So todays session was not revolving about medications it came up at the end we got further into my mind I guess and i told him how medication i dont want it to be a daily i want something for on the spot he said les stick to what we are doing and We will talk more next session i said okay
Anyway in regards to todays session we discussed RELIGION and how it affects me today and what i Think about life or life itself and after life we also got into discussing how I do not like confrontations because i do not like how i always lose unless its verbal where i can take my time to think of my come back or response especially in arguements if i have a verbal arguement i cant think fast enogh and therefore i lose before i even open my mouth or when i open my mouth its jibberish
He said i am like him when he was younger he was always trying to find answers to these world war problems such as hunger or why people are egotistical so I guess the session went good but i did want to speak on medications but that didnt happen so i guess next time I will truly speak on it for now I must face my demons and keep trying to go to new places i like yhis guy because he doesnt pressure me and he always says im too tense and to lay down and just speak my mind whcih is what i do and so today was just all about religion and death and why i fear it which is because i fear death at a young age because I havent truly finished or fulfilled my path yes its out of my control but i cannot convince myself to let that go or let that be the truth i try no matter what to tel myself look death is going to happen and if there is a heaven or hell your going to one or the other or if there is nothing SO BE IT but i cant seem to grasp the concept and it frustrates me and i truly think my anxiety started ever aince religion xame to my life.. For me religion is the devil to me because im constantly confused or questioning my faith.. i dont seek anyone from churches help because i feel they are saved and they know the answer because they BELIEVE but i cant believe something I cant see which meand I cant have faith -_- i question this world and everything in it because i dont know THE TRUTH i feel as though everything is or can be a lie and used against me or to decieve me so i question everything idk i just think my anxiety is about death mainly and what happens afterwards if i only had something like faith or hope or an answer to what happens after life then i could truly live.. Its just SO HARD so damn hard to live and know that your going to die one day.. how the hell do i accept wether or not heaven or hell exists i cant grasp that concept and it frustrates me..
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kevoreally
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kev, you are not the first one or will be the last person to question what happens when we die, is there a heaven or a hell. I got my medical training at Loyola, a Catholic University. I was surprised in that one of my classes in theology was a talk presented by an atheist one day. The whole premise of the talk was to make us think about heaven and hell and the after life. If there was a God and we believed in Him and lived our lives accordingly, then we would be promised a forever in His Kingdom. But if there weren't a God and we had lived our lives as a good person who had never done any harm, we would have lost nothing. That thought always stayed with me in that in life we have choices. It doesn't make any difference what religion you are or aren't, it's about being the best person you can be for no reason other than yourself. As least that's what I think
My thing is WHAT IS A SIN and what ISNT a sin.. im constantly at battle as to whats a sin and what isnt so how can i live a GOOD life if I don know what im doing is sinful or not? I have read a ton of things online saying what is and what isnt and its very misleading so maybe if i had this answer that was all truth id know what was good vs evil.. obviously common sense is used for putting some brain matter into whats good and whats not but when it comes down to certain things its harder to tell if it is or isnt.. any ideas?
kev, I think we are getting off track of our issue of anxiety. Just as your psychiatrist brought up the fact of religion today, so has mine on occasion. I think mostly when he didn't know what to do about the anxiety that continued to haunt me. I would tell him that I've done everything in my power to overcome anxiety and nothing helps. That is when he would ask me, "have you tried prayer" ?
I actually broght up religion he just went in depth with it lol but i truly think it was the start of my anxiety becausebi learned abot religion when i was maybe 5 and i had my first panic attack but calmed my self down some how and was fine but ive dealt with this since yhat age and it revolved around death which lies around religion because of afterlife so in my opinion i think religion and death have great part in my anxiety
Just be the best you can.. you know what is right and wrong.. we all sin and sin can be forgiven..prayer is connecting yourself to the higher force no matter what you call it..and along comes faith, hope, belief etc..but it is all within you and only you..you have the choice to many other resources like denominations but they all share common grounds.. prophets, saints, priests, Jesus etc all intercede for you to the higher force..they are teachers, preaches, helpers etc. I strongly believe its the kingdom within you..between you and the higher force..
