Grappling with Christianity.

[Milton Platt]

I was saying that faith in God and using reason go together quite fine. I honestly don't care what you have to say. This is my journal and I don't need rude comments on it. Feel free to make your exit.

Sorry if I offended you by pointing out that faith takes no evidence and virtually anything could be accepted on faith, whereas accepting something by way of reason requires good evidence. This isn't a private journal, it is a public forum.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Sorry if I offended you by pointing out that faith takes no evidence and virtually anything could be accepted on faith, whereas accepting something by way of reason requires good evidence. This isn't a private journal, it is a public forum.

Forums have rules and this isn't a debate area.

 

[Milton Platt]

Forums have rules and this isn't a debate area.

That's different and I readily apologize. Didn't see that. Thanks

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

That's different and I readily apologize. Didn't see that. Thanks

No worries.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

So I've decided to give up many things. I'm giving up pornography, masturbation, alcohol and nicotine (vaping or smoking). I feel the need to purify my mind and body. I usually feel depressed or guilty after partaking in these things, so that is a sign to me that I should rethink them. Also, my body should be a temple of the Holy Spirit so I should be treating it as such. This is will be very difficult as these are habits that have become ingrained over years. But, God willing, I will do it.

Keep me in your prayers, if you please.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Okay, so I'm coming to the conclusion that Christianity probably isn't right for me. It doesn't make sense to me. I'm not sure if it ever really did. I wanted it to. But it's too anthropocentric for me. It makes no sense that the Creator of the universe has a child, that we are born in sin, that we need intermediaries between us and God, etc. It's rather depressing, confusing and non-sensical.

I think I tried to go back to it again and again because it is what is familiar. But I always end up leaving it and feeling bad for doing so. Since I thought something like Islam was out of the question, my faith in God would take a hit, too. I've long been interested in Islam but afraid of it at the same time. Afraid of what people will say and afraid that what the haters say is true. Well, I know what the haters say about it isn't true because I've studied it a bit. But there's still a social awkwardness about it for me. It's associated with "the other". I need to get over this.

God help me and guide me.

 

[Deidre]

There are some truly beautiful things about Islam, I studied it and worked through it when I was searching a few years ago. But, I (personally) came back to the same place that I had with Christianity, just in a different way. I went back to Christianity, and felt the same as you do. Logically, these faiths don't make sense to me, anymore. But, you have to follow what speaks to you, what makes sense to you, and what brings your heart peace. I wish you well in exploring this. The prayer life is pretty cool in Islam, you should get up extra early and pray the Fajr prayer.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I have come to the conclusion that the Abrahamic religions aren't for me. I simply can't bring myself to believe in them. Islam seemed to be more understandable than Christianity, but it has problems all its own. I highly doubt I would be able to find a welcoming community for a misfit such as I. I think it's best that I stick to Hellenic polytheism. The Gods show Themselves to me in Their own ways and They certainly don't place all these silly restrictions and requirements upon Their worshipers. I'm already struggling enough and don't need more to struggle with.