Losing Your Faith

[Morgoth]

This thread is being started on behalf of periwinkle-blue, who cannot access CoS right now.


There is a growing number of people who appear to be losing their faith lately or embracing other ideas from atheism to agnosticism. Obviously these two paths are the opposites to any established belief systems and it makes one wonder why people would lose their faith.


So, the questions:


Have you lost your faith?

Why did you lose your faith?

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?


----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?

If so, what made you convert?

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?

[Tarawyn]

Good thread. :)

Have you lost your faith?
Yes. I was Jewish; now I'm not.

Why did you lose your faith?
It's hard to explain this without going into detail on things that have nothing to do with this subject... When I was little, faith was a given. I was very into Judaism. I wanted to be a rabbi, but God wasn't the reason... It was Hebrew and the Hebrew prayers, more or less. I'm still enchanted by them. At any rate, about the time I was 11 or 12, I started to talk to people - mostly Wiccans, agnostics, atheists - about their beliefs, and they made sense. They could explain why they believed the way they do instead of just saying what they believed. They made sense. I started to move through those beliefs, but it took me a while to really believe them. And I'm agnostic now.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really. I jumped to non-faith very quickly. I'd never felt connected to Judaism as a belief - just as a religion.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
By the time I even thought about regaining faith - sometime this year - it was just in passing thought.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Yes, I do. And it's not for the faith, just like before... It's for not being afraid of what I'm afraid of now, and other things. I don't think faith is my issue.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Hold on to what you think and follow what makes most sense to you. It might be enough to pull through in the end.

[lanifiel]

Have you lost your faith?

I more like to think that I've rid myself of useless emotions and feelings. The term 'lost' seems to imply that I care about it...

Why did you lose your faith?

It was a combination of things such as losing my little sister to a drunk driver, my parents telling me they wish I'd died instead, my priest telling me that I was 'Satan influenced' for asking some questions he couldnt answer and then telling eveyone in Sunday Mass that I was lost and should be avoided. You know little things...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Hmmm I lost my family and havnt seen my parents sine I was 18, I guess it was a little hard.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

I have never looked back and never will.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

Believed in what? A merciless god? Corrupted and ignorant church-goers? A one focused family who would do anything to be better Christians? I will never go back.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Embrace your doubts. You'll recognise the truth one day, the sooner the better...

[Kassandra Amparo]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes,i have recently lost my faith.I was a Christian,now i'm not.

Why did you lose your faith?
I lost my cousin in a car crash a year ago.She was like my sister because we'd been living together since we were small.She'd been unconscious for 2 weeks before she died.In those two weeks,i prayed everyday,i talked to God and asked him to take care of her. A pastor at church told me not to worry,God would do anything he could to heal her and i'd have her back...

A day before my cousin died,some people at the hospital told me that she was getting better,they saw some positive signs of her brain,i was happy and i thought God was with me,helping me. But the next day was my worst nightmare,they called me early in the morning and told me my cousin died,they did everything possible but couldn't help.I later found out that she died because the drug they injected her with was too strong ...

I was shocked and i started to doubt if God was really with me. The pastor at church told me God had his reasons for that and my cousin would be happy in heaven,i didn't believe him.I had an argument with him and i stopped going to church,but I still continued to pray at home. I didn't lose all my faith until recently,when i lost two of my good friends,one died in a car crash and one committed suicide. Well,life is cruel to me...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Yes,it was hard for me.It was like beginning a new life,trying to believe in new things and making new friends.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No,i didn't.And i don't think i'll ever want to. I'm glad that i lost it.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
See above.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Believe in yourself and do what your heart tells you to do.

[Benzo]

Have you lost your faith? Yes

Why did you lose your faith?
Getting pregnant before time. Panicking, I had an aboortion. I excluded myself from the church. Than meeting my boyfriend who is agnostic. A few discussions enlighted my contradictions. That was it.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I never adjusted. I still wish God is there but there is no real proof that 'It' exists. I had to grieve my faith.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Meeting Evelyn, Hogwartschaplain, was like the road of Damas for St-Paul. I felt at peace wtih the Lord for the first time in many years. It was such a relief.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Yes, it would bring some peace to my soul, but I know I will never believe with the same faith.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Doubting is not bad thing. I think it is healthy. Ask your God to help you. Ask some good members of your community to help you.

----Have you ever converted from one faith system to another?Not really, but I feel closer to the Lutherian faith than to Catholism which is my denomination.

If so, what made you convert?
Meeting Evelyn showing me there was a church that was closer to my values than my own church.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?
I talked about it with my family. It was acceptable because I am an adult and it was still the same God. Their reaction was more asking questions to understand the differences. My family trusts me in general, even more when it is about Jesus and God.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?
That is a very complex issue. Go slowly, take your time. Maybe talk casually about your new 'interest' to let your family used to it. Not everyone is ready to understand that God is God no matter which name you gave him or her ,and how you worship God is a private matter.

[JofpGallagher]

So, the questions:
[b]Have you lost your faith?

No, but I’d say that I tweaked it a bit during my life. I’m catholic, well, more than a catholic; I answer “I’m catholic” to the question “Which religion you belong?”. I adapted my religion to me, and to what I thing it is right rather than adapting myself to the cannons of the Catholic religion. I know that for many Catholics, I’m not longer one since I don’t believe in many things…well…I don’t care. I care about what God has to say about it, no some humans that believe they own the Absolute Truth

Why did you lose your faith?

I just say that during my life I have developed strong ideas that I believe are no wrong but they don’t perfectly fit in religions or better said in the Catholic religion. Basically, I just think that sometimes human beings give divinity to certain terrestrial things I simply don’t buy.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

I still have faith in what I think is right so I haven’t lost it.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

I can’t answer this question. I haven’t lost faith.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

If you mean the way I believed before, my answer is no. Really I haven’t changed my faith, as I said before, I still believe in most of the Catholic principles, but there are some that I have interpreted differently to the mainstream and others that I simply discharged.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?

As Benzo said. It's a very hard question. I would just say: Believe in yourself, in your morals, in your rights and wrongs, then you may welcome any religion. If you don't believe in yourself you will never believe anything.

[Aranel]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes, I think so.

Why did you lose your faith?
Many of the ideals and ways of the catholic church didn't sit too well with me. Here's an example of a story that was only one part of my 'loosing' my faith:
My grandma was sorting through some of my Great Aunty Bid's things because she is planning to move house, when she found a letter from the pope in there.
The story behind her receiving this letter from the Vatican was that when she was a young woman, Bid had sent 30 rabbit skins to the pope so that he could make a blanket for his bed. In return the Pope sent her back a letter of thanks stating that when Bid was sick and ailing, she could travel to the Vatican to kiss the pope's feet and she would be forgiven of all her sins and sent straight to heaven. This was Pope Pius (the twelfth I think).
Now this reminds me of a certain saying about Buying your way into heaven. Not that Bid wanted the letter, she told my grandma to throw it out.


In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really I don't think, it was a gradual thing, becoming disillusioned.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I am constantly thinking about that something that is out there, because I think there is something, but I don't know what.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Hmm, this is a tricky one, I am not sure, I want to believe in something.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
The cliche: Follow your heart, but more importantly, your head.

[Morgoth]

Have you lost your faith?
- Never had any to begin with

Why did you lose your faith?
- Let's assume at the age of 8, I had faith! It all started when I asked too many awkward questions in religious studies classes (mandatory in a Christian school!!!) "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" I was told that God doesn't allow bad things to happen, but people do bad things to each other... Okay, "So why does God not help those who want him to help?" We don't know that he doesn't, I was told... So from that logic I assumed that all those starving kids were actually being helped in some way and I didn't worry any more.

But wait... "What about wars?" Wars are bad, I was told. God doesn't like them. "So why doesn't he stop them?" It is mankinds job to do that, I was told. So then "Why is there God?" No answer... Now, from that point onwards I doubted everything. I doubted God, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, the lot! I didn't believe it if I couldn't see it. I had my suspicions confirmed about the last two, but the God thing weighed on my mind for many years.

I would never question in Church. Being forced to go there and having your father as a Sunday School teacher didn't help. All I know is that when I went in, I was depressed and when I left, I was happy. By the time I was a teenager, I refused to the point of argument with my family to attend Church. The rest is history.

Mostly, when kids doubt their faith, the parents whip them off to the local parish and attempt to re-indoctrinate them into the faith. Why? Why is it so urgent to make kids believe so young? If a child at the age of five is perfectly capable of making the choice and commitment to Christ, aren't they old enough to choose NOT to go to Church?

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
- Not really. From the age of 10 onwards, I had other things to worry about...

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
- Not so much regained, but I refined my beliefs from a deeply militant nature to a less aggressive stance. Being angry all the time at religion did nothing for me, (although it really helped in school). I took the time out to study religion more and philosophy.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
- I don't really know if I believed to begin with and if what I felt was a belief in God, then no, I don't want that again.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
- Doubts are good. They are fundamental to the human condition and if we don't explore those doubts, we stand the chance of losing a lot more than just faith. It can be dangerous to ignore what you doubt, because the best questions and equally good answers arise from doubt.

Don't follow your fears, because if you are religious your fears will be fears from exploring any doubts because religions have developed this little free-will clause. "Yes, have your doubts, but you will go to hell if you leave this faith." That's one of the biggest insults to human intelligence I've ever come across. Do you think if C.S. Lewis hadn't questioned and ignored his fears, he would have still become a Christian? It works both ways, so no-one should put a person off exploring. We do know that most atheist/agnostic to religious conversion happens when people are prepared to change and accept certain un-explainables for the sake of the greater purpose, which is eternal life. There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever and sometimes converting brings a sense of fear into the equation, a fear of the god you are worshipping, but the important thing is peace of mind. As long as you have that, then fine.

[ArmachiA]

hmmm...

Have you lost your faith?
I think I've lost my faith in the faithful and faith in organized religion... but I haven't lost faith in my Christain beliefs

Why did you lose your faith?
I used to be an avid church going person who liked to read the bible and abide by the rules... but I've noticed the "rules" are different from person to person and the bible can be interptreted many different ways. However, no one I've met likes to talk about this. The bible is law and that is that. Forget about the fact the Christain religion doesn't worship the bible... that seems to be forgotten now. People put more faith in the book, then they do in the man we are supposed to be following. Does anyone care that Christ did not judge, did not comdemn people for what they were and he loved them for who they were? No, because in the bible it says who "deserves" to be judged. Christianity is supposed to be following his example, not the Bible's words. People have forgotten this, the Church doesn't even want you to say anything on the subject... organized religion is tainted now...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Nah, not going to church anymore and becoming a free thinker was quite easy.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
In the Faithful? All the time. I like like seeing that people can see past the bibles words and are open to discussing such things. On Religion? Never... I gave up on it really.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
It's much easier to listen to a preist and say "This is how I should live my life, he said the Bible says so, so that's what I'm going to do. La De Da." so in a way yeah... but finding my own path in Christianity is much more exciting.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
If a person is doubting their religion it's probably not the best religion for them in the first place. If a person is doubting their faith they did to go with it, Doubt can lead to two paths; the path that brings you back or the path that leads you away. Niether is wrong. ^_^

[Fairydust]

Have you lost your faith?

Haven't lost it yet.

Why did you lose your faith?

Haven't lost it yet.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

When it happens I'll come and post again.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

I'm trying to be more attentive in church and everything. I haven't given up my faith but I daresay that it may be waning.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

There are times when I believe and times when I don't. Ironically enough, in the times of great despair, I lose faith a little.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Can someone give me advice? I've got a few doubts.


----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?