I think like you do a lot also. I want to be a faithful religious person, but it’s not that easy for me. My husband can put his whole heart and sole into it. But I find my mind questioning everything.
Like Agora1 said, we have nothing to lose by believing. So why can’t I just believe, and be true to it?
In fact my Grandmother believed with her whole heart and sole. My Mother is schizophrenic, and has had episodes since her teens. My Grandmother always believed that God would heal her. That was long ago, and my Mother has never gotten well. My Mother herself prays and prays to be healed. She believes what my GrandMother instilled in her still, and she is 78 years old now.
Kev, I make these points: consider something with the intricacy of the human eye: the iris and retina adjust to light, the natural lens focusses near or far, it has filters for ultra violet light built in and a mechanism to maintain the vitreous humour at just the right pressure. And all this evolved from a handful of space dust over a trillion years without a guiding force behind it? Don't make me laugh. If you want to know what the next stop on the journey us like find the Near Death Experiences website, thousands of recorded experiences from all over the world, and all with the same message. The euphoria, the feeling of unconditional love, the tunnel, the light, the amazing scenery, the replay of your life, no wonder that most of them didn't want to come back when told "It's not your time yet, you have to go back". One of them even asked the G man why there was so much suffering in the world and was given the reply: 'There has to be pain because there is love.' Don't ask me what He means, we have to work it out ourselves. But that's straight from the horse's mouth.
What is a sin, you ask? Something that causes another pain or loss without justification. Simples.
As someone once said, the only thing wrong with Socialism and Religion is the people who support it☺
Wow... excellent reply.. curious is this against religion or for it? Like did God say there has to be sin or did someone else say it that part confused me..
The message from the Light was that there has to be pain because there is love. You have to work it out. It probably means that we are not living in a holiday camp but are being tested and that means nasty things happen which we have to handle and that love is what holds everything together. But that's just my interpretation as despite my massive ego I am not actually God, Kev.
The light which is described by most NDE respondents as being at the end of the tunnel is a white light but described as like no white light you have seen before and although very bright does not hurt your eyes. The light is of course God who as the Muslims rightly say does not take human form, does not have sons, daughters, brothers, sisters. Look Kev it's 3am here in London town, I've had a few gin and tonics which in my case help anxiety and bedtime beckons as Mrs Jeff1943 insists the Christmas lights must go up tomorrow and Mrs Jeff1943 must be obeyed. Goodnight America.
God gave us free will. God is a God of love. Don’t look to the internet, look to the Bible. God does not cause suffering. Actions have reactions. For example, if you smoke you could get heart disease. God doesn’t cause it. When Eve ate that apple from the tree of knowledge it opened her mind to the temptations of this Earth and gave her free will. One of my favorite verses “ With God all things are possible.” Phillipians 4:13 As far as knowing what is sin and what isn’t you have to discern that for yourself. If you truly believe you will know! Don’t get too hung up on a list of sins. If you live your life the best way you know how you will be just fine! If you do slip then you will feel convicted. In your heart. You will know. That is when you repent and ask for forgiveness in Jesus name. As far as people being saved well the Bible clearly says “Ask and ye shall be saved”. I think everyone knows right from wrong except the innocent. It is the difference between good and evil. You know if what you are doing at any given moment is hurting someone. There are devotional books that will take you through the Bible in 365 days. Read the Bible in 365 days. A page at a time. So you don’t get overwhelmed. There are also Bible dictionaries to help you understand what you are reading. I pray for guidance and understanding before reading. I prayed before I commented on your post. Live a life of love and you will be just fine! Religion can be many things. The definition of RELIGION is basically a belief that you believe in. I was raised in a Baptist Church but now choose non denomination Bible based church. I believe in God. Muslims believe in Allah I think. Native Americans believe in the great spirit. I think they are all the same personally. You will have extremists in every group. I was told the Koran or Muslim bible teaches that non believers shall be killed. Well the King James Bible says that if you believe you shall not perish but have everlasting life. So basically if you don’t believe you shall perish. Not here but in the after life is what I’m taught. The extremists just take it literally. We truly are all the same. God loves ALL His children. God answers prayers. In His time and His way. Which is always the right way you just have to trust Him and receive it. He always knows Best. I will say one of my biggest pet peeves are people that say they are Christians or believers but practice hatred toward others or prejudice etc. The Bible says love over and over but you won’t ever be told to hate. Whether you choose to do things are your right but you are to love others as God does. You do not judge because if you truly believe then you will know that God is the judge. Not us. Therefore I love everyone. If you give me reason not to trust you I will pray for you. I will not judge. There is no perfect person. There is so much more for me to learn as well. You first have to believe and then start studying His word. I can’t tell you what to believe. I’m only telling you what I believe. May God bless you and guide you on your journey!
