where do I fit in

Figment

Feeling distanced from God - my doing not his. I am struggling to get myself back on track with him. While I was raised and consider myself a catholic, I fell many of the trappings of the Roman Catholic Church distance me from God rather than teach me to get closer to him.

I have been considering joining another church but wonder is that just a cop out. All i know is i am definately not happy where I am.

Has anyone out there had a similar experience?

Zillah

God isn't out there. You need to find God within, no church will help you find God. Their methods are no better than any you invent. Find your own I'd say.

Etain

What are you doing to feel closer to God? As far as I know, all churches have some kind of service or ceremony. etc... Before you give up on the Catholic Church, give it a real try. Volunteer, get involved, attend some programs at church. There are so many ways you can get involved and feel yourself a real part of things. That's a great first step.:)

l3rian

give up on the Catholic Church

Etain is right, its all a waste of time

Like phlematic said, dont look to a religion to make yourself happy/content/foundgod, find this happyness yourself by looking at what exactly makes you happy, be it a great hobby, gardening, surfing, working out, sex, boozing with mates, whatever floats your boat

JustHalf

Hi guys. We have a lovely charter, and you should follow it. Have a look at number 2:

In keeping with that purpose, please be honest about your faith where it makes a clear difference to your answer. This isn't "Personal Issues"... if a person comes here with a problem, it is probably because they think a Christian answer will be more relevant to them. This is not to discourage non-Christians replying, it is simply a matter of courtesy.

l3rian, you're getting a warning for your misquoting of Etain. Do it again, and you will be banned. Let's not screw up a serious discussion with crappy little jokes.

Figment, I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Manach

Well religion, especially Catholism does cater for many callings. But blatant narcissm as advocated by some of the other posters is not one of them.
Looking at yourself in the mirror and declaring your own godhood
is something I'd leave to the book of the month self-help guides.

Personally I do not find religion a route to happiness , or as a source of answers to all life's questions.
What it is, however is a challenge. The history of the Church is 2000 years old,
there is a lot of baggage, good and bad associated with it; trying to gain understanding is a constant effort, to build a ethical model of what to do and especially what not to do.

My own advice is to identify the areas you have issues with and
talk to people about it, be it fellow catholic laypeople or a Priest. The Church
is made up not only of doctrine, but living traditions, art and music, a different
way of looking at the world, that is both ancient and fresh. Look at its teaching and the Bible and see how this would relate to you and your community.

AnTyKz

I dont go to a roman catholic church, but check out some of those search groups, they are top notch. But whoever said it above. Your quest to find God is not in the world, (and in this case church), it is within yourself. However things like church will help!

CathyMoran

I am a practicing Catholic, but I did feel lost for most of my teens...I ended up going back, I went into a church and tried to pray, I then searched on the web for a prayer group and met some like minded people...parts of it are hard, so I must confess that I take my own view there.

thetourist

originaly i was catholic - then lapsed catholic - then born again christian - now still born again but basically i now consider myself to be part of the great universal eternal ( till the lord returns anyway ) church of the lord jesus - so really religion is not a thing to me too much-
currently i go to a roughly pentecostal type ( spirit filled ) church but i wouldnt advocate that you go to any one type of church over another in an attempt to find hapiness or joy or whatever you're after - remember the joy that paul had in the prision in philipaii - he was rejoicing where he was - now i am not trying to say that you should just "like it or lump it" either - i am really just pointing out that 'closeness to god', joy purpose etc. are not something you can feel by being in the "right" church and especially not the "right" religion ( or segment ) of the church - its about your level of faith more than anything

here's what i do to increase my faith level

• Be carefull what and most especially who you are listening to - a negative type person well meaning or otherwise can really rock your boat if you dont realise what's going on - you are entitled to your faith but you may have to fight for it
• hang out a bit with people who believe what you do - it will build you up - there's lots in the bible about the body of christ being edified by each and every joint ( the members of the body) - it really doesnt matter who they are - cool or not - it could be your great aunt hilda and her dog for all the difference it makes - it still works - even if they are annoying the be***** out of you .
• read the bible ( and /or other edifying material ) - the psalms are the first and last of it all though .
• pray ( important: not because you feel you owe god - i just mean spend time with him ) - he calls us friends not servants ( john ?:? ) - if you can learn ( or receive the gift of - for religious nuts ) praying in tongues then i would heartily recommend it for personal edification because your spirit is talking directly to the holy spirit.
• be thankful - this is the most important of the lot - there is a ton of stuff to be thankful for if you're honest - start with thanks i am alive - thanks i am not starving etc etc - it will break the hardness of heart that creeps in - guaranteed to work - just give it 15 mins of thanking the lord for stuff - soon you will be like new

if for some reason none of the above work then i feel i must share that quite often if i am going through a bit of the wilderness (i have learned the hard way by now that ) i am actually going through a growth in the lord of some kind and that in a few days weeks or ( very occasionally ) months i will come out the other side if i stay beliveing and it is *always* worth it as there is some change noticable that i believe makes me a better person

good luck

remember this ( he is faithful even if we are not ) -- just in case you are worried about anything

IrishMike

Figment wrote:

Feeling distanced from God - my doing not his. I am struggling to get myself back on track with him. While I was raised and consider myself a catholic, I fell many of the trappings of the Roman Catholic Church distance me from God rather than teach me to get closer to him.