Yup. I converted to christianity.

If so, what made you convert?

It just so happens that a group of church goers knocke on my door and gave me a pamphlet. I decided to go once, that was about when I was 8, 8 years later I'm still going.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?

Nope. In fact, though none of my family members go to church themselves, I'm encouraged to go. A lot of my friends also aren't christian and they don't care that I am.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?

I'd say do what you feel is right. Think for yourself and don't let anyone try to persuade you to do otherwise.

[PhoenixUK]

Have you lost your faith?
Well, yes in a way. I've lost faith in the denominations of Christianity, but not in Christianity itself. This is because the church is meant to be one, but for some reason each church holds the petty differences in their beliefs with a kind of vicious lust. I've seen Christians arguing with each other. We need to realise that, despite the minor differences, we are all worshipping one God, and the same Jesus Christ. That said, I believe that all religions lead to the same God, but in slightly different ways.

Why did you lose your faith?
About a year ago, when I read a lot of books, including the bible.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
No. I still attend church, of two different denominations. It just means that I am better informed.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. I'm not ever calling myself part of a denomination.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I do still believe. I feel God every time I worship.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Don't worry, read. A lot of great philosophers have probably pondered the same questions as you. Ask your librarian: a good starting point is Socrates.

[leenielou]

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?

I was raised an Atheist by my parents, and taught that Christians were all stupid idiots. My mother even tried to get me out of Religious Education at the grammar school that I attended for three years.

If so, what made you convert?

When I moved to Derbyshire, I began to go to a Christian private school. After two years there, I finally figured out how some of my friends stayed so together, so loving and always full of hope; they had God to lean on. One of my friends went out of her way to introduce me to the Christian lifestyle, and I have never regretted it since. I love being a Christian, I love God and I love life. I always have someone to lean on, and am comforted in the fact that everything happens for a reason, and that although we have no control over things, at least we are not running blind.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?

My life became a living hell for three months or so after I converted. My parents would not speak to me, and would only do so to poke snide and ignorant comments at me about my faith, and they became extremely angry when I first converted and attempted to have my evangelist friend expelled from school. Then I learned that they would be taking me out of the school I loved so much after I had done my GCSEs, and with everything piling on top of me, I had two choices: lean on God and carry through, or give up my new-found faith to appease my parents. I chose the former, and now that everything is alright again, I am so glad I did, as now I still have my faith and my parents (grudgingly) respect me for sticking by something that I believed in but they hated. Some of my friends gave me a hard time too, as I changed myself as my beliefs changed to what I hope is a better person, and they did not like her. But my true friends stuck by me, even the non-Christians.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?

Be brave. Know that it is only you who can make up your mind about what you believe.
Be strong. Any prejudice will fade eventually, and you will have the love of God forever.
Be wise. Find out everything that you can about the faith before you enter into it, so that your mind is made up fully.
And finally;
Be patient. Things do not all happen at once. You cannot pray to God one day and immediately expect a change. Stick with Him, and He will love you and look after you for the whole of your life.

[Midnightsfire]

*grumbles* O...Ok...I'll give it a go.

Have you lost your faith?

I haven't lost faith in myself...

Or are we speaking of when I was Catholic? Lost that a long time ago.

Why did you lose your faith?

Couple of reasons. REALLY reading the Bible and when that knocked me off my perch I started delving into the Catholic church's history. The feather that broke this camel's back was when I was searching for clues to a very old copy of a Welsh book that I was looking for. Found it in Ireland...Apparently, that old book burner Patrick or his followers found it objectionable...The Church has destroyed too much beauty, some of it even related to it's own existence.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Ya. I admit I did for a year or so. *shrugs*

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Turned my back on it and never really looked back.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

That would be too easy for me. I always do things the hard way...

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Doubts means questions. Questions are good. It keeps ones "faith" honest. (And I don't mean religion. :D )

----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?

Not completely. Goddess worship deserves to make a comeback though.

If so, what made you convert?

Been rereading my old Joseph Campbell (http://www.jcf.org/about_jc.php) books. He seems to have held an extremely positive opinion about Goddess worship. (As well as certain Eastern philosophies.)

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?

Au contraire. Been deconverting a few. Although I believe they may have already been experiencing doubts.

*looks around*

No mention of the Force? The Jedi philosophy? :sad:

[Animagi rock!]

Have you lost your faith?

It's more like I never really had any to begin with.

Why did you lose your faith?

As I said, I never had any, so I can't really say I lost it, but the time when I started thinking about religion and whether I believed in god was in my early teenage years. I started to learn more about religion and church, I developed an interest in history and found out how many people have suffered or died because of religion in the past and saw how many still do now and decided I didn't want to have any part in that.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

No. After all it wasn't as if I'd actively turned away from religion, it's more like before that I hadn't decided what I wanted yet. I stood at a crossroad and it was just as painless for me to choose atheism as it would have been to chose the other path.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Nope, I thought about the subject before I decided not to believe. If I'd had any doubts, I would have postponed that decision until I was ready to make it, rather than regret it later and have to change my opinion.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

See above.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

First of all, take your time and don't let anyone try and make the decision for you. Ask yourself whether you can wholeheartedly agree with what your religion stands for. You might want to get informed about different denominations to see which one, if any, is closest to what you believe in. In the end, the only thing you can really do is follow your heart.

[periwinkle-blue]

Can someone acknowledge a system, agree with everything, support and fight for it cause when needed, and yet... not fully embracing it?

[JofpGallagher]

Can someone acknowledge a system, agree with everything, support and fight for it cause when needed, and yet... not fully embracing it?
Let's see if this helps:
* I acknowledge systems exist everywhere. Deny it would be absurd. They are all around us.
* I agree with many things and disagree with many others. I believe that it is a human condition we can't deny to ourselves, and I believe there is nothing wrong with that. We cannot see things exactly with the same eyes than many others, do we?
* What I believe as correct, I support it and defend it, not only when needed but all the time since it comes out of me as part of me since what I believe is right is within me, at the end it's part of me.
* Embracing it? Well, I don't think there is pre-established things as a whole with several options you have to pick one and follow "everything". I think is perfectly normal as a human condition having doubts (as many have said). We are in the right to make questions. Well, it is not only a right, it is a Human Condition. We are not robots someone can program.

[Black Butterfli]

Have you lost your faith?

A little...

Why did you lose your faith?

I went to this weird church and it sort of messed with my mind.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Not really, because I still have faith and I hope I'll always will.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Yes.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

Sometimes I wish I still believe as much as I once did.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts

Um...do what you think is right :shrug:

[haycheng]

Have you lost your faith?

I have not lst my faith because I am still in serach of it. I believe their is a higher power. I refuse the world is come to be by random and big boom theory. I am currently read bible, and going to school worship for Christisan. hope I can find it there.

Why did you lose your faith?

I never have lost my faith. I always believe in God. I am just not sure what religious I beleive.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

It is hard to accept the Lord.(go from no-religious to have one) I am still unsure but I hope I can have faith on Christ.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

I am trying to go to church every week and fellowship.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

I never lose my faith on their is a higher power. As for Chirst, I do have problem with it once in awhile. That why I have not be a full christisan yet.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

I am just trying to read the Bible. I am consider to get to some sat school once I graduate from college and get a job. I want to get closer to God.

[Silvilocks]

Have you lost your faith?

I don't know about lost. It kept wandering off, and one day it didn't come back.

Why did you lose your faith?

As briefly as possible...I went from Christian to agnostic because the priests/minsters and many of the congregations at the different churches I had anything to do with didn't come across as being very good Christians. Agnostic to atheist was just a gradual drift over several years. I think that was just as I grew older, read and questioned more, and eventually decided to go with logic rather than faith.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

I don't think so, although looking back I knew I was an atheist a long time before I'd admit it to anyone else.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

No

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

No

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

I wouldn't. I'll happily discuss religion in general, but I wouldn't discuss an individuals beliefs, or feelings about religion with them.

[Snowangel]

Have you lost your faith?

In a way, yes. But, to tell you the truth, I don't know if I really had much faith to begin with. I think that when I was young, I just didn't ask questions. When I grew older, no one could answer my questions and I just started to feel resentment that I was expected to believe things that didn't make sense to me.

Why did you lose your faith?

See above. I went to church for many years and I think that some of my experiences in the youth group influenced me. The leader of the youth group was pretty much a fundamentalist Christian and I decided that, if that's what Christianity was, I could not reconcile it with what I've experienced to be true.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Yes. It was hard to let go of going to church. Some of this is because my mom is a priest and my family is religious. However, my mom has also helped me to see that there are different ways of having faith and that not all Christians are rigid literalists. While this has not brought back faith, it has made it easier for me to distance myself from the church.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I don't know. I have a really hard time trying to define what I believe. I've been confused about all of this for many years.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
In a way. Maybe the stresses and anxieties of life would be easier to face if I believed that there was a God who could help improve this. But, ultimately, I don't want to believe something for this kind of reason. I want to believe in something because it is likely to be true, not because life would easier or have more meaning if I believed in God.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Doubts aren't bad. Ignoring them is probably worse than exploring them.

[HogwartsChaplain]

Can someone acknowledge a system, agree with everything, support and fight for its cause when needed, and yet... not fully embrace it?

I think this is most likely to happen when there are "disconnects" between what the religion teaches and how most people live it out. Hypocrisy, or a lack of authenticity and integrity, are difficult to reconcile with any belief system. I know this is true for Christianity, and suspect it is true for other faiths.

[periwinkle-blue]

I think this is most likely to happen when there are "disconnects" between what the religion teaches and how most people live it out. Hypocrisy, or a lack of authenticity and integrity, are difficult to reconcile with any belief system. I know this is true for Christianity, and suspect it is true for other faiths.

Hypocrisy...hmm... I never saw it that way when I was trying to figure that out. However, that word might summed up what I've been trying to figure out for a while.

So, basically... this means that most cases of the scenario given was basically rooted from the opposite lifestyles the believers lead, and the way the see themselves as faithful believers? Like what I perceived from Jofp's post, acknowledging and embracing can be two very unrelated and different thing altogether. Now I'm not trying to offend people, and I'm really sorry if I do, but from my personal view, people who's on the verge of loosing faith are those people who're trying to adapt and evolve their need within the set of belief that they have at the moment. Kind of like, modifying their own religion, faith, etc. I'm just wondering whether that's the case of most people who lost or starting to loose their faiths, but after reading the posts in here, I get the illusion that some cases, people need to put the blame on something rather than accepting it's fate, or whatever, so that they can move on with their lives. What do you guys think about these views of mine? :)

I'm curious, Evelyn, in your experience as a pastor, did you get these kind of contradictory in the people you met, often? If so, is there a suitable remedy or somewhat tips for them to actually revert back to holiding true to their faith? Or would you just accept who they're now and try your best to maintain the open-minded relationship?

[Sherlock Holmes]

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're saying, Irni, but I think you're right: sometimes people need/want something to blame, preferably not themselves. Sometimes that is religion, especially if they had some notion that their religion was going to "fix" their problem, it didn't, and now they'll dump the religion, even though maybe the problem was their notion in the first place.

That definitely happens with Christianity. I make a point of warning people, who want to become a Christian, that they committing to the hardest thing they will ever do, and that, while the rewards ARE great, it's not going to immediately solve all their problems. I don't want people to expect what they're not going to get.

