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Have you ever had this feeling?

The feeling of having your inner strength being ripped away from your very soul. I have. I used to be a "god person" when I was younger, and that gave me an inner strength that kept me going. Then, I discovered ancient religions, mostly via the Discovery Channel, mostly on the religion of Ancient Egypt. Then, as I grew older, I started more research, reading up on whatever I could get my hands on, about Luciferianism, Paganism and what not.

It was around the same time that I discovered that Vampirism was more than what movies portrayed. It actually had a massive following across the globe. It was then that I seemingly lost my "inner strength". I mean, I am sure there are like-people on Rave who know what I am trying to say here.

Has embracing a new faith ever altered your experience of life? I still do feel a tad bit "weak" after I had started embracing other alternative faiths.

My questions are, as thus:

-Why have you made the switch?

- Do you feel "weak" after accepting an alternative faith?

-What do you think is the reason for feeling this particular "weak" sensation?

I was born into a very strict Roman Catholic family. I was baptized as a baby. We (my family) went to church every Sunday and holiday. We prayed before every meal. I went to Sunday school. Most of my family are still very devoted, loyal Catholics.

At my first communion I was the speaker for my class. I read from the book of so and so, dressed up in a white communion dress. The words held no meaning to me. As young as 6 years old, I was convinced the church was feeding me a pack of lies. The church had a terrible energy about it. Still, I was forced to go. I rebelled as much as possible.

There are too many things Church can not answer. Where are dinosaurs in the bible?

In the end, I find my peace in nature. My church is anywhere: In a forest, a snowy field, next to a noise waterfall. I feel alive and great peace when I partake in the creation rather than worshiping a false creator.

So in answer to your post, I found my inner strength by rejecting religion aka "the faith"

Dinosaurs in the Bible?

The Bible isn't a book of Earth history. That is why they aren't explained. At least not in detail.

It is helpful to understand what that book isn't, before one can understand what it is.

The church however, is terrible at explaining many things.

Trust me, I understand exactly what the bible is & isn't. It is a book written by men. In fact, as far as my family's religion is concerned - most church doctrine was voted on by high ranking bishops, cardinals, etc. How can you vote on faith?

You took my sarcasm too literally. If I was a christian, I would think the point of at least The New Testament would be to actually TEACH what Jesus spoke of, rather than where he went, and what miracles were performed so people could listen to his sermons.

I respect that other people have religious belief. Good for them. I don't. I feel there are far too many loop holes in any organized religion, meaning it contradicts itself.

My apologies then, I thought your question about dinosaurs was sincere.

However, the term "dinosaur" didn't even exist until around 1841. The Bible was written between approximately 1450 BC and 95 AD.

There are countless similarities between the various religions. Where these beliefs intersect (the similarities) is where I think we'e come the closest to knowing truth.

As for dinosaurs and the Bible, like the other member said, the Bible isn't a book of world history, nor it is a science book - and it doesn't claim to be such. Just because some try to say it is doesn't mean the blame lies with the book. Looking to the Bible to learn what causes earthquakes, or how many planets there are, or what process created fossils is like looking to a physics book to answer whether or not stealing from your neighbor is good or bad.

That said, read Job 40:15-23. To me at least, it sounds an awful like the description of some kind of plant eating dinosaur. (Most people say it's either an elephant or hippo, but it could easily be interpreted as a dino too.)

In part - "15: Behold now behemoth...he eateth grass as an ox.
16: Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
23: Behold, he drinketh up a river..."

Alternative faiths are growing everywhere but the various countries are rebelling from it because they either have a national religion or a predominance of certain ones like a zillion forms of Christianity. To say one is Christian is like saying one breathes. It's a myriad of types. The worse thing one can do is read the KJV because it is full of words that either don't exist now or meant something entirely different then. I don't agree with the Holy Spirit will help you understand. I posted on another site a link to words from the translation that were strictly colloquial of the times. I think the anomalies and the times we live in, especially seeing another group with a very different religion that most westerners don't understand, has caused some to stray from organized groups. I am not in VR to bash other religions but I think the point is from what someone else posted is somewhat relevant because of technology. We have more access to knowledge gathering. The New Testament is really not about Jesus. Oh he is mentioned of course but it is Pauline doctrine and I never accepted his claims. That's all I will say about that.

