Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I envy people who have Faith

772 replies

BlueBloodedBlue · 27/08/2022 20:38

I don't but it must be a real comfort to believe in a higher power and have something that gives a meaning to everything.

That's it really.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Theundertaker · 27/08/2022 20:45

I do too. The worst thing is I was brought up as a Christian ( c of e) but lost faith in my teens. So I no longer have the comfort of believing in heaven where I'll see loved ones after death, but somehow I've still got that feeling that something supernatural is watching me and ready to give me my comeuppance every time I think something a bit mean or selfish. It's the worst of both worlds.

Welshrarebitontoast · 27/08/2022 21:20

Yes, I have always thought this.

I think it must bring people comfort at very difficult times and I am envious of that.

SweetRuby · 27/08/2022 21:33

Yes I agree, I have had time without much faith ( a lot) and time with faith and honestly with faith is so much better. I can't explain it, faith bring an intense love that compares to nothing in this world. I have dealt with terrible situations in my life and yes having my faith helped me deal with it so much better. It had brought me a peace that compares to nothing else.

whatsthestory123 · 27/08/2022 21:38

ive always thought this to ut must be such a comfort at times

Annonnimoouse42 · 27/08/2022 21:44

I agree. Unfortunately I just can't get my brain to believe any of it

PolaDeVeboise · 27/08/2022 21:45

Great album - you're missing out. <gets coat>

Haggisfish3 · 27/08/2022 21:47

@Theundertaker me too!! I was head chorister and still love the ritual and music of shirty but have absolutely zero faith. I kind of wish I did.

Haggisfish3 · 27/08/2022 21:47

Church, not shirty! 🤣

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/08/2022 21:49

Me too - it must be very relaxing!

Unfortunately it all gets blocked in my bullshit filter.

adagio · 27/08/2022 21:52

look to find your own balance in life. I went to church every week for the first 16y of my life. Niw I never go. Now I look for the happiness under every rock, it didn’t define me but I do see your point on faith but the way I look at it you choose your outcome.

I’ve dealt with some shit, some happiness, but it’s what you make of it. Ultimately I am soooo happy to be alive, now, in my life :)

Trainfromredhill · 27/08/2022 21:54

I’m not sure I envy them so much as just wish faith and religion would work for me. I’d say I’ve only really lost my faith in the last few years (mid 40s). Was brought up strict Christian and have dabbled in and out (but mostly in ) for most of my adult life. But so much of it is a lie. It’s so much about living for the ever elusive carrot and being metaphorically beaten by a stick. I sat through a service a few years ago where the opening prayer encouraged the congregation to ‘reflect on the times this week where you haven’t lived as God would want you to, where you’ve disappointed him and let him down’. It’s basically a big guilt trip, mostly devised by men to control women. When you have a child out of wedlock and fear every time you go to check on your sleeping baby you’ll find them dead as a punishment for the extramarital sex you come to realise that the teaching is seriously flawed. But most Christian’s swallow it and look down their judgmental noses at you.

Dalaidramailama · 27/08/2022 22:04

I am very spiritual as opposed to religious and I feel sorry for people who do not believe in anything. But, it is what it is. Perhaps they’re right and I’m wrong? Who knows. I certainly don’t judge people for not believing in anything but I do think to myself it must be a hard way at times to live. My husband is a complete atheist and thinks I’m bat shit crazy lol 😂. Opposites attract as they say.

downwiththebees · 27/08/2022 22:06

Surely faith is a choice?

MummyInTheNecropolis · 27/08/2022 22:09

I do sometimes wonder if religious people have less stress in their lives. Eg with the cost of living worry we’re all going through, do religious people just assume it’ll be ok and god will protect them and see them through it all, rather than lie awake at night panicking about it? If so, I wish I had faith too.

grafittiartist · 27/08/2022 22:10

I regularly go to church- it's a habit and it's nice to have time to reflect and think. A calm point in my week. And I have often thought what you said- I am envious of those who believe and know that god is part of their life. What a comfort.
I do find my church family comforting though.

