Why is my faith suffering so much?

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Ooch, realized there might be a bit of “attitude” in my last post. I apologize for any offense (it sure felt good, though), but I have nothing but contempt for things like MENSA, and most other intellectual honors. Far too often, they’re used as a talisman with which to make argumenta ab auctoritate, AKA the argument from the big stick. I’m in MENSA/a professor/an engineer, so listen to me!
 
My personal thought is this… until an Atheist can convincingly answer the question “Why is there something rather than nothing?”, they have no chance of persuading me that there is no God. Modern Science has pretty much proven that there was a moment of creation, probably ex-nihilo. If nothing existed before the Universe, then why is there a Universe at all? And if they start talking about string or M theory, to claim that there was something before the universe, point out that neither theory has a single iota of observational evidence and thus to rely on it is unscientific.

–
Bill
 
Doubt is a healthy complement for faith.

Doubt can get in the way of performing miracles, but it actually strengthens faith when one is not consciously focused on doing miracles at that particular moment. Doubt is a form of self-test by which we help clarify (purify) our own faith to ourselves.

Conceptually, there is no such thing as faith unless there also is a concept of doubt against which to contrast it.

I think we all look at “reality” differently, and are led to different descriptions or impressions of those things that seem absolute to us. We can all stay cozy inside our Catholic house, but unless we either go outside ourselves or at least try to listen to what the outsiders say, then we really don’t have any idea what being “Catholic” even means compared to anything else. That is not a bad way to live, but I know that there are many of Christ’s sheep who are not of the same flock, and whether or not they are officially members of the Catholic Church, I still consider it my responsibility to see Christ in each and every one of them and treat them accordingly – in terms of human respect and service. When I listen to what they say and really try to understand it, that is really a sneaky way of ministering to them, because I’m making them feel important enough to take my time to listen to – this speaks well of Catholics.

I don’t have to agree with what they say, or necessarily defend them with apologetics. I simply have to listen to them, and I have automatically treated them as we would have Christ Himself, of whom God introduced to us from a cloud and said “listen to Him.” To me, showing reverence for another person and for their right to hold their point of view, is spiritually exchangeable for giving that person a cup of water that will never completely dry up. If we would give the least of Christ’s brothers the cup of water, or the “time of day” so to speak, then we would have done so to Christ Himself.

Be not afraid. Greater is He Who is in us than the one who is in the world. I think maybe your faith is ever growing as your spirit reaches for more union with the Truth, and these are just growing pains. Personally I like to hear everyone’s ideas and then formulate my own, but I recognize some people find it simpler and easier just to stay within one set of beliefs and not look outside of them. It’s maybe analogous to being in a cloister and working in a very pure faith environment v. being an active Catholic like most of us.

Alan
 
Do you think the evil one wants you to be a faithful Catholic? What obstacles and temptations might he put in your way? Think about it.
 
Well, now I’m not really bothered by the atheist comment that was made to me, but I’m struggling with the Muslim thought that our Bible is flawed! If that’s so, then they can claim the Crucifixion never happened, Christ was just a prophet, ect. Why am I doubting Christ’s Word now? I don’t want to, but I just…am. This is so hard because some days I’m totally comfortable and others I feel so insucure…
 
scapularkid8 said:
Well, now I’m not really bothered by the atheist comment that was made to me, but I’m struggling with the Muslim thought that our Bible is flawed! If that’s so, then they can claim the Crucifixion never happened, Christ was just a prophet, ect. Why am I doubting Christ’s Word now? I don’t want to, but I just…am. This is so hard because some days I’m totally comfortable and others I feel so insucure…
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I had a real problem with agnosticism, and with the fact that no matter what anybody says, for me to honestly believe, without a doubt, that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that it was transcribed in a certain divine fashion, etc, is always going to be a matter of whether I buy into what I was told by my elders, teachers, church leaders, etc. Since so many people are confused and give mixed messages themselves, it makes things seem a bit shaky. After all, I have absolutely zero direct experience with God and with the difficulty we have with modern technology knowing what some government leader is doing at any given moment, does it really make sense to think that men have preserved the message intact all these years?

