Breathe
Hostis humani generis
Heee, thankyou.I couldn't possibly have said it better myself.
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Theists: Why does God ignore me?
- Thread starter wayward_teen
- Start date
wayward_teen
Beautiful Disaster
I'm trying not to be, but it's hard. Two years is a long time and I'm a teenager.Good things come to those who wait. Don't be impatient.
Well, mostly I just want to be able to be at peace with myself, my life, my future and my spiritual ideologies. Through peace I see God's approval.
I know that, and that's OK. I just can't seem to have any result yet. I guess these things take time.There are a lot of different possibilities and results.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
I know. When you're a teenager, it's kind of hard to think beyond a couple of months in the future.
That sounds like a totally reasonable desire. I really wish I could say something to make you feel better about not getting answers to your questions. Most teenagers I know either feel like they already have all the answers they need, or else they just don't give a damn. You're seriously to be commended for continuing to seek.
They not only take time, they can come in rather unexpected ways. Some people are just more spiritually "in tune" than others. Like you, I'm one of "the others"; I've just reconciled myself to the fact that for me, absolute, firm, definitive answers that I can't argue with may just never come. But that doesn't mean God doesn't exist or that He is not aware of your concerns.
earlwooters
Active Member
Perhaps God ignores you because, he/she finds no reason not to.
wayward_teen
Beautiful Disaster
That's for sure!
Thanks. It reallly means a lot. It should make you happy to know that I haven't given up on Mormonism. I just want to try other things.
I believe that. It's entirely plausible that I'm being tested. I just don't know.
Well, what a sad, twisted God that would be. If that's how things are, I might as well be an atheist.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
It feels like a long time, I know. I've been there.
Then just keep researching into different religions. You feel one which will resonate with you.
What kind of God do you seek? What is God to you?
What is your concept of the afterlife? Reincarnation, none, Heaven for the good, Hell for the wicked, Heaven for everyone?
Did you try the Belief-o-Matic Quiz?
As I don't know your current pre-existing beliefs, I can't suggest anything that I think would be worth looking into, but I can say read religious scriptures - but as I mentioned in another thread that you saw:
If you believe in reincarnation, look at Hinduism and Sikhism (nobody ever looks at Sikhism, or if they do, they stop early on because they mistake kesh as compulsory for all Sikhs, when it is not, it is only for those who wish to keep it or take the Baptism Ceremony. Those who don't look into it don't know what beauty they miss out on).
If you believe in Heaven and Hell, look at Christianity and Islam.
If you believe everyone goes to Heaven, check out Unitarian Universalism, and possibly Reform Judaism. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, I don't know how "into" them you would be.
If you like the idea of a Satanic figure opposing God, and everyone to ultimately go to Heaven, check out Zoroastrianism.
If you don't mind multiple gods, check out Pagan paths. The Pagan paths I would suggest are Ásatrú (Norse, Viking), Celtic, and Slavic. Wicca may be worth looking at, too - but there are a lot of people who are Wiccan because it's cool.
If you think everything has a soul - everything, animate or inanimate, look into animism and Shinto.
Does God never interact with anything, and he's a bit distant? Deism's for you.
I'm sure you have read the Bible. Now read the NIV or Contemporary English Version (CEV). The styles may appear to you more than the KJV style used in the LDS church.
Read the Quran, the scripture of Islam.
Don't feel comfortable with these? These don't resonate with you? Then travel further east, to the Dharmic land.
Read the Gurū Granth Sāhib, the holy text and Eternal Gurū of the Sikhs. I have linked it for you. (This is my favourite scripture)
Read the Bhagavad Gītā (linked).
Even read the Tao Te Ching (linked as well).
Yeah. It can be incredibly frustrating. There will be times when you feel like saying "Oh forget it". I know they happened to me. Yet every time I did that, I just ended up back at square 1 in less than a day. Less than a day, lol. Incredibly frustrating.
Hope this helps a little bit. Looking forward to your response.
Orias
Left Hand Path
God is what you invoke from within your heart, the chill in the midnight air, and the raising hairs on the back of your neck.
You look to Churches who only see your wallet to read you stories from a book. You have come here to find that which you seek, which shows you have a great potential to see your new horizon. Take your time along this path, don't rush into defining God, just acknowledge that He is there, and He will guide you.
