic environments it is tough to keep your faith. I don’t know if that’s your situation, but in any case I would say find some other serious Catholics that you can fellowship with (I know this can be difficult, there are a whole lot of cultural and cafeteria Catholics out there).

Also, post in more detail on here what it is you’re struggling with in particular. Chances are someone has or is dealing with the same thing and can give an uplifting witness or advice on how to deal with it.
 
Saul_to_Paul said:
I’ve heard the “imaginaty friend” comment from atheists before. But what do they believe in? That everything that exists is just the product of random chance? They say the universe started with the big bang, but what caused that? What existed before that?

If you’re in certain academic environments it is tough to keep your faith. I don’t know if that’s your situation, but in any case I would say find some other serious Catholics that you can fellowship with (I know this can be difficult, there are a whole lot of cultural and cafeteria Catholics out there).

Also, post in more detail on here what it is you’re struggling with in particular. Chances are someone has or is dealing with the same thing and can give an uplifting witness or advice on how to deal with it.
Click to expand...
No problems accepting Catholic Church over other denominations and religions. Atheism was appealing because it seems to be infinite. I know better now, but now a part of my brain wants to be atheist, because it says, “How can the universe be more complex than this God guy? Who’s to say it isn’t eternal?”
 
Another issue is my brain saying that I am selfish for believing that there is a God that cares about everyone of us and it says I’m childish.

I’ve talked with my family, and will be talking with a priest. Pray for me, please, that I never reject God, and give me whatever advice you can.
 
 
Sunbreak said:
At some point in many people’s lives they question things they formally accepted. This is a natural process. You have to come to your own understanding of your faith. Sometimes even adults have a “God as Santa Claus” approach to religion and at some point have a crisis where that perspective doesn’t work anymore.
Click to expand...
This is a brilliant post.

As we grow and mature, so too must our notion of God and Jesus mature and grow.

What worked when we were 10 doesn’t usually work when we are 20, 30, 40, etc.

There comes a time when we need to stop thinking of God as an old guy with a long gray beard in the sky watching us like a hawk with a good/bad list in His hand. I constantly think about the young man in scripture who saw Christ face to face, yet walked away from Him sad because he didn’t hear what he wanted to hear. If someone could see Him face to face and still be sad, how easy is it for us to have never seen Him (except in the Eucharist, of course, but even that opens a whole other topic of discussion) and to be sad.
*
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.”*

St. Paul knows exactly what you are talking about.
 
Upgrade25 said:
I am struggling with atheism and need advice on how to get my way back to God.
Click to expand...
The answer to this depends on how strong your spiritual life is.

IMHO, faith is like a warm fire on a cold night. The closer you are to the fire, the more warmth you feel. The further you go out into the night, the less the fire can affect you, and the more you feel the chill.

In other words, we need to cultivate our faith, just as many people can cultivate their doubt. Increase your prayer-life, increase your Sacramental life, increase mortifications and sacrifices. Obviously, if you have any reason to believe you may be in a state of mortal sin, go to Confession immediately. In fact, go to Confession anyway. 👍

These things will help to increase your “level” of sanctifying grace … and an aspect of that will be an increase of the supernatural virtue of faith.

Don’t forget what faith is. It’s a grace in the intellect that makes it possible for us to assent to revelation. If we don’t have that gift, no amount of intellectual gymnastics will do a lick of good. First we need to hear the truth, which always, always, always conforms with reason, but then we need grace to accept it. Also, don’t overlook that fact that a lot of these temptations are in fact diabolical in origin. Just as a devil can fill a person’s mind with all sorts of other filth, so they can fill it with doubts about God. This is another reason why striving for holiness is so crucial, and IMO, many people have blocks to religion because of a demonic component.

We must always, always, always strive to deepen our faith spiritually.

Secondly: do some homework! Everyone and their mother just loves this book: amazon.com/Last-Superstition-Refutation-New-Atheism/dp/1587314525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451058909&sr=8-1&keywords=edward+feser+last+superstition

If for whatever reason you can’t buy it, PLEASE send me a PM and I will do so for you.

Moreover, take advantage of Catholic Answers’ seventy-seven ka-billion resources. Here’s something like 45 hours worth of radio on atheism: catholic.com/search/content/atheism?filters=type%3Aradio_show

Also, check out Fr. Spitzer and his work, especially for a scientific look at atheism: magiscenter.com/

Lastly, check out Brandon Vogt’s outreach to atheists, wherein cordial and respectful debate and discussion is encouraged: strangenotions.com/

Cooperation with grace + reason + intercession = healthy faith

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
 
AttendeDomine said:
The answer to this depends on how strong your spiritual life is.

IMHO, faith is like a warm fire on a cold night. The closer you are to the fire, the more warmth you feel. The further you go out into the night, the less the fire can affect you, and the more you feel the chill.

In other words, we need to cultivate our faith, just as many people can cultivate their doubt. Increase your prayer-life, increase your Sacramental life, increase mortifications and sacrifices. Obviously, if you have any reason to believe you may be in a state of mortal sin, go to Confession immediately. In fact, go to Confession anyway. 👍

These things will help to increase your “level” of sanctifying grace … and an aspect of that will be an increase of the supernatural virtue of faith.

