This has been seriously perplexing me & bothering me at the same time. I've been raised to be a christian all of my life. Now I've been thinking about god lately and I've like seriously been rebuilding a relationship with him. Soul searching and praying. Oddly I've been studying other practices that I like at the same time... like the Chakra & meditating.. I actually found doing these to be very uplifting. At the same time I feel guilty for practicing other things that may not pertain to christianity, at the same time I don't agree with some certain things in christianity because of my views.What's awkward is I see some truth in christianity in some ways but I just don't know, my head is everywhere. I'm like really worried if I'm doing the right things or if I'm upsetting god. Like I don't wanna go to hell because I worshipped a different god or something.. I know that sounds silly. Then I'm also into various other things like Numerology and Astrology what's supposed to be witchcraft.. oddly I see some truth in these also. I know there's a god, it's just that I really have different beliefs in things & they don't particularly pertain to one religion. My personal belief is that as long as you believe in him & love him & you're doing good.. that's all that should matter. This has me really worried..

Just take the long way home

There's no such thing as an everlasting, tormenting hell. Feel free to do what you want, I'm still searching also

Well if you can't find the right religion, why would there be one? Wouldn't the right religion be one that everyone can share, one without weird rituals like eating bread, not eating chicken, beef or pork, or something like that? Why would the right religion ask you not to just be who you are, but to change into a person of that religion? Why isn't just living life a religion itself? Everyone's qualified and it's not like you have to change anything, you're just...you.

Superb...imo

pay heed to your gult rather it be toward a "religious" act or whatever..follow your heart..If it leading you towards God then let it.

I really don't think meditation is a religious practice it is just learning to control and quiet your mind. The right religion is the one which works for you. The one that make you feel closer to your God. Everybody loves to tell everyone else what they should believe, why. Is it not enough to follow your own heart and to seek the truth of your own mind. Your God is with in you. Be at Peace.

Hun, this is a direct quote from YOU...I added some capital letters.

You answered your own question.

God is all loving. He would not be upset about creative thinking and learning new things. Religion is man-made. It is a way to practice certain traditions and to feel more spiritual within yourself and with God.
You said yourself you know God; since you answered your own question I think you do too.

Jody

I agree with Shera.... absolutely! :}

Religion is not Truth. Truth is not Religion. Two different animals. For some, Religion is a way to find Truth. Truth is never an avenue for 'finding Religion'.

Truth is....and can be found in various and unsuspecting places....when one seeks Truth...one finds Truth. When one seeks Religion...one finds Religion. They are not the same thing. Seek Truth. One never is confused by Truth.

Search and ask for guidance and wisdom on your path. Follow your heart, your true inner voice. It will lead you to God. The rest is static.

Edited to add: I have experienced this guilt that you speak about. In time, once you confront the source of this guilt, it will no longer trouble you. We often are harder on ourselves than God would ever be.

Go Joc Loved that! Hugs, Jody

Never stop seeking.

Peace,

RadicalGnostic

THANKS EVERYONE!! I think people just need to just chill out about being so concerned. I think all god wants us to be is good loving and peaceful people.. not to fight,kill or whatever. As LONG as we are GOOD people, that's al lthat should matter... Right?


It's confusing really but I'll try to explain it! It seems like I'm a special person because I'm actually seeing things! I know that sounds crazy.. numbers,astrology mixed with Mayan,Egyptian,Egyptians beliefs all seem to tie into one another. Even the different religions all seem to tie in with each other. I believe in meditating and the 7 chakras... these are used to meditate in different regions of your power body. I know this sounds crazy but the 7 chakras pertain to energies released out in the universe. I believe that god is out in our solar system.. he's among the stars and perhaps maybe he was not entirely human! I believe in Mayan astronomy and that something big will happen in 2011.. if you REALLY look into the bible & various other books... They mention the same thing.. even the Egyptians did and no one see's it. I believe that numerology plays a big role in our lives. My whole name equals to 11.. and it means I am a peacemaker & a mediator & IT DESCRIBED MY LIFE & FEELINGS PERFECTLY!

This soul searching is really interesting.. I've found so many things about myself and still learning more. I found numerology and astrology to be true in a sense because what I've studied is that numbers could actually play a significant roles in our lives. 11 associates with peace and that's what the number my whole name equals out too.Alot of events & things rely on 11 or events happened on 11 days & it associates with change and peace. 911 distress call,9/11 September attacks (Also the towers represented 11, 11/11 veterans day. Oddly I did this in the Mayan practices and it's different but I came out to 11 also on their belief system... an 11 spectral, and they too also associated me with peace. I always considered myself to be a peaceful person... to be a mediator. That's what it said about me. The numbers in my full name meaning First,middle and last came to 101 - 11 (My number represents GOD's peace). I thought that was so cool!

Read this sites and look into it... It's a whole lot to grasp!

Try these sites out..
Mayan Astronomy
http://www.mayantimes.com/Mayan%20astrology.htm

Numerology

http://www.decoz.com/DoReading_numerology.htm#LP
http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

For the longest I've been seeing 333 and 11:11 on clocks,radios or papers and thought they had meaning but this explains things too!
http://www.spiritual-path.com/numerology.htm



I thought these were very cool... and most of them came out to the same thing about me & I don't know... but alot of the things it said about me rung TRUE!!

Take the road less traveled or don't follow a path at all...go where you feel.

I think that's EXACTLY what I'm going to do. I'm thinking like how no one else is thinking right now, I'm actually thinking outside the box of things and it's sooo weird but I believe a higher force is talking to me just by strange coincidences and things happening in my life! So I believe that I'm going in the right path!

In my opinion, this is why I hate religion. It creates all this negetivity. Don't you think if God was so loving, you wouldn't need to be so paranoid of him doing you something?

Do not listen to anybody! Over time you will choose. If you do choose religion you could do it at any time and be "saved"

Another Child of the Earth is born. I have been where your at. You are fine, it is not weird. Write down your experiences and eventually you will be shown what they mean. Remember the Library is your friend. Keep seeking, it is the journey that is important and it is a blast.

excellent answer....

randomhit10

Don't go looking for the answers, let the answers find you. No reason to assume things that are unsure of. There is a certain honor in saying "I don't know".

Thanks hun Jody

well marcus, what I would say that you seem to be struggling with your christian upbrining and your exploration of the more esoteric or spititual aspects of religion.

There's nothing wrong with that. I was raised in a spiritual home, where my mother ran a yoga studio and taught transendental meditation. I even lived in an ashram in India for a while (and yes, i'm a white bread, milk toast american.)

I ended up a Christian, although a very spiritual one.

I'd say if you still feel connected to your Christian upbrininging but don't agree with the philosophy, visit a whole lot of different religious gatherings, do a lot of reserach and see if any of tem feel right for you. (I ended up a Quaker, but I woudln't say this is a faith for everyone, it's both easy and hard and requires a great deal of commitment)

My best advice is to learn as much as possible, go to a lot of different venue of worship and see what resonates for you. that will be what's right. If you find that none of it feels right, you might be more like sunni who has a very deep and commited relationship with God, but isn't a member of a defined religious comminity. that's ok too. This is a good time for you to do the leg work and exploration.

My best to you, and go in peace,

Which road should you take?


Well take a left then get off at the next exit...go straight past anyone that tries to convert you...take a right towards - make your own mind up lane...then stop , and think...what has more pro's than con's? What makes me feel confortable?


Only then you will find a way