What does Christianity bring you?

[1newname]

I'm going through a bit of a hard time and when this happens I start to question what the point of it all is. I always feel like there's some deeper meaning missing from my life. I quite like the idea of being a Christian but can't get past the not believing in God! What does Christianity bring you? Thanks

I'm an atheist so does nothing for me personally but I can see the comfort it brings others.

There are probably many theories out there and ways of living, Buddhism for example, that may interest you.

It's not really like joining the brownies, it's a relationship with God not a religion. Pray to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to come in and guide you. I'll pray for you too.

I hate organised religion. I sometimes go to a Spiritualist church as I find it comforting. I live by my own rules and morals and believe there is so much to this universe than we know.

If you want a sense of community, try volunteering?

Trusting that I have been made in the image of God, that I am known intimately and loved completely by Him gives me a huge sense of value and worth. Knowing the same about those around me inspires me to treat others with the same value.

I have experienced both physical and emotional healing, and seen others healed too.

I am sorry that you are going through a hard time. The bible doesn't promise us a life free of hardship, but it is full of hope for those times.

I’m Catholic. Attend mass in Latin.

It brings me peace of mind - I know there is something more than this life here.
It brings me beauty. There are many beautiful Catholic Church’s, beautiful art, the Latin Mass is very beautiful. Especially with a choir.
It brings me mental health help. Going to confession is so good for your mental health. As is praying the rosary.
It beings me community and supportive friends/priest.
It brings me rules that I hope help me to be a better, kinder person. That gives me a guide to live my life with.
Somtimes it is very difficult. Being a Catholic is very counter cultural and requires some sacrifices- no contraception, no Sunday lie in! And has lead to difficulties in my personal life.
However I have quite a few direct experience of directly prayers being answered - but never in the way I would expect!

there are different ways you could go about it.

I think trying to understand the existence of a Divine Being without any religous connection is a good first step. that way you won't be distracted by ritual, or other humans or mythology. a very simple way to start off is in your mind sincerely pray for guidance to find the truth. give yourself some time and space to find answers and be open.

you can also try to experience religion/spirituality. go to church services, I reccommend something like a methodist church which is very pared back. you can also try to experience other religions. maybe visit the golden temple in amritsar (or a local gurdwara), visit sufi shrines (plenty in Turkey, there is only one in uk) and mosques, synagogues, Buddhist monasteries etc.

listening to spiritual music from different religions and reading religous texts are also good options.

disclaimer I am not a Christian (I am a religous sufi muslim) but know many pious Christians who gain perspective, peace and joy from their faith. for me, faith brings me serenity, a sense of deep connection to both creation and the Creator, contentment and purpose. it is a long journey and I am still learning every day. I started off in the ways I described above.

Reassurance - whatever else goes wrong, God is always there

Fellowship and community - a whole extra family of friends who are supportive and encouraging

Unconditional love - there is nothing I can do to make God love me any more, or make him love me any less

Singing! Great physically and mentally

Keeps my brain ticking - lots to study and consider if you are into that

Greater appreciation of creation - sheer joy at the world

Also criticism!
Faith is a hard thing to explain as it's believing in something without being able to prove it to anyone. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it's real - I feel, see and hear God in all manner of ways

I am so sorry for your loss.

I have all of those but as an atheist. You don’t need the crook of a religion or faith to have a happy life.

I was raised devoutly Catholic, but lapsed as many people do in my late teens. I have been to mass a handful of times since then, it sort of ebbs and flows. I’m lapsed at the moment.

I still have a ‘relationship’ with Jesus but not sure how I feel about God any more. I believe Jesus existed, I believe in the things he believed in, but I can’t really comprehend God as the creator of the world. I feel like Jesus understands our earthly struggles. I also know they’re the same person so this makes no sense! I suppose it’s a sense of calm and proportionality. Seeing things the way he would see them, rather than being trapped in my own head.

Lots of chocolate and flickering lights in December marketing frenzy, lots of chocolate and pretty floral arrangements with bunnies in Spring marketing frenzy. I quite like it.

Faith and hope. A sense of community. Knowing that our time on earth is relatively very short compared with eternity in heaven, which is a comfort when life here is horrible.