[auror]

from my personal view, people who's on the verge of loosing faith are those people who're trying to adapt and evolve their need within the set of belief that they have at the moment. Kind of like, modifying their own religion, faith, etc. I'm just wondering whether that's the case of most people who lost or starting to loose their faiths, but after reading the posts in here, I get the illusion that some cases, people need to put the blame on something rather than accepting it's fate, or whatever, so that they can move on with their lives. What do you guys think about these views of mine?
I can speak of myself about this, hope it helps and improves your views… ;)
Everything starts with questioning. There is a quote that I really like “The things that speak in you, the records, are codes which were sent to you. These are not you… So, who are you?”
So, you start asking yourself questions like “what is my favorite color?” You seek for the answer coming from your heart and brain; not the one that you heard from your mother … Then you realize, the color that you really like is not the one that your mother used to paint your room. So questions gets more and more…

I have a life filled with expectations from future like many people. If I work hard and minimize the risks, I will have a better chance to reach my realistic expectations. If I work hard and somehow can’t reach my goals, the reason is not “fate”. I believe the reason to my failure is something that I could have done and just didn’t notice. Calling it “fate” or “it was supposed to happen that way” is only coward escape from failure or acceptance. I just don’t believe the existence of a force that can decide my future. Only I can decide my future and it isn’t decided before I live it. Otherwise, what’s the point of my life? I’m not an actress who has a script to act! I am the writer, the editor and the publisher of my life.

Everyone make plans for the future. I have plans too, but I don’t bother to worry about what will happen when I die. I don’t make plans for something so unknown. I can’t sacrifice my life; to worry about death and how my actions now will change it…
A person lives his/her happiest moments as a baby, because he/she doesn’t have any concerns. He/she thinks so innocently and away from all the questions… My aim is to be happy and everyone is like that… What makes people happy change, but everyone works to be happy. Some try to get power, some try to earn money, some marry, some raise children, some just walk in streets when rains… But they all do these to be happy. Religion is one of the ways, which can make a person happy because it evokes the feeling of being secure in a person. So actually, everyone’s aim is one, but the way we reach it is different. I feel secure only if I know that I have control over my life and that is something contradicts with some of the religions, like Islam.

So asking questions, leads you to answers. I found out that I don’t need to have a strong figure to lean on. I found that things mostly depend on me, and this realization made me happy. I also found out that to believe in things, I need concrete facts. Thrown theories just weren’t enough. So I found something that parallels with my thoughts, ignored the fear and just moved on with my life feeling more happy than before…

[periwinkle-blue]

I can speak of myself about this, hope it helps and improves your views… ;)

Thank you auror, your views are indeed interesting, and made me think for a long time and I caught a glimpse from other people's views.


Everything starts with questioning. There is a quote that I really like “The things that speak in you, the records, are codes which were sent to you. These are not you… So, who are you?”
So, you start asking yourself questions like “what is my favorite color?” You seek for the answer coming from your heart and brain; not the one that you heard from your mother … Then you realize, the color that you really like is not the one that your mother used to paint your room. So questions gets more and more…

Questions can also lead back to the same old answer, perhaps it'll take multiple degrees of separations to connect the whole picture. Perhaps liking a certain color, for example, may rooted from the fondest memory we had, like how tasty the cream colored ice-cream we've tasted during our childhoods. Thus, we have nice recollections of certain things we like, like cream pies, cream colored dress, etc. Sometimes we realized it that we really do like the color cream, eventhough we're reminded by our mothers or other people that that's because our room are painted with that color. Does it make sense? I mean, one start to follow the path of questions, somehow got lost in the jungle of possibilities, and by dumb luck or by hard work, they found a way out, though it's the opposite direction, it's still considered as arriving at the outside of the jungle. Some might move on straight ahead, but to those who trails and skirts along the edge of the jungle, eventually they'll come back to the very spot where they first entered the jungle.


I have a life filled with expectations from future like many people. If I work hard and minimize the risks, I will have a better chance to reach my realistic expectations. If I work hard and somehow can’t reach my goals, the reason is not “fate”. I believe the reason to my failure is something that I could have done and just didn’t notice. Calling it “fate” or “it was supposed to happen that way” is only coward escape from failure or acceptance. I just don’t believe the existence of a force that can decide my future. Only I can decide my future and it isn’t decided before I live it. Otherwise, what’s the point of my life? I’m not an actress who has a script to act! I am the writer, the editor and the publisher of my life.

:) it reminded me of Surah Ar-Ra’d (13) Ayat 11 from the Quran:

"... And He [Allah SWT] does not change the conditions of people unless they try to change themselves."

We're taught to work hard to gain our means, not just praying and expecting things to come by as soon as we wish it. So in my own way, I see my religion offering something of a realistic approach as well. I still consider the way I lead my life is based on my own choices, and like you, I am the writer, the editor, and the publisher of my ilfe.


Everyone make plans for the future. I have plans too, but I don’t bother to worry about what will happen when I die. I don’t make plans for something so unknown. I can’t sacrifice my life; to worry about death and how my actions now will change it…
A person lives his/her happiest moments as a baby, because he/she doesn’t have any concerns. He/she thinks so innocently and away from all the questions… My aim is to be happy and everyone is like that… What makes people happy change, but everyone works to be happy. Some try to get power, some try to earn money, some marry, some raise children, some just walk in streets when rains… But they all do these to be happy. Religion is one of the ways, which can make a person happy because it evokes the feeling of being secure in a person. So actually, everyone’s aim is one, but the way we reach it is different. I feel secure only if I know that I have control over my life and that is something contradicts with some of the religions, like Islam.

So asking questions, leads you to answers. I found out that I don’t need to have a strong figure to lean on. I found that things mostly depend on me, and this realization made me happy. I also found out that to believe in things, I need concrete facts. Thrown theories just weren’t enough. So I found something that parallels with my thoughts, ignored the fear and just moved on with my life feeling more happy than before…


You've state yourself very clearly and I am grateful I have the honor to share your views. It made me even more appreciative of people who look at life differently from me. We walk parallel paths towards the same goal, and though these parallel paths may not crossed each other soon (by the way.. looking at mathematical view, parallel lines could never cross each other, except when they're fully combined with each other all the way :D ) at least we can walk side by side without demanding why we need the others to walk the same path as ours.

[MadMagic]

Have you lost your faith?
Perhaps I have.

Why did you lose your faith?
I don't know that I really lost something. Rather I came to college, never participate in any religious activities or think of religion, god, faith, etc, and realize I don't care. Perhaps I never really had any faith then. Perhaps what I had was all talk and no action. Whatever it was, I don't really miss it.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?Not particularly. Once again, maybe I never had anything so there was no need to adjust to anything. I went from going to church weekly and counting ceiling tiles, to not thinking about church or god and doing something else to fill that hour.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I haven't been without it long enough to try to regain it.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Believed in what? What's the point. It never made my life better, I never felt connected to anything greated than myself, I never felt comforted by it. Basically it was a waste of time.

[Weatherby]

Have you lost your faith?
I never had any.
The song Faith (http://www.musicfanclubs.org/cure/lyrics/faith.html) by the cure sortof fills in that void. I don't ever recall deciding I wasn't religious or didn't believe in god. I just never did.

Why did you lose your faith?
Because the people at the churches I went to were hateful and cruel. I didn't want any part of it.
As for going to church itself I was usually spanked so I'd behave while I was there so I came to dread it.
There was a neighbour who took us to church functions and I suppose I didn't have a terrible time but spirtually I never got into it.

I had a huge arguement with the minister of my friend's church as an adolescant because of a sermon against homosexuality.
Religion has always examplified human's in their most destructive force to me.
That wasn't my defining moment though.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I can't adjust to life at all but religion isn't going to do it for me.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
The time I went to church with my friend so I could spend Saturday evening at her place was my sole "attempt". Even if I hadn't been horrified I don't think I would've gone down that path.


Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I'm more afraid of finding religion.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Pop in 'faith' by the cure and do some soul searching. :)

[FlyingPhoenix]

Have you lost your faith?
I have lost my faith in the church, to be catholic.

Why did you lose your faith?

This is my livetime story. I suppose and I'm no special to all others here It was about losing people. I just couldn't understand why god did give me a whole day with my grandmother only to hear in the middle of the night she was dead.
I need to go in more details. I was 7 years old and very faithfull in my believing in god and the church. It did make sense to me. One day everything did change. My aunt did kill herself. She didn't die directly days after she tried it. I did pray that everything would be alright again that my family would be strong. But it wasn't. My grandfather died months after that. My grandmother again months after his dead. I did lose and lose. Nobody of this freaking church did try to help us to give us reason or a shoulder. No my family was avoided, we had even difficults to get a grave for my aunt. "God don't love people which kill themself!" was the standards phrase. What did they know? My family once big and everything I could ask for was by now little and broken. I did hate god for this.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
It was probably the hardest thing in my live because It was a fight about my heart
Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I did and I have. Not in the church not in the catholic thinking but in god. I do believe now different as before.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Sometimes to believe like I did? Yeah because you was in the middle of something and not alone. I'm alone.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Don't listen to the church, not to a pastor. Just listen to your heart and only to this. Because no one knows more as you do about faiths. If a pastor tells you what god wants than don't listen He don't what he's talking about. God is in your heart and not in the bible and for sure not in the church. You can't pray to god and think he is going to rescue anyone. God is just a support but not someone who fullfil your wishes if you pray long enough thats what you learn from the church and this isn't true. You lose in life like you win.
----

[HogwartsChaplain]

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Don't listen to the church, not to a pastor. Just listen to your heart and only to this. Because no one knows more as you do about faith. If a pastor tells you what God wants, then don't listen-- He doesn't know what he's talking about. God is in your heart and not in the Bible and for sure not in the Church.

You can't pray to God and think he is going to rescue anyone. God is just a support but not someone who fullfil your wishes. If you pray long enough that's what you learn from the church, and this isn't true. You lose in life like you win.

While I can understand your feelings of rejection and abandonment by your family's experience, I can't agree that one should never listen to a pastor, because I am a pastor.

Not all Christians believe that God stops loving people who kill themselves. I believe that God loves all people, regardless of our actions, even when people commit suicide. Not all churches refuse to bury those who have committed suicide in their cemetaries. Both my husband (who also is a pastor) and I have done so, given them proper Christian burial.

Your second paragraph is right-- God isn't a "magic genie" or a "Santa Claus" who will give people everything they pray for. That wouldn't be good for any of us.

Life is full of difficulties, with or without faith in God. I've experienced life both ways, and far prefer the journey with God-- not as a crutch, but as a companion. IMNSHO.

[Benzo]

Life is full of difficulties, with or without faith in God. I've experienced life both ways, and far prefer the journey with God-- not as a crutch, but as a companion. IMNSHO.

I totally agree :sigh:

Good to see you here Evelyn!

[FlyingPhoenix]

Not all Christians believe that God stops loving people who kill themselves. I believe that God loves all people, regardless of our actions, even when people commit suicide. Not all churches refuse to bury those who have committed suicide in their cemetaries. Both my husband (who also is a pastor) and I have done so, given them proper Christian burial.


I know there are pastors who do not think that people who kill them self aren't loved by god. Thats not the exact point of that its rather If you're in doubt of your faith you have to ask yourself and not a pastor because the pastor isn't the one with this doubts. Its you and only you. So only you can answer the question "Do you still believe?"

Just let go back to the bible there is a nice example its Jesus who had doubts he don't ask a pastor, he questioning himself. Because nobody can tell me he knows more about god as I do. To believing in god is a question of the heart and not of some nice words or some nice phrase from the bible.

You can't lay everything in others hands its up to you not to a church or god thats the point.

[HogwartsChaplain]

Sorry that I've been slow in responding... life's a bit crazy right now....

