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Original poster

Safe haven chat thread for believers

423 replies

Starwisher · 04/04/2012 23:45

I thought it be lovely to start a" safe haven"thread for all the believers on mumsnet. It doesn't matter what religion or spirituality you are, the important thing is a belief in God or higher power that unites us.

The idea is too talk with other believers to share ideas, thoughts and feelings or even general musings.
So come in and relax!

please can I respectfully ask that this is not a debating thread to challenge people. While I am not the mn police, there are other threads to debate on or please start your own. This is a safe haven

OP posts:
mybabyweightiseightyearsold · 05/04/2012 20:24

Prayers answered:

a very good friend of mine has leukaemia. The nasty old kind that kills you in a fortnight. When I heard, I headed to the cathedral and lit candles and prayed hard. I asked that she'd get more time here, her daughter was only two, and would have no memories of her mum. She's plodding along, two years later. Not well, but, not dead, and, those are two very precious years with her daughter.

And, guess what? She's started going to church. I don't think that being a Christian gives you an easy life, but I do think that it helps you to cope with the crappola life throws your way.

There are other things, but that's the one I think of. People all over the world have prayed for my friend's health. And, there's no earthly explanation as to why she's here. Thanks, Jesus. He's a smasher.

SophieNeveau · 05/04/2012 20:30

I am sure I read somewhere that in studies there is a larger proportion of people that recover when ill, if they are prayed for over those not prayed for.

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 20:51

" I don't think that being a Christian gives you an easy life, but I do think that it helps you to cope with the crappola life throws your way"

Absolutely. When I was an atheist I turned to drugs, drinks, one night stands and just about any self destructive behaviour. I was my own worse enemy. It's a cliche but something was just missing.

Now, life has been one test after anther these past 5 years or so but when I feel despair I know turning to God brings an immense amount of strenght I didn't think possible.

I don't think God waves a magic wand and fixes everything, but he gives you the "peace the surpasses all understanding" and a huge sense of optimism

OP posts:
Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 20:52

Monster of course your welcome on the thread. Feel free to talk away!

OP posts:
MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 20:57

Sorry for the delay, was exercising :)
What interests me in paganism is the connection to Earth and nature. I feel I can understand the logic IYKWIM. I have never really thought of this question so my answer may not make sense.
I believe in higher beings and am certain their is more than 'just' this.
I was brought up as a Unitarian and went to Sunday school etc so do struggle as to what to believe as I find God makes sense to me too.
In a nut shell, I can understand the logic of paganism more than Christianity, but I feel God around me very strongly and have had prayers answered and feel as though he listens to me, I do not have this feeling wrt Paganism though.
It is logic versus faith for me. Confused

Thanks for getting me to write that out! It cleared a few feelings up even if it may make no sense to anyone else Blush

fussbucket · 05/04/2012 21:04

Although I am happy with the Anglican church I worship at, I often feel closest to God when I am out and about in beautiful places, is this anything like your feelings Monster?

hiddenhome · 05/04/2012 21:05

What is paganism then? Is God not present in nature?

MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 21:15

Fussbucket yes I guess you are right, I feel at ease near nature, I tried to find a church but I am not very good socially. I do not live near my old church.
Hiddenhome I see your point. I am relatively new to paganism so do not feel confident to write down what paganism is as I am sure to say it wrong :)

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 21:16

Fussbucket

Me too! I am very, very fortunate to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty and it does my soul a world of good

I feel so relaxed and in awe of how beautiful everything is. I'm very happy we moved here.

OP posts:
MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 21:31

I think if I really look into it, it is just as logical that God created nature as the Goddess

I think due to me feeling God's presence and nothing from the pagan side I really should re evaluate my beliefs.
Sorry to witter on and sorry that I am coming across as a bit silly Blush

fussbucket · 05/04/2012 21:33

Paganism is a very loose grouping of ideas about the spirituality of nature, pagans range from slightly dippy hippy types, via white witches, through to some frankly scary nutters. We get a lot around here, due to the large number of prehistoric sites. I'm quite good friends with some of the slightly dippy hippies, but the witches are a bit self-deluded and the frankly scary nutters are best avoided, their worship of nature seems to be heavily based on consuming certain products of nature, notably magic mushrooms and high strength cannabis.

MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 21:35

Oh well I certainly was not the scary nutter type, I just liked the nature part. Grin

MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 21:37

Buggar, I just realised how that looks, Nature as in the woods, flowers etc not drugs Grin
I am going to be exhausted after this thread Grin

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 21:39

You don't come across as silly

I believe people are drawn to nature wether countryside, coastal lines or sunsets because we feel closer too God

OP posts:
MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 21:40

That is a lovely belief.
I love it when the sunset catches my eye and is literally breathtaking!

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 21:54

It's a bit sad but one of my favourite things to do us drive up into the hills and watch the sunset while some relaxing classical music plays.

The sunset is normally faded to array of muted blues and pinks but it is one of the most serene experiences. It makes me feel very peaceful and almost "clean" inside. I can't quite describe what I mean...

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 05/04/2012 21:57

I always feel close to God when I'm at the coast. I associate the sea with God, I don't know why.

fussbucket · 05/04/2012 21:59

After my father died, I was very aware of him being still present in the places he loved, and then one day I was filled with joy and heard a voice telling me not to be sad as I would see him again one day. Very prosiacally, I was cleaning my teeth at the time! I am absolutely certain the voice was God.
I have never heard the voice again, but I get the feeling in certain places and situations, notably when I was confirmed at Salisbury Cathedral, and I know Jesus is with me and with all of us. He's around all the time of course, but sometimes he's nearer than others IYSWIM.

SophieNeveau · 05/04/2012 22:00

The sky is my WOW nature, day and night, rainbows, clouds, sun setting/ rising, pink sky, blue sky, grey sky, stars and moon, it is ever changing and so very beautiful, what a lovely creation.

tralalala · 05/04/2012 22:00

Hello i am a hard core atheist but think this thread is a wonderful idea, it's good to have somewhere to talk about something you love without being attacked (as can happen). Hope this goes well Smile.

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 22:02

Thanks tralala :)

OP posts:
MrsMcCave · 05/04/2012 22:02

sorry for my part in hijacking your thread, hiddenhome. Blush It's so long since I've been on mumsnet that I've lost my ability to ignore the deliberately provocative comments. Can we get a 'turning the other cheek' emoticon?

MonsterBookOfTysons · 05/04/2012 22:02

Fuss that is amazing! :)

Original poster
Starwisher · 05/04/2012 22:07

Hello mrscave. I actually was amazed how well you took it when someone called you wet behind the ears!

Fuss how did it feel when you got confirmed?

I always remember my old vicar saying she loved eating the bread/ drinking the wine as it gave her a feeling "better the sex"!

I think we were all quite like Shock and then Grin

I loved that vicar. Just said it how it was. I never met anyone quite like her before or since!

OP posts:
tummytickler · 05/04/2012 22:14

Hello, what a lovely thread, may I join you all?
chipmonkey I loved hearing about the signs from your daughter, that is something really amazing, very special, and must be a great comfort to you.
Monster (and others!) I totally get what you mean about feeling close to God when surrounded by nature. I find pagan stuff very interesting for that reason, and love the idea of working with nature (natural healing and that!). My parents live a few miles away from us, but they are in the middle of nowhere. I grew up there too, and I remember feeling overwhelmed by God and nature from a very young age when out in the woods.

I am a Christian, I go to a very lovely church who are very patient with my 4 noisy children! In fact one of the vicars came up to me and told me not to hide at the side and back, we should all sit near the front, and not worry about people moaning!
I am being baptised on Sunday evening, and I am really nervous about giving my testimony, which I am currently writing!
My faith has really grown over the last couple of years, and a lot of people are very negative about it. Dh is an atheist, and we are really struggling with this. It is exhausting me, as he is very critical, and i have to defend my faith every single day. He often pick up on those Christians in history/life who have done awful things, and even those doing mission work from our church get stick from dh. That side of our life is tough at the moment. I take the dc to church though, the older two are a bit Hmm but the younger two are loving Jesus!

I am looking forward to getting ot know you all. I don't normally venture on this bit of mn!