I wish that I had a Faith

I'm just so grateful for what I got in secondary school: the very gentlest introduction in our school assemblies, for home was determinedly atheist. Fortunate that to was a gospel of love one another not judgement. Lots of psalm 23.

So much later when I begun to have spiritual feelings it was there in the background.

I wanted to mention music, btw, it has always been a way into the soul (whether religious or otherwise).

Oh Serendipity that’s exactly what I’d like. It sounds wonderful

Yes Anniebach you are so right. Religion isn’t faith. I have also been involved with many different denominations. Brought up Methodist, left for years, went to a Uniting Church, taught at a Catholic school, went to a Fundamental Baptist church for years and currently a Presbyterian church full of loving and caring people of the faith. People on church congregations are mixed ,just like anywhere else and we are all imperfect human beings.

Serendipity

Hello everyone x

I have a lovely faith. I was brought up in a Christian home, teenage years arrived and I didn't turn away from my faith but let's say i didnt attend church with my mum and dad. All my life i have known that God is walking besides me, through the good and guides me through the bad. I dont expect ' magician tricks ' . I accept what happens in life because I know God is walking besides me.

X

I have never let rules affect me, was a Baptist when a child, we moved to another part of Wales, no chapel, my parents said
church, same God, went to Anglican Church and was baptised and confirmed.

Worked several years in a R.C.Convent, loved the Nuns, attended some services. Sat in the Peace Garden with Quakers,
raised funds for Salvation Army, hung ribbons on trees around a very ancient well with Pagans.

Never been concerned about God being masculine or feminine, my father was full of love, compassion and caring.
Never ever felt I could only approach God through a priest.

I talk to God every day, I turned to him for my needs and with my joys.

God Is Love.

I can't do that without sharing with others most of the time. Its a great aim.

poshpaws

I'm a Christian, though not affiliated to any church, as I feel organised religion has veered well away from the God I feel I know, into sects and faiths which are the very opposite of love, caring, kindness, compassion, forgiveness and doing good, which are what I associate with God.

I hope that one day you will be able to find your own relationship with God - you are obviously open to such a thing, and I believe it would be such a comfort to you to lean on God when life gives you tough times and griefs.

I recommend taking a "leap of faith" if you'll excuse the pun, and just start talking to God (He hears you even if you're not speaking out loud!) about the things that you're grateful to have or have had, and the things that scare you/ worry you etc., and to ask for help for you and people you feel need His help.

Sending you hugs xxx

I feel exactly as you do, poshpaws. I was brought up in the Catholic church, but never felt it was what I needed. Now I just pray to God, don't folliow any rules. and feel He is really there for me. You don't need any diploma to have faith. Just decide to believe and the rest follows naturally. Keep it simple, it's the rules and regulations that destroy real faith. I believe in a loving God who cares for us all, and yet each one personally too.. The relationship develops from that. Decide to love, and do your best.

Some funny beliefs Fanny .
My husband wasn't allowed to watch TV on Sundays.

We also had an Elder who had an affair. It was quite a scandal.

Blimey nadateturbe!
There were some funny so and so’s about.

At my childhood Methodist Church there was a young couple (early 20s) who wouldn’t hold hands on a Sunday.

They admonished my Nan for serving Sherry trifle at tea time (I’m not even convinced any actual Sherry was involved).

My best friend’s dad (I’m thinking late 1970s) was a Christadelphian minister (you don’t hear much of them anymore).

He was so strict with his wife and daughters.
He inevitably dumped them for his secretary.
They were well out of it!

Nanna8 I used to attend an Elim church and I was frowned on for studying Sociology! Weird.

Church of Christ and Baptists also discourage yoga and certainly wouldn’t entertain it on their premises. Neither would the Presbyterians.

FannyCornforth

LRavenscroft I understand that SporeRB was talking about a Spiritualist Church, which is nothing really to do with Paganism.

In my limited experience, Spiritualist Churches are invested in seances and contacting dead people.

The practices to which SporeRB refers (reiki, yoga, tarot etc) are incredibly diverse; some (yoga, reiki in particular) having roots in Eastern culture and Buddhism.
While others sound less benign.

Having said that, it’s common for some church leaders (I’m think C of E and Methodist) not allowing their premises, eg Church Halls,
to be used for Yoga classes

Regarding your post, it sounds a bit of a chaotic mess really.
You are definitely well out of it SporeRB

Yes, thank you for explaining that. Of course, you are right about the Spiritualist Church. I had forgotten that. Very interesting and enlightening post.

(and although Jesus chose only men to be his disciples, the very early Christian church was full of very powerful women preachers and martyrs - remember the gospels of the bible were only decided/chosen from many at the The First Council of Nicaea convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325. It excluded gospels written by women.) St Paul had a lot to do with it :
""Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says." First letter to the Corinthians
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet." First letter to Timothy ."

Shinamae

Mother nature is the only “God”I want or need..🌩️🌈🌧️🌤️☔️

It always seemed totally bizarre to me that some Christian churches have banned yoga because it happens to have origins in the Hindu tradition, or ban meditation because it originated in the Buddhist tradition.

