Has anybody felt this way?

[Evil Sadistic Bastard]

This kind of grew out of the "First Christmas as an atheist" thread.

I'm supposed to be Christian, but I've never really felt close to God or anything like that. I keep on seeing people in my church who seem to be really passionate about what they do, but I don't feel that way. Christmas, Easter, anything, it doesn't affect me. They say they can feel God when they pray. I don't.

The funny thing is, every time I feel like turning my back on religion, it feels like there's a part of me still holding on, and I feel like I could be missing out on something.

Ah hell. This is crap, and you'll probably think so too. Just wanted to get it off my chest.

[Vympel]

I used to pray a lot. I could never feel anything. When I told my best friend I was an atheist, he urged me to pray because I would "feel something really special". There was nothing there- I also went to Hillsong with another Christian friend (it's a big Christian sing along thing in Australia and apparently its popular overseas) to humor him ... still nuthin.

It took me quite a long time to make the break- I kept on crawling back- "pulling God out of the glove box" to deal with my problems so to speak. I'm not going to judge what my friends feel, but since I don't feel it, I don't see how I could be religious.

[Darth Wong]

Churchgoers will tell you that the feeling of loss you get when you contemplate leaving the church is your need for God. Atheists will say that it's the lingering effect of a lifetime of conditioning, designed to associate fellowship, spirit, tragedy and love with an institution and leave you with the belief that you can't manage any of these things on your own.

[Evil Sadistic Bastard]

Churchgoers will tell you that the feeling of loss you get when you contemplate leaving the church is your need for God. Atheists will say that it's the lingering effect of a lifetime of conditioning, designed to associate fellowship, spirit, tragedy and love with an institution and leave you with the belief that you can't manage any of these things on your own.

Hmmm... That may be. Like the Catholics once said, "Give us a child for six years and we'll have him for life".

Nevertheless, I shall soldier on, casting this hit beside me. Ican't allow myself to be dragged down by the past. IF there is no God, then I will just have to be my own God.

(ESB is found struck dead by lightning the next day).

[Vympel]

Heheheh sometimes I say "may God strike me down if I'm wrong" as a joke and one of my closest friends always says "don't say that!!!!" heh she's funny.

[Evil Sadistic Bastard]

Heheheh sometimes I say "may God strike me down if I'm wrong" as a joke and one of my closest friends always says "don't say that!!!!" heh she's funny.

I know this girl who's a pastor's daughter, she's really nice, but IMo she's too busy going stteady with Jesus for me to have any chance. Sigh.

[Vympel]

Heheheh sometimes I say "may God strike me down if I'm wrong" as a joke and one of my closest friends always says "don't say that!!!!" heh she's funny.

I know this girl who's a pastor's daughter, she's really nice, but IMo she's too busy going stteady with Jesus for me to have any chance. Sigh.

That sucks.

Not to say that my friend's religious, she's not- it's a non-issue for her. I don't think she'd call herself an atheist like I do, but she's definitely not into the whole super-Christian thing.

[Evil Sadistic Bastard]

I see. Anyway, I knid of gave up on her anyway. She seems to be into someone else.

For me the real problem is that the people around me seemed genuinely concerned about my spiritual wellbeing (hah, hell is my destiny) and the part that sucked was ahving to lie to them all the time. WHile I don't mind telling the rest of the world to fuck off and die, I'd like to treat the people around me better than that.

[Vympel]

I see. Anyway, I knid of gave up on her anyway. She seems to be into someone else.

Same here. She's with someone else.

For me the real problem is that the people around me seemed genuinely concerned about my spiritual wellbeing (hah, hell is my destiny) and the part that sucked was ahving to lie to them all the time. WHile I don't mind telling the rest of the world to fuck off and die, I'd like to treat the people around me better than that.

What are you lying to them about, specifically? That your faith is weak, or strong?

[jegs2]

This kind of grew out of the "First Christmas as an atheist" thread.

I'm supposed to be Christian, but I've never really felt close to God or anything like that. I keep on seeing people in my church who seem to be really passionate about what they do, but I don't feel that way. Christmas, Easter, anything, it doesn't affect me. They say they can feel God when they pray. I don't.

The funny thing is, every time I feel like turning my back on religion, it feels like there's a part of me still holding on, and I feel like I could be missing out on something.

Ah hell. This is crap, and you'll probably think so too. Just wanted to get it off my chest.

I've said it before -- Christianity is a matter of faith, entirely. I can no more explain how the Holy Spirit works than I can prove to you the forumula for true (non-sexual) love. I do know that involvelment with either depends on faith. For example, before I said, "I do" to my wife, I had faith that her love for me was genuine and not just sexual or selfish in nature. One cannot prove that before making a committment. Hope that example helps you.

[Zoink]

You'd have to condition yourself to get an emotional response from praying. One way is to eat a low protein diet and combine that with repetitive activities within a group. You have to reach a point where your self-worth is dependant on acceptance from this group. When you pray you'll then feel something; you'll even feel good when drinking the special kool-aid.

Of course, you could condition yourself to get the same sense of well being from cleaning your toilet... personally, the clean toilet is more usefull than going to church every week.

[Ghost Rider]

Clean toilet vs church.

Hmmm...well both are like Laundry for me...takes up a Sunday where I could be doing something else. Though at least laundry has never asked I sing to it or give tithes.

[Coyote]

If you're not feeling it, then don't force yourself. It's insincere. Many people these days give up on the churches-- too dogmatic, or too artificial, whatever-- but they still have a feel for faith. They become "free agents" and follow faith on their own, at home or drifting from small group to small group. Nothing wrong with that.

Do what you're comfortable with. You may never set foot in another church again, yet still feel like you have a connection to faith. I go to synagogue because many times I actually enjoy it; there are nice people there that I like to talk with and I think the ideas of peace and compassion are worth it. But I also go for months without visiting the synagogue and that's fine too.

Go with your instincts.

[Mr Bean]

Its best summed up in this say


"In every man is a Pagan just waiting to get out"

[HemlockGrey]

I personally feel something approaching a sense of peace or serenity when I pray and for a while after; I don't get down on my knees and recite platitudes and Psalms or anything, I simply go someplace quiet and attempt to commune with God - pour out thoughts, feelings etc. and ask for guidance(I don't expect God to do things for me, though), and I usually feel much better afterwards.

[Lagmonster]

I know this girl who's a pastor's daughter, she's really nice, but IMo she's too busy going steady with Jesus for me to have any chance. Sigh.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I met and de-flowered the pastor's daughter at the United Church downtown here, while we were both in college. Church-goers are as human as the next person, and in many ways, a lot of them feel like they're missing something important in their lives if all they do when they're in their early twenties is talk to something that never answers them. 'Course, if you're looking for a real long term and meaningful relationship, solid believers are a bad choice if you're wavering on the line. You undergo impetus to go back to the church just to be with her, or else you end up making a lot of enemies among the congregation when they find out you deny their belief system (and ask me how I know that).

[C.S.Strowbridge]

Ah hell. This is crap, and you'll probably think so too. Just wanted to get it off my chest.

This is pretty much how I felt. I left and the feelings left shortly after.