Turned My Back On My Religion ...

[Hemels]

Ever since I was born I have been a Roman Catholic. I was baptised at the age of 9 months old and was brought up in not a very strict Catholic family. I occasionally went church which I classed as sinning at the time but after hitting the age of 12 and having suffered sexual abuse then domestic violence in my last relationship, I thought I would never find God again.

After trying frantically for the last 3 years to find my faith again, my mother asked if I would join her to her Tai Chi classes. This is where I leant how to meditate and I decided to ask the universe to guide me to the path I should follow. That path has brought me here - to renouncing my faith in god and turn to what I have always been interested in - Paganism. They don't worship the devil, just mother nature and since I have changed my path I feel alive again. When I get triggered I light my candles and meditate, hold my pounch of runes and ask for guidence, write an entry in my book of shadows (a book that records meditations and dreams) My partner is being very supportive of my new faith as he sees all the benefits it has given me since I decided to take this path.

I hope others on this site do not judge me for posting this, I wanted to share my new found happiness.

:Hug_emoticon:

Hemmy xXx

 

[helena]

Hi Hemmy,

I would love to learn about Paganism and what it means.

I was at a conference/exhibition recently and there was a stand with pagans (really young students) and I was so intrigued but had to be on my own stand so couldn't keep going over there to chat.

I was brought up by a Catholic mother and an atheist father which I guess allowed me to make my own mind up about religion. I have always had a strong sense of belief in a 'God' but have never really adhered to any particular religious doctrine.

Nevertheless, I love churches (I just love the peace, the dim light, lighting a candle and being able to think quietly) but I don't enjoy sermons or singing hymns so I rarely go.

What I love is talking to people who are spiritual and deep.... I meet so few of them and I am always fascinated by other people's beliefs and philosophies so I would love to learn more about your beliefs and how it has helped you cope with ptsd.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Hemels

I would hope no one would give you trouble for your beliefs. I was raised in the church and have since fallen out of grace, as they say.

BUT, I have always believed that you don't have to go to church or walk into a building to show your higher power how you feel and believe.

You almost have to believe in some kind of higher power, some type of entity, something. All you have to do is look as you walk along the beaches or through the forests. There is an energy there.

So, don't appologize to anyone or ever make excuses for your beliefs. I admire you for your openness

 

[Hemels]

Thank you for your replies guys.

Helena, Thank you for showing an interest in my beliefs :smile: I am willing to answer any questions you have about the Pagan faith and the effect it has had on me and my healing from PTSD.

Grama-Herc, Thank you for pointing out that I shouldn't be affraid of who I am and about others judging me. :smile:

:Hug_emoticon:

Hemmy xXx

 

[bonnecanyon]

Hemels

No one will judge you here - this is a safe place to share your feelings and beliefs without fear of reprisal. I was a born-again Christian at one point in my life and now live a more spiritual existence. However, I am rather sporatic in my meditation, etc. But I believe, without a doubt, that there is an energy in the universe that cares about us and provides assistance.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience on this planet. And it's difficult at times, to say the least!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.
BC

 

[MarkHutt]

I was born into Lutheran family, but as long as I can remember, I'v resented religion. I think religion played some part, when I was neglected emotionally as a child. In late sixties, "Respect Thy Father and Thy Mother!" was told to us time and time again, as a rule of a child. Furthermore, I think religion even courage strict rules and punishment. Religion opens paths to abuse.

I used to think I'm an atheist, almost whole my life. I resigned from church about 10 years ago. A few years back, during crisis (we do have them, right?), I became fascinated by Dalai Lama and Buddhism... until I realized they believe in reborn, and that every person deserves their faith in life because of what they did in previous lives... does not go well with PTSD, does it?:rofl:

Well, some claim atheism is a religion, too. Perhaps I'm agnostic. I cannot say with 100,00% certainty, that there could not be something we don't fully comprehend, some kind of higher force, principle or energy. In my opinion extremely unlikely, but IMO atheism is close to a kind of religion.

 

[anthony]

Religion doesn't mean much here in Australia... not a large aspect of Australian life, and I am happy about that considering the issues it usually brings with it.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Hey Hemmels....Whatever works for you, then do it...

I was raised Roman Catholic also, and I won't bore you with the things that my church, and priest have done to me in the past. I have long since walked away from the church, but I do my own thing when it comes to myself, and my beliefs.......

