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.

Wow, thank you so much everyone for all the advice and support.
I will write a list of all the recommendations that you have all given and look into them.
I guess I will not know until I try and learn about the religion.
I will try and pray to God, although it will feel strange talking to 'someone' I am not sure exists.
I will also try visiting some church groups to try and learn about the beliefs.
Thank you again everyone.

I was an atheist until I was 36. A scornful, rabid, Richard Dawkins style atheist!
And then my husband died. At his funeral, standing at his graveside, feeling I had lost everything that made my life worth living, I was suddenly confronted with the presence of God.
And God not only gave me love and compassion, I could feel Him lift all my grief, sorrow and desolation - and suffer them Himself instead.
It was a moment of sheer transcendence that changed my life.
I have been a committed Christian ever since. I think that God reaches out to all of us, all the time, broadcasting His love, but we mostly do not have our receiver switched on - we block Him out in the busyness of our lives.
One of my favourite Bible readings is simply “Be still, and know that I am God”. In other words, just allow God to come to you in the stillness. You don’t need to struggle to seek Him - just let Him find you.
The change to your life - the peace and comfort, the feeling that death is not the end, that God has your life and the whole universe in the palm of His loving hand, is immense.
Not to mention the sheer awe of knowing that God loves us so much, He was willing to suffer the agony of crucifixion at human hands, to demonstrate that love, and mastery over death, for all time.
I hope you find what you seek, OP - a loving relationship with the God who loves you.

I'm the same with paganism, religious doesn't just equal Christianity, I'd start by researching the basics of all the religions and then focusing into the ones that speak out to you, maybe you'll end up a Buddhist, gotta look into what they're all about

Www.sundayassembly.com or similar ?

I was an atheist until I was 36. A scornful, rabid, Richard Dawkins style atheist!

Is that why you think all atheists are like that?

cybercontroller, you are making unwarranted assumptions. I did not say anywhere in my post that I “thought all atheists are like that”.
Some undoubtedly are - you have only to read the aggressive and rude posts calling God a “sky fairy” and insulting Christians as simple minded science deniers, on other MN religious threads.
I can only speak for the type of atheist that I was myself. And I shudder with shame to recall how arrogantly I argued with Christian relatives that their faith was nonsense. I know better now.
My favourite disciple is doubting Thomas - because like him, I wanted proof, rather than faith.
How much more blessed are they that believed on Jesus’ testimony and resurrection alone.

I recommend Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen.

I love your post Babdoc

OP I agree with the others advising an online Alpha at this point. It's a really helpful course and doesn't push anything - it's very much about allowing participants to question, to bring their views, while laying out the basics of why Christians believe and offering opportunities to go further if that is what you wish.

In the meantime, happy to talk about it here with you if you would like. For me, Christianity makes complete sense of a life that can seem so full of pain and yet so sparked with joy at the same time. It makes sense of our meaning, our value, our sense of morality, our reason and consciousness, because in my experience there is a part in all of us - the deepest, wildest part - that longs for more. In my faith I have found that this part is only fulfilled by the presence of God and that God brings a peace beyond anything else I can understand or imagine, and a joy that can surprise me even in the darkest times. It doesn't mean there are no questions left about it all; it's not a nice neat package, an answering of all existential questions - but it's more profound than this. It's an addressing of the essence of our humanity, of our souls if you like, of the longings we experience for something more and something greater. And for me Christianity makes most sense of that because of Jesus, because God did not detach himself from human suffering and sorrow, but got right in the middle of it with us.

It sounds like you are experiencing a longing for something more and in my experience that's God's way of gently inviting you into an exploration of these things.

Madhairday, may I return the compliment? Yours is a lovely, encouraging, invitational post for OP.

@N12345625 how are you doing on your quest to find out more about religion?

Good luck.

Lovely post @InstallUpdatesOnly and others on this thread. I have no religion but feel a certain envy for those that do. Your post spoke to me - thanks for that.

I found JW.ORG a really good site if you want to learn about the Bible and have some practical advice for so many of life's questions, such as what happens when we die and many more. They have all sorts of articles, and video and it caters to 100s of languages. It's an easy website to use.

Is this about Christianity or religion in general?

I do believe in G-d myself but I came to it naturally. I don't think you can make someone believe. Faith is something you kind of have to come to by yourself.