Religion & Spirituality

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How do people cope without God?

When I am happy I thank God, when I am hurting I speak to God about it, If I am worried about something or anxious I tell God that too. I don't know how I would get through life's ups and downs if God wasn't there to converse with. There was a time not long ago when I tried to stop talking to God. I was going through a time when I thought that the only way to heal from the hurt that I was still feeling twenty odd years after leaving the cult, was to walk away from God. I sat on the floor and boxed up my bibles and all my religious stuff. After doing this I felt so empty, like I was losing myself. Like I was boxing up myself and putting me away. Then the tears came and I started to slowly unbox things. I looked at each item and read from some of my books. A realisation came to me that I didn't need to leave God entirely I just needed a new perspective. I needed to see God as loving instead of vengeful. I made a new cloth for my home altar space and set everything out differently. I started to ask others how they see God. I started to pray my rosary daily and to dress more modestly. This may not be everyone's way of worshipping God but it's mine. I began praying more and I am slowly learning each day and I am excited for the experience.

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BlueSkyKing · M

“There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have relinquished belief only with regret. To this I reply: who wishes that there was a permanent, unalterable celestial despotism that subjected us to continual surveillance and could convict us of thought-crime, and who regarded us as its private property even after we died? How happy we ought to be, at the reflection that there exists not a shred of respectable evidence to support such a horrible hypothesis.”
― Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

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Human1000 · M

@Adstar That isn’t evidence, it’s assertion. Not the same.

BlueSkyKing · M

@Adstar Truth demands to be tested and magic can’t be tested.

Adstar · 56-60, M

@BlueSkyKing The truth stands by itself.. And when Christopher Hitchins stands before the LORD in judgement such stupid demands will not be being sought..

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

I cope perfectly well. There's nothing to it. The concept of god is unnecessary.

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NortiusMaximus · M

@ninalanyon Same here. I don't need god in my life, especially not that christian one. It would be even better if those evangelical pests stayed out of my way too.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@NortiusMaximus I only encounter them online. Religion is not usually a problem in public in Europe.

NortiusMaximus · M

@ninalanyon I'm in the UK. We do get evenagelists preaching on street corners and harassing passers by here. They also go door to door. I've heard it's much worse in the US though.

4meAndyou · F

I can't imagine my life if I hadn't had God with me from the beginning. I lost my way many times, but my love for our beautiful God was so strong, it survived everything, and began to glow like a coal in my heart when I needed Him most.

He is our best friend, our holy and most awesome Father, and brings miracles to our lives in ways both large and small.

SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M

I think its lovely that your faith gives you the support you need.

I for one, don't need to feel like I am being judged by a omnipotent being, while "he" allows horrible people to do horrible things to the most vulnerable on our planet.

I've found comfort in just the simple fact that we are alive, we are self aware, and we know our time in the universe is brief but we get to witness such wonder and joy all throughout existence and [i]that[/i] gives me comfort and solace to carry on even when the world is ugly and filled with stupid, worthless people.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@SumKindaMunster each to their own

redredred · M

Very well, thank you. I have no need nor want for an invisible sky friend who does me favors if I say the right magic words.

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redredred · M

@RubiesandButterflies I’m not stopping you, please don’t try to stop my observation that religion is ridiculously silly.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@redredred I'm not just I disagree

GeniUs · 56-60, M

@redredred [quote] I have no need nor want for an invisible sky friend who does me favors if I say the right magic words.
[/quote]
I do! Do you know of one?

TheWildEcho · 56-60, M

Yes, God has blessed me in so many ways! I became a Christian in my teens and He has been with me all these years through the good times and difficult times ìve known His presence all along. He healed me miraculously a few years ago and i would absolutely hate to not know Him!

RebelFox · 36-40, F

It’s beautiful that you have found your way along your spiritual path. I believe something different, but I think love is the center. Love connects us no matter what.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@RebelFox I think spirituality is important each to their own belief. yes love is important.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

Very easily.

I accept we all have our ups and downs but I manage to overcome the down without praying.

On the other hand I also accept those who believe in a god, by any faith and as long as it is by their free will, find solace in that.

If so then that god - or God - should not be vengeful at all. The idea of a frightening, heartless, divine autocrat was probably dreamt up by ancient priestly castes as a means of what the law calls "coercive and controlling behaviour".

CorvusBlackthorne · M

How nice that you have an invisible friend all your own.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@CorvusBlackthorne yes he is awesome thanks

MamaButterfly · F

What a beautiful testimony of your own journey. We each have our own and sometimes when we do it alone is when we find God.

Thank you for sharing. I find similarities to your story, as I've found Him in a similar way. Our journey's may be of different pathways but in the end it can lead us to God.

Sincerely,
-MamaButterfly 🦋

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@MamaButterfly hi and thanks for your heartfelt reply

Adstar · 56-60, M

I was born into a catholic family so i have said my fair share of rosary's but when i finally read the Holy Bible in my early 20's i never said the rosary ever again.. I thank the LORD He got me out of that religion so i could be free of the bondage..

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@Adstar I'm not Catholic I just really like the rosary prayers.

Adstar · 56-60, M

@RubiesandButterflies Pray to God.. Praying to people other then God is against the will of God.. You do not need any fancy scripted prayers.. Just talk to Him directly from your heart about all things that concern you..

Human1000 · M

You cope without God, too, you just aren't aware of it. You are meditating and releasing endorphins.

Entwistle · 56-60, M

Personally i just observe my emotions without letting them drag me around into foolish actions. When in pain i try to find a cure for it..obviously. The biggest help i find is in the certain knowledge that every situation good or bad is constantly changing.

Miram · 31-35, F

I cope by having a productive life, transforming what I go through into positively meaningful experiences, and assigning merits to actions rather than beliefs.

DocSavage · M

Most people let go of their imaginary friends in childhood. And go on to live in the real world.
It’s really not difficult.

ann0yance · 26-30, F

Always brings me joy to read of someone building a special relationship with God

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@ann0yance thankyou

Isthisit · F

Thanks for sharing your story. I myself was brought up a christian in the church but fell away from the church when i was 17. Ive maintained my belief in god over the years but never actively followed anything. I think people get used to living without god, in the same way that you are so used to it. They find other ways to cope.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@Isthisit yes but often other coping mechanisms can be destructive like addiction to drugs or alcohol. I'm not judging in saying that my boyfriend struggles with alcohol, just an observation. I don't exactly call myself Christian but couldn't find anywhere else to post this. I don't attend church I form my own spiritual practice.

specman · 51-55, M

I believe in God. Even though I don’t act like it.

Bushranger · 70-79, M

You left a cult, then developed a personal relationship with God that helps you cope? I'm glad you have found your way in life, even though I don't believe in what you believe. We all need to find our way in life, it won't be the same path for all of us.

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@Bushranger yes that is true. The question was more of a pondering because of how I cope but I realise not everyone is the same.

FurryFace · 61-69, M

as a witness i have my arguments with god , it seems he should be helping somehow but where the Heck is he ? , its very frustrating

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@FurryFace I think we all feel frustrated by this at times. I myself struggle with several illnesses. I wonder sometimes whilst its bad where is he? But then that time passes and I realize everything is in God's timing not ours. Sometimes for example the delay is because lessons need to be learned.

FurryFace · 61-69, M

@RubiesandButterflies i don't think suffering should be a lesson but hey just my thoughts

RubiesandButterflies · 51-55, F

@FurryFace the things we go through teach us things. Sometimes the things we learn through suffering can be something we can use to help others. Everything happens for a reason.