What is it like to have faith in god?

[naomi24]

One for the religious among us.

[naomi24]

Thank you Theland. I accept them with pleasure. Sniffffff - lovely!!

[Theland]

Naomi - From what I have learned:-

Faith is given by God. It is a gift. It is given to those who seriously search for God, not simply to those who examine the concept og God out of idle curiosity.

My answers to both wizard and chakka35 are relevant here.

Faith is not blind, but neither is it based on purely objective evidence. Being a gift from God, it is based not only on our experiences of the wonders of creation, but on Gods' revelation in His written word, and on a subjective knowledge that is given by the Holy Spirit.

Faith can only be realised by living it, and from this follows what is best described by the title to a hymn, "Blessed Assurance."

This assurance is an inner knowlege of the reality of God.

This makes it difficult to articulate in the spoken or written word, as it cannot be entirely objectified for casual examination.

Even Jesus Christ spoke in parables, telling us what the Kingdom of Heaven was, "like," because language simply breaks down when trying to accurately describe a living faith in the one true living God.

[naomi24]

Theland, now I am not arguing here, simply asking a question. I do completely understand your description of an inner knowledge of god, but why do you find that in one particular branch of christianity? Tell me more.

[Theland]

Naomi - A Christian is part of, "The Body Of Christ." Christ is its Head, and we are the parts of the body, all with different roles and rsponsibilities. That is where the diversity in Christianity comes from.
However, despite this diversity, all Christians subscribe to the authority of Christ as revealed in the Bible.

[wizard69]

where the f*ck are my cyber roses then?
I tell the world about you and not even a mention of chocs or anything...Im so dissapointed in you Theland

[Theland]

Wizard - The case of cyber lager and cyber cigar should have been there by now. Are you sure Mrs Wiz isn't slugging them back in the kitchen, in a cloud of cigar smoke?

[wizard69]

ah! found them now Theland.
thank you.
Behind the fridge they were.

[naomi24]

Theland, I know you became Christian after seeing the Exorcist and talking to a Born Again Christian, and I presume that's why you became a Born Again Christian. Had that person been, say Roman Catholic, or Anglican, would you still have been drawn towards Christianity even though it was through a different church, or did you find that only the Born Agains offered what you were seeking?

Wonder where the other Christians are? It would be good to get their views too.

[Theland]

Naomi - I couldn't understand, when I went to church, why the teacings were so obscure. It seemed to me that they were picking and choosing which bits of the Christian message to teach.
By just allowing the Bible to speak for itself, adding nothing to it, and taking nothing away, leaves a very simple Christian message, with no complications. Born again Christianity.

[naomi24]

So does that mean you couldn't have found what you looking for in any other church?

[naomi24]

Sorry - should have been 'what you were looking for'.

[Theland]

That's right. That's not to say there are not Christians in other churches. Obviously there are. But each individual has to go and stay in the place where their consciences lead them to be.
That is why, I suppose, I have been called a bigot regarding Roman Catholics. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love Roman Catholics, but reject the teachings of their magisterium. There is a huge difference.

[naomi24]

Thank you Theland. I do have a lot of 'buts' and a lot I could question, but I won't go into that here because this is your space.

What impact has all this had on your life? Has it changed your life substantially, and if so, in what way? I know you said you suffered from depression last year - and I've been down that road so I know what it's like - so did your faith help?

[Theland]

Naomi - Yes, my faith certainly helped, but I would be a liar if I said I was cured through my faith. I am better, but not cured, alas.
My life has indeed changed substantially. I no longer drink as I used to, nowadays I take a moderate drink about once a month. I'm not teetotal, but have a drink when everything else is in place. ie time, place, people. Sometimes people ask me to tell a lie, a "little white lie," and sorry, no can do. I wouldn't buy anything that, "fell off the back of a wagon," as I used to, and honesty is a way of life for me. That's quite a thing, as I don't think I was ever a naturally honest person. Sad but true. God only knows what my wife ever saw in me. I guess she has no taste!

[Theland]

Naomi - I'm sorry to learn that you also have been a victim of depression. It's horrible. My heart bleeds when I read some of the posts, particularly in B & S, and I often feel so impotent when I read their cries for help.
If you, or anybody else, want to e mail me, then do so, at my "throwaway" e mail address, and I will get back to you with my proper e mail address.
My " throwaway" is:-
[email protected]

[luna-tic]

Hello Theland. Does your belief act as a sort of release valve knowing it is there and the community of others are there to be of comfort to you in your moments of need, especially when things have got dark for you in the past?
I'm off the medication now (although I'm sure others would disagree) but seriously, my life has turned around but there are always those really vacant days that seem to engulf even my most happiest moods.
I think I'll take naomi's stance and say, "Sod It", only trouble is sometimes the blighters of bleak say, Sod It ! back.

[naomi24]

Hello Theland and Luna, Although I've always had friends, deep inside I'm a loner so have always felt 'different'. I had three nervous breakdowns and took medication for years, but one day decided the only person who could help me was me, so I ditched the medicine and decided to say 'sod it' - and mean it. When Luna's 'Blighters of Bleak' raise their heads, I know I can't change them so I feel sorry for them for being the way they are. I don't agree with counselling - it prolongs the problem by encouraging sufferers to concentrate on their misery. Medication helps when you're seeing the world through the wrong end of a telescope, when your hair feels like it's standing on end, when you're whole being is weak and sick, and when everything around you looks like a film in which you have no part, but the way I fought it was to muster up my inner strength and my inner calm and spirituality, and try to appreciate how fortunate I really was. It's not easy to do, but you have to make yourself. I still have my moments, but I know I can't resolve problems from the past - they're gone.

Incidentally, back to feeling different. I went to a school reunion and one girl said "I always admired you so much because you were different to anyone else, and I always wanted to be you." Me? Why would anyone want to be me? I was astonished - I had no idea - but it shows that the world doesn't see you as you see yourself, so there's hope for us all!!

Keep getting better won't you - and keep strong. Don't let anyone get you down, because people generally just aren't worth it!! xx

[naomi24]

Sorry Guys, I realised I waffled a bit there trying to explain how I got better in the hope it would help you.

Theland, was drink your main problem?

I would tell a white lie if it meant the difference between hurting someone's feelings or not. I don't have a problem with that. What about you Luna?

I meant to say thanks for the email address Theland, but I won't use it - you don't need other people's problems - and apart from that, I'm fine. I'm stronger these days and continue to prop everyone else up as I've always done, although like Luna, I do get 'vacant' days, so I know exactly what he means and that's a perfect description.

One more thing that occurs to me. Does your religion worry you in as much as you struggle sometimes not to do anything to go against it?

[luna-tic]

naomi,
Thank you for your kind words.I consider my self a spiritual person and although I may not be able to explain away to all, exactly what that means, I find comfort in the simplest of things: Enjoying nature. The warmth found from being with family and friends.
I have always had what I can only call a quirky sense of humour, slightly off the wall and have used that sometimes in the past as a release mechanism for the dark moments when they creep up on you.
I find stillness in writing self-expression pieces. All these things help toward healing.
Once again, thank you for your forthrightness in expressing yourself and kind support.
As far as telling white lies, well I'm cr@p at telling lies anyway( I don't make a habit of it). To be diplomatic and sensitive to someone's plight ,yes I would.
Oh yes, I don't mind waffle.

[naomi24]

Luna, I find comfort in all those things too, and my sense of humour has been invaluable to me in dark times. Always seem to manage to put a wonky slant on things! Maybe that's why you and I get on so well.