How have your religious beliefs benefited you?

[The Sum of Awe]

My faith and trust in the universe has made me much more optimistic and helped with many important realizations in my life. It keeps me going when times are rough, and when my expectations are not meant I am able to remind myself "this is just the universe teaching me acceptance of the way things are" and "that I am not the center of the universe, but everything is as it needs to be".

 

[JustGeorge]

It is a world where farts smell like daisies (God seems to have fouled up).

Would you like to pull my finger?

 

[Clara Tea]

My faith and trust in the universe has made me much more optimistic and helped with many important realizations in my life. It keeps me going when times are rough, and when my expectations are not meant I am able to remind myself "this is just the universe teaching me acceptance of the way things are" and "that I am not the center of the universe, but everything is as it needs to be".

OPTIMISM:

Things will get better.
Covid and monkey pox.
Things will get better.
Debt, inflation, unemployment, outsourced factories.
Things will get better.
Wars, torture camps, lies to explain wars (yellow cake Uranium sold to Iraq---NOT).
Things will get better.

It reminds me of a comedy sketch by Monte Python and the Holy Grail. A brave knight challenged someone to a fight, so he chopped his arm off. He said that it was just a minor flesh wound, and continued to challenge him. So, his opponent chopped off his other arm (no longer able to hold a sword with both arms missing). Gripping the sword in his teeth, he continued the challenge. His opponent chopped off a leg. (and so on).

At some point, we have to stop being so optimistic and start dealing with the reality that things are getting worse, and perhaps we should intervene and do something about it. It seems that God helps those who help themselves. But, if we sit by idly and be optimistic that some fairy will come along and make things better, perhaps that won't happen.

 

[Clara Tea]

Would you like to pull my finger?

Pulling. I was right. . . daisies.

 

[JustGeorge]

Pulling. I was right. . . daisies.

Petunias, but close enough.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Perhaps we can get back on track with my OP, which is for other members to tell me if their religious beliefs have improved their lives or if a lack of religious beliefs has improved their lives. I posted my thread in a non-debate forum for a reason. Please re-read my OP.

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

 

[Secret Chief]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

Do you know the film Sliding Doors? Well, without an alternative me that didn't bump into Buddhism to compare to, my answer can be but speculation. That aside, I think I am less attached to a lot of things in life and am more able to be accepting of the changes that naturally come along. There are exceptions to this but by and large I think I oftentimes go with the flow. Others may not always view this as a positive in me! I'm sure my worldview and even aspects of my personality have been influenced by Buddhism, specifically maybe zen. Hope that was vague enough.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

OPTIMISM:

Things will get better.
Covid and monkey pox.
Things will get better.
Debt, inflation, unemployment, outsourced factories.
Things will get better.
Wars, torture camps, lies to explain wars (yellow cake Uranium sold to Iraq---NOT).
Things will get better.

It reminds me of a comedy sketch by Monte Python and the Holy Grail. A brave knight challenged someone to a fight, so he chopped his arm off. He said that it was just a minor flesh wound, and continued to challenge him. So, his opponent chopped off his other arm (no longer able to hold a sword with both arms missing). Gripping the sword in his teeth, he continued the challenge. His opponent chopped off a leg. (and so on).

At some point, we have to stop being so optimistic and start dealing with the reality that things are getting worse, and perhaps we should intervene and do something about it. It seems that God helps those who help themselves. But, if we sit by idly and be optimistic that some fairy will come along and make things better, perhaps that won't happen.

Perhaps people should start looking into what they can change instead of trying to change what they can't. What can you really do about world problems like that as an individual? It's out of your hands. Be glad you're aware of it and deal with the effects these things have over your own life as best you can, but if you can't actually change the problem then that's the most you can do.

 

[Clara Tea]

I used to feel such immense guilt and shame when I was a Christian. I was constantly worried about offending God or worried that I would lose my salvation if I sinned against God and then suddenly died without repentance. And to make life much harder for me, I constantly struggled with my connection to the spirit world. I knew that, as a Christian, it was considered to be a very bad thing and even sinful, and it was against what the Bible taught. However, I couldn't turn it off and ignore it for very long. It was an incredibly lonely existence because I knew better than to tell other Christians (or other people in general) that I sensed the presence of spirits and was capable of seeing, hearing, and interacting with them. I would make myself physically ill trying to ignore it. But that began to gradually change for me after I met my husband. I didn't tell him until after we were married because I was really worried about what he would think of me, but as a credit to his good character, he believed me and he didn't think I was unhinged. To cut a long story short, I no longer feel shame and guilt about sinning against God, nor do I feel ashamed about my connection with the spirit world.

