When is religion no longer worh it?

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Meggie

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I have struggled with my faith for a long while now.
I do the “good girl” thing I go to Mass, I pray, I am in a Bible study, listen to Christian Music, surround myself with Catholic and Christian friends, have great spiritual guides and a great college spiritual group. Even happy-clappy retreats give me no spiritual high. (I tried to help kick-start my faith agian, but no luck) Silent retreats made me more flippant than ever.
No intellectual argument seemes to make sence to me. I don’t think that its a dark night of the soul becuase I’m not upset over it, I’m ready just to give it up.

I’ve been absolutely and genoursly helped by the laity of the church, however, lately I’ve been very hurt personally by some vindictive people in charge in my dioces. Other than that the church has been neutral in my life.
My parents are very faithful, and even my brother who has somewhat fallen away from the Catholic church has a very faithful heart.

I just feel like I’ve given my last. I talked to my parents who’s opinion is that that they can’t “force” me to go to church (they’ve never had to) is that I’m approacing religionwithout the want of a relationship with God. I only go to Mass as insurance against going to hell. My mom told me that at this point, with that attitude, she why I attend.

And reflecting on what she said I really don’t know.
 
It sounds more like you are suffering from depression than lack of faith. You should see your doctor about it–there’s no shame in depression, and there are helps for it. 🙂
 
Meggie said:
I have struggled with my faith for a long while now.
I do the “good girl” thing I go to Mass, I pray, I am in a Bible study, listen to Christian Music, surround myself with Catholic and Christian friends, have great spiritual guides and a great college spiritual group. Even happy-clappy retreats give me no spiritual high. (I tried to help kick-start my faith agian, but no luck) Silent retreats made me more flippant than ever…
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give up on looking for spiritual highs. That is never the goal or reason for spiritual exercises or disciplines. The goal is union with Christ, and union with Christ comes through uniting my will with His. To do that all my spiritual exercises and activities are focused on that end: discerning and doing his will. That means promoting within myself the disposition of humility, obedience and submission, primarily to those on earth who have legitimate authority over me, especially those within the Church, in all things that are not sinful.

Forget looking for spiritual kicks.
Cultivate humility and obedience. this is done by the mundane practices which have stood the test of time – 2000 yrs – and produced many saints: regular Mass participation, frequent recourse to the sacraments of penance and Eucharist, daily prayer, reading scripture, doing penance and good works.
 
I already do the spirtual goodie-goodie disipline ****. I already pray, and go to church (sacraments) and do good works. Infact I do a heck alot more of them.

I don’t think I’m depressed. I have a good life. I like what I have, school is good, my jobs are good, my home life is good. I have a better life than I’ve ever had.

I don’t seek out spiritual highs, far from it, but I’d hoped they’d get me jump started twards that deep understanding and want I used to have.

I just don’t really feel like I WANT religion in my life anymore, even though its a part of all my friends lives.
 
Insurance against going to Hell seems just as good of reason as any to me. Think of Pascal’s argument when he says if you believe in God and are wrong you’re dead and don’t know anyways. However, if you don’t believe in God and are wrong then you are screwed. I would hope and pray that you don’t go through your entire life going to mass and practicing the Catholic faith soley as an insurance policy. However, at the very least if that is all it was and you still did this when many others would have abandoned their faith, then surely it would be worth it once you are in Heaven.
 
First of all, I want to congratulate you for continuing your efforts, even when it seems futile to you. I am sure God is very pleased with your perseverence.

If I was feeling the way you are feeling here is what I would do. I would consider whether I am worshipping in the right Catholic community for my needs. I know we are discouraged from “shopping” for a parish, but maybe there is a better fit for you out there - a community that is either more conservative or more modern than you have been attending, or maybe a community with more young people, or young families, perhaps?

I would talk to a priest or a trusted spiritual director. If I didn’t feel I had gotten anywhere with that person, I would seek out another until I found someone who could help me get back on track. I have been very blessed in the past year to have access to spiritual direction with a Legionary priest fairly regularly, and it has made a very big difference in my faith life.

My faith has really grown over the past 4-5 years, and one thing that as really blossomed for me is my appreciation for regular confession, as well as spending every opportunity possible in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. If you have a trusted confessor, I would talk in confession about your feelings, and the fact that you are considering walking away.