I would rather live my life believing there is a God only to find out there isn’t than live my life believing there is no God and then find out there is. To me that is scary. For me God is my reality. I just believe. There have been too many miracles in my life not to believe. If you do not believe and live in sin without forgiveness but He is real then you will live in eternal hell’s fire. I’m not taking any chances. I’m not perfect by any means. Trust me. I pray about it. I ask for forgiveness. I have Faith. It’s a much happier way to live for me. Death doesn’t seem so bad. No pain living in His heavenly glory. I will share my beliefs but I would never judge anyone for having theirs. 😀 For me I guess it would be very sad not to believe. It was sad not believing in Santa Claus. I remember my excitement at Christmas knowing Santa would come and leave me beautiful exciting gifts. Now that I don’t believe it’s not nearly as exciting. I will live my life believing in God. That’s my excitement. I have felt his presence! You can too! “He who believes shall not perish but have everlasting life!”
A god that is loving but creates hell thats firey.. to me thats just a double edge sword i guess.. another athiest pov is could help poverty and sickness but allows it etc..
im not athiest im just lost.. i used to live by the book and then life hit me and I was old enough to question everything and so thats all i have been doing is questioning everything and everyone..
no one has answered my question though what is a sin and what isnt a sin example
Sex is apparently a sin unless your married i love sex im not giving it up so i wont repent for that.. im not married yet either..
Cursing is a sin i just cant seem to stop that either im doing good but then im around others who curse and boy is it hard..
What defines a curse word? I never saw that in the Bible. Maybe swearing against another which is defined by hate. God gave us free will. The right to choose. I personally live in poverty but many people I know don’t. I did not choose the path they did even though we grew up side by side. Obviously people don’t choose poverty but the choices they made or their parents etc took them their until they are old enough to choose otherwise. Obama for instance was homeless and worked hard and made good choices for himself and then became president. Read your Bible. You will learn sin. It’s way more simple than you think. If you truly give yourself over you will know when you are wrong. Sex is a beautiful thing. I know most of us enjoy it. I was not innocent. When I got married I asked for forgiveness. Then I got divorced. God doesn’t like divorce the Bible says but He would not want someone to be abused. The Bible says honor thy wife and I wasn’t being honored. On the cross God forgave a murderer. All sins can be forgiven. Times have changed. Even borders if you look at the maps. I’m a firm believer that life has changed. The Bible was written before we had electricity or running water. Woman with menstrual cycles were unclean and had to be quarantined. They had blood sacrifices. Some of it is just discernment. I think starting at Matthew in the Bible is good but sometimes you have to know where you came from to know where you are going. I don’t want to tell you what I personally think is sin and what isn’t because that would in turn make me sound like I am passing judgement. I don’t do that on purpose. I know how I choose to live. Some people don’t think woman should wear pants. If that’s the case I sin every day. I don’t believe that. I don’t feel convicted when I do it. I hear people say that gay marriage is a sin. I’m sorry but I don’t feel that way. Marriage is about love another of Gods children. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I personally am not gay. I love men in that way so I choose not to partake in it. If I did love someone, I don’t care who, I don’t think God would judge me. That’s something I hear from “Christians” that boggles me. Gods asks us to love and let Him be the judge. For a “Christian” to tell someone they are wrong seems just the opposite. So study. Use your discernment. The world has changed. I certainly won’t slaughter a person especially my child to lay him on the alter. Times have changed. Yet in the Bible people did that. When Jesus gave His life it was so that we can live. I’m sorry but I don’t think anyone can make a clear list of sins. We all believe slightly differently. Catholics believe they need to pray through a priest. I believe when the veil was torn and Jesus gave his life we can pray straight to the father in Jesus name. Do you think the catholic who follows their beliefs and is a good person will not go to heaven? I sure don’t! I don’t think a true Christian will either. Yet they have different views and live differently. As does the Jewish person. I personally eat pork. Some people think that is a sin. I don’t believe I will be condemned for it though. I truly think we are all unique and diverse. Gods children. Live a life of love and kindness. What I may consider good a Catholic or Jewish person may consider bad. Yet we are all Gods beloved children. I’m sorry but it’s not for me, a sinner, to tell you what’s right or wrong. I think it’s way more simple than people teach. I think you are kind. God is love. He is a God of love. The arch angel wanted to take over and left and created hell. Where he is now the leader. Satan. However He will never defeat God so he is trying to corrupt His children. When evil thoughts come I truly believe they are of Satan. God is love. I hope this helps some. There are many religions or beliefs. Follow yours not mine and you will be fine. God knows your heart. You’ve got nothing to lose if so.
