Miserable and seeking

[loverofhumanity]

Sounds to me like you have taken TRUTH snapped it into little bits, and then put the bits in a blender!

Lol. Tastes delicious!

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

After leaving Christianity in 2014, I must have tried most religions out there. I want a religion so badly, of the reason I am not totally sure, but I just can't seem to be okay with any. I feel lonely, untethered and empty. Not sure what to do. I am not a spiritual flake, just confused.

I wish you well on your spiritual journey, Thirza Fallen. Personally speaking, I know that it's difficult to leave your Christian faith after being actively involved with it for many years. My spiritual journey isn't quite the same as yours, but I can sympathize with what you are feeling and what you are going through because I left Christianity after being a Christian for thirty years. It was difficult for me too at first, but I finally realized that it was the best decision that I've ever made for my mental health and personal well-being.

I was depressed, lonely and empty all those years as a Christian, but I feel peace and joy in my life now. My mental health has also vastly improved, and I'm a happier person. I feel liberated, to be honest. I don't feel the need to be in a religion right now, but I've been casually exploring Spiritualism. Anyway, I wanted to share my personal experience with you and encourage you to keep your chin up. Be kind and patient with yourself. As I said, I wish you well on your journey, and my inbox is open if you'd like to talk.

☮ and ❤
Sgt. Pepper

 

[syo]

After leaving Christianity in 2014, I must have tried most religions out there. I want a religion so badly, of the reason I am not totally sure, but I just can't seem to be okay with any. I feel lonely, untethered and empty. Not sure what to do. I am not a spiritual flake, just confused.

Choose your favorite pantheon and stick to it.

 

[PureX]

After leaving Christianity in 2014, I must have tried most religions out there. I want a religion so badly, of the reason I am not totally sure, but I just can't seem to be okay with any. I feel lonely, untethered and empty. Not sure what to do. I am not a spiritual flake, just confused.

I think the solution is simple. Ask yourself what it is about "religion" that you want in your life. And stick to practical answers (like association with other like-minded humans, rituals, stories, or whatever) and make yourself a list.

Then go back through that list and consider how and where you might obtain access to those things on your list in your present life circumstances. (Keep in mind they will likely have to come from different sources, not 'one religion'.) And then start exploring and trying out the various possibilities to see if you really do, in fact, want them in your life.

Remember, religions are just collections of ideas, images, rituals, rules, stories, and practices that people can use to help them live their lives according to their own chosen theological position. The whole point of religion is to SERVE THE THEIST. Not the other way around. So my suggestion would be to use religion in exactly that way. And don't let any religion tell you that you are supposed to be serving it.

 

[YoursTrue]

That is so true.



I really noticed "For some reason... I don't know why". It's my training in psychology. When someone is not sure about something my thoughts go to 'I wonder what would happen if you knew why?'

Huh? Can you explain that? What do you mean your thoughts go to "what would happen if you knew why." Why what? Why they're not sure, or why you're not sure? And then -- what would happen if someone knew WHY THEY'RE NOT SURE? is that what you mean? I mean it's an interesting point to consider, but in order for me to understand your wording, please explain what you mean by "what would happen if you knew why". (Why what?) Thanks.

 

[YoursTrue]

I think the solution is simple. Ask yourself what it is about "religion" that you want in your life. And stick to practical answers (like association with other like-minded humans, rituals, stories, or whatever) and make yourself a list.

Then go back through that list and consider how and where you might obtain access to those things on your list in your present life circumstances. (Keep in mind they will likely have to come from different sources, not 'one religion'.) And then start exploring and trying out the various possibilities to see if you really do, in fact, want them in your life.

Remember, religions are just collections of ideas, images, rituals, rules, stories, and practices that people can use to help them live their lives according to their own chosen theological position. The whole point of religion is to SERVE THE THEIST. Not the other way around. So my suggestion would be to use religion in exactly that way. And don't let any religion tell you that you are supposed to be serving it.

I don't know -- there are some religions I looked into while I was searching, or at least looking -- trying to understand. And frankly some did not appeal to my inner sense of what makes sense. To me. Some religions seem like one big blur to me. Oh well -- that's me I guess. No matter how many trees make a sound in a forest where no one hears --
Oh, and P.S. Meditation can be good.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Perhaps you don't need any religion? Maybe just believe in God and be a good decent human being.

So in your time of learning, what did you think about Judaism?

I guess I just like doing rituals, building a lifestyle around it and a religion is good for those things. Maybe I could make my own rituals, etc.

Judaism seems very practical but the rules seem excessive. But maybe they aren't as bad as I am thinking they are.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I can sure relate to your predicament!

I am not sure if this is going to be exactly your cup-of-tea but here is an article at one of my favorite sites -

Why It’s Okay to Feel Lost (And How to Find Your Way Again)

Check-out the menus at top of page if you have the time & the inclination.

Wishing you all the best!

Thanks!!!

 

[Sand Dancer]

Explore the universal soul thing more deeply, maybe in meditation? It's really about connection, not belief, IMO.
Spending more time in the natural world might help with feeling connected.

I so want connection. I do like to meditate.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Steady, or else you could slip into atheism and then you'll start using words like fallacy and evidence.

