spirituality

[JustDance]

SO my parents are hard core Christians but three years ago I lost my faith. My parents pitched a fit about me going to church and all but I refused. I just thought that church wasn't the right place for me and then I just stopped thinking about it all together. Recently, I've felt so alone and confused though. I want to find that comfort that religious people seem to have. I KNOW that Christianity isn't for me. I find that an all powerful good and gracious God doesn't make sense because how can generally good people get EDs and mental problems or raped or abused etc. I just can't believe he would let that happen. So I found this book on Paganism and it really spoke to me. So many of the beliefs I had that went against the religion I was brought up with are the beliefs of Pagans. I only just started down this path and I already feel comforted but my problem is my parents. I want to be open with this and fully embrace the ways of this spiritual path but my parents would kill me. They would throw me out. I just want to find happiness. I just don't know what to do. :(


Sorry for this. I just needed to tell someone my dilemma.

[Jacklinger]

Christianity is hard to understand beyond "show up or you go to hell." But, there actually is a deep spirituality there that's been burried by evangelism and strict dogma. It's not suprising that spiritual people who seek deeper meaning often fall away from Christianity. I was raised Christian also, and I also gave it up in my teens.

I remember my last prayer. About 18 years ago, I prayed that I would never wake up right before going to bed one night. It was a very painful time and I felt like I had nothing. I did wake up of course, and couldn't bring myself to pray ever again. I was pretty sure no one was listening.

Today I sort of refer to myself as "retired Christian."

If paganism interests you, try not to bring it up in front of your parents. They just won't understand and it will make home life for you harder. Religion was ultimately invented (by god or men) to promote happiness. So if a religion is really dragging you down, then it's not working the way it was intended, and it's probably best to leave it. Whatever pagan deities there might be, would not want to make your life more difficult, and would understand if you kept your new faith a secret from your parents.

[JustDance]

Thanks that actually helped a lot.
It just sucks that I have to add another secret to my life.

[diary]

I'm pagan, celtic to be exact. So if you need any support or anythign just tell me !

[JustDance]

Really? that's awesome....I'm kinda drawn to both wicca and celtic.

[angelnonmordem]

I am a Christian. My husband is a Reverend. I have an ED. I was raped and abused. The one blessing that has always gotten me through is my ability to accept people and situations. The art of acceptance is priceless. With your parents, you want them to accept and love you, so you do have to show acceptance to them as well. It is so sad that so many are persecuted for their faith - whatever it is. I believe Christ is my salvation, but I also believe that it is a personal relationship in faith. What is my faith is not necessarily the faith of another. That should not stop me from accepting or loving that person. It's been said that the leading cause of atheism is Christianity. I believe that. So many Christians use their faith as a dress to put on to look pretty in front of others. Christ is a name they drop to make themselves look better. My stepmother is one of these people, and my father is a pastor. Wild, huh? Whatever leads you to peace, and faith, and acceptance is what's right for you. Just as you do not want your parents pushing their faith on you, you cannot push yours on them. But show them that you accept their choices and only expect the same respect in return. Whatever faith suits you, it is YOUR faith, not your parents, not anyone elses. Be at peace with your choices and know that there will always be strife, but you will always have a home in your faith. I encourage you to look in your heart and speak to your parents from your heart. They may not understand, but you have to do what's right for you.

[Vision Thing]

You can be religious without following the indoctrinated kind.

Also if you are thinking olde celtic faiths, go with paganism. Wicca is a watered down version for people who didn't want to admit that their beliefs stemmed from people who did the Wicker Man or whatever. Sort of like the Chistian crusades...

[diary]

Really? that's awesome....I'm kinda drawn to both wicca and celtic.

yeah celtic is a kind of wicca its really cool i think . im happy and i dont have a bunch of rules to follow and such like other religions, its what you make it and everyone gets something different from their experiences

[~butterfly~]

Hey! I kinda get how you feel. I tend to think the same things, even though I haven't been raped or abused and nothing terrible has happened.Like you, I've also been drawn to Paganism. Haven't been able to really look into it all the way. My dad would freak (hard core religious.Christian).

As Diary said, everyone gets something different from their experiences. I hope that things turn out well and if your parents find out they accept it.

[BiG-fake-SMiLE]

I myself am a Roman Catholic. I'd highly reccomend before you go fully pagan that you look more into Christianity. go to a Catholic church and talk to a priest they can answer all your questions :]