Whatever your faith, it is to be respected by others. No one else has to believe even if you believe everything was created by some alien race and you give them reverence. It's a very personal issue but they say in articles that many, many people are moving away from organized religion. If it helps you and you think its true for you, then it is up to you to keep whatever faith you wish or do not wish to have. The humanists are rising in numbers but they are getting as obnoxious as those they are trying to thwart. I keep to myself and don't claim any one belief because you kind of have to sift through it all. So in the long run I'm most likely agnostic with a few other things thrown in. I don't like the use of the word "God" because it's not a name and certain people seem to claim the word and it is understood if used to mean one in particular but it is a generic word.

Perhaps all these patriarchal societies are wrong and it is female or no gender at all; not father or mother. I do think people have lost faith to a degree with any sort of ideology because of the state of the world and there are things they can't answer so they assume this is the end. They have been saying that for centuries. If it should be it will be humans that are the cause and not a writing in my opinion and I think all of these ideas scare a lot of people. So they have strayed away from the negative side of things and don't attend church or whatever place they go to as much anymore if they ever went at all. Yes, I would say some have lost their faith and moved on to other things or nothing at all.

Though I can understand what you are expressing,I can't say that I have ever been in this situation. I was raised within a mixture of Christianity and Hoodoo.

There were two branches basically in my own family to choose from. In this generation I am the somewhat 'blacksheep' as I've chosen the darker path,but I am not looked down on or seen as anything other than what I am. I'm just the dark one.

At times growing up I 'did' have to wonder if I was making the right decisions..was my faith in what I believed stronger than the rest of my family? Was it weaker? Was I right or wrong? But as I grew up I came to realize that this was just my own calling and that my faith,and the strength in it was what 'I' made it into.

Today I am comfortable,and very strong with what I believe.

I am liking the input in this thread. All well articulated.

I see it as a matter of churches losing congregants themselves. Either because they put to much into getting butts in the pews to properly attend to their present flock, or people are just to feed up with churches going commercial. I am on an atheist site and I see the fall out. People who spent decades in organized religion falling out between the cracks, and finding at their neediest moment their church wasn't there for them.

I am an ordained minister myself in a couple fringe sects.. Dudeism, and Discordianism. I am also a Sub Genius. All three are religions, disguised as a joke, or a joke disguised as a religion.

I found the common denominator in people that pull away from their faith is alienation. Even when I attended weekday bible study I could tell the majority of the group was just there for the company, and social element. Being spiritual is one thing.. don't feel like you are selling yourself short by not being devout.

Why have you made the switch?

I was never devote actually, if early exposure would have dictated my faith i would be an Odinist because before I even heard a bible story I was reading Greek, and Norse Mythology by the time I got around to attending a bible study group (6th grade)I was simply there to keep my friend company because he was forced to go.

- Do you feel "weak" after accepting an alternative faith?

My alternatives to faith The Church of the Sub Genius, Discordianism, and Dudeism are all worth looking into. If you get anything out of The Church of the Sub Genius it should be "Pull the wool over your own eyes." It was a good release from all the subtle pressures the churches put on you, most people experience separation anxiety when they withdrawal from established religion.. heck after attending Rocky Horror Picture Show for every weekend for two and a half years I felt like a fish out of water. I suggest finding a hobby group to share time with.

-What do you think is the reason for feeling this particular "weak" sensation?

Withdrawals from the "comfort" churches offer.

When I was a kid I believed strongly in God, but that was mainly because I believed what adults told me, so if they said there was a God I thought there was. Now I'm a humanist, but I don't feel weak, if anything it's made me feel stronger. It feels good to be my own person rather than just believing what I'm told, so I suppose changing my faith (or maybe losing it?) has helped me discover who I am and deal with it.

