Question of the day

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

12/13/06

Faith – how do you explain it?

Religion has been a reoccurring topic in this forum and I always enjoy reading the various responses that a religious topic tends to generate in MENA group. I usually don’t participate as I feel that my knowledge is very limited as well as my faith is lacking strong convictions. I ask myself why many, many times…Why my faith has lost its strength?

I was raised catholic in Poland in a family that was rather liberal in many ways…I participated in all religion classes that were required and was a member of a church organization that organized summer retreats with priests and nuns…I used to love the idea and the institution of church when I was in Poland. I went to Sunday masses and some other events – always enjoyed them to a large extent… Then at 17 I came to US and things changed dramatically.

My English was non-existent – so I couldn’t participate in the mass. I also have noticed details that kind of turned me off – like a very well endowed woman with a low cut cleavage distributing the “body of Christ” during a mass…

It just never felt right and I just stopped going all together…

Now living with Jamal – a practicing Muslim – I ask myself how one stays so strong in his/her faith and convictions?

I hope that this post will open the door to an interesting discussion – I am so looking forward to reading some of your material as I am not able to find an answer in my heart. I think that my problem is a high level of skepticism that just keeps me at bay and doesn’t let me see the “truth”… I just have thought of another question but let’s leave it for tomorrow…

Thank you all for participation…

Respectfully,

Dorothy - a very curious skeptic !!

[jordanianprincess 0]

Ok are connecting the fact that because he is Muslim he is staying strong in his faith? Because if that is the connection you are making then I think it's wrong.

You don't have to speak english to go to mass. All you need is your relationship to God. You can pray in your own language and take communion. That's all you need to keep your religion strong. Besides that, there are many churches and if you don't like the people in one, you can go to another.

I think the reason you are no longer practicing is because of the new found freedom you have. Plus you were a minor when you were doing all those things. I went to church regularly until I was 17 too, but when I started making my own choices and having the freedom to go out and do things, I started shopping, hanging out with friends, and doing other things instead. It has not changed how strong my faith is though and I don't think you need to be in church to be strong in your faith.

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Ok are connecting the fact that because he is Muslim he is staying strong in his faith? Because if that is the connection you are making then I think it's wrong.

No, I don't look at it that way...There are a lot of Christians who are as strong in their faith as any Muslim...

It has not changed how strong my faith is though and I don't think you need to be in church to be strong in your faith.

I agree with that as well...

What bothers me is that I don't feel the connection...why it seems that what once was clear to me not just doesn't make much sense...am I losing it or what?

Thanks for your answer JP...

[jordanianprincess 0]

Ok are connecting the fact that because he is Muslim he is staying strong in his faith? Because if that is the connection you are making then I think it's wrong.

No, I don't look at it that way...There are a lot of Christians who are as strong in their faith as any Muslim...

It has not changed how strong my faith is though and I don't think you need to be in church to be strong in your faith.

I agree with that as well...

What bothers me is that I don't feel the connection...why it seems that what once was clear to me not just doesn't make much sense...am I losing it or what?

Thanks for your answer JP...

I don't think you are losing it at all. To be quite honest, it's easy for many people to put religion on the back burner. You may have just gotten caught up in the fast paced life here.

As far as your husband staying strong in his religion, well its familiar to him. He is in a new place, everything is new. He is not used to anything, his religion is something familiar to him and most likely makes him feel calm.

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

I don't think you are losing it at all. To be quite honest, it's easy for many people to put religion on the back burner. You may have just gotten caught up in the fast paced life here.

As far as your husband staying strong in his religion, well its familiar to him. He is in a new place, everything is new. He is not used to anything, his religion is something familiar to him and most likely makes him feel calm.

Thanks JP, what you are saying makes a lot of sense. I can see how religion can be a refuge for my husband...

As for myself - I do believe in God - I just don't get religious about it...

Question comes to mind...Does faith equates religion? If I don't practice, if I don't agree with the dogma does it mean I have lost faith, or have I just lost religion? I fell like I am going in circles and nothing good comes out of what I am writing...Does it make any sense?

[cbd2cai 0]

As for myself - I do believe in God - I just don't get religious about it...