"I am so sorry for your loss."

He's still here! Thanks to science.

I didn't say you do. OP asked a question. That's my answer. Would I have all of that without religion ? I don't know. But my MH is much better when I'm attending church regularly. So I'll continue to do so.

The Book of Job is in part a mediation on that - God being something immeasurably bigger than any created thing, outside time. It is shaped around a traditional story where bad things happen to a good man (Job), and God rewards his virtue by undoing them - utterly absurdly - his thee children die, and he gets given three more as though that would make anything 'all right'.

His greatest torment, even after losing his home and his family and his wealth, is his friends, who 'comfort' him with inane comments such as that illness and suffering is punishment for sin. The writer of the book clearly takes a dim view of that - though some of the other prophetic books contain just such platitudes. The Bible is full of ongoing debates and explorations and philosophical differences, and full of accounts of god telling people what to do and people saying oh, great, that's nice, thanks god, and then proceeding to do whatever they want.

God, whatever he/she/it is, isn't a manager or a product engineer. The universe is huge and complex. It's up to us to not make things worse.

Sympathy to you and your son for what you have been through.

It’s not about what Christianity can do for you, but to follow Jesus is about loving God and serving others. Ironically when you turn your heart and life to serve others, even your enemies (as hard as that is), you spend less think time thinking about your own worries and you see how blessed we are. This is a gift for mental health.

Unfortunately many of the mainstream expressions of Christian churches are hierarchical with those who are male, pale, stale, painfully introvert and posh being largely represented at the top. That is problematic for many reasons so I would suggest you ‘shop around’ for the right church and denomination.

But enjoy the journey! Once you open the door to God, amazing things start to happen.

This had me laughing out loud. I’d add that I can make a mean quiche now.

in all seriousness it brings me a deep sense of calm and peace. A purpose and a meaning to my life.

if you’re interested it might be worth doing the Alpha course. They are totally up for all sorts of tricky questions and won’t pressure you at all.

Best wishes (or prayers if you’ll have them) for your challenging times

I did the training to run an alpha course. It even tells you what meals to offer.
It's a bit culty I thought.
I was married to a vicar for many years. I'm very happy not to be anymore.

"God, whatever he/she/it is, isn't a manager or a product engineer. The universe is huge and complex. It's up to us to not make things worse."

God didn't make anything, including us. Has no control or chooses to exert no control over anything. Never intervenes. There are no miracles.

Remind me why we should 'worship' God as the Bible repeatedly commands us to?

BTW - love how you get round the horrors of the book of Job as just being basically a rather entertaining story.

Comfort, understanding, patience, compassion, routine, a purpose. All the things I craved when my beloved gran died and which I didn’t get from family.
I can PM you OP because MN is not always the place to discuss this. Very anti religion here I often see.

Rootedness and education in a particular religious tradition (thank you Mrs Benton of Sunday School).

A childhood of Sunday School and Bible Club experiences that gave me a sense of belonging

A doorway into a spiritual paths beyond Christianity

Some guilt and shame too.

Peace. Comfort. Resilience. Community. Purpose. Strength. Joy. But most of all, the "peace that surpasses all understanding" coming from the God who tells me to "be not afraid" 365 times in the Bible.

The book of Job is an allegory. Among the books of the Bible are histories, biographies, law books, genealogies, love song lyrics, poetry, biographies, proverbs, prophecy and letters. It contains allusion, foreshadowing, allegory, imagery and metaphor, among other literary devices. The point of Job is not that bad things happened to Job, it is that despite bad things happening that there is always hope.

@izimbra so sorry you are going through that with your son

There are so many things we don't understand. I don't believe God makes people do bad or good things - we all have freedom of choice, but I do think the way humans have polluted the world causes a lot of issues (health, famine, natural disasters) and the way some communities do not seem to look after each other as much can bring misery

Even if people only followed Jesus' command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' and nothing else, the world would be a better place

I have had experience with miracles - they do still happen, but not every prayer is answered in the way or time people want

I have known people cured physically, and that's amazing. Also though I've known people who have still died, but been healed emotionally first - maybe with reconciliation or support and then passed with peace and comfort

I can only answer with what it gives me and appreciate that will be different for everyone