Discordianism? I have to laugh out loud here, not because it is ridicules but because it actually sounds like something I probably would have created If I was inclined to make a religion. Hell, many of its ideals is shared by me i.e chaos. How pleasantly disturbing it is, there needs to be more religions and tribes like this.

Hail Eris!

One of the key tenets of Discordianism is "A Discordian is prohibited from believing anything they read."

Oh and Hot dogs with no buns on Tuesdays in observance of The Original Snub.

All Hail Discordia!

Makes sense if you can take it metaphorically, if you're a strong follower of yourself and your own will, you would have to take everything else with a pinch of salt.

Due to the practises and goals, they should really get a discordian into the catholic/christian church as an infilitration agent, image the strife and schisms that could be caused by a "priest" that is secretly an agent of chaos. Should get one to replace the pope himself. Ha!

I fancy a hot dog now, I hate it when I get a sudden hunger like that

I infiltrated a few churches, and was subliminal about The Church Of The Sub Genius way back when it was still a Zine spread cult, I left clip art tracts with esoteric messages around the bible bookstore I worked . Yea The Church of the Sub Genius is an out of the closet cult. They pride themselves as the only religion that pays taxes too. In some states you can officiate a wedding, or get chapel visits with inmates if you are ordained a Sub Genius minister. Same with Dudeism. Just like Unitarian ministers as long as there is a national registry then it floats with some municipalities. There is also The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster which is a non-prophet church collective of atheist. Then there is the Church of The Invisible Pink Unicorn.. both mock traditional faiths assertion that "God" "is all being" yet comprehensible.

So I leave you with...

May "B.O.B." Dobbs be your salesmen.

The Dude Abides

Hail Eris!

"May "B.O.B." Dobbs be your salesmen."

I have no idea why but that just reminded me of this:

I enjoy how purposefully blatant they are with this statement: "You can, with a credit card, or PayPal, just flat-out give us money, for NOTHING -- OR BURN IN SLACKLESSNESS TRYING NOT TO!"

How refreshing it is to see a "religion" be honest about profit.

The Church of Euthanasia is another alternate faith. Less humor in it though and they get into a lot of figts with christians. Again it s a group that somehow shares some of my views, their four principal pillars are suicide, abortion, cannibalism of the already dead, and sodomy, though I wouldn't wait until someone was dead before eating them to survive, I will eat when I want to eat.
I find suicide useless unless the human is no longer useful in someway i.e paralysed, however, a decrease in population is always good as the population of mankind is dire indeed.

Back to the OP's question though, why feel weakened when learning something new can open your eyes? Yes you may no longer feel the same as before about your old beliefs, but why stagnate? always learn something new, it keeps you fresh and furthers your knowledge of the world.

Some folk that get the jitters leaving a faith may have had their "cart before the horse" you should be you, not the image of what the church wants of you. It is a good thing to stray from a faith in such a case.

Everyone could use some SLACK, don't be Pink. "Guaranteed Salvation or Triple Your Money Back!"

"Pull the Wool Over Your Own Eyes."

"Get in touch with your Yeti Nature."

"Get in touch with your yeti nature"

That's officially my quote of the week. Truly enlightening. I feel the need to act like a squatch now.

The only faith I ever accepted was in myself. It rarely faulters.

Excellent choice Omega, it really is the true way of having faith, at least you know you exist for certain.

Unfortunately few humans think that, they need something to believe in or to be a part of, social animals can be like that, however, doesn't mean there is no fun to be had in it. The aforementioned Discordianism and Sub-genius is something worth checking out, and even if it is parady ( it is highly amusing), there is something in it you can take seriously or believe in for certain i.e Chaos, it is a real thing and it is something society sorely needs.

faith thats a hard thing to obtain and a great thing to have. true faith in anything .