 

[2quilt]

I was raised Southern Baptist, but realised that all religions are myths, just stories created my humans to control the behavior of other people. I do celebrate Christmas because I get loot and chocolate. Hell, I will celebrate the Queen's birthday if there is loot or gifts involved. I am now a happy Atheist. I feel much free-er now that I dont have to worry about sinning, hell or coveting. Let's party.

 

[ghost]

Karma and Reincarnation

Mark,


"I became fascinated by Dalai Lama and Buddhism... until I realized they believe in reborn, and that every person deserves their faith in life because of what they did in previous lives... does not go well with PTSD, does it?"


I think what you've said here is quite one-sided, and not entirely correct.

Buddhism does support the concepts of Karma and reincarnation. The idea being that the type of family that you are born into (their wealth, status, spiritual allignment) is reflective of the type of life that you lived previously. It also suggests that the type of body that you are born into (your intelligence, your physical condition, your physical appearance) are also a reflection of your previous life.

It does not suggest that everything negative that happens to you is the consequence of something that you did in a previous life.

It is generally understood that karma operates on multiple levels (i.e. individual level, community level, societal level, national level, universal level). Meaning that while we do pay a kind of cosmic debt (in the form of suffering) for the damage that we cause as individuals, we also pay this debt together as a society; as a nation; as an ethnic group, for the damage that we commit as a society; a nation, and an ethnic group.

The practitioners of Falun Gong (which derives much of its belief system from Buddhism) have been heavily persecuted by the Chinese communist government since 1999. They are falsely imprisoned; tortured; murdered; raped; locked up in psychiatric institutions; and subjected to slave labour.

As a result, many of these people, who have chosen a peaceful existence; dedicated themselves to the virtues of compassion; truthfulness and forbearance, and committed no other crime, but the practice of their faith, have developed very serious mental health conditions. Many suffer severe mental break downs; some to the point where they lose even the capacity to control their bodily functions. I think it’s safe to assume that the incidence of PTSD is pretty high among the Falun Gong community.

The point I am getting to is that their suffering is not viewed, by their faith, as the result of their sins in previous lives. Rather it is seen, that they, by their suffering, are bearing part of the universal karma that has been generated, collectively, by the world. This is comparable to the Christian view, that Christ suffered such a traumatic death, because he was 'taking on the sins of the world' - he was bearing the karmic debt of the world - entire. In doing so he averted, perhaps, a major cataclysmic event (i.e. the destruction of the world).

Bad things happen to good people. You do not have to look to far to see that.

To believe that what has happened to you is the result of your past misdeeds (a kind of punishment) is only one way of interpreting Buddhist teaching, and quite a negative one at that. Perhaps it would be more helpful for you to consider that your suffering is in some way, preventing other people from suffering (by reducing the collective karmic debt), and that by suffering now, you are avoiding suffering in the future (or in a future life).

 

[helena]

Hi Ghost,

I didn't want to hijack this thread but your explanation of Karma has helped but I am still very confused by it.

I have often thought that there is a recurrent 'theme' in my life and I used to think it was alcoholism - father, brother, sister, uncles, etc etc but I am now beginning to realise that alcoholism and/or abuse is just a symptom of underlying distress.

So, I guess my 'theme' is suffering?? I have always believed in reincarnation... and I read a lot about past life regressions etc etc so the concept of 'karma' makes a lot of sense to me... far more than the traditional Heaven and Hell concepts.

(I used to think I was supposed to find the cure for alcoholism because it seemed every day another alcoholic was coming into my life!) But I still can't work out what my karma is.... maybe I was a hard hearted, compassion less person in my previous life and I have to make up for it now or.....some other reason, but what is it ???

Help! Confused.com

 

[BethRSA]

I've been thinking about this thread since I read it yesterday. I waited until today to post. I don't judge anyone for their beliefs and hopefully, they will not judge me for mine.

I'm sorry that so many have been hurt by normal people, pastors and church leaders throwing around the name "Christian" when their actions don't live up to the example of love and forgiveness of being a "little Christ" (what "Christian" is supposed to mean). Even Ghandi said, "I love your Christ. If it were not for "Christians", I could have believed."

Although I go to a "famous brand" church weekly and believe (usually) what the pastor preaches, I also do not have a "religion". I have a relationship with Jesus Christ.