[celticgirl]

Is there any Christian or non-Christian who can identify with this?

I go to church every Sunday, but I have lost my faith in God. Or rather, my faith has become so vague that I'm not sure I can rationally call myself Catholic. Still I am powerfully drawn to go to mass and take part. The Catholic religion and the church feels like a very special place to me. However in conversation I find myself constantly drawn to slight its faults.

It disturbs me that this seems hypocritical, and disturbs me even more that I don't seem to care. Am I alone in this?

[amime]

Try being an Aston villa fan!

I get the same feeling yet I'm still there every home game and as many away games as possible despite losing my faith in their ability to win games. I think it's the tingling sensation that shoots through my Spine when the players first come out the tunnel and when we all the fans begin to sing. Knowing that everyone around despite all of their differences come together for that common cause.


It's magical, despite knowing that all of our efforts are pointless because well the outcome no matter how loud we sing and no matter how hard we try to believe, we all know that a loss or draw is the most likely outcome.

[Tudball]

Try having a tapeworm. You'll wish you were alone.

[RoyalStudent]

No one else exists, only you.

[MancStudent098]

Don't actually believe in anything but still feel the need to turn up to church? Maybe you should try the Church of England?

[NJA]

It's like drunks, they will slight alcohol, but keep going back there because it "feels good". That's why the bible warns about being drunk on the wine of her (the hartol's) fornication. Until you find something more powerful, more real, you are captive.

[celticgirl]

I like both the Aston Villa and the alcohol comparison!
Anyone else do this?

[Jordan_1]

(Original post by celticgirl)
I like both the Aston Villa and the alcohol comparison!
Anyone else do this?

No, you celtic scum

[Alpharius]

(Original post by celticgirl)
Is there any Christian or non-Christian who can identify with this?

I go to church every Sunday, but I have lost my faith in God. Or rather, my faith has become so vague that I'm not sure I can rationally call myself Catholic. Still I am powerfully drawn to go to mass and take part. The Catholic religion and the church feels like a very special place to me. However in conversation I find myself constantly drawn to slight its faults.

It disturbs me that this seems hypocritical, and disturbs me even more that I don't seem to care. Am I alone in this?

I went through the same thing at 13.

My faith is long gone now.

I can understand why you still want to go to church. You feel like you belong to a group, you feel a part of something.

The thing is, that could be replaced with any social hobby.

I don't want to try to convert you to anything, or de-convert you (so to speak). So I will leave you with the knowledge that you aren't alone, and many go through the exact same feelings.

[Left Hand Drive]

(Original post by Jordan_1)
No, you celtic scum

you are hurting sooooo bad

[Jordan_1]

(Original post by Left Hand Drive)
you are hurting sooooo bad

That's all you ever say, I don't know why...

[concubine]

(Original post by NJA)
It's like drunks, they will slight alcohol, but keep going back there because it "feels good". That's why the bible warns about being drunk on the wine of her (the hartol's) fornication. Until you find something more powerful, more real, you are captive.

I'm not sure that substance addiction is all that comparable to the OP's situation, or to someone having casual sexual encounters. >_>


Plus that's just bull****. I'd rather be the captive of an 'addiction' to pussy than restrained by the belief in some bitchy omnipotent (well, he'd have you think he was, anyway, in your head, which is where he exists, and ... It all gets weird) being.

[rac1]

(Original post by celticgirl)
Is there any Christian or non-Christian who can identify with this?

I go to church every Sunday, but I have lost my faith in God. Or rather, my faith has become so vague that I'm not sure I can rationally call myself Catholic. Still I am powerfully drawn to go to mass and take part. The Catholic religion and the church feels like a very special place to me. However in conversation I find myself constantly drawn to slight its faults.

It disturbs me that this seems hypocritical, and disturbs me even more that I don't seem to care. Am I alone in this?

Everyone goes through periods of doubting, I am so glad I have started reading up on everything, even though some people have committed some terrible sins I still believe that God wouldn't let His Church teach the wrong things. Please keep going and keep praying to get through this.

