The best and worst thing about life is that we all get to make our own decisions. Unfortunately, when those around us make decisions that negatively impact our lives, no one - God or otherwise - is going to stop them. All you can do is use you own life to lift those around you and try to make the world a better place.
What's interesting to me is that, even through all this pain his grandmother has gone through, she still takes comfort in going to church every Sunday.
I'm sure Linus van Pelt takes comfort in his security blanket, but that doesn't mean it's actually doing anything to keep him safe. I'm not saying that God is fictitious, just that the comfort level people get from believing in Him isn't a very accurate measurement of His power and/or existence.
I didn't read where he actually sat down with his pastor to discuss his "crisis of faith" or to discuss the message he is hearing at church versus his expectations of God.
I recognized God for the good and the bad times. I'm sure my post does not sound like that at all, but I've had my mix of anxiety issues along with depression and I still loved God. I struggled through my teenage years, but I always was in the altar praising God for good and the bad. I guess what I came to realize through my college years is that I didn't need to believe in God to feel better. Right now what really pains me more is watching my grandma feel really down and me feeling powerless to make her feel any better. I guess when I hear her say, "Why God, why did you take my son?" even a year later after his passing, it still breaks my heart and that's where my frustration really stems from. He passed away Nov 29th and his birthday is coming up this Wednesday which is why I guess my grandma has been struggling more lately. I'm obviously mad at the God my grandma believes for the wrong reasons but I do understand the balance of life and how people pass away and **** happens. I promise I'm not that oblivious to the world around me, although my post might say otherwise. I also understand that there is plenty of folks that have it worse then me, and trust me through a lot of these experiences I've grown a lot wiser. Life has just been a bit challenging these past few years and I figured I could post through here to vent. Maybe that wasn't such a great idea but what's done is done. I never talked to my Pastor bobrek because by the time I thought about approaching him, I was pretty much passed the point of no return in regards to my faith (or lack of).
That's a shame, because I think it would be good to hear his perspective regarding your concerns. Although my mom won't admit it, it is obvious she is mad at God ever since my father passed away about 18 months ago. I have encouraged her to go speak with their priest, but she stubbornly refuses to admit she has issues with God or the church.
Not sure what church you attend, but all of the religious authority figures I have ever spoken with weren't "religious salesforce". They listened to my concerns and offered advice and counseling without being "salesmen for God". Regardless, if I am hearing one thing from the pulpit while experiencing something different in my life or my faith, I'd like to challenge them on that to see what they have to say.
Remember what Job went through. It didn't mean God had stopped loving him; on the contrary ... You shouldn't give up; somewhere along the line growing up, you must have experienced for yourself that God is indeed real and that He cares.
I wasn't arguing for or against anything. Last thing I want to do is insert myself in between the bbs christians and atheists. I just thought it was kind of ironic that the OP seems to have lost faith because of everything that's happened to his grandmother but that she herself still seems to have it.
Fair enough, but couldn't you simply talk to a friend, confidant or doctor? There is nothing special about a pastor, they are just as human as anyone else and no closer to any truths. DD
I find anyone with a rational mind thinks that a white haired old dude in the sky will attend to personal affairs of 7 billion people (among other living things) beyond apprehension. How do you have sex knowing that the big fellow is watching?
And definitely get away from the Pastors. Pastor’s corporal punishment advice scrutinized after child deaths http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout...dvice-scrutinized-child-deaths-160004793.html
If a pastor says something in the pulpit that I don't agree with or am having trouble reconciling with my life, isn't it better to go directly to the source? If I am having a financial crisis, is it better to go to my friend or to a financial professional? If I am having trouble with my car, is it better to go to my friend or to an auto mechanic? Similarly, while I certainly value my friend's advice and counsel, if I am having a crisis of faith, I'd prefer getting a "professional's" opinion at some point.
I don't pretend to know you, because I've only met you a couple times... but you seem like a nice dude who just wants to catch a break every once in a while. You can't believe in God and Karma at the same time, but most people expect bad things to happen to bad people and good things to eventually happen to good people. Perhaps it is your love for your Grandmother and sense of extreme loyalty to your family that keeps you believing in God because you don't want to cause the people you love any more grief. Sometimes it is necessary for your own sanity to face your anxieties and fears. If you find that what you believe clashes with what you have been brought up to believe then begins the transition from the subconscious to the present state. Ultimately your Grandmother would probably tell you something like "stay true to what you believe".
Your beliefs are obviously not mine, so why belittle my beliefs by equating them to "mythology"? It is disrespectful. I am not trying to change your mind on anything, simply stating my beliefs and answering your questions yet you purposely chose to be disrespectful to something I have spent a lifetime pursuing.