If you're in doubt of your faith, you have to ask yourself and not a pastor, because the pastor isn't the one with this doubts. It's you and only you. So only you can answer the question "Do you still believe?"

...To believing in god is a question of the heart and not of some nice words or some nice phrase from the bible.

You can't lay everything in others' hands; it's up to you....

Yes, I agree completely that a person shouldn't just blindly accept faith based on another person's belief or experience. Every person is right to examine their own beliefs and experiences. Sometimes the process of examination will lead to faith, or to greater faith.

However, having doubts doesn't mean not having faith. I've had times in my life when I didn't believe in God, or wasn't sure I could continue believing in God. Somehow God has always brought me back to faith. For that, I am grateful. But it doesn't lead me to judging others for their faith difficulties; for that, I'm also grateful.

FWIW

[Picko]

Have you lost your faith?

Can't really claim I had any to begin with.

Why did you lose your faith?

I guess at one stage on was on the fence of having or not having religion. This was because my parents didn't force their opinions onto me - which is as it should be.

The main reason I found faith a difficult concept to accept is because of religious education. The whole Christianity concept seemed flawed, there were so many wholes in the story. During one question and answer sessions I asked several questions and received inadequate answers. I continued to push the point trying to get a proper answer for why a perfect god could exist but bad things could happen. My religious education teacher - and nobody else for that matter - could not answer it and today thirteen years on the faith concept is more flawed now than ever before.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

No, there were so many things that were more important.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

No the concepts were flawed as a five year old, the ideas are ridiculous thirteen years on.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

I can't say that I do. I see all the problems that religion has caused and find myself proud to know that I am not in any way linked to any of it.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Take a step back and analyse things from as unbiased a point of view as possible :)

[koli]

Have you lost your faith?
yea

Why did you lose your faith?
i was catholic b/c well every kid over here takes religion classes, i think its a cult (no offense to pple who strongly believe i just feel this way), but its weird my family had never gone to church not even around holidays, nothing for weddings and such yea. but everything else we didn't care. my dad doesn't believe hes like me, more of a scientific views on things rather than faith and god and such



In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
nope same as b4, no praying none of that stuff

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
really isn't any faith to regain

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
believe in "god" one that doesn't help a lot of pple, god that no1 has seen. also there are so many different religions all of which are different w/ different gods, polytheistic, monotheistic, idk i find a lot of weirdness int he religion business. w/e

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
idk, believe in what you want, form your own kinda thing.

[Masterfroggy]

Have you lost your faith?
I Lost it for a long time but now I believe in God but not religion

Why did you lose your faith?
My brother was killed by a drunk driver and the vicar said it was a good thing as he was young (7) and free from sin, he would not be sent to hell but spend his time in purgatory

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
As easy as turning off a light, from believing and loving to not believing and hating

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
many times

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I found God, but not my faith in the church

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Doubts are a good thing to have in everything, as they help you to learn

[Tane]

Have you lost your faith?

I never really had a faith or at least one I can relate to the normal streams within religion itself. I was baptized in the Church of England but never had to live up to that religion. My mother does but that was due to the influences placed on her due to parental pressure. My mother decided not to do the same with her children. Something I love my mother for.

Why did you lose your faith?

I did at one point explore Christianity myself. It was at a convention where I lost my faith. Sleep over kind of convention and I really disliked it and felt completely out of place. Loss played another part towards finally giving up on my Christianity, if there was a god then he shows no forgiveness in my eyes and I cannot accept or worship a merciless god.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

No I did not really think about it, I just stopped believing in that one faith however I have not explored enough to understand other religious beliefs to say I have given up on faith completely.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

No as I did not really have a solid faith to start off with.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

Not really but it would be great to have something or someone to turn to in times of great need.

[Tiberius]

Have you lost your faith?

Yep. I was brought up to believe in God, but i'm an athiest now.

Why did you lose your faith?

Because I thought about it over a long period of time, and I realised that the evidence for a God that was available to me was far from convincing.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Nope, not at all. About as hard as the treansition from think HP is a kids book to thinking it's a **** fine piece of work.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Never have, never will.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

Nope. To me, belief is sorta like say that everything has a reason, and we should trust God to know that it's for the best. But I want to know for myself, and if God doesn't want to tell me, then I won't worship him. I will not follow blindly.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

This is a toughy. Personally, i think religion is a bunch of rubbish, but it's something that everyone has to decide for themselves. If you want to give up your faith and are finding it hard, then perhaps the life of Atheism isn't for you. Perhaps it is, but whatever you decide, it has to come from inside you. It will probably be a hard choice, but I think that anyone faced with this choice should look deep insuide themselves and figure out their motivation for it. It might not be as obvious as it seems. In any case, I don't think it's a decision to be made lightly, as religion is a very powerful driving force, not only in the world today, but in people's lives.

[Azura's_Heir]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes and no. Yes because I lost what little belief I held and no because the belief that I was trying to follow wasn't really my own just the only way of believing I had known. I would say that I still have faith but not in any organized religion. More in my own moral code then anything else.

Why did you lose your faith?
I lost what I held because I found myself questioning whether what I was being told held any truth. Though I could also say that because the times when I have reached out the most and truely belived in the Lord I have been abandoned. Though if I follow most teachings I guess it would make sense that I wass abandoned because I never really reached out until I was truely in need. I think the one thing that made me truely turn against God was when the day after my Great-Grandma died when my family was praying we had to thank God for what he had given us. However it had been a long journey to this point and I would say that her death was really just the chincher of a much longer fight. I know that what I am saying doesn't make alot of sense right now but it is rather hard to explain to some one who knows me and even harder for those of you who don't.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Well since I have never really had much faith it wasn't real hard to adjust. I think what was hardest was the realisation that I no longer even had the illiusion of religion to cling to.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No not the same beliefs.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Not the same faith or beliefs but yes I do wish that I had something to believe in. I feel as though I am missing a part of me. I look at the part of my family that still goes to church and at times I am jelous of the community and sense of belonging that they have. But on the flip side I have never been happy in church so I will fore go that.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
I am not sure that I can offer any real advice as I am one of those people who is experiencing doubts. Just know that it is normal to doubt and that they are not alone. To look around you and search until you find something that feels right for you. I guess.

[Benzo]

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Not the same faith or beliefs but yes I do wish that I had something to believe in. I feel as though I am missing a part of me. I look at the part of my family that still goes to church and at times I am jelous of the community and sense of belonging that they have.

Oh, that is very rare that I meet someone who feels that a part of themself is missing. I used tolike the community belonging, the stregth of my faith, but I think I still have a strong faith. I believe every human has the possibility to be happy IF placed in decent conditions.

[Sunfish McCaul]

Have you lost your faith?
I lost my faith in organized religion ages ago, but remain a deeply spiritual person.

Why did you lose your faith?
When I was a kid I greatly admired Christianity, even if I didn't know much about it. I was in a Bible Studies group at one point, and I always loved looking at churches. They seemed so peaceful. So Christianity was always there for me, but in the summer before 7th grade I began finding out stuff about their belief systems, stuff that I didn't want to know.
I found out that traditionally women are supposed to be inferior to men.
I found out that atheism and non-Christians were frowned upon.
Perhaps most woundingly I discovered Christianity's official position on homosexuality. I felt deeply betrayed, very hurt and very angry. I was furious at the church for years, and I've only recently begun to reconcile.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really. It all sort of came crashing down at once. The aftermath of being left out in a spiritual void was hard to deal with though. I'd always had something to believe in.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Not in organized religion. Funnily enough, I ended up fervently "believing" in politics. Socialism has been my surrogate faith since grade 8. I also started believing in reincarnation, and I've developed a couple of personal spiritual beliefs.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No. For a while I was wondering about the possibility of returning to the faith, because the United Church and the Quakers share many of my beliefs, but I'm irreversibly atheistic now. I just can't believe anymore.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Take all the time you need and find out why you're experiencing doubts, whether or not they can be remedied, and, once you've answered those questions, ask yourself what the next step is. Keep all possibilities open and question everything. Once you come to a definitive conclusion, re-examine it constantly.

[Dru Malfoy]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes.

Why did you lose your faith?
Hard to say. It wasn't just one event. First of all I was really annoyed with all the fuss they made for my Confirmation. You had to go to church and they would check if you did, you had to go to a preparation-class which was absolutely pointless and we got told what bad people we were if we didn't go to church each sunday and how we'd be dammed if we didn't get our Confirmation. I then began to suspect that this was not what Jesus could have had in mind at all. I then saw what the pope did and some bishops ... and thought, if there was an allmighty God, He would not allow that so there can't be one. On the other hand, maybe He allows it because they are doing what he wants and in this case I don't want to belong to His followers any more. The more I thought about the whole business the more I came to the conclusion that Christianity was not for me. Years later I officially left the Roman-Catholic church.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
At first I really hesitated leaving the church because where I come from it is really important to be Catholic. But then church-politics kind of caused a huge scandal in my country and I was ashamed to belong to that church so I decided to quit anyway - regardless of the repercussions it might have for me.

My mom had some concerns about me getting a good because as I already mentioned where I come from it is really important to be Christian. My dad did not mind at all. One of my grand-mothers was shocked and I didn't tell the other one because she was a firm believer and would only have said, "poor child, I will pray for you then if you don't pray any more." I hate that attitude...

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. Saw no need to.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No, why should I?

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Think, think, think! Don't just believe, think!


----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?
Yes. When I stopped believing in the Christian God I wanted to become Wicca as I love nature and I thought it was so wonderful to cherish nature. But then I found I couldn't believe in the pagan gods either.

[Chartreuse]

Have you lost your faith?
Not exactly. I'm beginning to dislike organized religion and I've got a lot of doubts, but then I still have faith.

Why did you lose your faith?
There's lots of loopholes in the Roman Catholic faith... the things religion teachers tell us aren't clear. I don't believe televangelists and people saying that Christianity is "the one true religion"... crappy. I doubt several things in the Bible and the Church. But then, I'm in the phase when I'm not sure of anything anyway...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I still have faith, but I still have to rethink abput being a non-believer.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Not really... I only focus on having a good relationship with God through prayers.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Like when I was a kid, I believed everything. But now is the age of making choices, and I'm sure I'm on the right track

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
There's no harm doubting. You can ask other people who have the same problem. You can talk to a counselor or a priest if you want.

[Filius Flitwick]

Have you lost your faith?
I don't really know if I ever really had it to begin with. I'm a confirmed Lutheran yet I haven't been to an actual church service since my confirmation. The only times I actually go to churches is for weddings and funerals.

Why did you lose your faith?
I pretty much only saw church as something people did on Sunday's. My parents would sometimes even drop me off for service so I could fill out the worksheets for confirmation classes, and then they would go and do other stuff.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I'm fine most of the time, nobody in my immediate family goes to church. Well, maybe one of my brothers does when he goes with his girlfriend. Anywho, the only time it's a little difficult is when we are with my dad's side of the family. They are all pretty religious and they know that we aren't.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I've thought about it, but I've always decided against it. I'm not a fan of all of the rules of the religions. I'm fine with almost any belief system as long as it makes you happy and you aren't hurting others physically or emotionally. I don't like it when somebody says you'll spend your after life in eternal suffering for not believing a certain thing.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Not really, if I couldn't be convinced when I was five then there's no chance of me being conviced now.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Don't do something just because somebody else wants you to. If you are forced to believe in something then you are kind of going against what it means to believe. If faith is something you really want to have then talk with somebody at your place of worship.

