recently discovered religion

[jeepy97_21]

Hello, well I guess my story goes like this. Always kind of believed in a higher being but never gave it much thought. Then I found jesus, or should I say he found me. All I am going to say is he sent me a sign, and when he did, it felt so good, better than I ever remember feeling, kind of like falling in love for the first time. But I guess I am having a hard time making the transition I guess you could say.

I just don't feel like a christian yet. I went to church with my mom and dad last sunday, but was very uncomfortable there. Mostly due to the social interaction. Plus everyone there was much older then me. I was in a very depressed state at the time and the sermon kind of went in one ear and out the other I guess.

A month back I started to read the bible, cover to cover. I am now almost finished with numbers. I really want to read the new testament, to read some of the words of jesus, but I also feel that maybe I would understand it all more, if I read from the beginning and know what all happened and led up to jesus christ.

I havn't prayed yet, it almost feels awkward to. Well I think I did pray once. I'm not even really sure how to.

And also, I consider myself a kind person. I don't really do things that harm anyone, but I do things that don't exactly go along with christian beliefs, like drinking etc. All my friends drink, and I really don't know anyone my age that doesn't. I am tired of using alcohol as a mask to be social, and just tired of it I guess. I would love to just be married, have kids and not do that stuff anymore.

I guess I don't FULLY believe yet, but I am sure it will come, after all jesus did choose me, I didn't choose him.

Does anyone have any advice or guidance on this? Also, any particular bible verses to read would be much appreciated.

[power2theweak]

jeepy97_21,

Thank you for your post. I've sent you a private message and would be happy to talk to you about this.

[jane]

You don't have to read the bible cover to cover. You can read it any order you like, and it can still be meaningful.
I would just jump to the New Testament. It's the best part of the bible.

[kpiper0101]

I agree, I'd start with the New Testament, other than Psalms and a few others, the Old Testament is kind of a tough read! I tried the cover to cover thing when I got my first Bible at 15. I never made it. I think parts of the Old Testament are actually more meaningful after having read the New Testament. I don't think Jesus has a problem with alcohol per se (after all his first miracle was turning water into wine), but abuse of anything including alcohol can lead to consequences that are harmful to yourself and others. I used it to be social when I was young, and I too got tired of it. Unless you intend on staying drunk you're entire life, it's not really a very good coping mechanism. Jesus is easier to get along with than most people so you shouldn't be too hard on yourself -- that's the beauty of God, He loves you as you are. Prayer is nothing more than talking to God in your heart. I just treat him like I would my most intimate friend. He already knows everything in my heart and mind anyway so it makes it pretty easy.

[jeepy97_21]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Maybe I should read the new testament first. I've read some verses here and there, one I REALLY like is john: 15. I've made it almost to the end of numbers, that was a tough read, going through all the generations and everything, but interesting. Guess right now I want to learn about jesus more then anything so think I'll start reading the new testament tonight.

[Parnatian]

I suggest you be most careful.

It is unlikely that you can think of anything more "evil" than the wholesale murder of men, women and children. Yet, the tribal deity described in the pages of the Bible does exactly this.

So when we place him as the "Most High", and worship it, what have we done? We have made "evil" our god. Now how is that going to help anything? How? Really, how?

What does it do to your soul to worship what modern society wisely defines as criminally insane? It may have worked for ignorant desert tribesmen of 1000B.C.. But you may have noticed, it's now 2009.

Keep your wits about you and your head out of the sand; and you may find a far more gentler and kinder ways to go. In fact, in you now is a truly genuine love which is infinity more pure and real than anything you'll read in story books. Be still. Rather than seeking out there, seek within.

p

[Sugababie4]

Originally Posted by kpiper0101

I agree, I'd start with the New Testament, other than Psalms and a few others, the Old Testament is kind of a tough read! I tried the cover to cover thing when I got my first Bible at 15. I never made it. I think parts of the Old Testament are actually more meaningful after having read the New Testament. I don't think Jesus has a problem with alcohol per se (after all his first miracle was turning water into wine), but abuse of anything including alcohol can lead to consequences that are harmful to yourself and others. I used it to be social when I was young, and I too got tired of it. Unless you intend on staying drunk you're entire life, it's not really a very good coping mechanism. Jesus is easier to get along with than most people so you shouldn't be too hard on yourself -- that's the beauty of God, He loves you as you are. Prayer is nothing more than talking to God in your heart. I just treat him like I would my most intimate friend. He already knows everything in my heart and mind anyway so it makes it pretty easy.

Beautiful. I couldn't agree more.

[sunonthepath]

As my struggle to maintain control and normalcy, if there is such a thing, my mother sheepishly suggested open the bible and pick a passage at random. She swore, as a lapsed Caholic, that the message she stumbled upon was just what she wanted/needed to hear. I skeptically approached her idea and was delighted with the results, so to speak; when I am feeling lost and confused, someone is guiding me to the right place at the right time. I know this is not for everyone, but has been of tremendous comfort.

[Anxiety75]

It is important to read the entire Bible but you don't have to read it in any particular order. I have a pdf document chart that has the schedule of bible reading for one year, if you would like a copy. I like to skip around myself. It is very challenging to read the old testament because it is harder to understand and there are so many names hard to pronounce. Bible reading can help you get to know God. It's his way of speaking to us since today he no longer literally speaks like he did in the times that the Bible was written.

[Sunshine009]

Originally Posted by Parnatian

I suggest you be most careful.

It is unlikely that you can think of anything more "evil" than the wholesale murder of men, women and children. Yet, the tribal deity described in the pages of the Bible does exactly this.

So when we place him as the "Most High", and worship it, what have we done? We have made "evil" our god. Now how is that going to help anything? How? Really, how?