Hi kevoreally if i read between the lines , it seems you are feeling guilt, about having premarital sex and if you are a person who is connected spiritually, have not lost touch with your soul- yes that is your conscience and that will cause conflict/anxiety within you. To give a plain answer, since you asked- yes that is sin. This world is full of lies and the devil's influence which makes anxiety worse.Rev. 12:9 "The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it". Your conscience is already telling you what is sin but you will always find many in the world who will tell you otherwise, if that's what you're looking for. But if you're looking for TRUTH, it is in the Bible and yes, God created sex to be expression of love only in marriage between man and woman. i do battle still on a physical level-- my depression and anxiety. But spiritually, i have touched that place , that "peace that transcends all understanding" (Phil. 4:7) when i repented and trusted that Jesus, ONLY Jesus, was THE Way truth and life. Only He died and rose again . ONLY HE claimed to BE God. So either He was crazy, or a liar, or God. NO ONE ELSE ever claimed to BE God. So either Jesus is God, and rose from the dead, or He isn't and He didn't . No in-between. All religions are NOT all "saying the same thing". No one else said they were God. something very powerful happens when you believe Jesus is The Truth, and after that there's no turning back, and there is much comfort to be found in the Bible, and our Faith. Praying John 8:32 for you,for all, that "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"
Sorry to hear you are so confused with regard to religion. I'm 80 now and went through all the religious learnings. Was afraid to question the beliefs - brought up in the Christian church. Have suffered panic attacks, low self esteem, you name it and it has stayed with me formost of my life. However, 10 years ago I read about Cosmic healing and Cosmic energy and realised how this is with all of us, no dogmatic must do etc. Nobody can know about life after death but feel the freedom and let go of being dictated to by others. Please get in touch if I can help you find a bit more freedom!
Firstly, too many words confuses people, so will give you just my understanding. Tried Cosmic Ordering, bought all the book etc. and didn't do it for me. Gradually looked into Cosmic healing and cosmic energy. Never understood the scientific Cosmos but just began to be quiet and ask for the healing and energy as that is where everything comes from. Play New Age music to relax- learned to let go of any bad things that happened in my life. My husband died 3 year ago and yes its hard- but have got rid of all material things I don't need, Know it's easier for me but just try it. Have a dear granddaughter 23 who has mental issues but wont take any help. I so feel for you. Will talk again if you wish..much love
Personally I do not believe in any god or higher being who is going to save me. I rely on myself, that way I know I won't be let down or be waiting for ever for divine intervention.
As for the end of life. I believe everything has its time, the world keeps spinning and people die and babies are born and the life cycle continues. As for an afterlife, if one is there it will be there but not just for man but for all life forms. If nothing is there, that's ok too.
Knowledge is key and it gives you confidence. Educate yourself and you'll think faster because you'll know the answer.
Knowledge is definitely the key to recovery. Everything you need to know about anxiety and any other fear based disorder is in the books written by Dr Claire Weekes. So long as there is no underlying medical condition, you will recover if you apply that knowledge by facing your fears, accepting all the symptoms and getting on with your life, no matter how bad you may feel. In time, any intrusive, negative thoughts that might currently be haunting you and any physical symptoms of anxiety will gradually melt away. Usually, it is the fear of these symptoms that keep people stuck because it just keeps feeding the anxiety and keeping your nerves sensitised so that you react to stuff that ordinarily would never even register with you. Learn to let it all go.
