Questioning your faith

[CuChulainn]

Have you questioned your faith as a result of something that happened in your life, something someone else experienced or is there anything which would lead you to question it.

Listen to this story....

A friend, Carol, committed suicide on Wednesday last week. Her funeral was yesterday morning in a church packed with 2000 devastated people. She was a wonderful woman, and died well before her time at 31 years of age. She was popular, extremely intelligent, stunning, sporty, engaging, kind, sweet.... the kind of woman every man wanted to marrry, and every woman wanted to be.

She had a very tough life, and we all knew this. However what we were told at the funeral shocked us all. At the end of the mass, her three brothers came to the alter and made a statement for everyone to hear the truth about her life.

Her brother was my best friend, and in 1986 when we were 13, he died in his sleep from meningitis. She was 9 years old. One week later she was sexually abused by what her brothers called a close family friend. It continued for some time but she told no one.

Some years later, she told her brother, and confided in him. 6 months after that, he died in a car crash. She was devastated and at 17 years of age, she developed anorexia. For the last 14 years, she never never slept with the light off, had nightmares constantly and battled constant depression. She was helped through this by family and friends and started to improve 2 years ago.

She got a good job, but bullying by a male boss led her to lose control again, and she left. She had been receiving treatment recently, but could not cope and hanged herself on Wednesday.

At the Cemetery, he cousin told me that it was a priest who abused her, a priest who I served as alter boy for, a priest who our community trusted. Another person has come forward in the past and also said they were abused by him.

On New Years Eve last, at midnight Carol said "Its been a Shyte year, I hope 2009 is better". It can be argued 2009 has been better. She is free from this pain.

Her brothers were so brave to tell the truth in the church. There have been so many priests involved in assaulting kids (KIDS !!!!!!!!!!) and the hierarchy let them move on, knowing what they have done. It is funny how the Pope will issues writings telling us how to live our lives, but when it comes to pervert priests, he said it is an issue for each country separately. Right up to the top, they are all responsible for my friends death.... and there are a lot of bitter angry people in my community now.... with just cause.

And dont tell me about love, compassion.... etc on this thread and God will help us through this. Dont tell me that it happens in every way of live. More priests abuse as a percentage than that of lay people.

Carol had more love and compassion for people than anyone I knew... and look how she was treated by God and the clergy throughout her life !

[Anna]

It is sad.

Yet I do not think Religion can be blamed for what has occured. People must take responsibiltiy for their own actions ( I refer to the priests who abuse children and young people) I agree with you though that the Pope should not shield such individuals.

There are many dark and ugly things that happen to innocent people in this world and there are just no explanation or comfort that can be passed on. Carol is not the first and she won't be the last.

But I will never blame religion or my faith for another persons bad behavior.

I hope Carol finds her peace.

[clayfairy]

yes i have questioned my faith....no doubt about that...and when i have questioned, like Annah rightly said, I have found it to be more of human corruption and misinterpretation...
the sad thing is..that i am not versed in the language associated with my faith, and thus rely on others for interpretation....and not everything can be clearly translated into english..or cross trasnlated into another language for that matter....

[Babygirl]

I do not think that God makes us suffer. Suffering is part of this world...there is always the duality of pleasure and pain but in the spiritual world, in oneness with God, there is no pain...only joy. Well, these are my beliefs anyway. :)

Do not question your faith. Nothing is wrong with religion. When people pretend to be holy and then do wrong things it reflects negatively on the religion but it's not the religion's fault...it is the fault of humans.

I am very sorry to hear about your friend. She is not suffering here anymore. May God always guide her and keep her safe.

[CuChulainn]

I am not blaming religion for what occurred. We initially are guided by leaders of our church. Yes, you may say your family etc... but they were also guided by religious leaders.

If you buy a car, you listen to the expertise and knowledge from the experts. When they sell you a car which gives you constant trouble, you are more likely not to buy from them again. We grew up under the guidance of the clergy and the writings from the vatican.

I do not trust what they say, I never really agreed with everything anyway. And everyone in our community feels the same... very bitter. Yes, she is not the first nor the last...

I do applaud her brothers who told the truth in the church and opened up everyones eyes. The Church here needs to wake up in Ireland and in a society where parents cannot tend to their children like we used to, we need to protect them from everyone.... no matter how much you trust the pillars of community

I know what you are saying, but my faith is irreparably damaged.... if I cannot trust those who preach the word, I cannot trust the word

[Babygirl]

I know what you are saying, but my faith is irreparably damaged.... if I cannot trust those who preach the word, I cannot trust the word

It is not the word that is to blame if these people do not practise what they preach. I'm sure you know of people within your own faith...they are not religious leaders but they live decent lives. Religion is a way of life not memorizing scripture and rattling it off without living it.

