Do you struggle with religion and God?

Yes, I do struggle with religion and God. I want to believe in God. I want to believe in a higher being who loves me unconditionally. No, I have not suffered from the hands of abusers as you have, my friend, and I am truly sorry for what you have gone through. What I don't understand, when it comes to God, is how could he take the life of my son when my ex-wife was eight and a half months pregnant? On August 1st, he would have been 16 years old now, but I never even got to hold him in my arms. The doctors couldn't really even give me a true reason as to why he passed. And you know what? For many years afterwards, I still believed in God; enough to hate him. I was bitter and resentful towards God for a long time. But after the passing of years and the discovering of different parts of myself, I do not hate God anymore. I know that for one reason or another, God had a plan for the passing of my son. I believe it was so my daughter could be here today. This was after my son passed and the doctors told my ex-wife that she would never be able to have another child. In my eyes, my daughter is proof enough that God, as I know and believe him to be granted me a miracle. I don't know if God is the Christian God that I grew up believing in or not, but I know that A God does exist.

Interesting, coincidentally I also grew up Roman Catholic, was baptized and believing in God, Jesus, etc. I also grew up enduring severe, extreme abuse, sometimes to the point of bleeding. I remember the raw hate my mother exhibited in her face as she enjoyed wacking my face in front of my sister, thereby teaching her it was ok to beat up in a scrawny, boney brother. This is not to mention how I got beat up on by the bully kids at school, both boys and girls. I lived in a very violent neighborhood where a kid down the street was arrested, convicted, and incarcerated for murdering someone, but that's another matter.

Looking back on it now as an adult in proper perspective I now understand why my mother abused me and I'm in the forgiveness phase. Forgave my sister and the other bullies so I can finally move on with my life. I've learned that I'm in charge of my own happiness which I discovered from life experience comes from the inside, not the outside. Hope things get better for you.

If you look around you, many have suffered a similar fate. I was abused as a child as well, and either I’m totally blind, or the world is in getting worse, not better. If you can figure a way to reconcile this with a God that loves us all, you let me know.

Turn off the news and go outside. It’s not quite so gloomy there. Not a cure, but much more effective than praying.

I wish you all the best.

We have questions that no one can answer, although they can ramble bible versus for hours that never answer the questions. We ask for proof, they have none, they ask for proof, our suffering is proof. My abuse was largely done by the catholic church, the holy of holys ,the supposed right hand of god .I suffered horrific acts to my body while looking at a painting of Jesus above the bed. When ask where was god no one can answer. I was an alter boy ,i served their god with the faith of an innocent child, i served the priests that abused me . Through it all i never stopped believing in god ,a testiment to the faith of a child. But i did stop believing in their version of god .

I struggle big time. I grew up catholic. Church every Sunday. The whole nine yards. The church protected my abuser. Since then I’ve struggled deeply with faith and religion.

People often say that god will never give you more than you can handle.

God expected a lot out of a 9 year old.

I grew up in a house that was hardly religious (we didn’t go to church, but religion was a thing) I always wanted to go to church but I was nervous as I didn’t know anyone who did, it seemed scary but interesting, I go now with my wife but I do struggle.

I don't have a problem with God but I do have a problem with some of God's followers

I did struggle for the first part of my life. My parents stopped going to Catholic Church when I was in 5th grade. So I didn't really know what to think. I thought Jesus and the disciples were a bunch of Italian guys, lol.

My parents weren't happy people. They drank too much, and fought all the time. It wasn't the best home life to.grow up in. They came a poor background and achieved the American Dream. If that was the American Dream I didn't want it.

I went to college and became a real heavy partier. Lots of drinking, pot, and drugs. I also went on a spiritual search. If there was truth and God, I wanted to find out. I became a universalist, thinking many paths lead to the same place. I began doing yoga, read different religious books like The Koran, The Bible, The Upanishads, and The Bhagavad Gigs. I got into Numerology, Nostradomus, Edgar Cayce, Astrology and Theosophy. In reading and studying all this one thing stood out, should I say one person, Jesus. I am not talking about church, but Jesus

He was different. He truly showed compassion and mercy to the downtrodden. He was wise in the words he spoke and in the manner that he dealt with his critics. He mad truth claims that I had to wrestle with. He claimed exclusivity and not only that divinity. He said I am, the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me.

I like this quote by British author CS Lewis: "Jesus [. . .] told people that their sins were forgiven. [. . .] This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. [. . .] I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.”

That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." - Mere Christianity

Baybreeze, if you got this far, I know from the posts you have shared here that you have had many struggles in your life. I know you are a caring person. I know that you are questioning the reality of God and His existence.

He is real, and He loves you completely and perfectly. In Christ and His death and resurrection, their is forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven. Not because we have done anything to deserve it, but because God shows us His love and grace. All that we need to do is believe by faith in Christ.

It took me over 21 years to come to that place when I believed. I still am following , and am.far from perfect. But I have the assurance of his presence, and his strength to get me through difficulties.

Anyway, i hope this might have brought you some sort of encouragement. God bless you. 🙏🏻

I’m sorry you experienced that. So sad!

i don't struggle with religion just people in it who do wrong

No. There is no god. Religion is a lie. No struggle at all.

I have my beliefs. Both traditional and non-traditional. I don't have a conventional relationship with religion but I've always believed in the concept of a God and I don't think that's ever wavered.

Nope. Couldnt care in the least about any of it. I will take responsibility for what I do.. Just keep your god to yourself unless you want to hear my latest fantasy..😷

The problem does not lie with God. It is other Christians that do not welcome you, prevent you from worshiping, and exclude you, where the problem lies.Sadly there are plenty of those about. But not all, some are filled with the love of God. They will encourage you, and provide you with resources you need on your journey.

The type of abuse mentioned in this thread makes me want to believe in Karma.... I want some type of Karma to exist.

I grew up Catholic. People and their behavior made me leave for a while. I finally found a good group with great attitudes and acting like they preach. I never lost sight in God. Just confidence in people.

I have in the past
I don't understand a lot of things, but that would be true wether I believed in God or not.
My beliefs ground me ,it gives me hope, and comfort.

Only when people shove it down my throat or use it to justify poor treatment. I've studied different religions.. I've prayed to god I've screamed at god. I don't know what's really going on.

But I very much believe in energy.

My grandma was a fairly religious woman... Had us in church every Sunday up to a point. Even had us baptized and "saved" when I was about 8 or so. I remember being shocked at my mom being there. The one VERY constant thing I can recall from all that time in church... Even those of friends and later foster parents and the like is how profoundly UNCOMFORTABLE I have always felt there.

No real "struggle." I've lately been considering taking one up. My partner would hate it though.

I do struggle yes and always looking for more answers. I do believe I belong to a specific religion now and I do practice it in my own way but I guess my main focus is God himself I don't think one religion is the ultimate truth nobody owns the full truth I wouldn't ever claim that I do. Nor I'd ever try and shove it in another person's face.

Yeah, life is a strange thing. If you have any belief at all it's probably a question that arises once in a while, "WHY?!". 😫 "ALL OF IT WHY?!"

Who is laughing at this ?

I think we all find our spirituality where it works best for us. A lot of us find what we grew up believing doesn't quite work for us as we get older. But we still believe in something, it doesn't necessarily have to be defined or have a name or come with a set of rules.

The dogma of religion is man made and largely irrelevant. Does it matter that one believes in gravity or understands what it is in order to know it exists?

God is.

In faith and hope of mercy we go in his grace and protection.

Hope this perspective helps.

im catholic but way my parents did dope,drinking,and calling me a mistake,idont believe in any religion