What do I need to do to start believing?

[toronto_girl]

Hello, this is my first post here. I have a faith question. I am not a religious person, I was raised in a nominal catholic family but never attended church, only for weddings. Lately I have been feeling so empty, it seems everybody else has their spirituality developed and I feel nothing. I wanna change that but I cannot stand the 'regular' churches, I don't believe what pastors and priests say and I end up feeling even worse after those services.

 

Some days ago I watched a service from Lakewood church on TV, and I liked it a lot. I'm thinking about joining a church like that, more into positive thinking than bible and religious sermons. I live in Toronto and I am having a hard time trying to find something like that here, there are so many 'regular' churches but nothing like what I am looking for. Does anybody know anything about this kind of church, how to find a similar one in my area? Do you think if I start going to a non denominal church I'll start believing religion after some time? I feel so empty and so stupidy, I wanna believe in something, I wanna have some spirituality and I just can't.

 

Thanks.

[Lucky Dog]

You may just be in the wrong end of the religious mall

 

Try the Eastern side where other faiths like Buddhism, etc. are.

 

Maybe what you are trying is just not right for you

[Chris777]

"Lately I have been feeling so empty, it seems everybody else has their spirituality developed and I feel nothing."

 

I went around not really caring or concerned till I turned 25

 

 

"I wanna change that but I cannot stand the 'regular' churches, I don't believe what pastors and priests say and I end up feeling even worse after those services. "

 

this sort of leads back to the title of my post, are you looking for a feel good candy bar, or the truth, their are literally thousands of "beliefs" and organazations that call themselves "religion" but they basically function as "euphoria inducment" or basically like one would feel at a music concert, or a theme park, or eating a favorite food, or a drug, in that they produce alot of excitement , and emotion, but if you are seperated from it it is fleeting, and empty.

 

personally I prefer truth to fluff

 

"Some days ago I watched a service from Lakewood church on TV, and I liked it a lot. I'm thinking about joining a church like that, more into positive thinking than bible and religious sermons."

 

sounds like this "church" should be lumped in with the feel feel good catagory I mentioned above.

Oprah, and DR Phil provide positive thinking, so do fortune cookies, and horoscopes, and if that is all you seek is feel good happy fluff, then maby that is what you should seek, but reality is far more vast than the surface they don't even scratch.

 

"I live in Toronto and I am having a hard time trying to find something like that here, there are so many 'regular' churches but nothing like what I am looking for."

 

again what exactly are you looking for?

 

"Does anybody know anything about this kind of church, how to find a similar one in my area? "

 

seek and ye shall find

 

"Do you think if I start going to a non denominal church I'll start believing religion after some time? "

 

it depends on what "religion" you are seeking

 

"I feel so empty and so stupidy, I wanna believe in something, I wanna have some spirituality and I just can't. "

 

We all feel that way at some point in our lives, but don't seek out of feeling left out of something, believe me you don't want to be involved with everything, and especially not the wrong thing, You can't eat everything you want, or it could make you sick, and you especially can't eat what ever you want, or it could end up killing you If it is poisionous.

 

step back, get your bearings, and ask yourself .....why?

not everything is meant to be experienced

 

and certainly not everything should be believed

Test what you find, don't take my word for it , or anyone elses

 

I am a Christian,

but I wouldnt nessesarily call my self a "spiritual", or "religious" person

I (after much seeking and searching, and investigation) believe, and TRUST the Bible, totally and completely.

It was at one time to me, a series of moral lessons, and little more, of course back then I had not read it, and took solely what I had heard in passing while in church, or in public, and I was astounded at how ignorant I was of what it actually said.

I also compared many religions, so don't think I blindly follow it, though I am finding that I tend to go beyond, what many term "fundamental" In that I now use the bible as I had at one time my glasses, as a lense to see the world through.

Its shocking what you see when things arent all blurred out and blended together. (and when I say blended I do mean like the so called melting pot we all hear of)

 

I like you still have not found a church I "like" not because they follow the bible, but rather, because so many stray from it so easily, which I agree is sometimes hard not to do in the world we live in, with all of its choices

But realize it is a chioce , and only you can make it

do you want happiness, fun , and excitement ,spirituality if you will or at least the appearance of it

 

or do you want truth

 

the choice is yours.

 

and you should chew on it a bit, as it isnt always an easy decision

 

I will pray you are found by what you seek.

[Moose]

Being a Baptist, when I read your post, you described what we refer to as the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart.

 

It's a shame that you don't prefer the, "regular" Churches, because truth be known, there isn't a Church that you can find, where you believe in every single solitary doctrine that they put before you. That is, unless you start your own Church........

 

Can I suggest that you begin by reading the New Testament? The Scriptures are really open to your own translation. Then you should seek out a Sunday School class that'll interpret and clarify the reasons why and how you take the Scripture.

 

This could be a non-denominational Church too, then as your, "spiritual child", begins to grow, your heart will direct you to your Church Home.

 

Good luck on your journey!

[a child of God]

Our flesh & spirit are at constant war. The word of God is truth & we are not. Being oposite (flesh&spirit) it's easy to reject the word of God,Give up, Surender to Jesus he is the word of God Then you will belong to him, Then You will become spiritualy happy. If he's dealing with you give yourself to Jesus He will do the rest. PLEASE DONT DIE LOST Love, Someone Concerned

[Mz. Pixie]

Lakewood Church is awesome! Joel Osteen!!!

 

He has some books out as well as a website. You may can find some good stuff on there.

 

Don't give up on God- He hasn't given up on you!

[Pocky]

Originally posted by toronto_girl

Do you think if I start going to a non denominal church I'll start believing religion after some time?

 

 

Possibly, but then Christianity isn't the only religion that exists and it's possible that you won't ever feel associated to what is taught within Christianity. Have you read anything regarding other religions?

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by Moose

Being a Baptist, when I read your post, you described what we refer to as the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart.

 

It's a shame that you don't prefer the, "regular" Churches, because truth be known, there isn't a Church that you can find, where you believe in every single solitary doctrine that they put before you. That is, unless you start your own Church........

 

Can I suggest that you begin by reading the New Testament? The Scriptures are really open to your own translation. Then you should seek out a Sunday School class that'll interpret and clarify the reasons why and how you take the Scripture.

 

This could be a non-denominational Church too, then as your, "spiritual child", begins to grow, your heart will direct you to your Church Home.

 

Good luck on your journey!

 

Agreed. The Holy Spirit is tugging at her heart! Rejoice!

 

I'd also recommend "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.

[quankanne]

put together a spiritual reading list: the Bible (both old and new Testaments) "purpose driven life," biographies on people like Billy Graham or Mother Teresa or even Martin Luther King, "chicken soup for the christian soul," religious digests or magazines like "Watch Tower" or "Catholic Digest" or "St. Anthony Messenger" (sorry, most of the stuff I read is Catholic, so you'll see a lot of titles) -- possibly even collected sayings from Anthony de Mello or Eastern mystics. From there you'll figure out what direction you're interested in.

 

FYI: not sure if you're a younger or older Catholic, but I do know that nowadays, lots of churches are offering faith formation programs for adults, based on Scripture study or different Catholic traditions, and they're really pretty interesting. Another good Catholic resource is the RCIA or Christian initation program (think of it as practical college for Catholicism) ~ you'll meet people from all kinds of different religious backgrounds interested in learning more about the Church and you'll learn a lot of things about the Church that you never really considered.

 

good luck on your spiritual journey

[mental_traveller]

Why not read up on some religious thought, philosophy, spiritualism, scepticism etc. Research the subject before you jump into something with your eyes closed.