I want to be religious

[N12345625]

Whilst in isolation I have been thinking about life, the meaning of life and afterlife. I am not a religious person. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that will make sense in the end of time.
However, I really wish I was religious and believed in afterlife. My mum died when I was young, I have had eating disorders and mental disorders and I just want to believe in something.
Does anyone know any YouTube links or books that can help me 'believe' in a God and afterlife? Or any advise on what to do.
Thank you.

Try the bible project bibleproject.com/

Here are all the videos in the correct order from the bible project

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVpri7vfPPtKUOaqAAjEtZR4C-bO5Y_XQ

Try "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere_Christianity

I don't think there is anything anyone can do to 'make you believe'

I have heard Alpha Courses recommended. I believe they are starting to do some on-line during this strange time. If you want to find out a little more.
In normal times, I would recommend trying attending a few local Churches until you find one you feel comfortable / at home at, and then take it from there.

Alpha course is good. You can watch the videos on YouTube. Look for the “alpha film series”, it’s the more modern one.

Nothing beats actually getting together with real people and asking questions though, but it’s best done away from Internet forums!

No-one can make you believe, but you can change your beliefs by evaluating the evidence and being open minded. It worked for me!

Try this:
Hopefully it's a complete link, if not search for it xx
www.councilofchurches.ca › ...PDF
WHY BE A CHRISTIAN? - Canadian Council of Churches

The Alpha course is starting online on Wednesday. All you need to do is be open minded. God tells us seek Him and you will find Him

www.htb.org/alpha

Here you go

If you believe that everything happens for a reason, and that will make sense in the end of time, then you already have some sort of religious faith. Maybe reflect on where that conviction comes from, and what it implies?

Try the alpha course

Also read mere Christianity by CS Lewis.

I'm in a similar position and currently doing the bible in a Year app. It's very thought provoking and if nothing else I don't think I realised quite how much of our cultural history comes from biblical stories and have found it fascinating from that element.

I don't think anything can 'make you believe', OP.

I am not a believer, really. However, I do (did, until lockdown) go to my local cathedral every day for the choral evening service. That, if nothing else, would convince even the greatest non-believer that there is something more than just material existence. For me, it comes from the music.

I certainly wouldn't get this numinous sense from a book, though. And any kind of happy-clappy stuff would turn me the other way.

If I were you I would investigate near death experience stories, mainly because they are first hand accounts of life after death and not some vague, mumbo jumbo translated from dead languages from thousands of years ago.
There are a couple of very good clips on Youtube. Rich Kelley and Mary Neal sound very credible, articulate, no-nonsense people to me.
To read, Return from tomorrow by George Ritchie is quite an amazing story too. I am sure there are thousands more if you browse.

It's different for everyone. Personally I found this resource useful when I was finding out more about my faith (I know it's aimed at students but it might still be useful) www.uccf.org.uk/uncover-mark/uncover-mark.htm

I also found that once I started praying with a structure (I use Sorry, Thank you, Others, Please) it helped to get into a more meditative state of mind which in turn made me more receptive to engaging with God.
After lock down, I would say perhaps look into a few different sorts of churches and try a few Sunday services to see what works for you. I like a fairly informal but calm and traditional worship style, so I found a United Reformed church which works for me, but other people prefer traditional high church Anglican or Catholic tradition with choirs, or a more modern style of worship with guitars and so on. It's worth doing some gentle experimentation and if you can, finding a friend who can "mentor" you a bit

I agree, that no single 'resource' an make you believe but rather it comes from regular practice and discipline -"going through the motions" leads you to a sense of spirituality and belief that I think is more common than a sudden epiphany. Dunno; I'm no theologian - I like CS Lewis and agree his writing is a good start as is committing to attend church regularly for at least a chunk of time so you can give it a go. Also, Christianity isn't the only religion out there, loads to choose from. Good luck!

I always thought in my science orientated, logical atheist background way that if you didn't believe you could never make yourself believe and was agnostic until my 20s with no belief or sense of God being there.

It turns out this is not true. I now have faith in God and experience God in my life, guiding me, answering prayer and giving comfort and challenge.