Question comes to mind...Does faith equates religion? If I don't practice, if I don't agree with the dogma does it mean I have lost faith, or have I just lost religion? I fell like I am going in circles and nothing good comes out of what I am writing...Does it make any sense?

This alone could cause a huge debate.

For me, religion is separate from belief (faith) in God. But religion is what I grew up with and how I learned about God. It is the "rules" (dogma as you like) of religion that I will disagree on now. I feel for some ppl that their lives do revolve around their religion as part of community too . . . it is a way of belonging, it provides that support that most ppl need. So, sometimes I feel disconnected too because there was the sense of community when I was growing up that I no longer have. I don't believe that you need to go to church every day or every week to show that you have belief . . . it is in the way you live your life, how you treat ppl, the things you do to make the world a better place, and how you keep trying to understand and grow as a person.

. . . not sure I am explaining well what I mean. I've been thinking about this idea of spirituality as being something personal and not necessarily as part of a religion . . . I think we all need to find our own solutions. But it is harder to "walk the walk" than it is to "talk the talk" . . . which I am sure is clear as mud now.

Oh, one last thought . . . I have a t-shirt in my collection that I found somewhere a long time ago and pull it out to wear sometimes as it still holds true for me . . . even if my rhetoric has toned down

"BEWARE OF DOGMA" . . .

Edited December 14, 2006 by cbd2cai

[Together4ever 1]

"Faith" is trust in that which is. "Religion" is a template for a focused way of living. Simplistically speaking.

[amal 4]

12/13/06

Faith – how do you explain it?

Religion has been a reoccurring topic in this forum and I always enjoy reading the various responses that a religious topic tends to generate in MENA group. I usually don’t participate as I feel that my knowledge is very limited as well as my faith is lacking strong convictions. I ask myself why many, many times…Why my faith has lost its strength?

I was raised catholic in Poland in a family that was rather liberal in many ways…I participated in all religion classes that were required and was a member of a church organization that organized summer retreats with priests and nuns…I used to love the idea and the institution of church when I was in Poland. I went to Sunday masses and some other events – always enjoyed them to a large extent… Then at 17 I came to US and things changed dramatically.

My English was non-existent – so I couldn’t participate in the mass. I also have noticed details that kind of turned me off – like a very well endowed woman with a low cut cleavage distributing the “body of Christ” during a mass…

It just never felt right and I just stopped going all together…

Now living with Jamal – a practicing Muslim – I ask myself how one stays so strong in his/her faith and convictions?

I hope that this post will open the door to an interesting discussion – I am so looking forward to reading some of your material as I am not able to find an answer in my heart. I think that my problem is a high level of skepticism that just keeps me at bay and doesn’t let me see the “truth”… I just have thought of another question but let’s leave it for tomorrow…

Thank you all for participation…

Respectfully,

Dorothy - a very curious skeptic !!

Have you ever seen the movie Dogma? There is a scene in the beginning in which one of the main ppl speaks of feeling that she has lost her faith... and that she wants back how she felt when she was young. Her friend tells her something that I think is very true... As children, our religious glass is tiny so it doesn't take much to fill it up...but as we get older, our glass gets bigger so it takes more and more to fill it up... get what I'm sayin? It is so easy as a child to just believe what we are taught but as we get older, we need more and more proof of things in order to believe them......

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

"BEWARE OF DOGMA" . . .

um, my karma just ran over your dogma, sorry......

[noura 0]

"BEWARE OF DOGMA" . . .

um, my karma just ran over your dogma, sorry......

that's so yesterday, charles!

[cbd2cai 0]

"BEWARE OF DOGMA" . . .

um, my karma just ran over your dogma, sorry......

that's so yesterday, charles!

Oh, Noura! are you saying that Charles is a has-been????

I don't know whose "dogma" he is talking about anyway . . . I performed that exorcism a long time ago . . . I now subscribe to cat-ma!! Yes, I worship all things "CAT", lol!!! Egyptian cats and lions included .

Edited December 14, 2006 by cbd2cai

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

"BEWARE OF DOGMA" . . .

um, my karma just ran over your dogma, sorry......

that's so yesterday, charles!

sorry i was not aware we had to stay current

[lilofdevine 0]

Hello all, I usually dont post on this thread but a friend of mine told me I should start. Hello Dorothy, I would like to respond to your topic, if I may.