I'm glad you wrote that Shinamae. for my faith does not have a male "god". My life within the spirit (NOT spiritualist!) is sometimes female and sometimes male depending probably on mood and needs.

The divine within the feminine is very important to me. It's a "felt"presence of the heart rather than an intellectual one: but clearly it means I can never accept a creed where men are the only beings who can interpret God to me, although I can learn a great deal from a man like Jesus: one of those very special people who live their lives within the spirit and risk much to do so, indeed the ultimate. But he is not the only one, and we lack acknowledgment of the feminine within the world of faith in Christianity, tho less so as time goes on. Its no puzzle to me that Hinduism has many gods with many facets and many are female. Its a much older religion and dates from a time when the feminine was a powerful force.

(tho historically what we see in its changes was over time the male god became more ascendant, not originally so).

I don't warm to faith situations easily where people say you can only have access to god through priests not personal experience. Nor would I, but I don't know any.

Spiritualist churches are not Christian.

I am a Christian. I have done yoga and practice meditation. Nothing wrong with that.

LRavenscroft I understand that SporeRB was talking about a Spiritualist Church, which is nothing really to do with Paganism.

In my limited experience, Spiritualist Churches are invested in seances and contacting dead people.

The practices to which SporeRB refers (reiki, yoga, tarot etc) are incredibly diverse; some (yoga, reiki in particular) having roots in Eastern culture and Buddhism.
While others sound less benign.

Having said that, it’s common for some church leaders (I’m think C of E and Methodist) not allowing their premises, eg Church Halls,
to be used for Yoga classes

Regarding your post, it sounds a bit of a chaotic mess really.
You are definitely well out of it SporeRB

SporeRB

I grew up as a Muslim, lost faith in my own religion as an adult and started looking at other religions and searching for the Truth.

My English husband has two cousins. They consider themselves Christians, belong to the Spiritual Church but at the same they really believe and practice the new age religion eg. tarot cards, meditation, reiki, yoga, astral projections, magic etc.,

Whilst learning about this religion, I have inadvertently opened not only myself, but my family and my house to the spiritual realm. I sensed an evil presence in our house, myself and my family started having frightening nightmares.

Out of desperation I started praying again. It took a long time and lots nd lots of prayers before the presence eventually left the house.

Needless to say, I no longer researching other religions and have decided to stay with the same Abrahamic religion I grew up with.

Are you talking about paganism or a branch of paganism? There are so many branches that, like major religions, one needs to understand what goes on in each branch. Some are extremely beneficial to peace on earth and respect for the planet. Others are very dangerous in a dark way and attract people who are looking for the dark arts. I don't think you can give a 'one size fits all' declaration. Pagan paths are as diverse as are all branches of the major religions from high to low and fundamental to free for all.

What does worry me slightly is when events happen in the name of God. I had an American friend who worked out that the Lord even provided a luxury house for her family in Florida and had guided them to move there. When I told her of any upset in my life she would send me all sorts of links to American Evangelical pastors etc who made no sense to my mind. Every conversation had the Lord mentioned in it and quite frankly I couldn't cope with it anymore and there was no joy in time spent with her, albeit on Facetime.

Good SporeRB that you got rid of the presence. I wouldn’t touch anything to do with spiritualism, magic etc with a ten foot pole. Very dangerous. Stick with the Abrahamic stuff ( even though I am Christian, I can respect your views. Abraham was the father of Isaac and Ishmael after all ).

I grew up as a Muslim, lost faith in my own religion as an adult and started looking at other religions and searching for the Truth.

My English husband has two cousins. They consider themselves Christians, belong to the Spiritual Church but at the same they really believe and practice the new age religion eg. tarot cards, meditation, reiki, yoga, astral projections, magic etc.,

Whilst learning about this religion, I have inadvertently opened not only myself, but my family and my house to the spiritual realm. I sensed an evil presence in our house, myself and my family started having frightening nightmares.

Out of desperation I started praying again. It took a long time and lots nd lots of prayers before the presence eventually left the house.

Needless to say, I no longer researching other religions and have decided to stay with the same Abrahamic religion I grew up with.

Mother nature is the only “God”I want or need..🌩️🌈🌧️🌤️☔️

"I'm sure it would be extremely difficult to find a perfect Church."

Yes, nowhere is free from the inevitable tensions in the best of groups. I don't warm to faith situations easily where people say you can only have access to god through priests not personal experience. That said there is something irreplaceable about groups who join (in any faith) -to use a Christian reference tho I am sure this is common to most -
Matthew 18:20. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them".

but in all faiths there are those rare individuals - who withdraw to live within their own spiritual life. Not for me!

Wyllow3

I think history shows both are open to revision and advances!

I was about to state this!
Also, in answer to Fleurpepper's last post I attend a Church of Ireland. I don't agree with all their doctrine, eg you must be confirmed to take holy communion whereas I believe confirmation is unnecessary and that all Christians can share in the Lords Supper, but they are all very welcoming Christians. That's the important thing.
I'm sure it would be extremely difficult to find a perfect Church.
Christians care about helping everyone worldwide, not just locally.

I think history shows both are open to revision and advances!