I think people like routine and the things they know. Branching away and turning your back on something you previously beleived could cause you to miss it in a way (weakness) . Its also possible that part of you may still hold those beleifs and you may feel that you are turning your back on your deity(s) and that can cause you to feel weak either from betrayal psychologically or actual betrayal though the former is more likely. I personally have never changed my beleifs so I don't know for certain but that's my hypothesis.

i have learned over the years tho god is real, all religions pertaining to him bibles and all , are infact not true. but instead its man made(edited) versions of that they felt we needed to know or have some form of faith in. no one will truely know what occured all those years ago just that how every we truely came to be is a lost art in which we just cant find. Nor does anyone one of high standing ever plan to let us find out.

''ONCE MY UNCLE TOLD ME THAT THE POPE BLESSED THE CHURCH.I SAID TO MY UNCLE THE BUILDING HE SAID YES THE BUILDING,AND I SAID WHY DID HE NOT BLESS THE PEOPLE FOR THEY ARE GOD'S CHURCH''.YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD''.IN REALITY ALL RELIGIONS ARE ONE IN THE SAME.THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD NOT MANY.HE REACHES OUT TO US THROUGH MANY DIFFERANT PATHS.IN THE BEGINNING GOD WAS AN OUTER SOURCE IT HAD TO BEGIN SOMEHOW.BUT GOD IS AN INNER SOURCE.GOD IS EVERYTHING BUT TO FIND HIM YOU MUST LOOK WITHIN YOURSELF.YOUR ONLY PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE ON THE EARTH PLANE IS TO CONNECT WITH HIM,TO BECOME ''ONE''.HE DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU DO IN LIFE,EXCEPT THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND LIVE HIS WILL.REMEMBER ''YOU CANNOT FIND GOD IN A BOOK''.YOU MUST LOOK WITHIN YOURSELVES.NAMASTE' Elviscat

ON FAITH,FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING YOU ATTAIN,YOU EITHER BELIVE OR YOU DO NOT.IF YOU BELIVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL,THATS FAITH.AND FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS.

If you truly believe and accept something you would have no desire to leave. If you accept and believe part of something, you may decide to leave in search of something more fulfilling. If you font believe something at all, you leave. If you believe part of something and disagree with the rest, you have to decide if the disagreement is worth leaving. If it is, you may feel a sense of loss because the problem wasn't solved and because differences got in the way of similarities.

Most of you will hate me for my comment. Faith is the creation of something unreal, after someone infiltrate your mind, with some Mambo-wambo about some eternal place. Faith about something that you can't see, smell or touch, is just a game of life. If you analyze every religions that exist out there, all, have one thing in common: The explotation of the masses, with only one thing in mind: Money. If you want faith: Have faith in yourself and not in something, which is holding you down as a human being.

Exactly Markus, its what I always say, if you want faith in something, put it in yourself.

Agreed and we'll said Marcus.

I agree most major religions exploit the masses and use faith as a way to capitalize on religion ideologies and beliefs.

Dubs correct faith like many things are the beliefs of the massive. Society fluctuates on this personal thought whether its faith or sales pitches. My beliefs are my own from years of searches of my own. And i do not direct my faith on others. Society preaches we follow or be shunned. I was born catholic yet preferred my own spirituality and fact of sources and thought

I took comparative religion in community collage and after working a bible bookstore i learned that every religion with few exceptions have reformed sects. So even the "admins" of religions are reakuzing they need to be moreuser friendly to maintain pew capacity and thus tithes.

WE.. AND ONLY WE..

Are the masters of our own lives.. within this wholesome experience.

ONE SLAVE..

May be WHIPPED.. BEATEN.. AND TOLD of his or her meaning..

But it is HIS or HER CHOICE.. of whether to hold belief in such statements, or not.

It is from this choice.. one will stand, and say, "I am a Man/Woman"

And another, "I am a SLAVE."

--------

We are Mind.. all we wish to be as, we can be. What love we wish to hold dear for sufficient passions, we may.

The entire process of identification (thus, giving existence to something) occurs in the Mind. In this, we are God.

Understand this.. and there will be nothing within the confines of your experience you will lack control over again.

REALISATION is ENLIGHTENMENT.

Indeed khemett, no one really hold sway over another exept when it comes to fear. Most case has slaves outnumber the "guards" but fear held them back.