Don’t forget what faith is. It’s a grace in the intellect that makes it possible for us to assent to revelation. If we don’t have that gift, no amount of intellectual gymnastics will do a lick of good. First we need to hear the truth, which always, always, always conforms with reason, but then we need grace to accept it. Also, don’t overlook that fact that a lot of these temptations are in fact diabolical in origin. Just as a devil can fill a person’s mind with all sorts of other filth, so they can fill it with doubts about God. This is another reason why striving for holiness is so crucial, and IMO, many people have blocks to religion because of a demonic component.

We must always, always, always strive to deepen our faith spiritually.

Secondly: do some homework! Everyone and their mother just loves this book: amazon.com/Last-Superstition-Refutation-New-Atheism/dp/1587314525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451058909&sr=8-1&keywords=edward+feser+last+superstition

If for whatever reason you can’t buy it, PLEASE send me a PM and I will do so for you.

Moreover, take advantage of Catholic Answers’ seventy-seven ka-billion resources. Here’s something like 45 hours worth of radio on atheism: catholic.com/search/content/atheism?filters=type%3Aradio_show

Also, check out Fr. Spitzer and his work, especially for a scientific look at atheism: magiscenter.com/

Lastly, check out Brandon Vogt’s outreach to atheists, wherein cordial and respectful debate and discussion is encouraged: strangenotions.com/

Cooperation with grace + reason + intercession = healthy faith

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Click to expand...
Strange Notions helps a lot!
 
Dear one, tha fact that you are here asking for support is already a very good sign, don’t you agree :). You WANT to remain a child of God.

And very ood that you will be talking to a priest. Talking to a priest about spiritual issues has often given me so much comfort. I remeber getting a blessing from a priest when I could not feel joy when I should have and he just put his hands on my head and gave me a blessing and it was just all better afterward, also after talking to him about the problems.

And sooo many times in my life, speaking personally now, I have experienced how much God loves me. How in the end things always turn out well. How prayers are answered. God doesn’t give us more than we can carry.

He loves us so much.
Try to feel that love. Deep inside.
 
AttendeDomine said:
The answer to this depends on how strong your spiritual life is.

IMHO, faith is like a warm fire on a cold night. The closer you are to the fire, the more warmth you feel. The further you go out into the night, the less the fire can affect you, and the more you feel the chill.

In other words, we need to cultivate our faith, just as many people can cultivate their doubt. Increase your prayer-life, increase your Sacramental life, increase mortifications and sacrifices. Obviously, if you have any reason to believe you may be in a state of mortal sin, go to Confession immediately. In fact, go to Confession anyway. 👍

These things will help to increase your “level” of sanctifying grace … and an aspect of that will be an increase of the supernatural virtue of faith.

Don’t forget what faith is. It’s a grace in the intellect that makes it possible for us to assent to revelation. If we don’t have that gift, no amount of intellectual gymnastics will do a lick of good. First we need to hear the truth, which always, always, always conforms with reason, but then we need grace to accept it. Also, don’t overlook that fact that a lot of these temptations are in fact diabolical in origin. Just as a devil can fill a person’s mind with all sorts of other filth, so they can fill it with doubts about God. This is another reason why striving for holiness is so crucial, and IMO, many people have blocks to religion because of a demonic component.

We must always, always, always strive to deepen our faith spiritually.

Secondly: do some homework! Everyone and their mother just loves this book: amazon.com/Last-Superstition-Refutation-New-Atheism/dp/1587314525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451058909&sr=8-1&keywords=edward+feser+last+superstition

If for whatever reason you can’t buy it, PLEASE send me a PM and I will do so for you.

Moreover, take advantage of Catholic Answers’ seventy-seven ka-billion resources. Here’s something like 45 hours worth of radio on atheism: catholic.com/search/content/atheism?filters=type%3Aradio_show

Also, check out Fr. Spitzer and his work, especially for a scientific look at atheism: magiscenter.com/

Lastly, check out Brandon Vogt’s outreach to atheists, wherein cordial and respectful debate and discussion is encouraged: strangenotions.com/

Cooperation with grace + reason + intercession = healthy faith

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Click to expand...
👍👍👍
 
I recommend reading some intellectual stuff… like Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton is fairly interesting, though not pristine… and C.S. Lewis has a creative perspective, and is especially keen on the psychological motivations that drive us away from the idea of God (as well as those that drive us towards him: “Sehnsucht/Joy”). You might like The Great Divorce or Prayer: Letters to Malcolm – the latter might approach more to the issue of God as imaginary friend. There’s also all kinds of

Even if the universe were eternal, that doesn’t meant there is no God. It would just mean God didn’t create it ex nihilo.
 
I’d suggest four things. 1. How often do you go to Mass? Just on Sunday? Less? Try going more often. Try daily Mass for a while if you can. Doesn’t have to be forever, but it will help you to focus on your faith every day. 2. Pray every day. As in, some structured prayer time. After getting up or before going to bed in normally suggested. Start with an Our Father and a Hail Mary. 3. As others have said, read the Bible. Here isSt Augustine’s reflection on his encounter with God’s Word. Do not limit yourself to the day’s readings, read whole books at a time. Understanding the Bible will help your faith immensely. 4. Find out more about your faith. Read up on anything that interests you. Learn more and your will appreciate more.
 
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