Do not expect a voice unrecognized, or a sign so obvious, it is the subtlety of the matter which provokes what you see and depict as yourself and God. Care not to take a label that only demeans your true value, care not to take on a label that feeds those psychological vampires. Feel the blood flow through your veins, and feel yourself evolve.
In the words of Stian Tomt Thoresen and Sven Atle Kopperud, "You are your own soul creator, of your own masterplan".
wayward_teen
Beautiful Disaster
Prefferably heaven for all, but I'm not super attached to the idea of an afterlife. It's not something I'm super concerned over.It feels like a long time, I know. I've been there.
Then just keep researching into different religions. You feel one which will resonate with you.
What kind of God do you seek? What is God to you?
What is your concept of the afterlife? Reincarnation, none, Heaven for the good, Hell for the wicked, Heaven for everyone?
- Unitarian Universalism (100%)
- Secular Humanism (94%)
- Theravada Buddhism (91%)
- Liberal Quakers (90%)
- Neo-Pagan (86%)
- Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (80%)
- Mahayana Buddhism (79%)
- New Age (76%)
- Nontheist (72%)
- Orthodox Quaker (67%)
As you can see, I'm kind of all over the map. It would be hard to pin down, but I think Secular Humanism and Unitarian Universalism are both fair matches. Sort of.
Thank you. I've never read the Guru Granth Sahib before. Spent quite a while reading it. Fascinating. I have read the others off and on, but none all the way through. I adore the poetry in the Tao Te Ching.
It is frustrating. But I'm coming to realize that I'm not really angry at God for not answering--I'm waiting to answer myself. I want to do what's right for me, and I may not need God to do that. I don't have a problem with God, I'm just struggling with self-discovery a little bit.
An interesting concept, though I don't really agree much with that philosophy. I don't want to have created myself. It's hard for me to thing about
Orias
Left Hand Path
An interesting concept, though I don't really agree much with that philosophy. I don't want to have created myself. It's hard for me to thing about
Because its difficult is no reason to disagree.
You asked us to help you find "God", to simplify my long and perhaps misleading proposition, you should merely look within yourself and your heart desires.
"Self creation" is difficult to apprehend at first, but eventually you come to the realization that everyone creates themselves (give or take those who are created by others), without even really realizing it.
Setting goals, achievements and desiring to better your life as you know it is essentially invoking the Self to behold what we consider as truth, or self development.
Evolution is a very real thing, I don't know your views on it and I don't really much care, since evolution takes place both physically and mentally.
In the end, you will be where you chose to be, which is what Self creation is all about. Anyone can add all this extra baggage and nonsense onto it, but the key to the door in which you seek can be found by merely reflecting upon the Self daily, and to discipline the Self to what you hold as valuable.
This is what makes Christians strong, generally, its what makes all types of people stronger, though it rarely receives any merit let alone recognition.
Like I said, you are willing to evolve into something that you believe with lift any type of burden you have on you, you have recognized that you yourself are responsible for your own physical and mental well being. Don't get me wrong though, other people surely play a role in this as well, and should be treated with the same attitude they treat you with.
Its only harsh and cold if you want it to be
IsmailaGodHasHeard
Well-Known Member
God is not ignoring you. He is testing you. There is a difference. I personally believe that God loves everyone. Do you want to know more?
Ethan, here's a little story that might help.
When I was your age, almost 50 years ago, I was out surfing by myself one day. The thunderclouds rolled in and it began raining. I got out of the water and went up to wait out the storm under an overhang provided by a beach house.
It took awhile and I was getting bored, so to pass the time I said....
"Ok God, if you're there, give me a sign".
I waited. And waited some more. And some more. An hour goes by.
No bolt of lightening.
No huge fish jumping out of the water.
No rainbow or big ray of light coming down from the clouds.
No naked tourist running down the beach.
Nope, nothing, nada.
No sign.
Oh well I thought, no big deal, and returned to surfing. It wasn't a big moment for me, just a way to pass the time while waiting out the rain, a child's game, an early philosophical encounter.
Fifty years later, I can't remember anything else about that day. I can't even remember if the surf was any good, the all important issue at the time. I can't remember anything about that week or month. I don't know what season it was, or anything else going on in my life at the time.