[firebolt2000]

Have you lost your faith?
-I have lost my faith in any sort of a G-d, which happened maybe a year or so ago, and even before that I was never really religious and didn't have so much faith. I'm the kind of person that has to see to believe. If I don't have hands on proof that there is G-d, I will never believe in one. I don't see how I can place my whole belief system on something that could possibly not be true.

Why did you lose your faith?
-After I learned more about Judiasm, which is naturally what I am, a born Jew, and about all the expulsions and killings of Jews, I was so horrified. I wondered how any sort of G-d could continue to let one man kill another man just because of their beliefs and what religion they are. To this day I still struggle with that, and when someone puts down Judaism I get very offended, even though I have little faith. It's weird.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
-Yes, it was very hard. At the time of my adjustment, which really took place about a year ago, I was dating a Mormon guy who was extremely religious and had very devout Christian friends. It was hard having to hear all the time about them going to Church every Sunday and not being able to do anything with them, and listening to them talk about G-d when I was so utterly confused.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
-Yes. I am currently reading the Old Testament again, for about the fourth time, and plan on reading the New Testament, as well as learning more about my religion and Christianity.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
-Absolutely. I am still friends with the ones I mentioned earlier, and it is so hard to not be able to articulate what I believe in and possibly even hurt other people's feelings when discussing what I think is true and isn't, and sometimes I wish I was like everyone else and I could go to synagogue and be stable in my beliefs, and I am still trying to realize everyone is an individual.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
-Be strong. Remember that life has its ups and downs and sometimes you have to deal with those hard times.

-Be brave, and try talking openly about it with someone else. Remember that you are never going to chane people's minds in an instant, but look at this discussion as a way of relieving that burden you may have on you at times.

[FlyingPhoenix]

However, having doubts doesn't mean not having faith. I've had times in my life when I didn't believe in God, or wasn't sure I could continue believing in God. Somehow God has always brought me back to faith. For that, I am grateful. But it doesn't lead me to judging others for their faith difficulties; for that, I'm also grateful.

I quiet agree with you now, today. But if I was in that situation so as I was around the teenager-Time I did think, no I wanted to think that I don't have any faith anymore.
I did want to think that God dos not exist, not be there and just watch how I struggle with life. A long, probably through the whole teenager-time I did blame him for it. I was 16 as I slowly started to understand. At some points I was proud to be no longer such a fool to believe in something like God.
But though I thought I were no longer such a fool as strange it was through I wrote my book I did find back to my faith. I probably did never lost it, not in God.Its quiet ironical as I started to write in my book about losing faith I did find it again and to understand that I hadn't lost it.
That I did still felt there was God. Probably more as ever before. Though I'm not someone who starts to quote Bible or God I can tell you I had in those past years the strangest experience which let me come back.

You may think I'm crazy maybe I'm indeed but I think it was in year 1998 as I had a suggery and I did after 7 years dream from my Grandmother not something what I did with her as child. No, as I was at that time. I woke up because of her voice, because of what she said. I do know it was my fantasy, it was me who did this but after 7 years?
There are more things like that they just show I did never lost faith.

[fawkes5]

Have you lost your faith?
It depends which faith you are talking about. If we are talking about my faith in my religion, then yes I have probably lost it to some degree. However, I have every faith in the existence of the One God who created this universe.

Why did you lose your faith?
Because no religion is completely infallible and lately there have been a lot of decisions by my religion on issues such as abortion, family planning, gay marriages, etc. that I do not agree with.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
No.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Yes.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Religion and the existence of God are two different things. Do not confuse it.


When I was very small, maybe around 5 years old, I had a dream. I dreamt everyone on this planet was dead. Nothing, just a silence and nothing left alive at all. Then the scale got bigger. The focus shifted and I was dreaming that nothing in the universe was alive anymore. There was this nothingness that stretched forever and forever for all eternity.

Then I woke up and I was crying. Because in my dream there was no power that could get rid of all that eternity of nothingness.

Maybe that's why I find my belief in God so difficult to shake. Not that I want to.

[DrummerboyDT]

Here's something that I found that was pretty interesting, it kind of changed some of the ways I think, give it a read, Check this out. (http://www.doesgodexist.org/AboutClayton/PastLife.html)

[Emma]

Well, I have never posted here before. I don't know if I should or not. But here goes.

I was baptised Lutheran. My mother would take me to Sunday School when I was little. My father never went to church.When I was 8 I stopped the Sunday School. My family had issues with the church that we belonged to. It had to do with a marriage and a divorce with one of the clergy and a family member.

I have issues with religion. I have issues with the way that I've been treated in churches by priests and ministers from different religions.

I had been practicing wicca for many years. I'm not even doing this any more. I'm just tired of everything. Why do anything? For what? For who? Not for Me!

[Midnightsfire]

I had been practicing wicca for many years. I'm not even doing this any more. I'm just tired of everything. Why do anything? For what? For who? Not for Me!
Some years ago, I was walking down the road and I saw an aquaintance of mine waiting for a bus. It was drizzling out and cold. (Wet and cold...not good) And I asked him "what's up?" He said he was waiting to get to another bus to go to church. (2 buses to get to church...hmmm..) Anyway, I informed that he had another two hours to go for this particular bus. (I knew he missed the first one.) So after a few minutes of chatting I looked around and said, "Kinda feels more like work going to church?" He shrugged. "After me and the wife split up it does seem that way." So I replied, Well, your religion says this is the Sabbath right?" He nodded. I grinned "Your not supposed to work on the Sabbath, so go to that convenience store," I pointed, "and grab a cup of coffee and go home and relax. (He lived only half a block away) "If you still feel like going to church in a couple hours the bus will be here. If not, you're a whole heckuva lot closer to your bed, and in this weather, that's a lot more inviting and less work"

He laughed. "I never thought of it that way!" I shrugged. "Your God is a forgiving dude so don't worry about it. A couple of extra Hail Marys and an additional Lord's Prayer you'll be fine."

"But next time I find you waiting for this bus and I'm charging you for my advice.." :p

But now to the point....

Emma...practicing Wiccan...

Do your beliefs truly lie with Wicca?

For me, myself, practice isn't everything. Beliefs however...

Take my above example. He thought he had to practice his religion.

[Emma]

Emma...practicing Wiccan...

Do your beliefs truly lie with Wicca?

For me, myself, practice isn't everything. Beliefs however...

Take my above example. He thought he had to practice his religion.
To tell you the truth...I don't have any beliefs any more. I used to feel the energies of the earth and the connections with it. I still do in ways, but I don't do the cauldron, inscents and herbs any longer. I'll burn herbs and inscents just for the enjoyment of it. But not for the symbolism of it. I figured Why? Who else got anything out of it? No one. I was solitary. There wasn't a coven that I belonged to, so no one even missed me.

My belief is to just do the right thing. You have to live with yourself.
My mother thinks that I'm just terrible, She keeps giving me bible things. Like this is going to "save" me. I don't believe in a true heaven or a true hell, I believe in "home"

[Rosepetal]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes, although the faith had always been rather fragile in its existance.

Why did you lose your faith?
Well, my faith in Christianity wasn't very strong to begin with. My mother had grown up in a houshold where Catholicism had been forced on her, so she didn't force any denominations or strong beliefs onto me. My dad was Lutherin, but he didn't go to church, so I didn't have any influence there, either. The only reason that I really gained any Christianity was because of my friends. I live in a relatively small town in Illinois, so most of the people I go to school with are Christian, with church and youth groups playing an important part in their lives. Even at the tender age of 7 I had had friends that were shocked to find out that I never went to church and that I had never been baptized. However, when I was about 12, I had a friend that was what some people refer to as a "Jesus-freak", who told me that, since my dad was divorced, he was going to hell, and that I was for not being baptized. This was the thing in Christianity that I had always doubted the most-- hell. I cannot believe in any God that would condemn a person to eternal suffering for so little a reason.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Yes. I was confused, trying to discover what I really believed.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Yeah. I thought that it would be so much easier to just believe in the same religion that everyone else did, to not stand out. There are so many people in the world that will judge you negatively because of your beliefs...

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No, not really. I don't want to believe in anything that feels so wrong to me.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Trust yourself. If there are doubts, there has to be a reason for them. Try and study your beliefs, find out specifically what you doubt, whether it's the existance of diety or the way that your beliefs look at it. Try and do what you can to find your path.
----
On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?
Yeah, once I lost faith in Christianity, I went looking, and have since embraced a belief in Wicca.

If so, what made you convert?
It felt right. It is a religion based on an awareness of nature, something that is very important to me. The beliefs in Wicca were the same ones that I had had all along.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?
Not from most of my friends. They knew me, and knew that I wasn't the religious type. They were just glad that I had found something. The only person I had problems with was a very Christian friend who insisted that Christ was the one true way to salvation. As for my family...They kind of don't know yet. I'm not really sure what to expect from them, so I want to make sure that this is completely right before I break the news to them, and I need to find a good way to do it.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?
About the same thing that I gave before. Trust yourself.

[Mercedes]

Have you lost your faith? I guess you could say I 'lost' it. It's more like I kicked its *** out of my life.

Why did you lose your faith? I simply didn't believe in things as the rest in my past 'faith' did, & I didn't like it. It felt wrong.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust? No. For once in my life, it felt right & fine, since I was going my own way, with my beliefs, rather than being forced to accept my mother's beliefs.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time? Definitely not.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed? Nope.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts? Eh. Well, it depends on why they're having doubts, I guess. I think everyone should just go on their own path, so...maybe they should really do some soul-searching to see if it's actually right. Then, I figure they should do some independent study of their own faith, as well as some others...because it may turn out they 'fit' more into another.

----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another? I suppose you can say I did.

If so, what made you convert? *Shrugs* I just 'fit' into 'it'.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends? My mom's attempted at converting me back, but it's definitely never going to work. We've got into rows over it, & she & my dad used to try to talk me into going back to church & all, but I had none of it. No one else seems to know or care.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert? Study up on the faith you're converting to, obviously. They should make sure it's right for them, & they should convert for the right reasons.

[Scarlet Tears]

Have you lost your faith?
At times I question my faith, and I've had my doubts, but I don't think I've ever completely lost it. I'm Catholic, but I do have disagreements with some of the practices of the Catholic church. However, I have always believed that there is a higher power out there who is just yet merciful, one whose omnipotence cannot quite be comprehended by humans.

Why did you lose your faith?
Well, seeing as I have never really lost it, this question doesn't apply to me. However, whenever I become very depressed or angry, my faith does begin to fade a little. I just try to remind myself that everything happens for a reason, and whether or not we understand it now does not make it any less significant in our life's journey.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Keep an eye on the grand scheme of things, and don't get too caught up in the details. God has put all of us here for a reason, and everything that happens to us allows us to grow and understand our purpose.

[Ragdrazi]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes.

Why did you lose your faith?
Well, I had always prided myself as being a good good person. But everywhere I went I was under attack by. . . bullies or my father. . . I was always taught that god sends his believers trials and tribulations to test their faith. To make them stronger. So, every time I was attacked, I would tell myself I was not good enough. It was actually at a Bible Summer Camp that I met a girl who sort of nudged me into the concept of liking myself for me, which made me start questioning. At the same time, I happened to witness some things done by some people in the church, which I thought were really awful things, but looking back, they weren’t really that bad, just hypocritical and immoral. I prayed to god that his will would be done and that these people would be exposed. But, to my dismay, they where actually honored by the church. This, I reasoned, could not have happened if god had known about it. Then, as I looked back, I realized that nearly every church leader from the several different churches I had gone to had been, in some way, really awful people. How could god known and continued to work through them. Because I had felt something I defined as god’s power from them. I started to wonder if it was just the music and the swaying and the raising of hands that had felt so spiritual. Then in one service, the preacher made a mistake. He said that the sprit of god wasn’t going to flow unless everyone was praising god right at that moment. So I didn’t. I hated god intensely. And yet everyone kept swaying to the music and raising their hands. Then the preacher actually said he could feel the sprit of god flowing through each and every one of us. And that was the last time I went to church.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
It was kind of hard to brake it to my mom. But she took this whole “Well, it’s your soul” attitude and quietly disapproved.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
In a way I did during the part of my life where I was clinically depressed in part because what was happening was so intensely bad it made me believe in a devil. But I figured out it was just an illness and regained myself.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I’ve said it before, but I really just wish there was a god to believe in. That the world made sense. But the truth is, “Can god make a stone to heavy for him to lift?” No? Yes? Maybe?

