I don't want to go into too much detail, but there have been some recent events in my life that made me question my faith. I used to be quite devout, but things are slowly changing for me. I'm here asking for some advice, because I feel like losing my faith means that I'm a bad person, but with everything that's happened, I just can't keep being an unquestioning and unwavering believer. Help! Does anyone who has gone through this have some advice for me? Does losing my faith make me a bad person, or does it mean that I am just maturing and changing?
Hi Robert,
I don't know what faith background you come from. But I can say from a Christian perspective that God loves you unconditionally and eternally - yes even if you have lost your faith. God loves all of his children, no matter what they do, say, think, or feel. The only "issue" (if there is one) with your predicament might be that you are feeling like you're distant or disconnected from the divine. However, as you mention, maybe it's time to embrace your own spiritual evolution and maturity. My advice would be: don't get too caught up in dogmatic, rationalistic, conceptions of God. God, who is pure Love, is ultimately above all human comprehension. Maybe try to open yourself up to the divine in a totally "judgement-free" way, as the Zen tradition speaks of "beginner's mind". Invite God into your heart. Be open to whatever that could mean. And commit to maintaining this easy openness throughout your week. Watch closely and listen carefully: knock and the door will be opened for you.
Hi Robert,
No, you are not a bad person. I was raised in the Christian faith, but it never made sense to me. I have been a staunch atheist for many decades now and no, I am definitely not a bad person.
I think there is a problem with faith/belief in anything. It is a way of apportioning blame/praise to some external "force" when the ability to do anything - harm and good - lies within each of us. Things go wrong, of course they do. You can fix them, or let them go and move on. Yes, there is pain, and the natural instinct to find something or someone to take the blame or "thank".
The past year has been an extreme challenge for me in many ways. However, I have never once found the need to turn to some other entity to give me comfort or hope. And I have never blamed myself or anyone else for what has occurred. Thanks? All the time. For people, technology, the beauty of the earth. Just because I don't have faith, doesn't mean I don't have gratitude and appreciation. Things happen, it's life.
We are all different. How we deal with things is personal. These are my thoughts and how I live. You will find your own way. And, again, you are not a bad person!