[CuChulainn]

The word was written by religions leaders of the time, and is interpreted by religious leaders of our time

[Babygirl]

The word was written by religions leaders of the time, and is interpreted by religious leaders of our time

Yes but ordinary people can interpret it as well...not just the religious leaders. People like you and me...everyone...we all have that Divinity within us...we are all God's children and equal in God's eyes. I'm sure your scriptures do not say that we should abuse others. :)

[CuChulainn]

We can interpret what was written, but who says that was right. I choose to believe that gay people have the right to be part of the church, that marriage can end etc etc... I am told by my church that this is wrong and against "my" religion. I was never very religious anyway, but this has completely killed it for me. Its not sad, its life

[Babygirl]

We can interpret what was written, but who says that was right. I choose to believe that gay people have the right to be part of the church, that marriage can end etc etc... I am told by my church that this is wrong and against "my" religion. I was never very religious anyway, but this has completely killed it for me. Its not sad, its life

I believe in those things as well. I look at it as...we are all God's children...gay people too...he loves all of us. As for marriage, if there is abuse in a marriage, it's not really a marriage to begin with. Well you can choose to stay in your religion and selectively choose to believe what you want..I do not know much about your faith to give an informed opinion. On the other hand, you can look for a different religion...or you can just believe in spirituality. There is a saying that there only one religion, the religion of love. I just hope that you do not lose faith in God. God is always with us through our hardest times. I'm sorry that this happened to your friend...I wish both her and you happiness and blessings. :)

[CuChulainn]

You are very kind babygirl. I do respect God, and more than anything I respect love... that will not be lost. It may seem strange, but I do not wish to conform to any religion... maybe I just do not like to be restricted by rules

[Babygirl]

You are very kind babygirl. I do respect God, and more than anything I respect love... that will not be lost. It may seem strange, but I do not wish to conform to any religion... maybe I just do not like to be restricted by rules

Thank you for your kind words. From your posts, I can tell that you are a kind person as well. :) I know some folks who do not like to be confined by one religion as well...not many in person though but a fair amount on the internet. :D They are just spiritual people and they believe in love, kindness etc. :) My dad says that if we close all the religious texts now and learn to live with love God will be pleased. Although my family and I love our religion and are firm in it, we are actually more spiritual than religious.

[CuChulainn]

You know me 5 minutes, and you get me 100% :)

You made my day ;)

[CuChulainn]

Oh and this thread is not meant to offend anyone with my religion opinions ... just in case :)

[Babygirl]

You know me 5 minutes, and you get me 100% :)

You made my day ;)

Aww, how kind of you. I enjoyed our discussion as well. Enjoy the rest of your day brother. :)

[CuChulainn]

You too sister :)

I am a stubborn fool but I do take all comments on board

[kreyoli]

Chu, I am sorry to hear of what has happened to your friend, I wish that u find comfort. I know that u do not believe in God as I do so I will not go into that but I must ask u not to loose faith in God, just know that God is always there. I also must say that I believe that Baby Girl is right, God does not hate anyone, I believe that God is full of mercy and compasion.

[Hawke]

Usually it is the one with the snowy cloaks are the ones who have the stains of blood on there hands. Personally, I am tired of hearing madness like this, and if my memory serves me well it isnt the first time ive heard of it and am sure it isnt the last time... imagine how many secret cases there are out there. How many reverends have left their wives for the women they were comforting? How many missionaries slept with the village women? How many so called "Men of God" have broken families, or fondled with a fellow church-goer?

And am certain cases like these arent rare.. I dare anyone to tell me that doesnt happen very often across the world

[Hawke]

Nothing is wrong with religion.
The war between Israel and the Arabs are a holy one.. all for the sake of religion. If violence is wrong, why then does God condone such

PS.. Before I get another questioning to this post I am not going off-topic. I am sticking within the title "questioning your faith"

[CuChulainn]

Chu, I am sorry to hear of what has happened to your friend, I wish that u find comfort. I know that u do not believe in God as I do so I will not go into that but I must ask u not to loose faith in God, just know that God is always there. I also must say that I believe that Baby Girl is right, God does not hate anyone, I believe that God is full of mercy and compasion.

Thank you Krey.... I can assure you of 2 things. I have comfort in knowing Carol is ok now and free of the pain she endured on this earth for 22 years. I know if you knew her like I do, you would think she was special too. And I have not lost faith in God.... just my religion and those who teach it. This has taught me valuable lessons. It could happen to any of us, and I just hope it never does

[kreyoli]

Usually it is the one with the snowy cloaks are the ones who have the stains of blood on there hands. Personally, I am tired of hearing madness like this, and if my memory serves me well it isnt the first time ive heard of it and am sure it isnt the last time... imagine how many secret cases there are out there. How many reverends have left their wives for the women they were comforting? How many missionaries slept with the village women? How many so called "Men of God" have broken families, or fondled with a fellow church-goer?