But fifty years later, I still remember asking that question.
What does this mean? I don't claim to know.
But if there is a God, perhaps I got my sign? On God's schedule, instead of mine? When I was finally ready to receive the answer I had requested? Dunno.
I imagine that if there is a God, he's a rather busy fellow, and there's quite a backlog of orders to process.
When I was your age, almost 50 years ago, I was out surfing by myself one day. The thunderclouds rolled in and it began raining. I got out of the water and went up to wait out the storm under an overhang provided by a beach house.
It took awhile and I was getting bored, so to pass the time I said....
"Ok God, if you're there, give me a sign".
I waited. And waited some more. And some more. An hour goes by.
No bolt of lightening.
No huge fish jumping out of the water.
No rainbow or big ray of light coming down from the clouds.
No naked tourist running down the beach.
Nope, nothing, nada.
No sign.
Oh well I thought, no big deal, and returned to surfing. It wasn't a big moment for me, just a way to pass the time while waiting out the rain, a child's game, an early philosophical encounter.
Fifty years later, I can't remember anything else about that day. I can't even remember if the surf was any good, the all important issue at the time. I can't remember anything about that week or month. I don't know what season it was, or anything else going on in my life at the time.
But fifty years later, I still remember asking that question.
What does this mean? I don't claim to know.
But if there is a God, perhaps I got my sign? On God's schedule, instead of mine? When I was finally ready to receive the answer I had requested? Dunno.
I imagine that if there is a God, he's a rather busy fellow, and there's quite a backlog of orders to process.
Salek Atesh
Active Member
First thing I note: I think you might be concerning yourself too much with what to call yourself. I'd advise not doing this, and instead focusing on what it is you believe, rather than the name of that belief.
I went six-or-more years without having a clue what to call myself. If you eventually find a label that fits, that's great!! But if you never do, don't worry too much about it
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching 25: "I do not know its name. Call it Tao. For lack of a better word, I call it great."
Sometimes there's no specific word that encompasses the thing you are trying to describe. Lao Tzu knew this, and didn't fret over what to call his Way. I stopped worrying about which name to use when I came to fully accept the Tao Te Ching's 25th chapter. If you need a word for it, call it simply your "way", or something simple. And if a better word comes about adopt it.
The only time I received a "direct" answer on these matters was when I decided to try to figure it all out for myself. At that time I received a direct answer confirming this was indeed what I should do. Thus the only answer I can give to this question is the one I received: figuring it all out yourself is the goal.
Metaphorically, my faith teaches the stages of spiritual development to be seven in number, Seven "Valleys" one must walk:
-Search
-Love
-Knowledge
-Unity
-Contentment
-Wonderment
-True Poverty
I don't pretend to understand some of those last stages, but the one you are in now, the one we all start in is Search. I can provide a bit of advice:
The essence of this stage is the process of the Search. When you eventually find the truth, you will know it. Just Search away, and don't be discouraged if you don't find something immediately, or even years down the road. You've got Eternity to figure this out, literally all the time in the world (and don't worry too much about those who insist you have a time limit, and that you must figure everything out in the span of your mortal life).
Baha'u'llah, Seven Valleys pg 5: "The steed of this Valley is patience; without patience the wayfarer on this journey will reach nowhere and attain no goal."
Don't worry too much about what other people tell you is right, but figure out for yourself what is right. When you find it you will know it.
Baha'u'llah, Seven Valleys pg 5: "It is incumbent on these servants that they cleanse the heart—which is the wellspring of divine treasures—from every marking, and that they turn away from imitation, which is following the traces of their forefathers and sires"
Be open to all sources, as it seems you have been, and talk with many people until you figure out what is right for you. I've gained wisdom from Wiccans, Christians and Taoists alike. Keep reading what you've been reading, and keep yourself open to all things. God abides in openness.
Baha'u'llah, Seven Valleys pg 7: "On this journey the traveler abideth in every land and dwelleth in every region. In every face, he seeketh the beauty of the Friend; in every country he looketh for the Beloved. He joineth every company, and seeketh fellowship with every soul, that haply in some mind he may uncover the secret of the Friend, or in some face he may behold the beauty of the Loved One."