What does it mean to lose one's faith?

[Buh4Bee]

Every few years, I go through a phase when I seriously doubt my faith and struggle with the point of my religion. I'm in one of these phases now. I have never lost my faith, but I have come pretty close a few times. What is this like for those who have had faith and lost it?

[Whifflingpin]

It's part of growing up, I think.

A piece of advice that seemed good to me at the time was, when you lose your faith, don't give up on the practices of your religion, as they will come to make sense in a new way.

[Virgil]

That's a great idea from Whiff. I was an atheist as a young man, but over time it all came back to me. Actually contrary to what's the norm, it was science itself that convinced me of God. Anyway, consider faith a process rather than a distinct yes or no. I think of it as a journey and the evolution of the soul.

[Buh4Bee]

I think it may happen before their is a great internal shift or personal development. This is when it has happened to me before. So yes, it is best to keep the rituals and routines. Unfortunately, prayer is a very hollow experience as I just can't hear anything in the present moment.

[OrphanPip]

I can't remember when I stopped believing. I'm certain I used to believe around 12 or 13, but by the time I was starting college at 16, I no longer did. I've carried on my parents' association with socialism and leftist politics, but I've abandoned the religious associations. In college I was exposed to the writings of Sartre, Heidegger, Camus, and Liberals like Mill and Bentham, those essentially solidified my skepticism. Of course, my B. Sci. in microbiology has influenced me as well, it's no coincidence that studies show biologist are the most likely group of scientist to be atheist. We look to other sources for understanding the wonder in life .

Edit: Oh ya, and being gay and associated with a group often at odds with major religious groups has made me especially antagonistic towards organized religion.

[blazeofglory]

I never lost it since I have not it. I like all people and do not want to judge them on the basis of faith. I know faith has divided humanity.

There are so many faiths and when one faith comes as an affront it becomes a great threat to humanity

[Whifflingpin]

"Unfortunately, prayer is a very hollow experience as I just can't hear anything in the present moment. "

When you hear most, unless you are a saint, is when you are talking to yourself.

Just keep talking to God. As and when God wills, there will be an answer. God is not, after all, a servant who is bound to serve you whenever you ring the bell.

[blazeofglory]

"Unfortunately, prayer is a very hollow experience as I just can't hear anything in the present moment. "

When you hear most, unless you are a saint, is when you are talking to yourself.

Just keep talking to God. As and when God wills, there will be an answer. God is not, after all, a servant who is bound to serve you whenever you ring the bell.

How can I keep on talking to God? God is soundless and heedless and is beyond my comprehension?

[Whifflingpin]

BlazeofGlory: "I never lost it since I have not it. I like all people and do not want to judge them on the basis of faith. I know faith has divided humanity.
There are so many faiths and when one faith comes as an affront it becomes a great threat to humanity"

That sounds rather like a sweeping judgement to me, deliberately or carelessly blaming those with a personal faith for all the ills caused by organised religions (and conveniently ignoring any benefits of organised religions.)

The "faith" this thread started with was a personal faith, of which there are as many as there are people. The personal faith is, for each individual, what makes the universe seem like a rational place rather than a chaos. It is what makes it worth while to get out of bed in the morning. The practices associated with the faith may range from getting out of bed, to engaging in charitable works or facing Mecca five times a day or celebrating solemn high mass, or meditation or massage.

Keeping up those practices means affirming that the world is a meaningful place, even if the meaning is not apparent. New meanings will appear in time, and then it may be time to modify the practices. Such changes will be made from a position of strength, not from weakness or despair.

[Whifflingpin]

"How can I keep on talking to God? God is soundless and heedless and is beyond my comprehension?"

I do not suggest that you, BlazeofGlory, keep talking to God. Talking to God is not, it appears, one of the practices of your faith. You said elsewhere, recently, "The one and only truth in nature is survival and that is your righteousness." So, to you, I would say, keep on doing that which is necessary to survive, even if, at times, you may doubt whether survival is worth while or sufficient.

However, if you are saying that because you do not talk to God then no-one else should, you are simply imposing your faith, whatever that is or is not, on everyone else.

[Buh4Bee]

The idea of losing one's faith is to turn from God or feel a lack of a need for God's presence on one's life. God is there to walk along side us and that is all. In other words, God says you don't have to live or suffer alone. Yes, God is infinite and we cannot comprehend him. This is why he is not there to answer a tinkling bell.

I don't think the lose of faith has to do with being uncomfortable in my own skin. I am quite versed in what I am and I accept my limitations. It is a final acceptance in the flaws of our beings as a small limited race. This means that life is finite and the time that is left is well defined and limited. The use of that time to fulfill God's purpose for my life is not necessarily my own, but how he guides and I don't always like that. I'd prefer to be a sloth and lay around all day.

I love Siddhartha by Herman Hesse by the way. This is the only book I have read by him.

[YesNo]

I'd prefer to be a sloth and lay around all day.

Then the problem is easy to solve. When you feel like laying around all day get up and do something for someone else. Do what you don't like to do.

That may not bring back your faith, whatever that is, but it will make you forget that you lost anything of value.

[Dodo25]

I lost any kind of faith when I was 16. Interestingly, I can't remember an exact instance where it happened, it was gradual. And I didn't miss anything at all, in fact, I felt rather relieved afterwards.

[Whifflingpin]

mmmmmmmh

[caesar]

I wanted freedom from faith, so I gave it up. I actually felt liberated. I first became an atheist, but then turned to agnosticism. Now, more than anything, I’m an existentialist.