The conclusion I came to is that the message of the Bible will withstand such questioning, and even grow stronger within it. I found ways to believe that the Good News is still just as valid and useful for spiritual edification and renewal of mind and heart, even if Jesus never did walk the earth. In other words, if I said, “so what if Jesus was fictional, then what does it mean.” After much study and consternation I realized that whatever was going on in Jesus’s mind to cause Him to behave the way He did was so bizarre that if it wasn’t real it was the most masterful piece I have ever seen. Not only that, but I believed we can attain the attitudes He was promoting, again whether He was fictional or not. Once I thus decided that I would consider Jesus as the ultimate spiritual guide, then I no longer agonized over the details of the history and set forth to earn the rewards that indulging in the beliefs and attitudes that Christ set forth – and learning to adapt them into my life with every breath I take – and was able to start to grow.

Where am I now on some of the critical teachings of Christianity? I still wonder about some of them, but it doesn’t bother me and not only that my respect for the Church has increased since now having indulged in tasting the Lord’s blessing, it is becoming clear that certain truths must be held to ensure that the Church will have longevity on this earth. Whether they are true or not are a matter of faith, and as individuals we may believe or not and if we keep quiet about it nobody is the wiser. The Church is built on the Good News, which as I understand become closed to new revelation shortly after Christ’s generation. That message will live forever, so my question to myself about whether Jesus came from God and a virgin mother is about like asking whether John’s baptism was through God or man. Some things are just so far out there they are beyond question and any attempts to prove or disprove all at the same time, so they remain items of our faith.

Alan
 
Rather than doubt the crucifixion, which is the pinnacle and most momentous moment in all human history, pray for those who do not have the awareness of this great sacrifice. No single event has comforted more poeople in their suffering, brought more dignity to the poor and brought more hope to the despairing. Anyone who says the crucifixion did not happen is doing Satan’s work, who is the father of lies and always seeks to degrade us of our place as adopted brothers of Christ our God.

Take courage! Victory belongs to Christ!

Pray for Mary’s intercession with her divine Son that all hearts will be opened and accepting of the divine mercy of her Son!
 
Lately I’ve been trying to find some apologetics against Islam, but my search isn’t answering my questions. I feel like I’ve opened pandora’s box! I’m so more confused now that I’ve begun researching this rather than just whining.

I’m praying for faith and truth, but I just…wow…this is such a cross to bear. I need all of your prayers to get through this. Now I think the evil one is trying to get me not to go to Mass this Saurday because I feel so unworthy to recieve Jesus because I’m being so questioning. What do I do?? HELP!!! 😦
 
A great way to trump a humanist is to ask about first cause. They keep suggesting things to derail your reasons to know that God is real. Keep going back to first causes. IF it weren’t for the Catholic church I would question Christianity but the church is right there and proofs are within her. So many documented miracles and things that have happened how can one not believe. the devil is geat at confusion and weakness.
 
The real danger in this whole discussion is reducing Catholicism to some theory of creation that we’re trying to intellectualize conceptually and abstractly. I will be the first to admit that I am not a big fan of the new Catechism - I am even less of a fan of the new RCIA process. The problem is not in the truth of it, but rather in the size and complexity of it. Readers get lost in a maze that puts many to sleep along the way. The much shorter and to the point Baltimore Cathecism was equally valid, but more successful in getting through to the readers. One of the problems I really have with the new one is the over-reliance on philosophy and theology, making the presentation almost a legal argument intended to sway potential believers into a set of beliefs rather than an exploration of reality to uncover reality.

The other religions are just that - religions. Once humans scattered around the Earth they knew they couldn’t explain how the Universe came into being, and no one in the Day of Abraham but for Abraham himself could “get it” the way that Adam once knew God. So these competing intellectual theories became a human sport, but in the end, none actually defined God nor had any chance of altering God’s reality. What we are left with are words, if even the Word. I submit that for many reasons on many levels, the Sacred Scripture is not a convincing argument - standing alone, and I’m actually writing a book on this.