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Figure out exactly why you are. Give your faith a reasonable chance to prove itself right. Don’t be afraid of it being wrong.

[HarryPotter]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes.

Why did you lose your faith?
I wish I knew

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Yes, mainly because I belong with a family with a long Catholic tradition, and they wouldn't accept my choice...

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Yes, but it only helps me to lose it more and more

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Yes, definitely

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Be patient... time will do the rest

[CicadaInvasion]

Sometimes I find it hard to believe because I belong to a very conservative church who is always critizing me. I was brought up to think like a revolutionary - Why accept the way things are? Question everything. Make an intelligent stand and stick to it. So when I supported Gay Rights (They're people, and they have a right to live as they like) I was admonished. Whenever I questioned anything, I was admonished. I felt like they could be leading me like a lamb to the slaughter, which I refuse to have happen to me. I don't believe it unless I can see why they want me to.

[fawkes5]

I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. Although nowadays, I do not accept everything the Roman Catholic church espouses, I still consider myself Catholic. For instance, I don't believe that the Pope is infalliible, he is human and therefore he can err. I also believe in contraception, etc. etc. Abortion? Hmmm, it depends.

My point for people who have lost their faith because of fanatically "religious" people is to not lose heart. It falls entirely on your own shoulders to find a set of belief systems that works for you. Chances are, you will develop a personal code coming from several religions.

I mean, religions are just groups of humans congregating, calling themselves something and talking about their beliefs and discussing how to apply them to their lives. That's great! But don't forget, they are human, so they are fallible. Their biggest mistake is in trying to force other people to believe in exactly the same things that they do.

The important thing to me is that I believe in something and that I've got some kind of moral code by which I live by.

Personally, I choose to believe that there is a God. I look at the world, I study the physiology and biochemistry of the human body and I cannot help but wonder at how He managed to think all this up.

[thethirdman]

Have you lost your faith?
Not so much lost as New & Improved. With fresh lemon scent even.

Why did you lose your faith?
I went to a Catholic high school where all my religion classes were taught by preists. I had one priest make the claim in class that the Native Americans were nothing but savage, naked, canibals who were better off under European/White control. If only he knew that I had a Cherokee ancestor born on the Trial of Tears. But he wasn't the only one to offend me. There was another who actually morally justified murdering children. He was the same one who defined morality as being good didn't matter. It's all in how you follow the rule. Oh I could on. But let finish with this: I refused to be associated with people like them. I refused to believe that men like them represented God.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Yes. I initially rejected everything, but felt such immense guilt over it. I actually thought I was going to hell because I rejected it.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
I wasn't making a conscious effort to, it just kind of happened. I met a priest who describe himself as conservatives think he's conservative, but he was of the opinion that it wasn't his place to tell others what to do or think. He would say, "I've my own soul to worry about. I don't need yours too." That showed me that were still respectable people in the church. I went back to Catholicism for a while. Then my dad gave me a copy of the Tao Te Ching and I spent a year in Japan where explored Shinto-Buddhism while attending Baptist services. Crazy huh? My first year at college, I took a religion class taught by a Franciscan sister who actually admited that she didn't have all the answers, and that rule-keeping is not the same as morality. I grew to respect religious people again. Then I decided that I was going to find my own faith. And I have.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Like I did when I was 14? Sometimes, but only because rule-keeping is easier than thinking. But I know I can't go back and if I did I would be miserable.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Search. Explore everything. But remeber that not all members of one religion are bad. 99% of them maybe, but there's always that 1% that are really living right.

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?
Yes I have

If so, what made you convert?
I needed to figure things out for myself. I wanted answers that were uniquely mine. So made a hodge-podge of what felt most right for me.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?
Some of my friends from high school still lecture me and try to bring me back. My parents are cool with it and so are most closest friends.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?
See answer to the doubter question.

[Amadeus]

Have you lost your faith?
Well, not entirely but somewhat..

Why did you lose your faith?
I was born and raised a Christian. I never had a choice as a child as for what religion I would be. However, I've never been a die-hard Christian. I began questioning what is religion. Is it something that people have created desperately because they need some explanation about how it all began, or what will happen once they die? Is it simply to unite certain groups of people? It is just that I need proofs. Darwinism and Natural Selection sounds far more convincing than the bible, and the two definitely contradict each other. It is really hard for me to believe that life has existed less than 10000 years on earth, when the carbon dating shows otherwise. If you had a book and a scientific evidence, which one would you believe? Also, the church that I went to for about 4 years, which I no longer go to, made me absolutley hate going to church and Sundays. I hated the pastor above all. He was creepy and freaky and he touched me in a way that made me somewhat uncomfortable. (It wasn't sexual, but made me feel extremely irritated and uncomfortable). His sermons and preaching never did anything for me. If anything, it drove me away from church and Christianity. Also, even though Christianity claims that everyone is equal under god, why is he portrayed as a white male? He may be, he may not be. Whether he is or not, it made me think whether religion exists as propaganda of supremacy and superiority of certain race or sex.. After all that, my 'faith' is just dry and barren...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Hmm.. I am not entirely anti-Christian. I am still trying to define what 'religion' I am or whether I am going to have a religion at all... I still go to church every Sunday. It's just something that I've done every single week for more than 17 years, and I feel somewhat uncomfortable just stopping suddenly.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
There was a period few years ago when I did pray for a stronger faith. I no longer do that.. I am still trying to decide whether I want to be a Christian or not.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I don't know.. If it were true, then yeah but if it cannot be verified as 'the truth', then I will hold my judgement

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
I don't know, because I am in that situation right now.

[Snidget]

Have you lost your faith?
Not exactly, I've lost faith in organized religion, but not in God.

Why did you lose your faith?
I couldn't see sitting in a church listening to a man's interpretations of the Bible. It just doesn't sit right with me having to abide by rules of a certain religion. I truly can't see myself ever doing that.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust? No, because I never lost faith in God. I just seemed to lose faith in everything that surrounds 'it'. It's never hard to decide whether to go to church or not, since I don't care to listen. I have my own beliefs in God and that's good enough for me.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
In organized religion?? Never and I probably never will.


What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Everything that's already been said. Read and discover, that's basically all you can do.

[Marissa]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes. I believe in Evolution.

Why did you lose your faith?
There's too manythigns inteh bible that are unrealistic and I question a lot of it really happened. Also the bible was written by a King.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust? Yes, I had to hide it from my family. I still hide it from most of them. I hate pretending. Also, a lot of things I did subconsciously, that had to do with religion.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No, I believe it less and less everyday. Religion is the main cause of War. I see a major problem there.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
It happens to everyone. Don't feel bad, but be strong with what you believe is correct.

[PrtVeela]

Have you lost your faith?
I believe in a higher being, but I do not belong to any religious group or do I affiliate myself with such.

Why did you lose your faith?
There was a time when I realized that I could still believe in a higher being with out having to sit every Sunday at church, and follow a certain amount of rules, and someone else's interpratation, it just never truly worked for me.

There are so many contradictions in the Bible...at one time it says were equal, and then in the same breath it condones slavery and the opression of women.
I think that God-or a higher being should not ask of you to pursue perfection, because you will always fall short. That was another thing that bothered me.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
No, because I still have my belief some sort of a higher being. I found it was more easy to not believe in a certain religious sect, then to only half heartidly believe in one. I don't think religion should be a chore, and that's how it felt like to me.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No, I don't know if I can forsee a time in my future when I ever will.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
It is completetly a personal and different situation for every person. There is no advice that I could give that would be right, because I have not had the expereinces of others nor do I know their exact situation. The only thing I can say is that no other person can make up your mind for you in regards to how you feel about faith, it is something that has to be decided by you and you alone.

[Dawn_Potter]

Have you lost your faith? Yes

Why did you lose your faith? That's nothing I can go into detail here... but it were a lot of things...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust? Not really... in school it was a bit hard...

Did you try to regain your faith at any time? Yes

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed? Yes

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts? Take your time to think over it!

[morgiana]

When I was in the 10th grade we studied world history this included religions of the world. I couldn't understand how 1 group was going to heaven, another was being reincarnated, and some wanted to come back as a sacred cow. I lost faith. I read Bertrand Russell's Why I am not a Christian. I still went to church and youth groups (my friends were there). I did not share my lack of faith with anyone.

I never tried to regain my faith but when I went to college in Utah something happened and my faith returned. I looked for a religion to suit my beliefs. I went for instruction to become Jewish. My family decided this was because I don't like Christmas. (They did however still expect presents.)

As time passed I changed belief systems again. What is life without change.

I still do not belong to mainstream organized religion. I think everyone has their own path. I have taken those things which bring me peace within and embraced them.

I think most people are afraid of the unknown and death is a very big unknown. If they have faith then they have a promise of what will happen when they die and there is comfort in that.

LIfe is about growth and change. You must live your life as fits you. Whether you have faith or not is a personal matter. Through introspection and discovery you will find what is right for you. Just remember it could change again tomorrow or in 10 minutes.

[starutena]

Have you lost your faith?
I'm not sure I ever really had it. But there was a time when it can be considered that I lost it.

Why did you lose your faith?
Intense family drama. I saw faith fail those around me and saw little point in my own.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really. It was a steady process that happend over time. I had stopped attending church years prior, so its not like I suddenly stopped going.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Nope, still athiest.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No, because I can not allow myself to believe that something is allowing all the suffering in the world to happen.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Listen to your heart. Talk to those around you, those of faith and those not. Decide for yourself if you need faith. Don't continue just because you think friends/family will shun you. If they can't accept your beliefs (or nonbelief), why should they expect you to accept theirs. Most importantly, either way, do not press your beliefs onto others. If you find your faith, remember your doubts and allow others to explore theirs. If you lose your faith and belief in God, remember that others may need to believe and do not critize them.

[MrsSiriusBlack]

Have you lost your faith?
I can't quite remember if I ever had much faith to begin with. I was raised Catholic, went to church, went to sunday school, all that stuff, but I don't think I ever really believed any of it. I suppose that if I ever had any faith in a belief in God, then I have lost my faith.

Why did you lose your faith?
This is so complicated, and very difficult to answer. I could say that it was just my bad experiences with church and sunday school as a child (my priest was a drunk), and perhaps the fact that I never really understood it all or saw the point in it. I think the bigger thing is that I've always been a very rational person, and I never saw how God could exist. If you just think about God and religion in a rational way, you will come to the conclusion that logically and anthropologically speaking, it is highly improbable that God exists. More so, if you think logically, the events in the Bible cannot have really happened, which thus reduces the Bible to a series of fables, and the idea of people living their lives by this book is just preposterous to me.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
No... the only hard thing about it was explaining this to my mother, who was very angry at me when she found out I had become atheist. It is also difficult to explain it to friends who are staunch Christians, because their beliefs won't hold up under rational scrutiny, and they don't want to hear it.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. There's just been no point. I'm completely happy with what I believe about the natural world.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Well... it would make things easier with my boyfriend, who is a Christian, but I don't particularly wish to be able to believe, I just wish people would be willing to listen to what I have to say and understand my point of view.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Think about it. Ask yourself, "Am I believing/having faith just in order to make myself happy?" I find that most people with religious beliefs do it because it makes them happy, because having faith that God is in control and that you will go to a good place when you die is very comforting. The atheist belief seems very stark and bleak to most Christians. What they don't know about atheism is that it is also very satisfying. It makes you appreciate your life right now all the more, because are lives are so fragile which makes us all the more precious.