[R.P.Everything.]

I used to go to church every Sunday for years as a young child, with extra bible school and all too. Gradually, as I became more aware of other world views, and began to think more critically, my belief in God became more and more liberal until I could no longer say that I was a theist in the conventional sense.

I still went to church, because I liked the feeling of community, and talking with other people (friends and such), but now I've moved on, and found community spirit elsewhere. Obviously, still in contact with old church friends and family, but I just don't feel the need to meet them at the worship of a God I don't really believe in. If anything, they have more of my attention when we meet up outside of church.

[Christ Is Lord]

(Original post by celticgirl)
Is there any Christian or non-Christian who can identify with this?

I go to church every Sunday, but I have lost my faith in God. Or rather, my faith has become so vague that I'm not sure I can rationally call myself Catholic. Still I am powerfully drawn to go to mass and take part. The Catholic religion and the church feels like a very special place to me. However in conversation I find myself constantly drawn to slight its faults.

It disturbs me that this seems hypocritical, and disturbs me even more that I don't seem to care. Am I alone in this?

I hope this will be of some help.

It's my testimony about departing from the Catholic Church.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=2000805

Blessings.

[celticgirl]

Appreciate the replies especially from Alpharius and R.P. who have felt something similar.

[AlHaq]

Celticgirl, greetings to you

You believe in Christianity with no faith, seek the truth that will find you.

[navarre]

Catholicism is very, very beautiful. The ritual of Mass, the beautiful churches, the unquestioning authority, the devotion to Mary, the mystery and very long history of the religion make for a very powerful combination.

I wouldn't mind becoming a Catholic, if I believed in God, it'd probably be my religion of choice.

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by celticgirl)
Is there any Christian or non-Christian who can identify with this?

I go to church every Sunday, but I have lost my faith in God. Or rather, my faith has become so vague that I'm not sure I can rationally call myself Catholic. Still I am powerfully drawn to go to mass and take part. The Catholic religion and the church feels like a very special place to me. However in conversation I find myself constantly drawn to slight its faults.

It disturbs me that this seems hypocritical, and disturbs me even more that I don't seem to care. Am I alone in this?

I was in a similar position about a year ago.

I'd been in the church for my whole life, and it was very much a part of me. I had always called myself a Christian because that was how I was brought up, and through most of my time at secondary school I had firmly defended myself/taken in good humour the 'banter' that I got off mates about my religion.

Depsite always calling myself a Christian, I'd been very unsure about it for my whole life, but the Church was like a second home to me, and I'd made some good friends through it.

Religion was sometimes a comfort to me, but I found that on thinking about it, the times in my life when I was most depressed was when I was really deeply 'in the church'. It sort of felt like I could never, ever be the ideal that the church expected of me, and I realised after not long that I was making myself incredibly unhappy by pretending to be something I wasn't.

I was quite lucky in that my Dad is not religious, although my Mum is, so the family has never been one that looks down on non-religious people. I decided I was agnostic, and my Mum found out only when I came to fill in the census and had to admit to being of 'no religion'. Very awkward for a while, but so worth getting it out in the open!

I think that for me, growing up in a Church has only been a good thing. It's made me strong enough to stand up for what I believe in, and has also given me a strong set of morals which I'm not sure would be quite the same otherwise. Whenever I go in a Church now, especially 'my' Church, I still feel very much comfortable and as if I am somewhere familiar.

But religion isn't for everyone. If you find yourself questioning it, then I really, honestly believe that the worst thing for you to do is pretend to still believe. It will only make you increasingly unhappy.

Remember that deciding for now that you don't know what you believe (or even saying 'I don't believe at all') isn't an irrevocable decision. You can always change your mind months/years down the line. Whether or not you do is irrelevant. You need to do what's best for you, not what's easiest, because those are two very different things.

You're definitely not alone. You just need to have the strength of character to be able to make your own decision and defend it.

Good luck x

[celticgirl]

Thank you for your kind, sensitive and thoughtful post Sammy. It was really heartening to read and certainly gave me something to think about. Best of wishes!