So what is it that the other religions lack that Catholicism gives? God Himself, through the Holy Spirit is available to us, and it through receiving the Advocate, this Fire of God in our hearts that we come to know what is fact and what is fiction. We can’t prove anything to the Budhists, Shinto, Pagans, Muslims, or Hindi who do not recognize the Holy Spirit. It is because they are not sharing this experience with God that we can through our Sacraments, and thus to argue about God with any of them would reveal both sides to be foolish. All we can do is pray for anyone reduced to questioning which religion is best so that they may, through the same Holy Spirit that spoke to the Prophets and to John the Baptist and to the Apostles and to Catholics today, be lead to hear His voice today, and harden not their hearts.
 
JohnS72 said:
The real danger in this whole discussion is reducing Catholicism to some theory of creation that we’re trying to intellectualize conceptually and abstractly. I will be the first to admit that I am not a big fan of the new Catechism - I am even less of a fan of the new RCIA process. The problem is not in the truth of it, but rather in the size and complexity of it. Readers get lost in a maze that puts many to sleep along the way. The much shorter and to the point Baltimore Cathecism was equally valid, but more successful in getting through to the readers. One of the problems I really have with the new one is the over-reliance on philosophy and theology, making the presentation almost a legal argument intended to sway potential believers into a set of beliefs rather than an exploration of reality to uncover reality.

The other religions are just that - religions. Once humans scattered around the Earth they knew they couldn’t explain how the Universe came into being, and no one in the Day of Abraham but for Abraham himself could “get it” the way that Adam once knew God. So these competing intellectual theories became a human sport, but in the end, none actually defined God nor had any chance of altering God’s reality. What we are left with are words, if even the Word. I submit that for many reasons on many levels, the Sacred Scripture is not a convincing argument - standing alone, and I’m actually writing a book on this.

So what is it that the other religions lack that Catholicism gives? God Himself, through the Holy Spirit is available to us, and it through receiving the Advocate, this Fire of God in our hearts that we come to know what is fact and what is fiction. We can’t prove anything to the Budhists, Shinto, Pagans, Muslims, or Hindi who do not recognize the Holy Spirit. It is because they are not sharing this experience with God that we can through our Sacraments, and thus to argue about God with any of them would reveal both sides to be foolish. All we can do is pray for anyone reduced to questioning which religion is best so that they may, through the same Holy Spirit that spoke to the Prophets and to John the Baptist and to the Apostles and to Catholics today, be lead to hear His voice today, and harden not their hearts.
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If you like the Baltimore Catechism loof at the Compendium.
 
estesbob said:
Just keep praying and keep studying your Faith. AsCatholics we have 2,000 years of teachings and traditons to fall back on-we dont have to figure it all out for ourelves!

I find the MORE I grow in my faith the MORE Satan tries to put doubts in my mind. in a way having these doubts is a sign of progress-you have advanced far enough to make Satan nervous!
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When I feel confused about a teaching or my faith is shaken I remember that, although I am small, I stand on the shoulders of giants. Read the writings of the great saints, particularly St Augustine, they are as relevant today as when written.
 
scapularkid8 said:
I’m struggling with the Muslim thought that our Bible is flawed! If that’s so, then they can claim the Crucifixion never happened, Christ was just a prophet, ect.
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The Old and New Testaments were written by several human authors, yet conveying the same message: the Redemption of mankind by the Messiah. How could it be so without the Holy Spirit inspiring them? On the other hand, the Koran was written by a single person from the dictating of an angel. Who do you trust more, a Person of the Holy Trinity or an angel?

And then one has to question about the real author of the Koran. Mohamed stated that St. Gabriel dictated the Koran to him. Then why did he use Gnostic “gospels” as sources about Jesus? The narratives on the infancy of Jesus is almost a literal copy and paste of a gnostic “gospel” and so is the myth about the crucifixion of someone looking like Jesus. Considering the time that Mohamed lived and that his wife was a Christian, it’s then easy to understand why Islam is akin to a Christian heresy.

So this is what it comes down to: trust the Holy Spirit and His covenant with the Jews and the Christians through millenia or a man who claimed not to be inspired by God but by an angel?

:blessyou:
 
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