And am certain cases like these arent rare.. I dare anyone to tell me that doesnt happen very often across the world

I have to agree that these incidents are most definitely not rare and this is beyond unfortunate, but I believe that all misdeeds will be punished.

[CuChulainn]

Usually it is the one with the snowy cloaks are the ones who have the stains of blood on there hands. Personally, I am tired of hearing madness like this, and if my memory serves me well it isnt the first time ive heard of it and am sure it isnt the last time... imagine how many secret cases there are out there. How many reverends have left their wives for the women they were comforting? How many missionaries slept with the village women? How many so called "Men of God" have broken families, or fondled with a fellow church-goer?

And am certain cases like these arent rare.. I dare anyone to tell me that doesnt happen very often across the world

There have been so many cases like this and worse which have come out over the past 7 or 8 years.... so many cases of traumatic stories from women and children at the hands of our clergy. I am most angry that the Vatican and hierarchy decided to stay out of it and our state had to fix things. There have been millions and millions of compensation paid out, and the Vatican (rich as it is) did not pay one cent of show any signs of remorse for knowingly allowing it

[Hawke]

Questioning your faith -

Why is it wrong to have more than one spouses when the kings and servants of god had wives and concubines? Did they not go to hell like the rest of the polgamists?

[kreyoli]

In Martinique they tell adolescent male parishioners that for a priest to have a sexual interest in them meant that they were holy, so many believed it. I really think that one of the reasons that priests have no remorse is because according to their own teaching they are not accountable in anyway to the governments of man.

I say they are brave, they do these horrible things while still claiming that the are Christ's representatives on earth! They really do not have any respect for the people god loves nor for god, and that is a crazy thing!

[CuChulainn]

Very true. I know my parents generation had ultimate respect for the clergy, and listened to every word at mass. It turns out that some were abusing members of their own congregation while they were commanding this respect. Now they are surprised that they are losing numbers. They seem surprised that people are turning away from them in huge numbers and believe we are straying further from God. They do seem to equate themselves to God at times and this is a fundamental flaw in how the roman catholic church have acted. Now we are being threatened by them for leaving the church, so they dont seem to have learned from the past

[kreyoli]

Cuchulainn, my whole family was catholic at one time, the Church has much power in Martinique (by culture and law) given the history of the island being a former French colony.

When you are born into a strictly Catholic family you are taught that the Catholic church was the ''One True Church of God'' This is what many people believe. I also know people who have been molested and rejected by The Church, cast away by the very people who are commissioned to help them!


There are countess accounts of catholic nuns having children by priest only to murder and bury them in secret. Young women entering the nunneries only to be abused.[The same things happen in Protestant Churches as well] So yes there is no mystery as to why people are leaving the Catholic Church in massive numbers even if they deny that they don't know why it is happening. So I know what it feels like to be disappointed by the Church.

I stopped being a Catholic when I realised that what I was taught all of my life was not consistent with the bible which is the book that I was supposed to read (even though I was discouraged from doing this by the church) I have left the Church (not the faith) and I have never regretted that choice.

Now I am not saying that sexual abuse and other things do not happen in other Churches nor am I saying that every Catholic priest and nun is a rapist but I am not deterred from God by what I hear and see because I learned to trust my bible and not any denomination. (I do not belong to any). I do no believe in religion I am a Christian (follower of Christ) its not a religion as so many think. It is a way of live, a personal relationship! So yeah I questioned my catholic faith and eventually escaped it.

I learned that you can have all the knowledge of your religion but that will never change you from the inside out. This is why religion never works, this is why pastors, priests ect can do horrible things like those mentioned in the above posts. This is why the religious wars rage on in the name of God.


We are all god's children but he still wants a personal relationship with him! Thats what I have.

I am not preaching to anyone, just letting people know what I have learned. it has truly helped me in life to deal with the pain and dissapointments of life.

[Pyro]

You know Chu, i think the priests / pastors, etc etc etc who do this are the biggest sinners of us all. They stand there and preach the word to the masses and at the end of the day they commit such a disgusting act on an innocent child. They can hide behind their religion all they want, it doesn't hide the fact that they, the abusers, are monsters.

One can be spiritual without being religious. Religion is something that has been twisted and corrupted so much over the centuries that i do not know what to believe and who to listen to anymore.

All i know is that i go with what i think is right and wrong.

A priest is someone who a community looks up to, he listens to confessions etc etc and for him to commit such a crime what does that show us? If he can do something like that why should i put my faith into anything that he tried to preach to me?

That poor girl went through so much in life and she suffered so much. I hope wherever she is that she is happy and is free from pain.

[Hawke]

A priest is someone who a community looks up to.
well he is a receptacle of god is he not? And he should be led by the spirit

[Pyro]

he should, that is the way ppl are supposed to view them dunno

[Hawke]

Well personally the only thing i question is how genuine are church-goers who claim to be vessels of the holy spirit.

