As I've grown older I have become more and more cynical about religion. I grew up as a catholic, going to a school in which, every time you asked the time, the nuns would answer, "It's time to love God!" Good luck if you had a bus to catch!

Some years back i started studying other people's Religion, Faith of Believe. But, I still feel desame over my thoughts. I envy people who have faith in something, who believe in God or in the Universe, or something supreme. Up to some time ago I would tell you -- I'm an agnostic; now, I believe I am tending toward the atheistic side. I don't like labeling myself an atheist; yet, I don't see how I wouldn't.

In the past I used to think, "Well, what would be the meaning of all this if there were no God?" Now my thoughts gyrate around, "Why must there be any meaning?"

Is anyone like me, in conflict for not knowing what to believe? Is this because as we grow older we begin to realize our own mortality? Do you feel guilty for not being a believer? (I know, the guilty part is a strong reminder of my religious upbringing, )

Although I am in conflict, I resent when someone tries to impose their religion on me. Who are they to feel they are the ones who hold the real truth? Why can they be so presumptuous thinking that they are right and I am wrong? They don't know any more than I do about the existence of a supreme being. What separates us is merely the faith they have and I don't.

I feel you my brother, but the truth is there is absoluely nothing wrong with christianity as taught by Jesus and the apostles the problem lis with the institutionalized church. I suggest you study the new testament with an open mind to understand the true gospel of christ as different from what is being taught in church today. this is how the bible defines religion.

James 1:27:
27 Pure and genuine religion/ worship in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I am sure you would see straight away that it constrasts with church definition of religion and worship.

Kenn perhaps the reason you're "losing your religion" is perhaps because you've never really had it.

It seems like you became a catholic/christian because its what you were raised to believe in and you never really took the time and attention to study and test what it is you really believed and more importantly why you believed it.

I always say that knowledge and pursuit of God is a personal journey. Stop taking your family, the churches, friends words for who and what God and religion is and search it out for yourself. The fact that you feel "guilty" speaks of evidence to me that you have faith and believe in a God. I will not be as bold as to tell you what you should believe in, but go back to the basics, forget all you've 'learned' and study the bible by and for yourself - and ask God to give you understanding and wisdom to comprehend the word or else you'll just end up more confused.

And if Kenn you're honest and genuine in your search and quest for truth and God, you'll come out with a fresh perspective and a whole new understanding of who God is and what the point of this drama called life is. I really pray you the best.

JeSoul:

Kenn perhaps the reason you're "losing your religion" is perhaps because you've never really had it.

that's not true. John the Baptist in prison had to question Christ's divinity openly at one point despite the fact that he saw the dove alight on Christ and heard God's voice directly.

I feel Kenn's point, we live in an era where christians are no different from unbelievers.

davidylan:

that's not true. John the Baptist in prison had to question Christ's divinity openly at one point despite the fact that he saw the dove alight on Christ and heard God's voice directly.

I feel Kenn's point, we live in an era where christians are no different from unbelievers.

True but I doubt John was remotely close to the position Kenn finds himself in. Occasional doubt and uncertaintainy is expected, nobody's perfect, but Kenn describes himself as pretty much athiest. To me that is very different from a christian who once in a while doubts and is uncertain.

And I wouldn't even use the reason that in todays climate 'christians are no different from unbelievers'. While its true it does not excuse anyone in the sight of God why they did not follow His word. The bible is available for all to read and learn and understand that the massive amounts wolves in sheeps clothing was predicted. Like Kunle suggested:

KunleOshob:

I suggest you study the new testament with an open mind to understand the true gospel of christ as different from what is being taught in church today. this is how the bible defines religion.

Jesoul and Kunle

Thanks for the wonderful comments,

I know I still Believe in God because i randomly call on Him on occassions just like every Christains do. I have read the New testaments so many times right from when i was a Kid. Growing up I was a very Religious Catholic. Served on the altar(mass servents of Altarboys, what ever way you know it) from the age of 9 till i was 17. Attended a Seminary and dropped out after one year, immediately i became sceptic of all Religious teachings.

I based most of my school projects and researchs to religion so i could have reasons to learn more, But it contributed to my doubts. Anyway, I decided not to care anymore and live my normal life. I feel guity now loosing my religion, remembering those days it was like a pillar. But, I will try and read more of the New testaments and learn every inspiring message if possible.

R.E.M sprung to my mind!

Smile4Kenn, some of us have been where you are

Atheism/Agnosticism will only give way to many more questions and mindboggledness. . .look at Huxley n co

One would definitely feel hurt, knowing that 99% of what you were brought up with, is just deceit n jargons.

Just calm down. . . .

[flash=400,400]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XFMCgeI7c[/flash]

Sorry, I just had to.

[flash=400,400]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JFGdH5wgCs[/flash]

Or you can enjoy the version from the  Gregorian; Masters of Chant.

@ smile4kenn.

Why do you need other people to convince you that there is a god?