I hope this is of some help to you, and if nothing else, I will pray for you to find the peace and satisfaction you are seeking in your faith life. God Bless…
 
Meggie, I ahve been there

I am a convert. I converted in College. I had moments when I was high and moments where it seemed he was absent. Over these past years there was time I pulled away from him and rebelled against the faith hegave. For the grace of God he and his church always led me back.

I can tell you this from personal experience from being where you were at. Not practicing your faith is not the answer. It fact you will be shocked how quickly things start to change. THe changes are subtle at first and one day you wake up and don’t recognize that face in the mirror. Done that did that. It is amazing when God’s graces are removed how things change. We see things that we were not even aware of.

As to your current state, well be blessed you have the Church. I think my attitude is now basically let go and let GOD as the saying goes… I take pleasure in doing his will. As to your spirtual life there are many avenues.You might trying for instance the Catholic Charastmatic renewal where there are opportunities to be “renewed in the SPirit”. if that is where God is leading you.

There are no easy answers for these tough times. You say you are not depressed but don’t be so sure. I didnt think I was either until I went to go see someone. That was a big help.

God hides his face sometimes for a reason. THe Psalms are full of this. I have a feeling though that if you continue in the Church that one day it will just “click” for you one day.
 
well if you say you are not depressed and truly mean that and not just embarrassed to admit it then you probably are not depressed. In my opinion I think counselors can sometimes cause more trouble than they solve by trying to tell people they are things that they aren’t and getting them to believe that. So if you are not depressed then don’t let someone convince you that you are.
 
Meggie said:
… religion without the want of a relationship with God
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Religion is all about the want of a relationship with God. I don’t think going through motions has any insurance value. I pray you continue to seek a real relationship with God, as there is no higher happiness.

If you were hurt by those in your diocese, you may be associating your relationship with these people as though it was your relationship with God, which I think is a mistake.
 
I’ve talked with this to a confessor and he gave me some great Thomas Aquantis I’d read before…but even my high IQ brain couldn’t wrap around it.

My dad sais I need a relationship with God and all that’s happening is i’m moving from either childish to intellectual or intellectual to a deeper understanding and thats all. Yet, I don’t see how its worth it.
 
Meggie said:
I’ve talked with this to a confessor and he gave me some great Thomas Aquantis I’d read before…but even my high IQ brain couldn’t wrap around it.

My dad sais I need a relationship with God and all that’s happening is i’m moving from either childish to intellectual or intellectual to a deeper understanding and thats all. Yet, I don’t see how its worth it.
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I don’t know how old you are but if you are in college or still young in life but take that into consideration. There are experinces we all have in our life where our faith comes into play and is needed and is fact where we find greater spirtuality.

It come through the many great moments and yes the many low moments we shall have.

In a sense don’t rush it
 
Even fun things seem boring when you’re tired.
Start by getting 8 hrs sleep a night for a week and see if
this straightens things out.
I mean it. A lack of sleep can make you think you have
depression or poor faith. You say you’re a college student,
are you getting 8 hours sleep a night? Try it, and see how
you feel.:yup:
 
Meggie said:
I already do the spirtual goodie-goodie disipline ****. I already pray, and go to church (sacraments) and do good works. Infact I do a heck alot more of them.

I
I just don’t really feel like I WANT religion in my life anymore, even though its a part of all my friends lives.
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you are mistaking religion: the duty we owe God in justice and love and the development of our relationship with him with something else, the outward practice of devotions and practices of the religion. The devotions and practices are useless unless based on love and obedience. Their purpose is to foster the relationship, and to help us develop the virtues that enable us to want the relationship to grow. Turn your focus toward God himself, attending Mass is to worship him, reading scripture is to hear him speak to you, praying is to talk to him etc.
 
Hi

Mass is about worship - we’re not supposed to get a charge out of it. If we do - great, if we don’t…that is proper.

Feeling the way you do reminds me of the verses - “Pick up your cross and follow me.” Suffering is what it’s all about! Suffering is redemption! So many people don’t understand that when they are suffering they are on the cross WITH Christ right there next to them - THEY are participating in the redemptive process! In our weakness His strength is made perfect…this is when we should be relying on Him the most. When we suffer we are united with Him.