If you are having doubts about your belief, then consider the reasons why you believe. Is it because that's what you've been taught all your life? Is it because you like the Christian (or Jewish, etc.) fellowship and it makes you feel a sense of belonging? Just think about it. It also helps to read up on it. :)

[maryfinn]

Have you lost your faith?
Yes. I used to be christian, now im not anything.

Why did you lose your faith?
Oh, long story. But interesting so stay with me!
I was catholic when i was a little kid, and when your that small you tend to just accept things without really questioning them to much. But then a little thing called BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN CAMP! changed my life. Well, actually it was called Tapawingo. This dinky little island in the middle of a lake in the Adirondacks with only girls, and only BORN AGAIN girls on top of that. At the ripe age of 8 i, "accepted jesus into my heart." and luckily saved myself from eternal damnation. Good thing i paid the couple thousand dollars to get into camp right? Well anyway. these people were absolutly insane, take for instance the time they discovered there was a lesbian in the camp, and lined us all outside the mess hall while they marched her down to the dock to go home, or the time my sister got strep throat and they refused to let her go home, telling her to find strength in Jesus. But still, i returned for another year. But then i asked my counselers what happened to all the people who weren't born again christians, the poor buddhist monks in nepal who had never even heard of such a thing, my brother and father who didnt believe in it, what about them?
well naturally they go to hell. Straight to the firey depths with all the murders and rapists and child molesters.
that when i decided that that was ridiculous, and if god would smite all these people just because they didnt, "accept jesus into their heart" then i wanted no part of him.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really, most of my friends are catholic, but the type of catholic that just sort of floats along in their religion and doesnt really care about it. The only thing i really hate is when people hear about my beliefs and tell me they'll "pray for me" seriously, it makes me want to die.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
It would be nice to believe in god again, so i would never have to be afraid of what happens after you die, but religion just turns me off. i mean, i respect the tradition and the crutch that religion is, and i actually am interested in the older religions, not to be part of them but to learn about them. Any of the whole, "born again" christian things and all the newer christian churches give me the major creeps though. Old cathedral=fine old video store in cheap plaza turned place of worship= weird.


Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
yeah, like i said i really like the tradition and the practices, but then again some of those practices include smiting people and the like, so then again...

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
I suggest investigating your doubts. Talk them over with someone of your faith, but then go and talk to someone of a different faith. Try to get as many perspectives as you can so that you can decide for yourself.

[accioinsight7]

Some of the things that kill these people's faith are a bit ridiculous...obviously there was not muchy faith there to begin with...despite my extreme dislike for organizations and rules, I have remained Catholic and still believe in God...I may completely disagree with a great many things involved in organized religion, but I have no problem believing that a loving Supreme Being is watching over us. Even those people who believe in some other religion, even polytheists, generally agree that there is some power much greater than humans, some supreme being(s) watching over humans and guiding them. Even if you don't like your organized religion's particular beliefs on some stances, or you have some bad experience with radicals and stupid born agains, you need to evaluate your own faith, and stay true to what you absolutely believe in your own mind and heart. Don't just abandon everything.

Actually, I disagree with a great number of things...but that doesn't mean that i completely disregard everything about everything these things are associated with...I believe that every single person needs to sit down and decide what they will believe in, and decide what they will hold as their beliefs.

[ComicBookWorm]

Have you lost your faith?

I guess so, but it's been gone for a long time--probably 40 years. I am Jewish. I still consider myself Jewish since I am proud of my cultural heritage, but I am now what is called a Cultural Jew (no religion implied, just heritage and cultural identity).

Why did you lose your faith?

I've always loved science. I wanted to be a paleontologist until my mid-teens. So I learned about evolution early on, and then I also learned a lot about physics and didn't see where we needed God to make it work. And the concept of God seemed in conflict with all the evil and injustice I see in the world.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

No. For awhile I considered myself agnostic. But I eventually decided there was no doubt left, so I dropped the indecisive label agnostic for the more decisive label atheist.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

No. But later on I started focusing more on the cultural heritage and history of being Jewish.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

No. I have a serious illness, and I suppose belief in God can comfort some people in my situation, but it wouldn't help me. Because of who I am and how I view life, I would keep wondering why God would chose to do this to me. And I have never heard an explanation that would satisfy me on this matter.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Just look within yourself and try to see where the answers for life come for you.

[WickedWitch21]

[/B]Have you lost your faith?
I can't have lost my faith because, for a start, I never had. I mean, I was baptized a Catholic, but that was my only contact with religion.

Why did you lose your faith?[B]
Because, as I grew older, I discovered that no religion could answer all of my questions, and they all seem to have a pretty unfair side.
As for the Catholic religion in particular, I've come to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is probably the most cinic, corrupted, pathetic and disgusting institution to ever exist.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not at all.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
No.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?[B]
Follow your mind. Develop trust in yourself before placing your faith somewhere else.

[DarkThunder]

Have you lost your faith?
No one loses their faith, they object it. :) And yes, I objected it.

Why did you lose your faith?
After I read Albert Einstein's thoughts on the subject I was pushed into being a freethinker/agnostic. I viewed arguments from both sides, and the atheists had far more logical, convincing arguments.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really. I actually found it quite exciting: afterall 'An atheist is not someone who believes in nothing, an atheist is someone who believes in everything.'

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. Religion is an awful thing: it divides the human race and makes us forget that we are all brothers of the same species. Some religion also creates bigotry: against women at one time, and now against homosexuals.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Follow your heart. Never believe those who say atheism is empty. Its absolutely wonderful. It gives you a clear mind and makes you enjoy life more because you arent someone who is simply waiting to escape into another world. As Einstein said, 'The road to this paradise is not as alluring as to the religious paradise, but it has shown itself reliable and I never regret having chosen it.'

[PrtVeela]

accioinsight7

Some of the things that kill these people's faith are a bit ridiculous...obviously there was not muchy faith there to begin with...despite my extreme dislike for organizations and rules, I have remained Catholic and still believe in God...I may completely disagree with a great many things involved in organized religion, but I have no problem believing that a loving Supreme Being is watching over us. Even those people who believe in some other religion, even polytheists, generally agree that there is some power much greater than humans, some supreme being(s) watching over humans and guiding them. Even if you don't like your organized religion's particular beliefs on some stances, or you have some bad experience with radicals and stupid born agains, you need to evaluate your own faith, and stay true to what you absolutely believe in your own mind and heart. Don't just abandon everything.


I do not know about others, I am just speaking on behalf of myself here to try and express something that may help you understand where many of us our coming from.

It is not like one day I woke up and decided "I am done with this faith buisness", it is a gradual and progressive thing, that generally happens over years.

Many of the people on this particular thread have stated that they grappled with the loss of their faith, meaning that it meant something to them, and that they did have some to begin with.

I know that I evaluated my own beliefs , I questioned everything in my life, and in my own mind and in my own heart this is what seemed logical to me. Losing my faith, at least in the sense of leaving the Catholic religion behind, was and is being more true to myself then it was for me to begrudingly go to church every Sunday.

Hope that helps you understand a bit more my pov and maybe some others, but I cannot speak for all.

[busy91]

Have you lost your faith?

I've lost my Christian faith

Why did you lose your faith?


I didn't belive the stuff I was being taught.


In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Nope

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

Nope

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

Nope

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Trust your heart. No one can tell you who or what to belive in...and belive me they'll try.


----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?

I started out being nothing. My parents didn't baptize me as a child, I did belive in God while growing up, just never had a denomination.

If so, what made you convert?

All my friends were either Catholic or Jewish. So I couldn't be Jewish, so after frequenting many RC services, I decided it was the path I 'thought' I wanted to take.


Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?

None

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?

Same as my above advice.

[joel is cheese]

I have never *actually* lost my faith. As far as I can remember, I've known my God, but I never really understood until a couple years back. I never really understood the love of God (well, I still don't, but I didn't understand Jesus' sacrifice, and why it was important). Now, after hearing all the things against Christianity, and the things that make you wonder, "why?" I still haven't lost my faith. I have had doubts. All Christians have had doubts. Even Ned Flanders. I mean, the thought in your head that says, "how could God exist?" But then, there are so many things I think about. So many awesome things. There are things that I have felt, like God is there with me. There are things I have experienced, seen, and heard about that to me, solidifies the existence of God. And it just makes me so... it's hard to explain... so happy, brings so much joy. It's like this feeling that you can't explain, you just have to experience. The only thing I can say is that it's the love of God. That is why I haven't lost my faith.

[Sugabeen]

There are things that I have felt, like God is there with me. There are things I have experienced, seen, and heard about that to me, solidifies the existence of God. And it just makes me so... it's hard to explain... so happy, brings so much joy. It's like this feeling that you can't explain, you just have to experience. The only thing I can say is that it's the love of God. That is why I haven't lost my faith.

That's it exactly for me too...very well put!
There may be times when your faith is shaken eg through times of grief, but you know that even if you leave God for a while, he doesn't leave you. You gain a greater sense of faith through experiences like this.

[Sirius83]

There is a growing number of people who appear to be losing their faith lately or embracing other ideas from atheism to agnosticism. Obviously these two paths are the opposites to any established belief systems and it makes one wonder why people would lose their faith.

Something to think about before I answer the questions: I think there are just a lot of people who are seeing science answering a lot of questions, and as a result have started to look for more reasoning behind life than belief in a supernatural creator. Onto the questions:


Have you lost your faith?
Yes, I have. I was raised in islam, but as I am now agnostic, bordering atheism.

Why did you lose your faith?
I began to question the why behind it, and look for the logic and reasoning behind it. Over time, I realised there were many contradictions. I also realised that in order to believe, I needed blind faith, something which seems unwise. I see no proof of a God, or even that the religious texts are anything more than ancient, well followed works of fiction, designed to explain the unknown and/or control the masses, be it for good or for bad. This holds true not only for islam, but for theist beliefs in general. This is especially true given that the 3 major religions; christianity, judaism and islam, are built on the same fundamental principles.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
No, I didn't find it hard to adjust at all. I guess I've always had doubt in my mind, and I've always looked for explanations for everything. So the adjustment wasn't a big shocker for me, more just my doubts coming to the forefront.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. I haven't really had any reason or desire to.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
Not really. I mean sure, I'm only human and sometimes I might wonder if I'm on the right path, but that's not really the same as wishing I still believed.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Just use logic. See if it all makes sense. If you doubt something about your current beliefs, examine it with reason. If it makes sense to you, then go with that. If it doesn't make sense to you, then look at the other options.

[Tane]

Have you lost your faith?

No, I did not have one to start off with because I don't like being told what to believe in, I think it is the individual’s choice as to what they believe is happening now in the world. Devine intervention; I have never seen it so I can not believe in it.

Why did you lose your faith?

The world is too dark to believe there is a divine being capable of all good.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?

Nope because there was no real transition because I never had a real faith and well besides I could not read the bible till a lot older and even then it made very little sense to me, the language is too well unreadable and every one that can interprets it slightly differently.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?