The thing that worked for me was the advice to suspend disbelief for a bit and just do what people who believe in God do as if I did believe. If God does not exist there is nothing to lose and if he does, everything to gain. Prayer is the main one. Reading scriptures, joining in with worship in church, the friendship and company of other believers and things like Alpha course help, although personally I feel God talks to people of many different Faiths. I also agree that people find some church styles suit them better than others and that's ok.

It doesn't matter that we are in lockdown, God is with you in your house as much as any church or mosque or synagogue.

The single most useful thing to do is to start praying to God regularly. It will feel odd at first but just talk honestly directing your thoughts and words to God. If you don't feel you believe now, talk to God as if you did believe God is there. In particular ask that he will help you to find faith and increase your faith in him and ask him to help guide you to him. Talk to him about the things in your life, both good and bad. Try things like the Lords prayer thinking about every line. He will answer your prayers. I'll pray for you too OP x

@InstallUpdatesOnly. Lovely post and great advice to OP.
As you can't go to church at the moment, most are streaming live services, so you can try a few at home.

I like the quakers.

You don't necessarily need religion to believe, do you? Religion is simply organised gatherings, practices, rules and traditions around one or more beliefs.

If that's what you want, that's completely alright. You can check out different religions to find which suits you best. You may find what you need.

You can also check out Spirituality for a spiritual take on things without the religion part. You may find many things you need there. Although some do ironically become 'religious' about spirituality and follow traditions, rules and practices too..except they just don't attend church/mosque, etc and don't (solely) believe in the same God or any.

If what you want is more heart-based and some sort of deeper personal understanding of things, world, life without the fuss of belonging to a group, you can just look up different questions you may have on google or youtube, read or watch videos based on this and see where the road takes you. You may also find something you need.

I won't advocate for any because I know Paths are different and yours is calling you to yours. Just check out different things/kinds and see which fits, re-evaluate each time, leave what doesn't fit and move on to what fits. You'll get there.

Sorry I posted this on Religion. It was on my feed so didn't realise it. I was wondering why all the answers were on religion and basically only one type. Now I know why. I suppose if you're asking here this is what you want. So please ignore my post if it doesn't matter to you. No disrespect meant.

"near death experience stories, mainly because they are first hand accounts of life after death" Muslims/Hindus have those too and they see what they expect to see just like Christians. Proving it is just a dream.

Also during a near death experiences you are not dead so wouldn't be going to an afterlife anyway.

Try looking at philosophy.
John Hick's Vale of soul making concept can provide a comfort in times of suffering.

Do you want to be religious or have more understanding of ultimate truths? Try looking at the crash course philosophy videos on YouTube.

I wonder if you want something to believe in or whether you want to experience something because Christianity involves both. There are books and online resources about what a faith believes in - it's doctrines but there also practices such as prayer and meditation which are about encountering the divine. The other part of Christianity is social action and actually doing something and making it real in your life. That is harder in lockdown but still possible.

Maybe try Alpha to get a sense of what Christians believe. It comes from a particular style of Christianity, however it covers the basics and you can explore different styles of church later. Perhaps just now try prayer. There are some good prayer apps out there such as pray as you go or check out Christian mindfulness.

There are other religions apart from Christianity!

@N12345625 Pray. Start talking to God and He will talk back (in his own way of course! Usually through changes you'll see and experience in your life). Keep a journal to note down all the good things, so when times get tough and your faith tested, you remember all the things done for you.
To pray, all you need to do is hold a "Dear God...." Conversation in your head, you can say it out loud to if you want.
Maybe try "Dear God, I want to know you better. Help me do this, encourage me to find you. Thank you for everything you've done so far....and then list all the good things in your life, even the fact that you're not starving, you have a roof over your head, ten toes etc etc." Xxx

I always felt lost.

Christianity didn't speak to me. I'm a British woman raised Catholic and the church repulsed me. But I felt emotionally and spiritually empty.

I found paganism and now feel much more fulfilled as a person.

Do your research in all kinds of worship and see what pulls you in.