You all have excellent replies thabk you so much sendin positivity to yall also i feel a general guilt for all things i do that are labeled “sins” so i guess sex does fall into that too who knows religions/faith is the hardest thing these days because like a poster above said this world changed.. drastically and its ran by satan.. thats one thing i truly believe that evrything that is going on with major tragic events is the devils work for the “NEW WORLD ORDER”
There has been a great deal of discussion about religion and God and sin ,etc.
When I was young, I firmly believe in western religion, as I grew older I became uncomfortable and fearful, and now I just don't think we have evolved enough to even comprehend what it is all about.
When I brought my confusion about my anxiety and my faith, my psychiatrist just said that's why he is a "retired Catholic." And he smiled when he learned that when I did walk to attend services, my service dog Scooter went too. The priest even blessed Scooter as we walked out. Scooter died a month later. Perhaps Scooter and I should not have attended Mass that Sunday.
The question of whether God created man or did man create God is an ancient one. Theologists and archeologist have tracked back into man's very early presence.....art work and ceremonies and rituals have existed from almost the beginning of time indicate mankind's desire to belong to something greater than it.
Unfortunately many have created rules and rituals and the resulting anxiety, fear and war with those whose beliefs were in a different format.
In a book of the 100 most important people in history, Mohammed is listed as first, way ahead of the western Jesus. Surprised someone in the western world hasn't rounded up all editions of that book and burned them.
My belief as I have matured in life, is that we are so low on our evolution, we could not actually comprehend what is really at the core of the billions of universes that exist, so man created God to have a hope of belonging to something greater than ourselves. I am comfortable in the belief that there may not be anything I now could comprehend after my life is over. I am a vegetarian; with my luck, I'll come back as a cabbage. But this is one thing about which I have no anxiety; how I die concerns me and I would like control over that.
Kev ~ my attitude to religion goes across all boundaries. I was a Protestant, brought up in a church of wrath and hell-fire. I made the choice to get out of that church at the age of 16, as it was destroying me ~ mentally / emotionally / physically and spiritually.
So, I knew I had 'choices' in life. Part of these choices was to marry a Jewish guy (but not take on his faith), and I used to go to Catholic 'spiritual retreats' (without taking on that faith either). However, on the retreats, I spoke at length with one particular Franciscan Brother, who was a beautiful man.
He asked me what was my vision of 'God'. I replied that I saw 'my' god as a loving "being", who when I insisted on 'free will' and decided I was going to stick my hand into the flames of a fire, despite having been warned not to because it would hurt, would gently take my burned hand and like a parent 'heal it', without telling me "I told you so". Pure, unconditional love.
Brother Raymond said he had the same vision of 'his' God too. Best to keep it simple. 😊❤️️
You could also think of life and death in the manner of: "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." — (Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789.)
We all 'owe a death' ~ and no-one, so far, has come back and told us what's in the great beyond. You say 'heaven or hell' ~ that's not a 'given'. MANY other religions believe in reincarnation. Who's to say who is right? Preferably, as a spiritual being, I'd rather believe the latter, but we don't get a 'guarantee' in this life.
What we do get in 'this life' ~ is "life" (as we know it, LOL) ~ but all points seem to be aiming to live as good a life as is humanly possible (we're all flawed!).
You know when you're not 'doing it right', when you do something to someone, which you'd not like to have done to you. Again, keep it simple. 😊❤️️ If someone does something nasty to you, you can forgive that person ~ and then "move on", as you don't need people who hurt you in your life.
So ~ just keep treating others as you'd like to be treated yourself, which I'd assume is with love and care.
As to your fear of death..? My first panic attack, I thought I was dying. My first sane thought was "Is this how it ends?" (and I can assure you I wasn't thinking 'heaven/hell/reincarnation') ~ and I wasn't frightened any more ~ then my second sane thought came into my mind: "you're having a panic attack, you silly ***** !". And, I laughed out loud, for sure ...
