hello, old hippies !! i was raised a catholic...now i am questioning if that is the correct path i should be taking, because i really dont feel like i belong in that religion, it does not fulfill me and answer the questions i am looking for in life...but being raised a catholic it is really hard for me to come apart from that religion...what is their to do ? and i feel really weird like not belonging or almost as if i am commiting a sin from trying to leave catholicism ? what should i do become part of another religion, because i all i want is just become more spiritual, more in notion of what is going on around me ?? some friend that are wiccan suggest i should become a part...what do u think ?? thanks a lot beto_05
You should think for yourself. Wiccans are born not made. I would suggest that you follow your heart and not someone elses way. Do a little research in many areas of divinity and find the one that suits you and fulfills your personal needs. You don't 'get into' a belief system unless you are dedicated and have faith that it is right for you. You will know when something resonates with your frequency/vibration bc you will be in harmony with the vibe. It will feel right and fit you like a glove. You will seem familiar with it, like it's an old friend and welcome it home. Bright Blessings on your journey sh.
I'm not Catholic, but I do know that not all Catholics are the same. You may be able to find what you long for within your faith but with a different church or a group within a church. In some areas Catholics are very cold and formal, but that is not always the case. Try an internet search. This is the first link that popped up for me. I'm not endorsing this site as I don't know poop about it. It's just an example of a search result:http://www.spiritual-wholeness.org/ . I'm not telling you not to investigate other religions. I'm just recomending that you not abandon your religion and heritage without giving it a fair chance.
Religion is only a study of spirituality, not a truth. The only truth is within you. Climb a mountain, sit by a lake, jump in the ocean, stand on a busy street and god will find you. It's only when you quit looking that you find answers instead of questions.
I was a Catholic. I feel your pain!!! Your post elicits so many questions. What is your concept of a "correct path"? What is correct? Don't you mean 'paths'? You're considering doing that now, aren't you? In the immortal words of the Great Sage Yogi Berra, "When you come to a fork in the road...take it." What do you think would bring fulfillment and why do you require answers? Leaving one's religion is neither right or wrong. Just a choice. But do not abandon it. It is a part of you. Remember, it launched you on your spiritual quest and is your birth family's culture and tradition. No it isn't. Only fear makes it hard. If you feel weird then you don't belong. Sin? Venial or Mortal? If mortal, do you really think that ALL non-Catholics are condemned? If one "religion" didn't satisfy you do you think another will? If you want to become spiritual simply do it, or rather, BE IT! Open your heart. Learn and study all the world's belief systems and philosophies. Take the forks in the road. Be forewarned...pray you learn sooner than later that all your paths lead back to one thing...your heart. Paraphrased from my Beloved Brother Tenzin Gyatso ( The Dali Lama): "People from everywhere come to me and say, I want to be a Buddhist, I want to be a Buddhist. I ask them, why? Your beliefs do not teach you compassion and lovingkindness? They do. One need not be a Buddhist to know these things." Zen
okay you say i should stick to my religion right ? to not abandon it ?? then why did you leave it ?? as you said : I was a Catholic. I feel your pain!!!
