Seriously confused.

Naikon

Hello all, this is my first post on this Forum and I want to talk about the issue of my faith.
About 7 months ago my grandfather died, and considering the fact that it was the first time I had been to mass in well........lets just say a very long time:o.
I wonder If I am "losing" or have "lost" my Christian faith.
My parents aren't very religious people, but attend events like Funerals and the like, which leads me to believe that because Religion doesent play a major part in their lives, is it right to hold the title "Roman Catholic"?.
My father told me that he doesent know wheater to believe in the afterlife etc and that "who knows" or "we will just have to find out".

I feel lately, I have become very confused about Religion, and because of the fact that there is so many faiths, rules, and insights, I am confused about my religious Identity.
It doesent help that many of my friends are atheist, but the older I get, (and I am 18 btw) I feel that Agnostic tendencies are creeping up on me because of my absolute confusion and acceptance with religious matters.
I mean, you open the Paper to read headlines like "Pope vows that Hell really does exist" and that questions such as "why do animals not have an afterlife" etc among other Scientific theories, confuse me in the sense that I am losing track of what to believe, or not believe in.

Sorry If my post seems a bit convoluted, but If anyone could give some guidance I would be greatfull.
So confused:(

Juza1973

Naikon wrote:

Hello all, this is my first post on this Forum and I want to talk about the issue of my faith.

...

Sorry If my post seems a bit convoluted, but If anyone could give some guidance I would be greatfull.
So confused:(

Hello Naikon, it is not easy to give you a reply in one post, but I think that you should investigate the nature of the Catholic religion, the resources on could help you. In my vision in the past it was easier to have a more instinctive faith, while in the modern world the different vision that the world is suggesting you would "eat you alive" if you don't create a cultural basis that explains you why your religion is the way it is. Of course a priest would be much better!

PDN

Naikon wrote:

Hello all, this is my first post on this Forum and I want to talk about the issue of my faith.
About 7 months ago my grandfather died, and considering the fact that it was the first time I had been to mass in well........lets just say a very long time:o.
I wonder If I am "losing" or have "lost" my Christian faith.
My parents aren't very religious people, but attend events like Funerals and the like, which leads me to believe that because Religion doesent play a major part in their lives, is it right to hold the title "Roman Catholic"?.
My father told me that he doesent know wheater to believe in the afterlife etc and that "who knows" or "we will just have to find out".

I feel lately, I have become very confused about Religion, and because of the fact that there is so many faiths, rules, and insights, I am confused about my religious Identity.
It doesent help that many of my friends are atheist, but the older I get, (and I am 18 btw) I feel that Agnostic tendencies are creeping up on me because of my absolute confusion and acceptance with religious matters.
I mean, you open the Paper to read headlines like "Pope vows that Hell really does exist" and that questions such as "why do animals not have an afterlife" etc among other Scientific theories, confuse me in the sense that I am losing track of what to believe, or not believe in.

Sorry If my post seems a bit convoluted, but If anyone could give some guidance I would be greatfull.
So confused:(

It sounds like you're starting to think about what you really believe for yourself, rather than just unthinkingly going with what you've always been told was true. This is a good thing, but it's also important, because decisions you make now will affect what kind of life you live in the future.

Here's a wee bit of friendly advice. Look around at those people whom you most admire - people who have qualities and character that you would like to emulate. Obviously I'm not talking about innate characteristics that we can't copy - for example, great physical size, intelligence, or ability at sport. I'm talking about moral and integrity strength, honesty, patience, generosity, determination, compassion etc. Avoid those who are mean-minded, greedy and critical. Then, once you've identified such people, talk to as many of them as possible. Ask them about their beliefs and their core values. Find out what it is that motivates them to be better people.

Hopefully this will help you to develop a set of beliefs and core values that not only answers some of your confusion, but will stand you in good stead for years to come.

philologos

Naikon wrote:

Hello all, this is my first post on this Forum and I want to talk about the issue of my faith.
About 7 months ago my grandfather died, and considering the fact that it was the first time I had been to mass in well........lets just say a very long time:o.
I wonder If I am "losing" or have "lost" my Christian faith.
My parents aren't very religious people, but attend events like Funerals and the like, which leads me to believe that because Religion doesent play a major part in their lives, is it right to hold the title "Roman Catholic"?.
My father told me that he doesn't know wheater to believe in the afterlife etc and that "who knows" or "we will just have to find out".