Blessed Be, Kev (and that doesn't come from any specific religion) ~ With Love, Barbara xx
What Shawny89 wrote here is very wise. However the Holy Qu'uaran does not say non Muslims shouldbe killed, I have read 3 translations. I am a Christian btw. Neither does the Holy Qu'uaran say that young men who murder non Muslims will spend eternity in paradise with 20 virgins. That stuff is made up by people who want to demonise Muslims for political reasons. It's not in the Qu'uaran.
Jesus was a messanger, a prophet. He never claimed to be a God. Moses and Mohammed were also messengers, they weren't Gods either. There is only one God and he is a jealous God and acknowledges no others. If you believe Jesus was the son of God then you have two Gods. If you pray to Mary then you have made her a God too. So now we're up to 3 Gods. No, there is only one God and it's the same God that Christians, Muslims and Jews acknowledge. Don't know about the Native Americans.
The Bible has been rewritten, edited, respun, jingled and jangled throughout the ages by people to include their own agendas. It's been used to control both men and women but that's not God's fault its the fault of men and women. One book in the Bible tells us that Pontius Pilate died by falling over in a stoney field and his stomach split open, in another book in the Bible he hung himself from a tree. The truth is still in the Bible but you need to search for it and use your judgement. Didn't know the RCs still believed you can only pray through a priest. You don't need priests, or vicars or churches to pray. All you need is your soul.
Jesus never told you what to do, he told you a parable and from that you made your mind up. He was one very cool dude, I love his style. He was the greatest mortal to walk God's earth.
Amen. My bible says if you believe you shall have everlasting life and not prerish. Simply put. So to an extremist that may mean Christian or die. I think the Qu’uruan maybe an extremist may think people who don’t believe in Allah or whatever should perish. It is meant as everlasting life. I just wondered if it’s basically what my bible says and as in every religion there are radicals. I was in no way meaning all Muslims. I just wanted to make that clear. Christians have killed non Christians. I believe though 100% that Jesus is the son of God. I believe in the trinity. Whether you do or not I still love you. If someone is Muslim or not I love them. Catholic, Jewish, gay, straight, white, black etc. I love them. I do not like when “Christians” speak for the group and spread hate, prejudice etc. The world is much different. Just look at the maps in the Bible. Woman aren’t quarantined for menstruating or are a sinner if they wear a wedding ring or necklace which is adornment. I pray to God. In Jesus name who gave his life so I could live. I don’t however think someone who has another religion won’t go to heaven because of it. God is for sure one cool cat! Amen brother!
Whilst I have no doubt about the existence of a higher power, I've seen too much conflict, over the years, caused by religion. Spandau Ballet had a song called "Through the barricades" which sums up exactly my position & circumstances in a country violently divided by faith. 🇮🇪
I stugel with the same thing. I never asked to be here and now i am and i must die like u. Religon to me is dogmatic and used to control people. I don't know what's on the other side but just know your not alone
Yay kevoreally, Religion: written by man to control man, it has worked brilliantly for thousands of years and will continue to do so! You're either in it or out of it!
I don’t think religion controls people. I control my religion. It’s love! If someone isn’t loving they are not of God who is very loving. They are of Satan. This however can be changed. If someone is convicted then God is talking to them. It’s a feeling. Follow your feeling. Not a man who is a sinner.
My personal revelation on dying. Dying hurts the living. Dying affects the living. The dead aren’t hurt. They don’t know. You won’t know or hurt. Personally I’m in no hurry. BUT I know that when I do there will be no suffering. No pain. Just heaven and peace. You will not know of your life. Your body returns to the dust. Your spirit will be free, happy, painless and heavenly. Reading the Bible terrified me of hell at first. I was very young. Now it is welcomed when the time is right. No more hurt or hate. It is nothing to fear. The only people it will hurt will be the people that love you. You won’t be. That is my interpretation. It is not meant to be unkind or judge mental. You don’t have to agree. That is what helps me. Some people are offended by that logic. You are surely entitled to your opinion. Suicide to me is for weak people. Death is just a route to a new life. Everlasting and happy.
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Every moment feels like I am hanging on to the edge of a cliff by my fingertips
ex-boyfriend getting me down
Hopeless
This anxiety is tough
