Religion And Spirituality

[jmni]

I was wondering how many members consider themselves religious or if any of you feel that religion and a belief in a higher power has helped you to recover. I also was curious if so, if you were always a believer or if you found God during your recovery and what it has done for you.

 

[Dee Morris]

I actually found religion to be a detriment to my recovery. I have had horrible experiences with religion. I tend to believe in that which can be proven and religion fails on all fronts for me. I'm not really one to believe in something just because it makes me feel better to lie to myself. I believe that the existence of God cannot be proven nor dis-proven therefore I don't really buy into what religion is selling.

 

[J_trustno1]

Religion is a very difficult question to discuss about. However, what I have seen in the major religions is how they are using male dominance to oppress women and to control people.

I come from a religious family where people used religion to manipulate, lie and hurt others who are financially inferior to them. I'm not saying that religion is bad or good but in my opinion I find it difficult in something which was created 1400+ yrs ago. It seems irrelevant in today's world. I consider myself as an atheist but that doesn't mean I am a bad person who goes around hurting others. I believe in humanity, ethics, strong morals and principals and ability to distinguish good from wrong other than following what is written in a book. I know it may sound rude or hurtful but religion or God isn't for me unfortunately. I stopped believing in all that when I was 12. I used to visit the temple each day and prayed everyday till I was around 10yrs of age but now I see it as something that is used to brain wash people and to control others. All people need is to think clearly and use common sense but that is just my opinion nothing to hurt yours or others beliefs.

 

[Justmehere]

God has been helpful in my healing process and journey. I have doubts, and I struggle with faith, but reading books like "Soul Survivor" by Philip Yancey, and books by Anne Lamot have helped. I also read the "The Shack" and heard the author speak at length about how it was an allegory of his own healing from childhood sexual abuse - this really deeply impacted me. When therapy failed and I had nothing in me to keep going, it was stories from people like these and my connection to God that kept me alive.

As far as religion as a whole, some people who believe in God have hurt, some have helped. I don't consider myself very religious. I'm not sure if others would say I am religious or not. I have been deeply hurt by he church, and I'm not really into church per se. I go to church now and then, but sitting in a chair and just watching people talk isn't what really helps me connect to my faith or heal from my trauma. Being with my friends inside and outside of church, talking about God with others who struggle too, praying, and serving/volunteering where I can - that does help a lot.

 

[Lionheart]

I had a lot of trouble with religion in the beginning, but found that my spirituality grew as I healed and many years of healing later, I discovered my true religious beliefs. I think it is important that whether we choose religion and/or spirituality that it be connected to our hearts.

A higher power that some people call God, I have had to term "the Creator" in order to resonate with my true beliefs. I am a Christian Universalist and that means I believe all creatures, even the fallen ones, eventually come back to a right relationship with God, the creator.

So there is hope to find your own beliefs for yourself, but for me, it took many years of soul searching and healing from abuse trauma., decades even.

I wish you much success, comfort and happiness as you explore your own beliefs.

 

[a3a2]

I am a Christian. I have been for nearly 30 years. Has it helped me in my recovery? Yes and no. It has guided my decisions and kept me from falling into even more dangerous situations. It has given me a framework for a fantastic relationship to a loving and gentle husband.

I have repeatedly laid on the floor and cried out to God begging for my anxiety to be removed. No flash of light or instant relief. But I did feel led to seek counseling with an amazing Christian therapist. And I believe that was an answer to prayer.

I, too, am a facts based person. Constantly being manipulated by half truths in my childhood, I am ever the skeptic. But even science must admit that some things can neither be proven or disproven. C.S. Lewis' book, "Mere Christianity" was quite convincing for me.

 

[jmni]

I gave it up at one point and it can do a lot of harm via manipulation and "rules" that teach people they are obligated to follow some concept. But I also think there is sort of a beauty to the idea of a higher idea of right and wrong. The idea of trusting in a higher power and looking towards a higher power during difficult and confusing times has failed me.

I think its really unfortunate that some people oversimplify the concepts behind religion to the point where it is nearly meaningless, but on the other hand I doubt most people are ever provided with any education about the spiritual meaning or the actual reasons why it was included in the religious texts by the people who created it at the time and why other things are omitted.

 

[franciemarnie]

I have heard Religion is for those afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who have been through hell. I identify with the latter.

Accepting God as a Mystery and that I am Not-God and therefore cannot understand him works for me. There is a book called The Spirituality of Imperfection that turned everything around for me. I believe and have seen miracles, but to try and understand why they don't happen when I think they should is absurd and denies my inherent limitations as a human being. It is beyond my ability to comprehend.

Human beings can be rotten. I can't judge God since I don't know who he is though I believe he created light and love. That sort of Being I like very much.

As long as people trust scientists to tell them what reality is, there is no room for Mystery or any kind of God. And this life is a mystery to me. There is awe and wonder and joy and beauty and also mindboggling horror. People think God can't exist because bad things happen to them. I don't get that. I guess they define God as someone who grants wishes. They have to have a definition of him to deny, but there can be as many ideas of God as there are people.

Anyway, I definitely have been helped in healing by my spirituality. It isn't a religion's creed though. It's based on what I have experienced as real and true, not imagined and hoped for.

 

[Seasounds]

I believe that spirituality, is our individual connection to our spirits, whatever you want to call that aspect of ourselves, that is seen and unseen, and connected to the Divine. I think in 12 Step Groups, the term Higher Power is used for the Divine.

Religions don't work for me. I found them, of all sorts, to be dis-empowering.

 

[Lionheart]

I have heard Religion is for those afraid of going to hell.

@franciemarnie

I just wanted to say that I am a Christian Universalist and I do not believe in Hell. So religion doesn't necessarily mean all Christians or those with religious beliefs are afraid of going to Hell. Just thought I would throw that out there.

 

[jmni]

I believe that spirituality, is our individual connection to our spirits, whatever you want to call that aspect of ourselves, that is seen and unseen, and connected to the Divine. I think in 12 Step Groups, the term Higher Power is used for the Divine.

Religions don't work for me. I found them, of all sorts, to be dis-empowering.

Early on I attempted a 12 step program and it was extremely dis-empowering. There is so much emphasis placed on lacking control and letting go. Actually it was emotions anonymous and I wonder if that was specifically written by someone with control issues. It was very difficult to relate to. That must be where I picked up the term higher power.

But I like the way you describe a spirit.

 

[The Albatross]

I am also Christian though mostly through self study as my work schedule doesn't permit me time to go to church (I have a client). I was able to embrace the 12 step program of recovery in the face of the reality of my problems and was willing to submit myself to the process. In the program I was able to re-examine my concept of God and came to admire the opposite of what you describe Jmni.

Rather than feeling disempowered, I viewed it as mentorship. I saw "old timers" cultivating personal discipline, restraint and godly character and I appreciated that as it was so contradictory from my bio family and first marriage. I learned more under the guidance of strangers about a premise for living than I did from my parents.

What it has done for me is give me a better life and some better framework for living.