I have been considering joining another church but wonder is that just a cop out. All i know is i am definately not happy where I am.

Has anyone out there had a similar experience?

Ok first off when you say the trappings distance you from God what exactly do
you mean ?
If you mean things like confession the Mass etc then its either a lack of
appreciation/understanding or else it is some personal baggage which is holding
you back.
The sacraments are there to help you grow closer to God not further away.
It is now the "cool" thing to bash the church at every chance. Eastern
religion, mysticism and western paganism are now everywhere. But if you
are raised a catholic you were (or should have been) taught that there is
only one true faith. I am not a religious fundamentalist but i do have a strong
faith. I attend Mass every Sunday etc. It really does help confirm your faith
and helps it grow, however you have to want to be there. Mass is an
extremely diluted experience if you go under duress or out of routine.
If i was in your position i would start off slowly by first off going to confession
and afterwards to Mass. See how it goes from there.
Best of luck mate, life is extremely tough, faith of some degree makes it so
much easier.

drowningbeetle

I think the first thing i would like to say to you is that i admire you for admitting u have distanced yourself from God and now u want to do something about it. I personally feel that if you feel that the Catholic church is not for you that is not a cop out at all you are seeking God not a religion, and if anyone condemns you for that then they should take that up with themselves.
You need to remember that the functions of a church are for fellowship to build you up as a Christian but First and Foremost it is a place where we go to worship God and offer our lives as living Sacrafices
But before you can do this you need to seek God yourself call on him pray to him just talk to him like you were talking to a friend, tell Him what your problems are seek His guidance on what you should do when it comes to a church He will answer your prayers He knows where your heart is and He Loves YOU more then you know so He wants you to be happy and He wants you to fit in so don't lose heart He will help you!! I will be praying that He will help you!! I don't know where you live but there are so many churches in the Dublin area Core and St.Marks are very friendly they will welcome you with open arms also there is the Nazarene Community Church in Greystones Again this is the friendliest church i have ever been to but they mightn't be for you but seek God He wants whats best for you more then anyone else on this earth.
Im sorry if this hasn't helped.

bounty

drowningbeetle wrote:

blah blah blah.... it is a place where we go to worship God and offer our lives as living Sacrafices

you've been brain washed :rolleyes:

IrishMike wrote:

blah blah blah.... But if you
are raised a catholic you were (or should have been) taught that there is
only one true faith

so the other 75% of religious are all wrong, and your crazy cult is superior :rolleyes:

tribble

bobmurphy wrote:

here's what i do to increase my faith level

• Be carefull what and most especially who you are listening to - a negative type person well meaning or otherwise can really rock your boat if you dont realise what's going on - you are entitled to your faith but you may have to fight for it
• hang out a bit with people who believe what you do - it will build you up - there's lots in the bible about the body of christ being edified by each and every joint ( the members of the body) - it really doesnt matter who they are - cool or not - it could be your great aunt hilda and her dog for all the difference it makes - it still works - even if they are annoying the be***** out of you .
• read the bible ( and /or other edifying material ) - the psalms are the first and last of it all though .
• pray ( important: not because you feel you owe god - i just mean spend time with him ) - he calls us friends not servants ( john ?:? ) - if you can learn ( or receive the gift of - for religious nuts ) praying in tongues then i would heartily recommend it for personal edification because your spirit is talking directly to the holy spirit.
• be thankful - this is the most important of the lot - there is a ton of stuff to be thankful for if you're honest - start with thanks i am alive - thanks i am not starving etc etc - it will break the hardness of heart that creeps in - guaranteed to work - just give it 15 mins of thanking the lord for stuff - soon you will be like new

This is one of the most chilling accounts of denial and brainwashing i have ever read.

pooka

Hello,

*puts on moderator's hat*

At the risk of sounding like a moderating-broken-record, please reread the charter (I'll assume you've read it already ;o).

Statements like "you've been brainwashed" or referring to other posters' advice as "chilling accounts of brainwashing" aren't very helpful on a thread like this. By all means, start another thread on which we can argue these points and others can ignore us. However, the charter is fairly clear about instances like this; please try to be a little less antagonistic.

Thanks,

Cian