Most spirits are lost and wandering. They want someone to talk to, and most can't hear them. You don't know what they want until you talk to them.

As a person who can sense spirits, you have amazing abilities yourself, that you have not considered or tapped into. You probably have the ability to astral project. You can appear (as if you are a ghost) in other places. You likely have far more power and abilities than the average spirit. So, there is no need to fear them.

You are one of the "things that go bump in the night." So, don't fear the other things.

Psychics tend to think that they are crazy, until, that is, they meet others like themselves. Then they can do tricks with each other. For example, hold up fingers while chatting on the internet or phone, and asking how many fingers you are holding up. Good psychics often can tell you exactly how many fingers. So, it is easy to tell if someone is really psychic. My friends often astral projected to each other's houses to visit with them.

At first, it is scary to deal with the supernatural.

My friends were Psychics of God. . . chosen by God to repeat Revelation (a warning in the bible not to attack Iraq). It was God's last-ditch effort to stop mankind from ending the world (but the warnings were not heeded).

President W. Bush had secretly restarted a CIA program that had been heavily funded by his father (Project MKULTRA. . . mind control and hard narcotics and ESP).

My friends (the Psychics of God) were freaked out by Project MKULTRA spying on them. At first they tried to push them away psychicly, but that didn't work. Of course it didn't work, because psychic energy can go any distance instantaneously and penetrate any substance (like a steel vault) and it can transcend time (hence predictions of the future). But, the group finally realized that they can push the psychic energy aside. They perceive it as a white cord of energy, with a head on it. They can merely shove it around in a circle, and the psychics get dizzy and nauseated and quit. This is what ultimately shut down Project MKULTRA.

The Central Intelligence Agency also changed the way they psychicly probed people. Instead of sending one psychic, they used a very powerful psychic to locate the target person, then sent several others along the same energy cord to probe for more information. They also used sensory deprivation chambers to block out distractions in the environment.

Some psychics who worked for the CIA were abused. David Moorehouse was one of the abused psychics, held against his will, and they demanded that he do certain things.

The CIA abused psychic's abilities and God was the source of their abilities. So, the CIA was tampering with God.

The Bush family (Prescott, his son George, and his grandson, W. Bush) were into Satanic ceremonies with the Skull and Bones people. Prescott had stolen the skeleton of the famous Indian, Geronimo. They didn't care about God's needs with psychics, they only cared about the raw power.

Surely, I thought, psychics, who have the ability to see the future, should have the common sense to see the future of the W. Bush administration. They should see the torture camps (as my friends did), and they should see inside the oval office, in private and secret meetings, using their psychic powers (as my friends did). The Psychics of God reported that the W. Bush administration was evil and Satanic, and their souls were not regular souls, but they were demons. The power of their evil souls was scary, even to experienced psychics.

 

[Balthazzar]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

I'm a Christian. I stand and honor truth first and foremost. I likewise honor Jesus as a teacher, rabbi, messenger, and fellow heir and sibling.. I am judged no less by Wiccan than I am atheist, hindu, Muslim, or Christians. My faith is personal to me. It's a personal, individualistic relationship. I'm also very much in agreement with Luciferian philosophy, and as a panentheist, which means God is all that ever was, is, and will ever be - hence the "en" included in pantheism. Pan = all theism = God and "en" accounts for what's yet to be.. therefore I'm both monotheistic and polytteistic, and like you I worship no God, but rather give credence where credence is due. Worship is another term for honor anyway. So I honor Jesus, life, and truth best I'm able, Jesus being my gate into the understanding of the way of life.

Truth and the spirit of - honesty

My religion led me to truth, and a will to keep things real.

 

[Sand Dancer]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

Yep, I wish I had been stronger and not given into fearmongering. So glad you found the religion that suits you. Everyone should have that choice.

 

[Truthseeker]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

It is not so much my religious beliefs that have benefitted me. What has benefitted me is living the teachings, when I do live the teachings. It also benefits me when I contemplate the teachings. It benefits me when I say a revealed prayer by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, or 'Abdu'l-Baha and I am receptive to the prayer, or God gives the grace that I benefit nonetheless. All of these are intertwined together, they are inseparable.

 

[Truthseeker]

I have a life worth living and a goal worth pursuing.

I can relate to that!

 

[Truthseeker]

I'm not sure any beliefs as such have helped me, but I am sure that the practice of religion has helped a lot.