Try catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0302revw.asp this link to read more about it - it might change your life.

Peace

John
 
May God’s peace, love and mercy be with you all!

Jesus, Our Good God, surely thought it was all worth it to come down from heaven to redeem us and give us eternal life that He died on the Cross out of great love for us that even if you were the only human being that ever have to be saved, He would have done the same thing and suffer the same death out of great love for you, and you alone.

Jesus did not become an angel to redeem those angels who have rejected and disobeyed God’s will but instead He chose to become man in order to redeem mankind. Now those angels have eternally separated from themselves from God and yet here we are humans, we still fall into sin but Jesus Our Good God gave us recourse in the sacrament of confession for the forgiveness of our sins, and His very own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the holy eucharist as our source of strength, nourishment, love, grace and holiness every time we receive Him in holy communion.

Frequent reception of the sacraments of confession and holy communion are very important in living that daily life of Christian love and holiness of which all of us are called to.

I have read once that if angels could envy, it would be because they could not receive holy communion. Sure they worship Him unceasingly day and night for all eternally but never had the awesome, unique privilege of actually eating Him, of God Himself inside their very own angelic bodies. Yet here we are, we have the awesome privilege to receive Him daily if we want to by going to holy mass. Surely God thinks we are worth it that He continuously gives His very own Self to us in holy communion.

Let us learn from that example to never separate ourselves from Jesus and His Church for the two are one and can never be separated, for Christ is the Head of the Catholic Church.

God never leaves us, it is us who turn away from Him. As God is faithful to us, let us reciprocate that by being faithful to Him too.

With humility, obedience and trust let us follow Christ, and the Catholic Church that He founded 2,000 years ago, no matter what the cost may be.

Let us constantly remind ourselves of the great price Our Good Lord had to pay for our own sake, for our very own salvation. And let us ponder it with great love and gratitude.

Let us not allow ourselves to be complacent. Since God is infinite, we can never stop growing in our love and relationship with Him. St. Teresa of Avila used to say that you know you are in trouble when you think you cannot grow in your relationship with God.

Since GOD IS LOVE, let us do everything out of love for God, not out of fear or obligation.

As St. John of the Cross used to say “In the end, we will all be judged by LOVE alone.”

Together with Our Blessed Mother, all the angels, saints and poor souls in purgatory, let us love totally surrender ourselves, our love, our will to Him.

God bless and have a joyful and grace filled Easter!

Blessed be Jesus and Mary!
 
I’ve been through dry spells. In fact, this Lent was a dry one. But I’m old enough and have seen enough and experienced enough to know that the dryness will pass. Good Friday, I had a moment of deep love and peace when I felt myself being upheld by the love of God.

Maybe it’s a good thing - this dryness. If we spent our entire lives in a state of spiritual exultation, we’d be soon bored of joy.
 
Try and experience a different Liturgy

How about the Protection of Virgin Mary [Ukrainian] Located in Niagara Falls or Saint John the Baptist [Byzantine] located in Kenmore

Both “Eastern Catholic Churches” listed are part of the Catholic Church but a different Rite
 
in reading from an old prayerbook I use sometimes during adoration, there is a selection of advice given by various saints and spiritual directors. This came up a couple of times from I think St. Ignatius, and once from an earlier saint I forget, but same idea;

talking about spiritual doldrums or apathy (they did not use that word) warning that when we are tempted to stop attending to prayer and worship because of boredom, meloncholia, depression, that very often it means we have a persistent sin or evil habit, or a strong tempation that we have been encouraging, that has a growing hold on us, and we are being warned to address that problem. We are instructed to examine our conscience carefully and to uncover that habit and use spiritual warfare to defeat its hold on us. This of course is general, not specific counsel to any individual, but something we should all be aware of.
 
I go on “field trips” regularly…went and saw the monks who made bread. Added 2 pounds by the end of the weekend but their chanting hurt my ears more than anything.:rolleyes:
 
Is it a hastle for you to have faith? Is it something that you honestly think you would be better off not doing and that not going to mass would be more beneficial to you? What I am saying is that as you mentioned, you have a decent life right now and are relatively happy so what is the need to change and abandone your faith? Maybe you can give thanksgiving in prayer for what you do have.
 
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