Am I doing something wrong? [I Dont Like Small Talk] When I pray then read the bible I feel...

Budwick · 70-79, M

Of course no one is going to have a definitive answer.

BUT, maybe in your prayer and reading you unwittingly scratch up some guilt feelings that you feel you need to atone for. When you don't pray or read - those feelings don't surface.

My thought is to let guilt go. God sent His Son to atone for your sins.
Pray, read, worship God with joy.

My two cents.

canusernamebemyusername · M

Well depending on which parts of the Bible you are reading it can be extremely immoral and in several places will try to dehumanize people and break them down psychologically only to try and build them back up in its own image. Religious leaders, cults, abusers, etc... do this all the time.
They try to say you are a worthless sinner and deserve every bad thing that happens to you. And when you have internalized that message and believe it they offer to save you from those feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness. So when they end up fixing the problem that they created you will be eternally grateful to the faith for saving you and never leave it and even die for it.

Beatbox34 · 31-35, M

Understandable.

For me, I feel sad when I pray. It feels to me that God is a hypocrite at times.

SW-User

We aren't supposed to pay attention to our feelings? I get told just the opposite!

Anyway, I had the same thing happen to me with prayer and Bible reading. It's fairly common, and some people consider it a form of spiritual oppression.

Dolimyte · 41-45, M

It's a book that tells you that you are inherently a piece of shit and you have no chance of not being that way without very specific help that not everyone can achieve.

I'd feel sad too if I read books like that.

Ambroseguy80 · 51-55, M

Hmmm not sure. Is it filling a void that perhaps you feel more when you stop reading and praying?

exexec · 61-69, C

Some parts of the Bible are depressing. I suggest you use a devotional guide that will help you in your prayer life and identifying more helpful scriptures. There are a number of daily devotionals online. Try several until you find one that is helpful.

NoGamesTolerated · F

The Bible will show us exactly who we are.

BlueSkyKing · M

“It is time that we admitted that faith is nothing more than the license religious people give one another to keep believing when reasons fail.”
― Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation

Elevatorpitches · F

Read the human heart. It will give you more truth, compassion and PURPOSE!!

ABCDEF7 · M

Try doing them separately