This is the part I especially like.

 

[Truthseeker]

I don't consider myself wise but I understand that one has to learn it hard because if gained by others for free it simply can't be understood, it's useless.

If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?
(Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

 

[Truthseeker]

During the years I was a Christian, I always tried to reconcile my belief that "God is love" and that he loves me with the horrific reality of my being abused at home and constantly bullied in school while I was growing up. To add insult to injury, I was harshly criticized and shamed by other Christians whenever I expressed my doubts about God's love, mercy, justice, or plan for my life. I was told that I didn't have faith in God and it was a sin to ever question him. A pastor once told me that I was a cursed soul and it was clear to him that God hated me and was punishing me for the sins of my biological parents. I was born out of wedlock, and that was a terrible sin in God's eyes. This same pastor would stand behind his pulpit during the Sunday morning service and tell the congregation that God loved them unconditionally and sent his son to die for their sins.

No wonder you abandoned Christianity! What terrible people there were in your life at that time!

 

[Trailblazer]

If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?
(Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

So how do you interpret that Hidden Word? What do you think it means?

 

[sayak83]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

To not overcomplicate things....in 1993, when I was 10 years old, I had my first and utterly unforgettable transcendent encounter with a divine presence during which I became viscerally aware that human activity is about to pose a series of existential threats to earth's living ecosystems that may lead to catastrophic destruction of all human and complex lives over the next few centuries and I was encouraged to do what little I can to prevent such a future from becoming a reality. I was also assured that if I choose to commit myself 100% in this regard, certain mental, psychological and opportunity "gifts" will flow to me to aid this purpose as needed.
As a 10 year old in India, I was not remotely aware of any such things, but what I saw on that day convinced me utterly. Nothing about what I have learned after (be it the ongoing sixth mass extinction, or nuclear arms race or global climate change) has only ever confirmed to me about the reality of my experiences and visions. Today, as I am working as faculty in the first climate change department of India at a reputed institution and also as a founding member of the first school of sustainability science and technology in India, I am forced to say that the assurances of aid in terms of mental gifts and opportunities have always been honored whenever it was needed.

This is one way my religious experiences have helped to shape my life and life goals. I am skeptical by nature, being a person of science, but it is difficult to be skeptical when the reason for my choices and my gifts in science appear to be flowing directly from an encounter with a transcendent presence.

 

[firedragon]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

One thing I can say for sure. Religion has taken away my fear. Nothing can ruin me. Zilch. Being a good guy in real life is worth it.

 

[Messianic Israelite]

If you are religious, how have your religious beliefs benefited you?

If you aren't religious, then do you think that you're better off without having a religious belief in your life?

On the one hand, I believe that being a Christian was a terrible mistake on my part and I am much better off without it in my life. The pain and negativity I endured as a Christian finally led me to Wicca and then to polytheism, which has been a very positive experience for me. Since giving up my Christian faith and beginning to study Wicca, I have had a sincere sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in my life. In fact, I find studying Wiccan beliefs and the many gods and goddesses to be really interesting, and I've felt a sense of comfort and independence following Wicca too. I don't feel pressured to worship a specific god or goddess, nor do I feel pressured to uphold moral standards at all times in order to appease a vindictive and jealous god. I don't fear any gods or goddesses, nor do I feel in any way intimidated by them. My decision to renounce my Christian beliefs and follow Wicca has actually changed my life for the better.

Hi Sgt Pepper. Good afternoon. I'm reminded of a popular psalm, psalm 103 which talks about the benefits of belief in Yahweh. It says:

"Praise Yahweh, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise Yahweh, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Yahweh gave us the breath of life. He allowed us to use this wonderful planet He created, and has asked for so little in return. He has forgiven our sins through Yahshua the Messiah and given us the faithful promise of eternal life in His Kingdom should we keep His commandments. I think my positivity, regardless of what I have gone through in life, is down to my faith. There is so much value in life when one knows one is obeying the Bible exactly the same way our Savior did when He was on this earth. To know that we are pleasing the greatest Being this universe has ever known or will ever know - Yahweh.

As the Word says: "For great is Yahweh and most worthy of praise". I personally love to sing songs to Yahweh in my home. Almost every day I'm singing songs to Yahweh from hymns with the Sacred Names. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is certainly joy. But I'm also appreciative that Yahweh gave me His Holy Spirit at baptism.

There is much joy in knowing the truth and as Yahshua said, the truth will set you free (John 8:32).