Religion is a form of whoreship and exploits ppl to believing they cannot find spiritual awakening without the church as middle men between you and GOD/Creator. Figger out what it is you what to whoreship, if it seem right then check it out and let it flow. Religious cults seperate you from your ultimate souce of energy and you become sheep under their rule, which benefits them and not you. It is their job to capture your mind and make you believe that they somehow have direct contact with GOD/Creator and you must pay to seek their services to ask GOD to love/bless/forgive you?!? You do not hear of any churches going down with the rest of the economy. The Catholic church has more money then all the banks combined, which by the way are tax exempt. It is BIG biz'. Who controlls all that wealth, GOD? If GOD can create whatever GOD wishes, why would GOD need $$. Some say it is to feed and house the poor, if that were so there would be no homeless or starving ppl in the world, would there? Have you ever gone to the church for help, in need? Good Luck with that. As we pay our 'tides' for the needy are we really trying to buy our way to salvation? It sounds like it. The imformation that is released by the church is only what keeps you bound to them. In Christ's own words(if you believe in Christ) he say to get out of the church, that you will not find him there, but in the brick and mortor that the curch is built with and in the ground they stand on, and is said that the church is the whore riding the beast's back, the beast being the government. Most religious holidays/sacrament/festivals, ect, are based on Pagen beliiefs and rituals. If you do some research on the ancient beliefs you will see the similarity. At any rate it is interesting to trace it back to the beginning and try to fit it into todays thinking. In my intense study of many different religions and their doctrine.I have found some truth in all of them but not all of the truth in any of them. They leave you to decide for yourself in esscents. It's what resonates within your being that is right for you, as we each have our own lessons and paths we must follow to evolve to the next level of being in our own selves. It is what we learn about ourselves and what we can do to perfect ourselves and evolve. You dont have to go to church, you can if that suits your need. When I need to connect to my higher source, I go into myself my higher self that is in direct communication with my source of energy,which to me is my "GOD" which is unlimited/infinaty. You are free to believe what you think is right for you. Bright Blessings on your journey sh
You misunderstood. Read what I wrote again. I wrote "leave but don't abandon". Do you understand that concept? It's like this...I have studied most of the worlds' religions and philosophy. I will always carry the parts that touched me in my heart. I will always be a Catholic, a Jew, a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Hindu......... I believe in none of them but honor their teachings that benefits humanity. Zen
Formal organized religions and churches should always be viewed with some skepticism as they are constructs of man. I studied other religions some and was a practicing Buddhist for a time. However, I returned to the basic beliefs I learned as a youth in the church I grew up in. I'm not a regular church attendee, as I don't trust men, and it is men who control the churches and men are bound to fall due to their weaknesses. But by avoiding churches I deny myself the fellowship of many like minded believers, but that's the price I pay or being a skeptic. I believe there are churches where I could find Kindred spirits if I wasn't too lazy to try. I believe the basic Christian beliefs shared by most Christian churches but I have little use for the added on trappings. The words of Jesus are perfect. What man has done with them is not. Blame man.
f"""" everything im just becoming an atheist...to much chaos on this religion issue !!! lol...nahh just joking i really thank you all for all your help and answers to my question, but like someone wrote i have to follow my own heart....and i am creating and following my own beliefs and ideas now that i have put much thought to it and after reading some of your answers... thank you all
New Religion: 1. make a list of all the times in a three month period that you feel spiritually full and joyful. Write down why it was a wonderful experience. 2. Share the list of the internet (facebook is a good place, if you are already on it.) Ask for like minded folk to correspond. Be honest. Share your vulnerabilities, too. 3. Gather those who sound honest, interesting, and loving. Start meeting together once or twice a year in a strange town. Appreciate each other, trust each other. 4. Come up with a SHORT list of expectations of life. Promise to live by it. Share it carefully. 5. At a certain point, you will become discouraged by being laughed at, made fun of, questioned about your sanity, etc. That's good for you. New companions in life is good for you. A short set of 'doings' is good for you. 6. You are free! No silly rules about sex - it is part of life, to be enjoyed carefully and with abandon - and a particular concern, for no good reason, of the catholic church. No silly rules about 'who' you can meet with. No fear of 'afterlife' because we have one shot and it should be fun. Repeat, by then you'll be free! No more religion - just meeting with like minded folk who love you and you can love. 7. Repeat the whole list over again after two or three year, and you'll grow spiritually without the silly prop of a 'religion' to hinder you. Freedom and spirituality grow, you set your own way of life, you have friends, you can feel yourself growing - and I'm only in my thirties. But it has been a wonderful nine years. No enemies, a few true friends, a couple trips a year and growth. Be blessed by lifeforce - we need no other!:hurray::hurray:
