To have lost my belief in God

[seasideandvanilla]

I was always a believer. I grew up in a religious household and hated it but I always believed in God. I would pray in times of difficulty and attend church at varying times. I had a very difficult period in 2016 where I prayed a lot and it helped.

Experiencing similar difficulties now and I tried to pray and nothing. I just don’t believe.

I’m sure people who have never believed won’t see a problem but it feels odd and unsettling.

www.ex-christian.net/forum/3-rants-and-replies/

That’s a link to Rants and replies. Read the pinned threads.

I know what you mean about odd and unsettling OP. I had what I thought was an unshakable faith until last year.

My parents have always been very religious. My dad is a Church of Scotland minister and my mum was also a committed Christian. Seeing her last days and hours, seeing her scream and beg for mercy and seeing my dad on his knees begging god to have mercy on my mum and let her go absolutely broke me, and it killed any faith I ever had.

If he could allow someone who had committed their whole life to Him, to suffer the way she did, and my dad did, then he’s not the God I thought he was. Or he’s not there at all. I don’t know, but I have no faith any more. And it feels very odd, having been a huge part of my life for 35 years.

Hi there, I know exactly how you are feeling.
My family are all very religious. I have questioned things from being a teen but it's only been in the last few years that I have been able to accept that god isn't there.
I was always terrified of not believing because going to hell sounded terrifying.

My advice is to still read the bible and research, it helps to understand more and the more knowledge you have then the more comfortable you will be with whatever decision you eventually come to about god.

My advice is to still read the bible
The op does not have a belief in god, the last things she needs to do is read the bible. Have you ever tried it, its a horrible book!

Walkingdeadfangirl - yes I have and that is how I lost my faith completely.

I didn't want anyone to tell me what to think - atheists telling me well done, welcome to the real world and Christians telling me listen to this interpretation of how wonderful it is... I wanted to read and learn and come to my own conclusion about religion which is why I read the bible.

I would think of all the times you got great comfort from your religious belief and ask if you really want to let that go.

Could you pray for a while that you get your belief back?

FierceDragonMother forgive me if I am wrong but I sort of assumed that if you previously had faith then you would have already read and studied the Bible? Is that not the case?

I was thinking you were implying she should read it to try and regain her belief.

Walkingdeadfangirl - not at all, I was always told which parts of the bible to read growing up and it was interpreted by the church leaders.
It was very enlightening for me to read the pure text without anyone else influencing me.

I'm sorry that you're having a hard time OP
I would move this thread to Philosophy/religion though. There are some fabulous, knowledgeable, very experienced and genuine posters on there who've helped me a lot. Also you're more likely to avoid the 'sky fairy' thickos posters who have no clue about what it's like to have a faith and in your case to question it.
I really hope everything works out for you.