What do you do when you're losing faith in God?

[Valjean]

Why would loosing faith necessitate doing anything?

I've heard that alcohol is a potent remedy to shut off higher thinking abilities.

But what if it's the higher thinking abilities that are causing the loss of faith?

 

[Heyo]

But what if it's the higher thinking abilities that are causing the loss of faith?

I'm pretty sure they are.
So, when you fear the loss of your faith, you'll need to shut up those sceptical thoughts. Alcohol can help with that (so I'm told).

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

I never thought I'd ask this question, but here it comes.

During the spiritual life questions will often come up which cause us to question things. I don't think you can take your faith or lack thereof very seriously without questioning. The idea that once you have faith everything is just hunky doory doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Questions , even ones like "does God even exist?" , will refine your beliefs. Maybe you walk away from all faith or maybe you embrace something new. Some people just double down on what they found comfortable in the past in the hopes that ratcheting your prayers to screaming volume will somehow drown out all your doubts.

The truth is that journey brings people to vastly different points. You don't know what will come up and sometimes periods of doubt can strengthen your faith tremendously. Other times you will abandon your faith and find something new. Don't knock it , it can be really helpful.

Ultimately no matter what you come out believing on the other side you gotta make peace with some questions to be able to live your life. You gotta be comfortable with things like theodicy and where you really fall on the faith scale. Sometimes when we really examine ourselves we'll find that we are trying to live a comfortable lie than embrace difficult truths.

It's also important to remember that some questions might not be worth dwelling upon. Think about the Buddha's unanswered questions. Things like is the world eternal or not don't help you in your practice. Certain questions are there just to be questions and serve no real purpose. You won't find any peace in answering them.

Let the questions exist, ruminate on them if you think you must but ultimately just be prepared for whatever answer comes to you. Remember that there is no real endpoint to this journey and whatever answer you come to might not be the perpetual answer. You might change your mind in the next year, month or even day.

Let the question be there , let your doubt be there and eventually you'll come to a point you are comfortable with even if it's only for a time. Just don't cling to whatever answer pops up.

 

[ajay0]

I like this and that's always been my philosophy as well. One cannot be completely reliant on God. However, if things aren't going your way how do you know if you are not having enough purushartha or if this is just not the direction God wants you to go?

Intuition plays a role in this regard, that is in understanding the cosmic design or the whole, and in acting accordingly. Both saints and scientists have acknowledged the role of intuition in their work.

Intuition arises in a pure state of consciousness or mind which is not agitated by desires. All spiritual exercises such as prayer, meditation, love and compassion, selfless service, virtuous conduct aid in purifcation of consciousness which makes intuition possible.

Purity of heart emphasized in most religions means purity of consciousness.

The biblical expression, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” , actually emphasizes intuitive illumination brought about by a purified consciousness.

Intuition is a tool anyone can possess provided they put in the proper spiritual efforts.

Mahatma Gandhi have mentioned about intuition or the 'inner voice' in these sayings of his...

The Inner Voice | Mind of Mahatma Gandhi

There come to us moments in life when about some things we need no proof from without. A little voice within us tells us, 'You are on the right track, move neither to your left nor right, but keep to the straight and narrow way.

There are moments in your life when you must act, even though you cannot carry your best friends with you. The 'still small voice' within you must always be the final arbiter when there is a conflict of duty.

Having made a ceaseless effort to attain self-purification, I have developed some little capacity to hear correctly and clearly the 'still small voice within'. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

 

[Aupmanyav]

What did you do when you were losing faith in God? (Title Modified according to my needs)

When I was loosing faith in God (some 30 years ago), I asked myself in what way I can sustain my faith in God? But to sustain faith, one needs evidence, of which there was none. None for God, soul, heaven, hell, rebirth. None for why there is evil and disease. None for natural calamties. None for God extending a hand to people in trouble. So, in the end, I had to abandon belief in God.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I never thought I'd ask this question, but here it comes.

Simple.

Do it until you can't do it anymore.

 

[PearlSeeker]

One cannot be completely reliant on God. However, if things aren't going your way how do you know if you are not having enough purushartha or if this is just not the direction God wants you to go?

Wisdom.

God, grant me
the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
(Serenity Prayer)​

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do not think God gives wisdom for asking.

 

[PearlSeeker]

I do not think God gives wisdom for asking.

Nevertheless, we all need these virtues.

 

[Kenny]

I never thought I'd ask this question, but here it comes.

It isn't a cookie cutter answer.

In the Christian viewpoint it could be one or more of these answers:

1. Go back to your first love
2. Check to see if there are things (Bible calls it rocks and weeds) that are chipping away at your faith (Mark 4)
   
3. See if you stopped reading, meditating, saying and doing God's word
4. Stopped praying.

Probably other things but we would start there.

Hope you get it back!