Anyone going through a crisis of faith here?

I know it's rather personal, but if you are, please share. Maybe we can all lift each other up.

 

Years ago I did, but it is past, for the better.

 

I can't find any of my post-it notes.

 

My brain used to always conflict with my heart. Sometimes my brain would ask, "What's more logical?"

All in all that is in the past and I haven't really had a crisis of faith. Why do you ask?

 

Questioning? Vaguely at some points, crisis? No.

-The Scummy-

 

umm.... not that i can remember. god's been good to me my whole life.

<><

 

I used to think about it all the time, and I finally decided that if there is an all-mighty power, it doesnt want us to worship it.


I've been content ever since.

 

Me and faith get along great now that i decided it was ridiculous to have

 

I like the post its that come in pads of purle, pink, yellow, green, orange the best.

 

Never been really religious, life makes more sense to me without religion.

 

I would be sad without post-it notes. They are an extremely useful item!

 

QFT.

 

QFT

 

Somewhat. However, mine concerns not so much a lack of a belief in God, but concerns which Church I'm going to associate myself with for the rest of my life. I've spent a lot of time and effort researching the issue, but the denomination which most interests because of the quality of the people and the atmosphere also has a good deal of weird theology and beliefs and a history of slowly denying them by order of weirdness, and I can't quit reconcile my view of God and the Bible with their view.

 

That's why I try to exist independent of denominations. Keep to the heart of the faith because the stuff the denominations disagree over is usually so petty and trivial that it will make you cry.

 

The problem is that this denomination claims to be the only incarnation of the true church and that the rest of the church is in apostasy.

My problem is that most of my friends are members of this denomination, and I really enjoy the people and find some portions of the theology interesting and appealing. For example, their doctrine of Eternal Marriage I find attractive, but it's contrary to things that Jesus himself said in the book of Matthew.

 

Obi-Zahn, what denomination are you talking about?

 

That is why I try to stay away from denominations. The only way to heaven is through Jesus (according to Christianity), not the church.

 

It's simple. Stop believing and then, POOF.....crisis be gone.

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

It's harder when your friends are involved, but I'd recommend against joining a church because you like the congregation. After all, the ultimate goal behind religion is to focus on God, and to serve other people whether they're likeable or not.

Eventually, either you or your frinds may move away, drop out of the church, drift apart, etc., and then you'll be stuck with a denomination you don't have confidence in and a bunch of people who are only "okay." You might want to consider finding a denomination that really seems correct to you, and looking to your friends as models of faith rather than of doctrine.

 

Actually, from what my brother told me in regards to my home church (I am abroad), some pastor who is visiting is selling water (that he prayed over) and will give it to anyone who gives 100 bucks...WHAT THE HECK!?!?!


Seriously, hearing stuff like this makes me ticked. I don't remember reading where Jesus made people pay for him to bless them.

Ok...that's my rant. Oh. And I really wish those Jehova Witness's would leave me alone. THEY EXIST IN JAPAN TOO!

rant done.

But no crisis in my life! All is well!!!!

EDIT: Forgot a word!

 

I think he's talking about Mormons. I thought I heard they believe something like that. It would also fit with their interpretation of Christianity seeming unusual to outsiders.

In regards to the whole denominational issue, I try to strike a careful balance. On the one hand, I think that there is some value in denominations that continue to make/enforce definite points of doctrine. It let's you know what you're getting into, and by evaluating the logic of their doctrine in comparison to reading the Bible (as Obi-Zahn seems to be doing) you can get some idea of the quality of the religious instruction you'll recieve there. However, there are some admitted drawbacks. In setting up an internal bureaucracy, a denomination can see some of the same pettiness etc from time to time that the outside world has. Also, they might be tempted to carry things too far from just a simple statement of "I think that what we teach is correct" (which any church should be able to say) to "My way is completely right, and everyone else is going to hell" (which, I think no church should say). Ultimately, to strike the balance between these concerns, I'd say focus on evaluating the local church that you will be attending. What is it like? Above all, don't fall into the trap of renouncing church just because you don't like the idea of denominations. As we are commanded: "forsake not the assembly". It's critical for you to be part of a larger body of believers, and to be attending services regularly at a home church.

In regards to a crisis of faith. No, I'm not going through one, and no, I haven't really, yet. However, there was a brief moment when, though a believer, I was too young to comprehend the Bible very well, and just old enough to understand charges leveled at the Bible that it was incomprehensible, contradictory, etc. Luckily, I was able to talk to someone about it, and then be given the grace to trust the Bible as a point of faith until I was able to really start getting better understanding from it.

So yeah, what's going on with you? It doesn't seem like a lot of people are going through that kind of thing right now, but if you tell us, maybe we can offer some words of encouragemetn or try to help you think through it. Finally, thank you, beafet, I was feeling a bit tempted, and I ran across this thread by chance. The feeling has left me in the time it took to write this post. Thanks a lot.

 

He is talking about the Mormons.

I personally have never had much of a crisis of faith, however my beliefs are so inclusive that a crisis of faith in such a belief system would be rather difficult considering that in it each religion isn't the one true path, just seperate ones. So, yeah not the typical one...

 

He is talking about the Mormons.

I personally have never had much of a crisis of faith, however that is admittedly partially due to the fact that my beliefs are so inclusive that a crisis of faith in such a belief system would be rather difficult considering that in it each religion isn't the one true path, just seperate ones with pieces of the truth. So, yeah not the typical one belief system, but it's one that makes sense to me for varying reasons.