If you chose religion later in life, is it a comfort?

[Lelophants]

I’d love to hear from those who got into religion/converted later, not because they’d necessarily been born into faith. I’m not religious and don’t think I will be (mostly because I’ve never believed and not sure how I suddenly
would! My parents are also atheist). Lately though I’ve noticed the sense of community there seems to be. The local churches have so many groups and supportive things going on. I see people meeting at both the catholic and Methodist church recently (I’m thinking particularly of young mothers who may be lonely) and the baby groups have been so warm and lovely, welcoming to all. They’re nice to everyone including my
sen child and supportive of women who want to be SAHM (as well as those who don’t). I think I can finally see the appeal of having that belonging. And as I constantly worry about ageing parents and grandparents, I can imagine the comfort in truly believing in heaven (and things being made ‘right’ later). It’s much nicer!

Since having children, I have also changed focus on what I feel is important. Like I am much more focussed on being a mum and my kids and loving the world around us (as sappy as that seems).

So I was just curious if it was things like this that got you interested? Or was it something else?

I had considered it from a community perspective, although i was leaning more towards the freemasons organisation as they have the concept of a divine being but it doesn't prescribe specific religious texts or doctrines. Instead, it emphasizes personal morality, ethical behaviour, and the pursuit of truth, often through symbolic rituals and philosophical teachings.

I became a Christian at 22. Maybe that’s still a bit young considering you’re looking for people who were converted “later in life”. For me it wasn’t anything about church, or being in a community. I received Christ as a result of a personal encounter with Him at the age of 18, and I was a most reluctant convert. It’s been 42 years now and yes, a huge comfort.

I have been Christian all my life but only recently found my lovely church. The sense of community, care, gentleness is next to none. Although not everyone gets that experience sadly.

They hate religion on MN. Not sure you will get an unbiased answer.

This. ^ The rancid 'sky fairy,' and 'imaginary friend' comments will come flying in soon @Lelophants so be prepared for these dull and predictable comments and insults. Ignore them. They are ignorant comments, and usually come from not very bright people.

I know several people who became born again Christians in their 30s and 40s, and it did bring them comfort. And a whole new friendship group. There is a lot of peace in having a Faith. And Church is very welcoming.

Oh don’t worry I’ll ignore the anti religion comments, I’ve heard it all before 🤣 I’m actually interested in those who are religious. Really interesting. Do you think you feel better and more purposeful in life because of your religion?

That’s so interesting! Do you feel comfortable sharing what happened? I still see that as later as it’s not just because you were born into it.

It’s been nice seeing how welcoming some of the churches seem to be. I’ll admit I’ve known some very unkind ‘Christian’s’ in my time who put me off.

You could look into the Quakers?

i think for those facing the end of their life... they turn to faith because it would be awful for them to think that there is nothing after this!

No it isn't a comfort. You have to face the darkness in yourself and work out why you are here. If you ask your God to show you the truth it can be extremely difficult facing that truth. The point of it all is becoming a higher spiritual being and rebirth is hard. It means getting rid of all comfortable delusions and illusions.
I work in the western mystery tradition (a branch of the occult).

the problem with any texts are its all human written, re written , etc so humans in general cannot fully know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when it comes to religion

I would love to know more about want you do!

Yes, I will share as briefly as possible - at 18 I had a little crisis, I would rather not give too many details here but suffice it to say I had lost something, was absolutely desperate, had searched for hours and needed it that day. After becoming increasingly frantic I knelt down & blurted out a prayer to the effect of “God, if You’re real please help me find this and I will follow You”.

As I opened my eyes and they came into focus I found myself instantly literally staring directly at the lost thing! Initially I was elated but suddenly I was gripped with a sense of fear because I knew in my heart of hearts that He was there, He was real and that I had made Him a promise. A promise I didn’t want to keep. I didn’t keep it and I told no one. I was terrified.

A few years later, at 22 life was going well, had everything I could want, yet I felt a nagging sense of emptiness overshadowing me, felt like everything was a mess, like something was missing and an absence of peace. For several months the feeling grew & grew until one day- out of the blue I had a “lightbulb moment”- and I knew that what was missing wasn’t a “what” it was a “Who” - it was HIM.

So I knelt down in my living room and very simply and sincerely asked the Lord Jesus to take over my life. I told Him I was sorry for making a mess of it. I kept my promise. I knew nothing of theology, I just knew He was real and I needed and wanted Him.

Instantaneously I felt peace wash over me from my head down. The “something’s missing” feeling was gone. I felt like I had come home. I felt I could breathe freely.

Within a week or so I had told my family & I started reading an old Bible that was in the house, and the words sometimes seemed to jump off the page at me. It was so exciting- He taught me day by day new things about Himself and about His promises, His Kingdom.

That was the start of these 42 years with Him, living with His Holy Spirit as my Comforter and Guide. Many, many adventures, many ups & downs along the way, lots of failures on my part, lots of challenges, many moments of hearing His voice speaking directly to my spirit, words of love, comfort, correction, guidance. A daily experience of knowing and being known by Him.

Thank you so much for sharing

You’re very welcome. 😊

I suffered horrific religious abuse in my teens, so no, not a comfort at all. I got the hell out.

Abuse in churches is very common.

Same here - just a different age: my encounter with the Lord Jesus happened when I was a few years older. My life before and life after are like black and white.

@Lelophants just to clarify re language, I am not "religious". I have faith in and have relationship with the Lord God Almighty through Christ Jesus. I came to faith as a previously very staunch unbeliever.

That’s so wonderful, He’s so good! 🙌🏻
yes, I wouldn’t classify myself as “religious” either. It’s all about the relationship.

Do you mean religion or just christianity?

I became a stronger Christian later in life. I always believed but didn’t have that relationship with Jesus that everyone talks about. Now I do and it’s so comforting. I pray about every little thing and receive comfort and I look around me and see beauty everywhere.
I have also learnt how powerful prayer is. If I encounter situations that used to make me feel anxious and hopeless I just add it to the prayer basket. I have seen Jesus sort out things around me so often that I just pray and stop worrying.

@HeySummerWhereAreYou Calling someone “not very bright” because they have a different opinion from you isn’t very kind. I don’t think it would make someone who is thinking about embracing religion in their life feel very welcome, in fact they would probably feel they are being judged, harshly and unjustly. Is this what they would face from the majority of people they would encounter, if they decided to attend church?

I grew up Catholic but left the church as a young adult and was drawn back in my 50s.

I am at a stage in life where I've had so much change and loss that I felt like all the previous meaningful things had gone or changed. This lead me to seek something else, I realised gradually, that I have been living in a shallow delusion of control in a totally materialist world. I have become aware there is more, and that millions of people before me were already aware of this and have constructed rituals, music, stories, prayers, theology to help us understand it.
As I have freed myself to explore it and try to understand the thing that I feel but don't understand, Jesus and the truth of his message has become apparent to me. through small personal revelations gradually.

I struggle to remain constant, and waver in my faith and commitment but always still seek him.

I find the Catholic church with their rituals and theology give me a structure to work within which points towards something transcendent in its beauty. The beauty of the mass has helped me to accept the supernatiral, or things beyond my understanding, and recognise and accept transcedence whihc I think we all experience but are mostly so blind to.

So yes it brings comfort, but mine is more personal rather than community. But we all find our own paths in different ways.

I'd suggest you are being called. But of course you may reject that and have a more material explanation for your interest or desire. But you are definitely seeking something.