A lot of times we dont look for God unless we need him. Being a believer is great, this means that somewhere along the line there must have been a connection or you would not believe. Remember, God never disconnects, we do. Faith is really something that comes as you build or shall I say reconnect your relationship with God. Faith is a seed that is planted in us and it grows as we water it. How do we water it. Well we all water it some way or another right here on visa journey. Would you go through this whole process without faith. absolutely not. So you watered your seed and now it has grown enough to get Jamal by your side.

You see, you are just a little dry right now and it happens to everyone. As for Jamal, learn from his dedication, and you do the same but Dorothy, you cant do it alone. To be honest, maybe that why you and I have become friends. God will put people in your path to guide you along. Here I am and I am waiting here for you in NC. You can water your seed by turning on your tv in the morning and listing to Creflo Dollar or TD Jakes, theres so many. Grab a Bible, read only 1 verse a day and remember it throughout the day. And Girl before you know it, you are on your way with a cup overflowing with water. Love you and please call me so we can go crazy in this topic.

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Hello all, I usually dont post on this thread but a friend of mine told me I should start. Hello Dorothy, I would like to respond to your topic, if I may.

A lot of times we dont look for God unless we need him. Being a believer is great, this means that somewhere along the line there must have been a connection or you would not believe. Remember, God never disconnects, we do. Faith is really something that comes as you build or shall I say reconnect your relationship with God. Faith is a seed that is planted in us and it grows as we water it. How do we water it. Well we all water it some way or another right here on visa journey. Would you go through this whole process without faith. absolutely not. So you watered your seed and now it has grown enough to get Jamal by your side.

You see, you are just a little dry right now and it happens to everyone. As for Jamal, learn from his dedication, and you do the same but Dorothy, you cant do it alone. To be honest, maybe that why you and I have become friends. God will put people in your path to guide you along. Here I am and I am waiting here for you in NC. You can water your seed by turning on your tv in the morning and listing to Creflo Dollar or TD Jakes, theres so many. Grab a Bible, read only 1 verse a day and remember it throughout the day. And Girl before you know it, you are on your way with a cup overflowing with water. Love you and please call me so we can go crazy in this topic.

Thank you so much for your beautiful response. It has been a pleasure meeting and I value your friendship great deal and will definetly stay in touch...I really enjoyed your answer - it makes sense when you saying that we are the ones who choose to disconnect...God never does...Thanks Lillian

Talk to you soon,

Love, Dorothy

P.S. I enjoyed reading all responses....thank you

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Hello all, I usually dont post on this thread but a friend of mine told me I should start. Hello Dorothy, I would like to respond to your topic, if I may.

A lot of times we dont look for God unless we need him. Being a believer is great, this means that somewhere along the line there must have been a connection or you would not believe. Remember, God never disconnects, we do. Faith is really something that comes as you build or shall I say reconnect your relationship with God. Faith is a seed that is planted in us and it grows as we water it. How do we water it. Well we all water it some way or another right here on visa journey. Would you go through this whole process without faith. absolutely not. So you watered your seed and now it has grown enough to get Jamal by your side.

You see, you are just a little dry right now and it happens to everyone. As for Jamal, learn from his dedication, and you do the same but Dorothy, you cant do it alone. To be honest, maybe that why you and I have become friends. God will put people in your path to guide you along. Here I am and I am waiting here for you in NC. You can water your seed by turning on your tv in the morning and listing to Creflo Dollar or TD Jakes, theres so many. Grab a Bible, read only 1 verse a day and remember it throughout the day. And Girl before you know it, you are on your way with a cup overflowing with water. Love you and please call me so we can go crazy in this topic.

Thank you so much for your beautiful response. It has been a pleasure meeting and I value your friendship great deal and will definetly stay in touch...I really enjoyed your answer - it makes sense when you saying that we are the ones who choose to disconnect...God never does...Thanks Lillian

Talk to you soon,

Love, Dorothy

P.S. I enjoyed reading all responses....thank you

I am not sure why I was not allowed to edit my post but I just wanted to say that it is great to see you posting..