I feel lately, I have become very confused about Religion, and because of the fact that there is so many faiths, rules, and insights, I am confused about my religious Identity.
It doesent help that many of my friends are atheist, but the older I get, (and I am 18 btw) I feel that Agnostic tendencies are creeping up on me because of my absolute confusion and acceptance with religious matters.
I mean, you open the Paper to read headlines like "Pope vows that Hell really does exist" and that questions such as "why do animals not have an afterlife" etc among other Scientific theories, confuse me in the sense that I am losing track of what to believe, or not believe in.

Sorry If my post seems a bit convoluted, but If anyone could give some guidance I would be greatfull.
So confused:(

I'm the same age as you OP. I was also confused about my faith and I started trying to read the Bible from start to finish (I'm on Jeremiah now, I had read other sections before but not every book). I found it made sense to me and I now feel that I believe now than I ever have before. Prayer and practising faith seems to make more sense to me now than it ever did before. A lot of my friends have become atheists in school as well, what I'll say to you is this, don't let their attitude decide for you, see for yourself and find out what you make of it.

Instead of looking up to the RC Church the whole time, why not try to explore other denominations etc. I was never a RC myself, I'm COI, but theres a lot of different Christian groups out there. The Pope, isn't and never will be the be all and end all of Christianity.

hivizman

Naikon wrote:

Hello all, this is my first post on this Forum and I want to talk about the issue of my faith.
About 7 months ago my grandfather died, and considering the fact that it was the first time I had been to mass in well........lets just say a very long time.
I wonder If I am "losing" or have "lost" my Christian faith.

Naikon, thanks for sharing your concerns.

PDN wrote:

Here's a wee bit of friendly advice. Look around at those people whom you most admire - people who have qualities and character that you would like to emulate. Obviously I'm not talking about innate characteristics that we can't copy - for example, great physical size, intelligence, or ability at sport. I'm talking about moral and integrity strength, honesty, patience, generosity, determination, compassion etc. Avoid those who are mean-minded, greedy and critical. Then, once you've identified such people, talk to as many of them as possible. Ask them about their beliefs and their core values. Find out what it is that motivates them to be better people.

This is very good advice - it's important to talk to different people and find out how their beliefs and values underpin how they live their lives. Don't worry about the details of particular belief systems - religions often give people the impression that you have to sign up to every single belief and doctrine or you aren't a "true" Catholic or Methodist or Anglican or Jew or Muslim or whatever (or even aren't a "true" atheist!). The important thing is to understand how a strong and positive belief system can be a solid foundation for a good life.

One word of warning - 18 is an age when people are often going through big changes in their lives (maybe leaving home for the first time, going to college, starting a job). It can be an exciting time but also a time when you are more vulnerable than usual. In my first year at uni, I got involved with a heavily evangelical Christian group, which I then spent the next couple of years trying to move on from. Don't go for something that appears certain just because you feel safe - be critical and think about whether the people you talk to are worth your respect. Remember that a mechanical faith marked by outward observances such as going to Mass every Sunday may not be a very deep faith - it's better to doubt and question things than just accept them, and in the end your faith (whatever it may be) will be stronger as a result.

Naikon

Thanks everyone, this information has been very helpful:)
Yeah, I seem to think alot about these issues lately and find myself questioning the views and ideas of Religious practice.
I am not against the Church, its just I have a skewed vision of RC church now.
I think God must exist in some form or another, its just that I find myself in a situation where I don't disapprove of Gods existence, nor do I accept the View that God must certainly exist and that it is impossible otherwise.

Simply put, i am open to both sides of the argument, but don't totally accept one side, because of my faith and the fact that basing faith on evidence alone is a bit silly given that we as humans barely understand the universe.
I think I will just keep my options open and adopt what I feel that is right, not someones else's beliefs like the posters have stated.
Again, this info has given me some ideas that I will follow up on, thanks.

Medin

Naikon wrote:

Thanks everyone, this information has been very helpful:)
Yeah, I seem to think alot about these issues lately and find myself questioning the views and ideas of Religious practice.
I am not against the Church, its just I have a skewed vision of RC church now.
I think God must exist in some form or another, its just that I find myself in a situation where I don't disapprove of Gods existence, nor do I accept the View that God must certainly exist and that it is impossible otherwise.

Simply put, i am open to both sides of the argument, but don't totally accept one side, because of my faith and the fact that basing faith on evidence alone is a bit silly given that we as humans barely understand the universe.
I think I will just keep my options open and adopt what I feel that is right, not someones else's beliefs like the posters have stated.
Again, this info has given me some ideas that I will follow up on, thanks.