If you believe, you believe. It's as simple as that.
The only one that can make that decision is you.

smile4kenn:

Jesoul and Kunle

Thanks for the wonderful comments,

I know I still Believe in God because i randomly call on Him on occassions just like every Christains do. I have read the New testaments so many times right from when i was a Kid. Growing up I was a very Religious Catholic. Served on the altar(mass servents of Altarboys, what ever way you know it) from the age of 9 till i was 17. Attended a Seminary and dropped out after one year, immediately i became sceptic of all Religious teachings.

I based most of my school projects and researchs to religion so i could have reasons to learn more, But it contributed to my doubts. Anyway, I decided not to care anymore and live my normal life. I feel guity now loosing my religion, remembering those days it was like a pillar. But, I will try and read more of the New testaments and learn every inspiring message if possible.

  You're more than welcome Kenn. A friend of mine frequently likes to say that it was when he lost his religion he found God.
The guilt you feel is the inherent knowledge that God placed in all of us that He is real and seeks a personal relationship with us. I think you were so far into the forest that you couldn't see the trees - meaning perhaps you were so deep into religion and the activities that the point of it all escaped you. Remember Mary and Martha? Martha was serving and doing all the worldly things whereas Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and spend time with Him and learn directly from Him and Jesus remarked that Mary had chosen the better way. If need be step way from "church" and fling urself into the bible, there is no safer, clearer place than in the presence of God.
   You don't sound like an atheist to me, just a genuine person who's seeking clarity on his faith and I pray by God's grace He makes Himself plain and known to you. Amen.

Hello Smile4Kenn,

And nice to hear your position on the religion issue and this is one of the more important decisions you will have to make as it will determine how you lead your life. Consequently, you need to exercise great care and diligence to help you make a rational decision.

To begin with, you have got to want to set yourself a standard for accepting and evaluating ALL claims that are presented to you. Let me set the scene with the following proposition:

Supposing someone came up to you and claimed that they have a mechanism for talking to dead relatives, whose advise to you would open the door to great financial success. And that to avail yourself of this mechanism to will have to give them 1 million naira.

Now, how would you go about evaluating this proposition? Would your methods be any different from the methods that you use to look into the claims of the various religions?

If you think religion is worthy of rejection, then it is even more worthwhile to development good and strong reasons why it ought to be rejected.

There is absolutely a big difference between religion and christianity.

Religion is a practice and christianity is a way of life. It is christ's kind of life that the follower tries to emulate. To do that you have to obey the principles of christ's kingdom.

You don't need to practice religion, it has no future for you

Atheism/Agnosticism will only give way to many more questions and mindboggledness. . .look at Huxley n co

Aren't we being assholes here trying to generalize atheists and agnostics?


OP - Are you against christianity or the concept of God itself.  Read about different beliefs and see where your stance is.

Ohh thank God for this topic because i am really dying inside, i have been having this problem that has been killing me silently for over 2 weeks now, I  meet a new friend who attends the London School Of Theology  and we got chatting, while chatting he told me that all the gospels were anonymously written, he went into some deep theology with regards to the apostolic traditions and how the names where chosen and ascribes to the books, he also showed me the names and writings of some early church bishops with regards to the gospels. He told me that, that fact does not negate the contents and the message that were written in the gospels because they are accurate accounts of events that happened.To make matters worse he told me that the gospels were written long after the death of Jesus, he said Mark was the first gospel that was written and it was written about 30-40 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The truth is that i have not been comfortable with my faith after this revelation, i just can't explain it but i just feel that something has been taken away from me, there are atheist here like bindex, huxley, toneyb, duduspace that have been saying this things but the truth is that i thought they all made them up but now an aspiring pastor and a student of theology just confirmed it to me. I still believe in the in the bible and what it preaches with my mind but my head keeps asking this nagging questions. Its so bad that i have been asking some questions around a friend told me that the gospels were truly written decades of after the death of Jesus but could not say anything about the authors since he doesn't know. I asked the pastor of the church where i worship and to my surprise he knows nothing about the history of the church and how the bible was written, he just told me that the bible is the word of God and everything ends there but that is not enough since he simply does not know, i will like the christian member of the house that are extensively knowledgeable on this to PLEASE help me out. Thank you.

dalaman:

Ohh thank God for this topic because i am really dying inside, i have been having this problem that has been killing me silently for over 2 weeks now, I  meet a new friend who attends the London School Of Theology  and we got chatting, while chatting he told me that all the gospels were anonymously written, he went into some deep theology with regards to the apostolic traditions and how the names where chosen and ascribes to the books, he also showed me the names and writings of some early church bishops with regards to the gospels. He told me that, that fact does not negate the contents and the message that were written in the gospels because they are accurate accounts of events that happened.To make matters worse he told me that the gospels were written long after the death of Jesus, he said Mark was the first gospel that was written and it was written about 30-40 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The truth is that i have not been comfortable with my faith after this revelation, i just can't explain it but i just feel that something has been taken away from me, there are atheist here like bindex, huxley, toneyb, duduspace that have been saying this things but the truth is that i thought they all made them up but now an aspiring pastor and a student of theology just confirmed it to me. I still believe in the in the bible and what it preaches with my mind but my head keeps asking this nagging questions. Its so bad that i have been asking some questions around a friend told me that the gospels were truly written decades of after the death of Jesus but could not say anything about the authors since he doesn't know. I asked the pastor of the church where i worship and to my surprise he knows nothing about the history of the church and how the bible was written, he just told me that the bible is the word of God and everything ends there [/b]but that is not enough since he simply does not know, [b]i will like the christian member of the house that are extensively knowledgeable on this to PLEASE help me out. Thank you.