I think I went into atheist territory for a time too, but it really didn't fit me. I don't think anyone can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that there isn't a spiritual aspect to the universe, so agnosticism suits me better.

 

[Sand Dancer]

What caused you to leave Christianity if you do not mind my asking?
Did you lose belief in Christianity but retain your belief in God?

Well, it started with the problem of suffering and at that time I left fundamentalist Christianity for mainline Christianity, and I started questioning the morality of how Yahweh is portrayed in the Bible. Good, yet very bad. That and the fact that so many Christians are the opposite of what Jesus wanted for his followers, I figured, "what's the point if it doesn't make someone a better person," so I left completely.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Why leave .. are you angry with G-d or people?

Both. I explained it in an earlier post responding to Trailblazer.

 

[Secret Chief]

I think I went into atheist territory for a time too, but it really didn't fit me. I don't think anyone can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that there isn't a spiritual aspect to the universe, so agnosticism suits me better.

I agree, basically.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I really wish I could invite you to be a Jew, join us, but in all good conscience I cannot.
The process has become .. hard to find the word... evil?. Best I can offer is a universal
standard of righteousness, the Seven Laws of Noah... AKA Noachideism.
BUT... it's not really a functional religion, with a viable community except online.

I did consider going to synagogue. I did a quick search of Noachideism, but I need to look at it more deeply. Oh, sorry to hear that there are no face to face communities.

 

[MyM]

Hello

Coming from a First Baptist born again Christian family household, I can completely understand where you are coming from. I did my search and found the truth of my Creator.

I truly hope you find it.

 

[Sand Dancer]

With the risk of sounding stupid, aren't there these helpful little quizzes about "Which religion does your religious view belong to?"

I would have settled for Greek polytheism, but I wanted a group as well, so I chose Hare Krishna.

I have taken them many times, but my issue is that some of the answers I know I don't believe, but it was hard to narrow them down to one specific answer, since religion is about issues that we can't know specifically. I don't really know what I do believe. I like many answers, so I got many different answers.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I ended up becoming an atheist because of the disunity within religions (sects) and conflict between each religion. I considered them all to be spiritually dead as the main purpose of religion I believed was love and brotherhood. So within religions why have they put theology above love and created thousands of sects? No love. Then why were religions who were taught to love killing each other - no love.

But eventually I learned to separate the people from the Teacher/Prophet/Educator

Krishna - to love God above all else and serve Him - I believe
Moses - He taught love and brotherhood - I believe
Christ - love thy neighbour and even those who commit wrong towards you I believe
Muhammad - transformed barbarians into a law abiding nation I believe
Buddha - taught to fight hate with love I believe
Baha’u’llah- taught to love all humanity I believe
Zoroaster - taught good thoughts, good words, good deeds I believe

How could I in my right mind reject any of These wonderful Teachers? I couldn’t so I accepted them all. How? Well easy. The clergy and priests are not a part of the teachings. Actually their disagreements often caused schisms. So they are not part of my belief. The age of priests and clergy is coming to an end.

So in the end I accepted all of the Great Teachers as They all teach truth. The result is no more confusion, no more rejection, no more condemning any religion as having a false Prophet.

To be at one with all truth is so spiritually liberating. Why limit my spirit to a strait jacket or as a bird in a cage. Now I can go to a Mosque, a church, a synagogue, a pagoda or temple and feel oneness with all.

Humanity is my family. This is the age of inclusiveness. So I choose to accept all humanity as my brothers and sisters regardless of race, religion or atheist or agnostic, nationality or culture. That is my religion.

Love this. I was actually just considering this type of thing.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I did that before realizing Hinduism is where I belong. In my experience, going from one religion to another over and over eventually makes it seem like no religion has a transcendental origin, and that reality is only physical and meaningless. In order to have conviction that a religion comes from a higher source, and that life and the world is infused with meaning from that same higher source, one has to be committed to a particular religion.

That makes sense. I have some studying to do to see what speaks to me and learn more about it. I might be coming from a shallow expectation of religion.

For me, having a label is wonderful because I am able to identify myself and recognize who my fellows are in a world where there are so many different identities.

That's kind of how I feel.

What pantheon are you ignoring or forgetting about?

Well, it seems the Abrahamic religions' god has too many rules. I don't want a micromanaging god. Sometimes these laws don't seem practical and are rooted in a specific time and place in history with limited knowledge. But then many of these have ritual and lifestyle changes that I seem to like, and a built in community.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Doing a quiz might be helpful, though it can be quite superficial too, IMO.
I think it's much deeper than just having a set of beliefs, or "joining a club" where people have the same beliefs.

I wish the quizzes had every religion covered. I want to have deeper convictions, but it's hard to know what to believe, since religion is belief instead of fact. How do you feel you can know specifically when there's little proof? I used to feel I knew when I was a Christian, but then again, I thought it was Christianity or Hell, and didn't think about all of the other religions out there to choose from.

 

[Secret Chief]

I have taken them many times, but my issue is that some of the answers I know I don't believe, but it was hard to narrow them down to one specific answer, since religion is about issues that we can't know specifically. I don't really know what I do believe. I like many answers, so I got many different answers.

According to beliefnet I'm not a Buddhist. What do I know?