I think I know why I can't find the right religion for myself.

[Twilight Hue]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Maybe its the path that's important, not the religion. I find that religions are waypoints that come and go.

 

[Kemosloby]

I'm guessing they don't have any that says you're God?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Not correct. Many Hindus may say so and Sikhs also should say. Because they believe in non-duality (Advaita). Now, non-duality may be of two kinds 1. With God (which makes one God) 2. Without God (which makes me the substance by which the whole universe is constituted but not a God. Something like physical energy). There are many shades of 'non-duality with God'. That, one will know after studying the various Hindu philosophies.

 

[SabahTheLoner]

You don't have to be religious to believe in something. Of course, having a religious label helps a bit, even if you don't use it often.

If you're still seeking, it seems like not all of your options. You can always mix traditions; if you've read the Life of Pi, Piscine has had the experience of being a Christian and Muslim while holding on to his Hindu traditions. It's an interesting book that talks about many things, including religion.

It also seems that you haven't traveled on any left-hand path religions yet... if you're interested, you're always welcome to ask questions and explore it yourself, but that is a choice I won't force on you.

Don't be afraid to do your research (sometimes it helps to go over everything again!) and find concepts or beliefs that you resonate with. That's how I found my path.

Best of luck, Pear.

 

[Pear]

You don't have to be religious to believe in something. Of course, having a religious label helps a bit, even if you don't use it often.

If you're still seeking, it seems like not all of your options. You can always mix traditions; if you've read the Life of Pi, Piscine has had the experience of being a Christian and Muslim while holding on to his Hindu traditions. It's an interesting book that talks about many things, including religion.

It also seems that you haven't traveled on any left-hand path religions yet... if you're interested, you're always welcome to ask questions and explore it yourself, but that is a choice I won't force on you.

Don't be afraid to do your research (sometimes it helps to go over everything again!) and find concepts or beliefs that you resonate with. That's how I found my path.

Best of luck, Pear.

Thanks Sabah. Very helpful. I will look into left-hand religions. Also, what does "Soft" mean in your descriptor thing? You've been super helpful in this journey, I thank you a lot.

 

[SabahTheLoner]

Thanks Sabah. Very helpful. I will look into left-hand religions. Also, what does "Soft" mean in your descriptor thing? You've been super helpful in this journey, I thank you a lot.

Thanks. A soft polytheist believes that there are multiple gods and they exist as part of the person and/or the natural world. Similarly, a hard polytheist believes that there are multiple gods literally existing as their own person.

I acknowledge many gods to be energies in nature and as parts of myself, and I think they exist in many places of the world and within myself, because they are natural beings that cause things like weather, life, movement and even more things explained and unexplained. So I describe myself as a soft polytheist because I've never experienced the world where a god would be impossible, but I never really got the impression a god is anything but energy and life. And I believe in multiple gods existing this way because it seems like a big job for one guy to keep the world going. It makes more sense to divide the work between different parts of a system as big as the universe.

 

[David1967]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

It sounds to me like you already believe in a higher power, your just not sure of the identity of said deity. Am I wrong?

 

[RedDragon94]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Ever tried this quiz?

Ever wondered what religion you are? Take our religion test to find out.

 

[Pear]

It sounds to me like you already believe in a higher power, your just not sure of the identity of said deity. Am I wrong?

yep

 

[David1967]

yep

"Yep", I'm wrong, or "Yep", you do already believe in a higher power? Just to clarify.

 

[Pear]

"Yep", I'm wrong, or "Yep", you do already believe in a higher power? Just to clarify.

Sorry "Yep meaning I believe in a higher power"

 

[Baroodi]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[Baroodi]

God set examples for us in this life pointing towards him. some times we search for things allover the place although it is in front of you1! but if you ask some one about it he/she will yell: here it is, are you blind not to see it? hierarchy is fundamental in our life as humans a worker, a foreman, a manager, a supervisor, a chairman. A God to chairman the universe is a necessary.

 

[arthra]

But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Baha'is accept the Founders of the great religions Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad... To be a Baha'i means we accept them all... We also accept the Bab and Baha'u'llah as Manifestations for today ..with guidance for this world to establish world peace and recognize the oneness of humanity. The closest we can come to God is through His Messengers.

 

[Unsure&lost82]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[Unsure&lost82]

I am someone who tries different religions like how other people try on different shoes or clothes. I think I have always wanted to feel not only apart of something, but believe in something... higher than myself. I'm not sure where I want to go, what I want to do. But I do know one thing. I do want to believe in a higher power, but I don't know who/what to believe in. Nothing has resonated with me. I was born into a Methodist family, and I had gone to church for a while. Then my family stopped going to church as I was growing older and our schedule was getting busier. Around age 12, I started to investigate different religions. First I started with Islam, then Buddhism, then Shinto, then Hinduism, then Wicca, then Asatru, then I "made" a religion, then Mormons, and now, I am back where I started. Lost, confused, and helpless. I don't really know what to do. But I have looked, looked, and looked. I am tempted to be Christian, but also tempted to be my own religion, but also tempted to be Buddhist etc etc. But if there is one thing I do know, is that I need help finding my path and finding a higher being who I really believe in. Not just "I believe in blah blah blah" because I want to feel like I believe in something higher than myself, but I want to say "I believe in blah blah blah" because I do believe in a higher power. I just felt I needed to share this with you guys. Anything relating to the subject helps a ton. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I feel the same. With the difference being I accept Christ. But I feel like such an outcast. I was raised in the CoC. But I stopped going because after I was baptized they sat me down and told me that who ever wasn't CoC was doomed to hell. Well, on that note I was finished. Now I feel like I'm floating and lost and have no where to go. I can't accept a different religion for me personally, nor do I want to because I believe what I believe. Good luck on your search.

 

[DanishCrow]

I think it was always the will of the gods for us to be our own form of the religion. Organization leads to legalism, and legalism leads to confusion and wrong actions.

Perhaps it would be good for you to research syncretic or universalist patterns. I am a norse pagan, but also believe in the peruvian way of spirit-talking and find great inspiration in the stories of christ and the saints. Whatever is in your heart, there is your religion, and if you believe in something greater than yourself already, you can't really go wrong in a strictly religious sense of the term.

Best of luck!

 

[Mock Turtle]

For me, it is often insecurity that drives the need for such a belief. If one becomes secure as an individual, as in a proper self-belief, then a search for some 'higher power' might just evaporate. The search even contributing to the insecurity. Apart from having some espoused doctrine associated with any particular religious belief, and which will no doubt vary between the different beliefs, what exactly are we gaining by having such a belief? In real life I mean, when just being a decent person with a fulfilling life is usually the key to contentment in life - and a bit obvious. Just my opinion. I can understand the desire to 'know' in some way any divine source of creation, but basically it is all just speculation unless one truly believes the texts from long ago - which I certainly do not.

I'm not a great fan of doubt either, but I can live with it.