Finding faith/religion

[puglady]

I was christened a Roman Catholic but never did my confirmation. My Mum used to be fairly religious, still prays etc but only goes to church a couple of times a year. My maternal Grandmother was very religious, went to church every day and found a lot of comfort in her religion and the people of the church.

My Dad was never religious and nor was his mother. My brother and my mums brother want nothing to do with any religion at all.

I feel like I want to "find" religion again and become "part" of it all again, but I'm not sure which religion I should be looking at or even if i should be looking at all, iyswim?

Do any of you have any advice?

Hello puglady! It's strange feeling, isn't it, when you feel the stirrings of something g inside and you don't know what it's all about, or what you're yearning for. (At least that's how it felt to me when I went through a similar thing.)

Rather than advising you to try this that and the other thing to do I think I would say try listening to the deepest desires of your heart. Find somewhere quiet - a church that's open during the day where you can simply sit is ideal. Light a candle. Just see how you feel. What's calling you? What are you longing for? Take time about it.

Come back here and talk to us about what it felt like. There are quite a few people around on this board who have been through a similar thing. Or find someone in RL (or both). Priests/Vicars are there to talk to people who are looking for something g and don't know what for.

You might try going one Sunday to church to see how it feels. Try different styles of church. You might want something with electric music and very informal, or you might want choirs and organ and more 'churchy'. Don't rule anything out. See how it all feels and don't rush. If God is calling you he won't give up

Ah puglady what you are feeling at the moment I believe to be the early stirrings of something wonderful!

In the Bible it says that those who seek will find.

Everyone has their own personality, experiences, hopes, fears, longings and so on, so I wouldn't say that my way of seeking would be the same as someone else's; but I can share my experience anyway - I desperately wanted to understand more or the unseen things, God and His spiritual realms etc. I hungered & thirsted for it. I tried so many things, and made it complicated for myself at times. Then after life had gone quite badly wrong for me, one day I was walking in the hills & fields, and got down on my knees and asked God to reveal Himself to me. I told Him I thought I knew Him, but I was so confused and things were going wrong (it was years ago now, so I can't remember the exact words). Then I got up and carried on walking. After that several amazing & miraculous things happened over a period of days; and about a week or so later I was a follower of Jesus! It's obviously much more detailed than that, but probably now isn't the time or place for a long testimony!

I'm not sure what the rules are on Mumsnet about proselytizing?! So just in case, I don't want to overstep the mark, but I'd say that if you continue to seek, in the way that is right & natural for you, you will find what you're looking for at the right time.

It's a continual journey too I've discovered. I'm always learning new things, and also see how much is still such a mystery. I've experienced many ups & downs in my faith, and in life in general; so I find I need continued renewal.

Feel free to message me if you'd like to talk more (and if you don't mind chatting to pretty full-on Jesus freak!) and every blessing for your spiritual seeking. God loves you so much, and calls you by name x

Hey op,

Coming from a slightly different angle. I'm atheist. I started off very much like you in my late teens and could have written your post. I just felt that something was lacking and I didn't belong.
I reserved mainly Christian churches and read prominent theologians for background, but I just felt that I couldn't really 'belong' in any of the christian sects. I always found some rule/ viewpoint I didn't agree with.

To many questions came up as well:
Why do some christians believe in creationism (as its written in genesis) while others try to twist the bible to make it fit with scientific evidence?
Which god is the right one- new testament? Old testament? Allah? Vishnu? Or maybe it was Zeus, or Thor?
If the holy texts dont contradict themselves- why do we have so many branches of Christians/ Muslims/ Jews- who all follow the teachings of their respective scriptures but read them so differently?
If god really is all powerful- why did he make it so difficult to interpret his word and rules?

It can be very liberating to shake off the judgemental and dogmatic weight of religious faith. You can lead a very fulfilling and rich life without a faith in a deity. We do fundraising events for children's charities, help out at animal shelters and our local homeless shelter.

I would recommend starting with Dawkins or Hitchens reading wise

Maybe try an alpha course op?

I tried the Alpha and advanced Alpha course. Very interesting. Sadly I didn't find faith in the sense of a formal religion, but it is worth doing.