Am I doing something wrong? [I Dont Like Small Talk]

When I pray then read the bible
I feel worse then when I don't
Why do you suppose that is ?

I know we aren't supposed to pay much attention to our feelings but it's odd for me ..again ..just trying to learn ,grow and understand...

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

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.

SW-User

@canusernamebemyusername I was told if it's not of love it's not of God

canusernamebemyusername · M

@SW-User That was actually the way I was taught as well growing up. But after reading for myself I saw God do a lot of evil, lie and breaking his own laws in the Bible. Particularly the old testament. I'm not a believer now but if I was a Christian I think the gnostic Christians are closer to the truth. They believe the old testament God is a being called a demiurge which is the creator of the world but is not the real God. And therefore because the demiurge is ignorant of the true God his own creation is imperfect as well. I'd recommend trying to read the Nag Hammadi. Trying being a key word cause the scriptures are so damaged large chunks are missing. But the early church was out to kill all other forms of early Christianity and so the Nag Hammadi scriptures were hidden in a clay jar for 17 centuries or so.

But following the God is love verse is Def a good core belief to center your faith around. Just disregard the evil parts. Also remember that a tree will be known by the fruit it bears. Also many false christ have gone out into the world. There are lots of good verses that would make good core beliefs.

SW-User

@canusernamebemyusername I choose the love parts ..nothing good can come out of doing evil..not ever