Dalaman i laughed when i read post. So u mean your own Pastor can't even tell u when the Gospels were written? How can a whole Pastor say the bible is the word of God and everything ends there? It just proves the point that about 20% or even less of Nigerians have actually read the whole bible.

And your Christian friends will only tell u want you want to hear.

Good song. REM's the best, khai khai

@ Poster
The Journey never really ends, the questions will never really be fully answered ( at least not in our life times) in all you do try not to deceive yourself, I too was raised a catholic, and right now I am a full blown agnostic atheist. Life has not be easy so I keep the fact that I am to myself unless the situation warrants it.
In the end you have to realise that the reason you are feeling like this is because you have not yet found your comfort zone spiritually, so this is actually a wake up call to do that. If you have got questions never hesitate to ask, but you must find out for yourself, read opinions and select those you are comfortable with.
Cheers.

Jesus never Existed

merge:

Jesus never Existed

I think he did but his whole life was blown out of proportion.

dalaman:

Ohh thank God for this topic because i am really dying inside, i have been having this problem that has been killing me silently for over 2 weeks now, I meet a new friend who attends the London School Of Theology and we got chatting, while chatting he told me that all the gospels were anonymously written, he went into some deep theology with regards to the apostolic traditions and how the names where chosen and ascribes to the books, he also showed me the names and writings of some early church bishops with regards to the gospels. He told me that, that fact does not negate the contents and the message that were written in the gospels because they are accurate accounts of events that happened.To make matters worse he told me that the gospels were written long after the death of Jesus, he said Mark was the first gospel that was written and it was written about 30-40 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The truth is that i have not been comfortable with my faith after this revelation, i just can't explain it but i just feel that something has been taken away from me, there are atheist here like bindex, huxley, toneyb, duduspace that have been saying this things but the truth is that i thought they all made them up but now an aspiring pastor and a student of theology just confirmed it to me. I still believe in the in the bible and what it preaches with my mind but my head keeps asking this nagging questions. Its so bad that i have been asking some questions around a friend told me that the gospels were truly written decades of after the death of Jesus but could not say anything about the authors since he doesn't know. I asked the pastor of the church where i worship and to my surprise he knows nothing about the history of the church and how the bible was written, he just told me that the bible is the word of God and everything ends there but that is not enough since he simply does not know, i will like the christian member of the house that are extensively knowledgeable on this to PLEASE help me out. Thank you.

I have seen that so many times and i dont really care anymore because Catholics do not believe that the entire bible, word for word, is of God.


Thanks everyone for your contribution and will look into them

What I don't understand is that some individuals will get offended when others try to help them. It is not always the case that someone is pushing their belief but sharing something that has proven to be good for them and others. I find that when we try to use our own abilities and not the truths from the Bible we can get confused and then everything gets to be questionable , even when you thought you knew what you know. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing and hearing the Word. I feel that if we spent more time in reading the Proverbs we can see how the Word is right on point when dealing with others. There has been times when I had started seeming to loose my Faith of what I know to be. I had to go back to what good came in my life from believing in the Word of God. I had to look at the situations that occurred and how people came in my life with answers that I have prayed about. I had to see how there were times when I could have died, but came through. I have to look at how others were blessed after I prayed with Belief in God for them. This is how you don't loose your Faith, but it gets stronger. Any, negative issue is a time to help you build your faith and have the Victory over the circumstances. Get Stronger and build Faith, not religion. As you study the Word, you can be strong in it and see how it works in your everyday life situations.

@Poster,

The search for God is a personal journey. No person can do it for the other. What you hear or read or learn from others is not personal to you and although it may be comforting, it is not an integral part of your being. And because it is not an integral part of your being, it is blown away when temptation, crises of the body or of the soul occurs. It is not possible to have an irrrevocable conviction in God without personal experience of God and his power. If you are yearning to find God, you will surely find God for whoever seeks genuinely shall find. I pray that God will reveal himself to you. Best wishes.

m_nwankwo:
. It is not possible to have an irrrevocable conviction in God without personal experience of God and his power.

QFT!

In fact I think that if people can just limit their discourse to what they personally know and have experienced then the world will become a much better place. Too much hearsay, He said , she said , I wasn't there but I heard . . . etc