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 27/08/2022 22:17

See if you can find a Catholic church that is open during the day, and sit quietly in front of the tabernacle.The red sanctuary lamp burns night and day to remind us that Jesus is really present as a prisoner of love-longing and waiting for us to sit near Him, and feel His presence.It doesn't matter if you don't believe, He's real, He's there and He's waiting for you.

pointythings · 27/08/2022 22:18

I think it's more constructive to seek that peace in a place where you are comfortable. I am an atheist. I take enormous comfort from my belief that there isn't a God who wants things to be the way they are - it would be adding insult to injury if there were some great power happy to stand by seeing it all happen and do nothing to help.

As it stands, I believe that bad things happen and that we all have to do what we can to leave this world a bit better than we found it.

amicissimma · 27/08/2022 22:20

"I sat through a service a few years ago where the opening prayer encouraged the congregation to ‘reflect on the times this week where you haven’t lived as God would want you to, where you’ve disappointed him and let him down’. It’s basically a big guilt trip, mostly devised by men to control women."

But you've missed the bit that comes next, where, having reflected on those times, you hand them to God and He takes all those 'failures' away and, from that moment, you start again, as free from your mistakes and failures as you were the day you were born. Now you are free to enjoy being free and forgiven and try to live as you believe God wants you to. The point being that you don't need to feel any guilt once you've acknowledged it and repented because your past sin/failure is taken away.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be that easy and you let God, and yourself, down again so you repent and hand the junk over to God again and again. And start afresh over and over, in the hope (a belief-based hope) that it'll get easier (with His help if you believe).

That's the idea. I would have thought it would be pretty meaningless if you don't believe that Jesus died taking all our sin with Him. And even more meaningless if you don't believe that you sin or that there's a God to let down.

junebirthdaygirl · 27/08/2022 22:21

MummyInTheNecropolis · 27/08/2022 22:09

I do sometimes wonder if religious people have less stress in their lives. Eg with the cost of living worry we’re all going through, do religious people just assume it’ll be ok and god will protect them and see them through it all, rather than lie awake at night panicking about it? If so, I wish I had faith too.

I do have faith and l do find it a fantastic comfort at all times but especially when there is so much negative talk at the moment. I just make a decision to trust God and just go on. Found that at the beginning of Covid too as media full of panic l felt total peace.
This is not to say l have had a perfect life and have had lots of tough times but underneath it all was peace.
And l 100% would not look down on a single mom ..my own son and his ex had a baby quite young and there was not even once a moment of judgement, just support.

Showmethefood · 27/08/2022 22:24

I love my faith. But I find it hard when people insult it and say things like “imaginary friend in the sky etc”. It’s just so rude and uncalled for.

pointythings · 27/08/2022 22:29

@Showmethefood that is indeed very rude.

But what is also rude is the way church services seem to structurally have a mention of how miserable we poor atheists must be because we don't know God. My DDs went to a C of E primary (and yes, we were honest about our lack of faith) and we attended weddings, and it was a thing at every single one except the last one (and that was Roman Catholic). The utter lack of respect of the religious towards those of no faith is just as offensive as the 'sky fairy' tropes thrown the other way (something I would never do).

TheWayoftheLeaf · 27/08/2022 22:30

Yes I do too. Having something that makes you able to forgive yourself, to assign horrible things to a 'plan', to always feel loved.

I can see why people have faith. But I can't lie to myself and force it. I simply do not believe.

LimboLass · 27/08/2022 22:32

Yeah I agree. It was by far Georges best album.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 27/08/2022 22:32

And I was raised with a very strict prof best friend. I went to harvest weekends and Christian parties and Christian days out. A cofe primary.

I never believed though. And I never will because I think the church is very manipulative and anti-woman.

But the core of love i envy.

Foundinthedark · 27/08/2022 22:42

I grow up in Roman Catholic country the church destroyed us. I wasn't religious for long time but lots of things happen to me in my life and also paranormal that I do believe now. I do pray but not often sometimes I pop up to my favourite church in the town is actually CofE I do like evensong is so pleasant and not on Sunday :) -bad experiences. Although I am spiritists by heart and would go this way. At the moment that is enough for me I don't want to belong to any church organisation. There is something above .... But each of us need to find they way and is personal.