Like i started in another topic... the Bible said u should not spread bad-word about anyone.. or in other words dont gossip

And if that is the case then if a church-goer does it, then it is a sin as sin is disobediance against God's word and sin is punishable, but people walk around with white cloaks and halos not considering their actions and questioning what they are really doing.

Personally.. most people never question their faith.. in fact. nothign is more sound and steady than one's religious group.

[Angel's Baby]

Have you questioned your faith as a result of something that happened in your life, something someone else experienced or is there anything which would lead you to question it.

Listen to this story....

A friend, Carol, committed suicide on Wednesday last week. Her funeral was yesterday morning in a church packed with 2000 devastated people. She was a wonderful woman, and died well before her time at 31 years of age. She was popular, extremely intelligent, stunning, sporty, engaging, kind, sweet.... the kind of woman every man wanted to marrry, and every woman wanted to be.

She had a very tough life, and we all knew this. However what we were told at the funeral shocked us all. At the end of the mass, her three brothers came to the alter and made a statement for everyone to hear the truth about her life.

Her brother was my best friend, and in 1986 when we were 13, he died in his sleep from meningitis. She was 9 years old. One week later she was sexually abused by what her brothers called a close family friend. It continued for some time but she told no one.

Some years later, she told her brother, and confided in him. 6 months after that, he died in a car crash. She was devastated and at 17 years of age, she developed anorexia. For the last 14 years, she never never slept with the light off, had nightmares constantly and battled constant depression. She was helped through this by family and friends and started to improve 2 years ago.

She got a good job, but bullying by a male boss led her to lose control again, and she left. She had been receiving treatment recently, but could not cope and hanged herself on Wednesday.

At the Cemetery, he cousin told me that it was a priest who abused her, a priest who I served as alter boy for, a priest who our community trusted. Another person has come forward in the past and also said they were abused by him.

On New Years Eve last, at midnight Carol said "Its been a Shyte year, I hope 2009 is better". It can be argued 2009 has been better. She is free from this pain.

Her brothers were so brave to tell the truth in the church. There have been so many priests involved in assaulting kids (KIDS !!!!!!!!!!) and the hierarchy let them move on, knowing what they have done. It is funny how the Pope will issues writings telling us how to live our lives, but when it comes to pervert priests, he said it is an issue for each country separately. Right up to the top, they are all responsible for my friends death.... and there are a lot of bitter angry people in my community now.... with just cause.

And dont tell me about love, compassion.... etc on this thread and God will help us through this. Dont tell me that it happens in every way of live. More priests abuse as a percentage than that of lay people.

Carol had more love and compassion for people than anyone I knew... and look how she was treated by God and the clergy throughout her life !



very sorry to hear about this chu .. my condolences to you and your friends family.

[CuChulainn]

Cuchulainn, my whole family was catholic at one time, the Church has much power in Martinique (by culture and law) given the history of the island being a former French colony.

When you are born into a strictly Catholic family you are taught that the Catholic church was the ''One True Church of God'' This is what many people believe. I also know people who have been molested and rejected by The Church, cast away by the very people who are commissioned to help them!


There are countess accounts of catholic nuns having children by priest only to murder and bury them in secret. Young women entering the nunneries only to be abused.[The same things happen in Protestant Churches as well] So yes there is no mystery as to why people are leaving the Catholic Church in massive numbers even if they deny that they don't know why it is happening. So I know what it feels like to be disappointed by the Church.

I stopped being a Catholic when I realised that what I was taught all of my life was not consistent with the bible which is the book that I was supposed to read (even though I was discouraged from doing this by the church) I have left the Church (not the faith) and I have never regretted that choice.

Now I am not saying that sexual abuse and other things do not happen in other Churches nor am I saying that every Catholic priest and nun is a rapist but I am not deterred from God by what I hear and see because I learned to trust my bible and not any denomination. (I do not belong to any). I do no believe in religion I am a Christian (follower of Christ) its not a religion as so many think. It is a way of live, a personal relationship! So yeah I questioned my catholic faith and eventually escaped it.

I learned that you can have all the knowledge of your religion but that will never change you from the inside out. This is why religion never works, this is why pastors, priests ect can do horrible things like those mentioned in the above posts. This is why the religious wars rage on in the name of God.


We are all god's children but he still wants a personal relationship with him! Thats what I have.

I am not preaching to anyone, just letting people know what I have learned. it has truly helped me in life to deal with the pain and dissapointments of life.


I understand what you are saying and totally agree. I think the failure of the catholic church to deal with the issues has lead to huge loses in numbers going to mass. And everytime another priest is found out, it damages them even more. They constantly ask the congregation to stand up and be counted, but fail to do so themselves