Hi Naikon,

I hope ur doin' well man
The best is to forget a little about people and what they say, I advise you to read The Bible and - as a comparative reading - read the Qur'an. In the latter God speaks in first person, unlike in the Bible.

philologos

God speaks in first person through the prophets and in other areas of the Bible infact.

Medin

Jakkass wrote:

God speaks in first person through the prophets and in other areas of the Bible infact.

Give some verses and I'll show you that that's only "quoting", not a direct speech.

Owen

Jakkass wrote:

God speaks in first person through the prophets and in other areas of the Bible infact.

I've never understood this line of thought. How can you speak in first person context, through a third party? Surely it's just third party involvement. God tells the prophet, the prophet tells us.

Medin

ned78 wrote:

I've never understood this line of thought. How can you speak in first person context, through a third party? Surely it's just third party involvement. God tells the prophet, the prophet tells us.

Good point.

philologos

Through a prophet, but Qu'ranic revelation happened in the same way (Allah and Muhammad) except it wasn't told as a narrative as the Bible is.

The Mad Hatter

ned78 wrote:

I've never understood this line of thought. How can you speak in first person context, through a third party? Surely it's just third party involvement. God tells the prophet, the prophet tells us.

Because some languages don't do things the same way that English does?

philologos

Well it's someone referring to what God said. Or what the Lord said etc. So yes it is third party but God does speak in the Bible.

l33t-krew

How can you call yourself a Christian?

I wish this pope of ours would get of his butt and make the distinction.


Im tired of people calling themselves Christians and never going to church.


If you cant even give up an hour one day a week for mass its not showing alot of faith is it?:rolleyes:

The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter wrote:

Because some languages don't do things the same way that English does?

Um...now that I've read the thread properly, I take this back. I misunderstood.

He doesn't speak in the first person through other people, obviously.

humanji

l33t-krew wrote:

How can you call yourself a Christian?

I wish this pope of ours would get of his butt and make the distinction.


Im tired of people calling themselves Christians and never going to church.


If you cant even give up an hour one day a week for mass its not showing alot of faith is it?:rolleyes:

The pope speaks for all christian denominations now?

philologos

l33t-krew wrote:

How can you call yourself a Christian?

I wish this pope of ours would get of his butt and make the distinction.


Im tired of people calling themselves Christians and never going to church.


If you cant even give up an hour one day a week for mass its not showing alot of faith is it?:rolleyes:

The Pope doesn't have any right to make a distinction of who is Christian and who is not. He can make a distinction between who's Catholic and who's not but not in the wider term Christian.

I'd see Christians as practising ones tbh.

robindch

Jakkass wrote:

The Pope doesn't have any right to make a distinction of who is Christian and who is not. He can make a distinction between who's Catholic and who's not but not in the wider term Christian.

But doesn't every christian do what the pope's doing? I mean, at this stage, I'd imagine that every christian poster in this forum, probably including you, has said that one group or another (ie, Fred Phelps, etc, etc) aren't "true christians"... I don't understand your point of view on this.

Tim Robbins

PDN wrote:

It sounds like you're starting to think about what you really believe for yourself, rather than just unthinkingly going with what you've always been told was true. This is a good thing, but it's also important, because decisions you make now will affect what kind of life you live in the future.

Here's a wee bit of friendly advice. Look around at those people whom you most admire - people who have qualities and character that you would like to emulate. Obviously I'm not talking about innate characteristics that we can't copy - for example, great physical size, intelligence, or ability at sport. I'm talking about moral and integrity strength, honesty, patience, generosity, determination, compassion etc. Avoid those who are mean-minded, greedy and critical. Then, once you've identified such people, talk to as many of them as possible. Ask them about their beliefs and their core values. Find out what it is that motivates them to be better people.

Hopefully this will help you to develop a set of beliefs and core values that not only answers some of your confusion, but will stand you in good stead for years to come.

Good advice, I'd also say read. There are some great books out there. Also the big God question isn't something humans have always agreed on and probably never will. Bear that in mind.

philologos

robindch wrote:

But doesn't every christian do what the pope's doing? I mean, at this stage, I'd imagine that every christian poster in this forum, probably including you, has said that one group or another (ie, Fred Phelps, etc, etc) aren't "true christians"... I don't understand your point of view on this.

I suppose to an extent division between the churches has created this problem.