No

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?

I wish there was something out there that I could believe in but at the moment that it is a little difficult.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?

Advice, none in the end a belief is something you can not help someone with I guess because it is up to them whether or not they believe in what ever god is out there.

[MakoDraco_luvme]

Have you lost your faith?
I wouldn't say I've lost it but I tend to wander every once in awhile. Its kinda like a staticy radio, I fade in and out but I never wandeer too far.

Why did you lose your faith?
I haven't lost it sooo...

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I always find it hard when I fade. I jus feel God tuggin on my heart to come back to him and i do. I don't want to fade. There are just so many things happening and my religion (christianity) is a busy and work involved one.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Every time I fade, I come running back. I need my god because he has never failed me even if I didn't see what he was doing at first and I have had quite a few rough times.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
um...can't answer this one.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
I recommend searching for answers in an unbiased way and thats really hard to do when you're having doubts but that way you won't let what you subconciously think get in the way. You could study the origins to better understand the base of your religion and talk to STRONG beleivers in your faith as well as those who have left. You can take the questions that those who left had and try to get them answered. I know its alot of work but remember its not that much if you look at what might happen to you if you have no faith. Its really strenuous to have no faith and have to get by all on your lonesome. And remember, there are other people in your religion and they are not perfect so if they are the ones you messed you up with your faith, you are leaving for the wrong reasons. I think one of the things that makes me so sick is to hear stories of people who have been abused in any way by the people they worship with. That just breaks my heart because they are teaching you to doubt eveything. It makes you thik that if they are bad and seeminly so strong in faith and they do that kiind of stuff then what am i doing here? They are only people and are really imperfect.
ok so my advise in short s get the facts beffore you leave and remember that no one is going to be perfect in your religion.

----

[BloodyBlackRose]

People shouldn't loose faith because bad things happen to learn about life. It's a learning session on this earth with the little time that we are given. People shouldn't be bitter and understand. People will die young or old or whatever. It's meant to happen.

[Drusilla]

Have you ever converted from one faith system to another?
From Orthodox Christianity (it shouldn't count, because I was a practising Catholic from the age of five, thanks to my school) to Catholicism to agnosticism.


I was born into a Syrian Orthodox (I mean in the Church that we're supposed to be part of, not our attitudes to life) family and it began at the age of about ten, when I asked my mother why men in our church didn't have to cover their heads, when even little girls had to do it. She couldn't give me a much better answer than "that's the way things are". And yes, also the insistence that the Orthodox Church was the greatest thing on earth (not asserted by my parents, though), and because of it, not only were my non-Christian friends damned, but so were my Catholic classmates at the Catholic school I attended (I was almost a practising Catholic by then).
But I don't know if I'd call that loss of faith. What I lost faith in wasn't God or a higher power that watches out for us, it was the system people used to try and find him and the things they said you had to do to get to him.

If so, what made you convert?
Prejudice, narrowmindedness, outright MCPism and bigotry. Oh, not to mention hypocrisy. Not that those were in short supply in the Catholic Church either...

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?
My parents didn't want me openly declaring that I'd become an agnostic or that I didn't accept the Syrian Orthodox Church- at least, Mum didn't. Religion just freaks me out nowadays because it's so rarely tolerant- practically every section of the church was calling another bunch of people (within the church) names.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
No. Not in the Syrian Orthodox Church, and I will never allow any child of mine (if I have one) to be brought up believing in that system. And certainly not after I learned, two years ago, that our parish priest was an alchoholic wifebeater.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
NO.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?
Just be sure of what you do believe in, even if it isn't God in any way, shape or form.

[cristina]

I was born in the middle of a christian family. Until 13 years i believed in the christianism but since then i really don´t know if i should or shouldn´t believe in it. When i was 13, i went very few times to churche and then i went living to another place and i djest stopped going to churche, probably because in the sunday´s morning´s i only want to sleep or probably because the churche stay´s far from my home or probably because i don´t know if should went or not.
Sometimes i start to think if god really exist. i look around me and i think of how the life has began many years ago and how everything was created, christians believe that god made the world in 6 day´s and at the 7th he rested. But then i realize that whith the avances of technology where could he be if he does realy exist? I don´t know th answer to this...:(
I believe in many christians "rules" but there´s others that i can´t stand with...
I hate wars that began because of faith, if someone believe in something let him believe in it as long as he don´t kill living creatures because of his faith.. What´s the point of make a war to make others believe in our faith?? it djest make people who are fighting for liberty, believe much more in they´re faith! And the result of it it´s death and more death to both sides!...

[~Tonks~]

I'll answer these the best I can...

Have you lost your faith? Not really, as I never had it to begin with, but I didn't realize that for a while, so it was more of a discovery that I didn't have any. I realized I was an atheist at almost 13, but that came when my mom and I had a simple discussion and she said, "so, don't you believe in anything?" and I realized, no, I didn't.

Why did you lose your faith? See above.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust? No, it was actually kind of a nice feeling, because I realized, "Wow, I don't believe in this stuff, and I haven't believed it it!"

Did you try to regain your faith at any time? Can't recover what you never lost.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed? I've never wished to believe.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts? Well... for me I think doubt is a sign of wisdom, in that you are questioning, and it's good to question ideals because it makes us think and learn and advance and grow. Blindly accepting what is fed to you gives others control, and you miss a lot of opportunity. I also don't think doubt is the same as despair. A lot of people think they're feeling doubt about their god existing when they get sad and downtrodden, but I think when that is happening they're still looking for the very god they are questioning to show them the way. Doubt with this sort of thing tends to come with a lot of reflection and thought.


----

On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another? I guess I went from non-Christian to realizing I was an atheist, so sure.

If so, what made you convert? When it hit me that I had been thinking differently from the vast majority, and the simple fact that I found such beliefs to be emotionally founded wishful thinking.

Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends? My mom actually said something to me that was really interesting, and she's a Christian. She told me that even if I had grown up under a formal Christian upbringing, that she thinks I would have drawn the same conclusion and become an atheist anyway, because according to her I have a lot of "oomph" and can stand on my own two feet. I still can't figure out whether this implies more about me or her, or faith. She's accepting of it, and the rest of my family doesn't know, but I don't care, I'm not close to them. My mom's godmother would probably be crushed, but it's not necessary for her to know anyway.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert? if you feel it is truly the right thing to do, do it, and don't let anyone manipulate you, scare you, or try to threaten you otherwise, either into doing it or not doing it. everyone has to find what works for them.

[AGryffindorDude]

Wow, what a great thread, there've been some really great stories and experiences posted here.

Have you lost your faith?
I guess you could frame it that way... I was brought up Episcopal (Anglican), and I just never felt entirely comfortable calling myself a Christian, I felt a bit... phony, I suppose would be the word, as I didn't really feel that it described me. After years of searching and self-exploration, I guess the most accurate term for my beliefs would be agnostic.

Why did you lose your faith?
No one thing, really. Just felt a lack of any sort of evidence that I should believe.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
I suppose I feel a bit like I betrayed my roots, in a way. But, other than that, no particular discomfort. And, heck, I don't know what the future holds for me, in any respect, never mind faith-wise.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Not particularly.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
From time to time, I wish I had a belief in a higher power to lean on, but wishing I had the belief doesn't really make it so.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Just follow where your mind and heart, in harmony take you. Whether it's closer to or farther from faith. Your happiness is at stake, either way. If your belief / non-belief will make you feel more at peace with yourself, that should be paramount in your mind. And, always remember that no set of beliefs / non-beliefs is immutable unless you truly make it so.

:gryff:

[AS_Muggle]

Have you lost your faith?
I would say that I have lost my faith. I used to be a Catholic, now I'd describe myself as an Atheist.

Why did you lose your faith?
A number of reasons (most of which are very personal, and so I don't want to go into). However, mainly I was suffering a lot, and I just started to question the principle of a loving God. After all, I felt that if my God loved me, why was he allowing people to hurt me.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Not really. The process of going from Catholic to Atheist was fairly drawn out, with me questioning aspects of my faith. There just came a point where it seemed more sensible to describe myself as Atheist rather than Catholic.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Sometimes, when I start feeling down, and doubt myself. But the ability for me to believe in it just isn't there anymore for me.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
I still have a belief. It so happens that I believe that there is no God (or, more acurately, no higher beings). Atheism may not be a religion, but it's still a belief.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
Make your own decision. I don't profess to have all the answers in the world, and I may be wrong. If you feel you no longer believe, then you generally don't. If you still feel that you believe, then you generally do.

[Firebolt_2007]

1. On the flipside, have you ever converted from one faith system to another?
Does it count if I've been converted from basically an athiest to a believer (in something, anyway)? I don't know about my dad or his family, (I would make the assumption that they believe in Christianity because they are hispanic) but my mom's family never had any particular religious preferance even though I've heard tell from my mom that they were raised Christian. My mom was an athiest until she had a vision of a past life. She then started to believe in reincarnation and the existance of an all powerful Force. So she brought me up saying "you can believe whatever you feel is right.". Stuff like that. So I was never brought up with a specific religion. I used to go to church and sunday school with my babysitter when I was little, so I had some ideas about Christianity for a while, but when I stopped going I lost the beginings of what might have been my faith. I had a vision/dream of what I believe to be a past life about two years ago. I looked into the things in my dream and found out that much of it was true.
I've also always believed in the Jedi philosophy that their are no coincidences. I've had a lot of fate related things happen to me. So long story short, I'm still very unsure what I believe in whether it be Jediism and reincarnation or Christianity which I am immersed in all the time in this society, but I know now since having my vision that there is something out there. My family has always celebrated Christmas (in the way it shouldn't be celebrated), but I always tried to make myself believe that I believed in Christianity so I would believe that I wasn't celebrating Christmas in bad way. This year I haven't gotten into the season, so I'm thinking I'm drifting away from Christmas. Which could be good or bad.
If so, what made you convert?
My own expieriances and revelations. Also the factor that I'm trying to find myself right now. I'm trying to figure out where I belong in the world.
Did you experience any difficulties in converting from family or friends?
No. My mom is totally supportive of me, and just wants me to be happy. My friends no nothing about my beliefs, and as far as I know, have none themselves.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to convert?
Believe what your heart tells you to. Don't follow a crowd or the wishes of anyone but yourself.

[madaloon]

Have you lost your faith?
I am a Christian although I lost my faith about a year ago. I guess you could say that I found it again though. I add that I am not born again.

Why did you lose your faith?
I lost my faith because I saw how people at church treated each other. Then I began to think about the stories in the Bible and came to the conclusion that they could not happen the way the Bible explains them.

In the transition from faith to non-faith, did you find it hard to adjust?
Definately. My mom is a minister and I was basically required to go to her church. I had to put on a good Christian face for every church event. It also really hurt my mom when I told her that I was agnostic, or close to it.

Did you try to regain your faith at any time?
Yes, it took a change of venue though. When I went to college I checked out a campus ministry that had been recomended to me. I also began to examine my beliefs closely. I have since realized that there are churches where people don't engage in small wars with other people in the church because they want to serve a different type of punch at the potluck or what have you. I have also come to the conclusion that most of the stories in the Bible didn't happen, but were written as metaphors to our daily lives or as stories of how things came to be. I believe that you can believe in evolution and abortion and gay marriage and still be Christian.

Do you wish sometimes that you still believed?
When I didn't believe, I wanted to believe. The thought of losing something I had grown up with troubled me.

What advice can you give to those who are experiencing doubts?
I can only say that you should follow your heart and your head. Don't do something just because someone else is, and don't continue with something if you have a major problem with it.