What does it do to your soul to worship what modern society wisely defines as criminally insane? It may have worked for ignorant desert tribesmen of 1000B.C.. But you may have noticed, it's now 2009.

Keep your wits about you and your head out of the sand; and you may find a far more gentler and kinder ways to go. In fact, in you now is a truly genuine love which is infinity more pure and real than anything you'll read in story books. Be still. Rather than seeking out there, seek within.

p

yes

[sprinter]

You can start with the NT if you want there's nothing wrong with that. Just don't be fooled by OT detractors and critics the OT is fine too. There's just as much emphasis on love in the OT as the NT even Jesus' teaching on loving your enemies is based in the OT. Also sooner or later you'll run into the God haters and Bible haters, atheists etc. who are not honest about the OT and God in the OT. You might want to pick up a copy of The Case For Faith by Lee Strobel, it's not a perfect book but answers well enough most of that stuff.

[Parnatian]

Regarding what many believers see as "God and Bible haters". Please bare with me as I feebly attempt to reveal another facet.

It has been said that if a tricycle had a "God", it would have three wheels. It seems pretty clear that the Bible definition of the absolute Divine is anthropomorphic and patriarchal in nature. The image the Bible presents in the male personage of Yahweh/Yeshuah mirrors the worst and the best in human emotions. Many of us are naturally drawn to such a deity or deities as being so very much like us they are easy to befriend and know.

There seems to be an innate ache in many of us that desires to come to know our true Source; and the familiar Bible way certainly works for many, many millions of people. But it no longer works for me, and here's why:

The wondrous universe of life and existence gives witness to endless diversity; and it is likely that there are countless universes and many more dimensions of time and space. We touch such an infinitesimally small fraction of what really is. The universe expresses infinitely. Certainly the genuine Source of such glorious magnitude must be greater still and not grossly less.

The very simple reason why I have no religion, no holy book, no God, is I stopped limiting and belittling the Divine.

I can no longer honestly place a circumscription around our true Source and say this is where it begins and ends; nor blindly believe in a book that does. I can not say: "This, is my God". I don't know what God is, and my mind is too limited to ever really know. I only know what God is not. It is not a foolish little tribal deity that feels a morbid need to punish or kill us and our little children if we do not bow to its unhealthy ego. I can not -- in any degree of coherent mind and heart --- blindly believe that the endless beauty and balance we call existence, can arise from such anthropomorphic limitation.

Before, as a religious person who was brainwashed into thinking he had the "truth", I ignorantly argued for a lesser god: the god-idol chiseled within the corners of my mind that I had borrowed from a book full of other men's dusty and drastically limited ideas. I embraced their ignorance as my own, and it blinded me to the endless beauty of our universe that did not support it. It pained me greatly to let go. But a time came that out of respect, not hatred, I had to.

p

[bezoomny]

The Book of Ruth and The Book of Daniel are nice reads from the Old Testament. Daniel gets very strange towards the end with prophetic visions, but Ruth stays very short and sweet.

One book that means a lot to me is Job, but I don't recommend it because it can be very incomprehensible. You kind of have to magically "get" the Book of Job, that's really the best way I can describe it, one day I tried to read it and I actually understood it.

I'm not going to tell you what to believe, you can only decide that. What I believe is quite irrelevant to you. Good luck with your faith.

[justpassinby]

"One book that means a lot to me is Job, but I don't recommend it because it can be very incomprehensible. You kind of have to magically "get" the Book of Job, that's really the best way I can describe it, one day I tried to read it and I actually understood it"

I'm reading a commentary on Job by Charles Swindoll, so far its a great read and hard to put down. If you liked the book in the bible you might like this too.

The book of John is the best portrayal of Jesus. It shows his compassion and strength and there are a lot of life lessons to glean from it.

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Parnatian

It has been said that if a tricycle had a "God", it would have three wheels. It seems pretty clear that the Bible definition of the absolute Divine is anthropomorphic and patriarchal in nature. The image the Bible presents in the male personage of Yahweh/Yeshuah mirrors the worst and the best in human emotions. Many of us are naturally drawn to such a deity or deities as being so very much like us they are easy to befriend and know.

That is very true, isn't it? I've heard the same saying, only applied to triangles: if triangles had a god, then it would have three sides. It's pithy and succinctly portrays how gods have the qualities of the things that invent them.

[christ~in~me]

this is really inspirational,you dont even know.
it took me back 2 years ago when i accepted jesus and how good it felt.
i recommend the bible in a year if you want to read the new testament as well as the old.it's really helpful. heres a website that provides it
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/index.html?version=51
many blessings

[FairleighCalm]

Careful! Once you discover religion it's a slippery slope to faith.

[MavenMI6Agent009]

I read a little and discovered the nut house.

[StrangeSpirit]

To Parnatian: Well said.
I've read the Bible cover to cover and it is what turned me away from christianity.
Too much evil.

[Parnatian]

Originally Posted by StrangeSpirit

To Parnatian: Well said.
I've read the Bible cover to cover and it is what turned me away from christianity.
Too much evil.

Yes, there is evil found there in the ease in which the Bible deity kills. There is also love to be found, especially when it comes to Jesus. But is this the greatest love to be found? Are we willing to honestly look and see?

Many here suffer from much inner pain; and I personally found that years of believing in a deity that punished and killed, resulted in deepening the pain. It can seem to help to white-wash over the negative and look the other way. Or tell ourselves that the men, women and children killed by "God" deserved to die, as do all who do not believe.

Sadly, by believing this way, we make vindictive killing, a faucet of the highest form of "love"; and whether we are aware of it or not this opens the door to our own disunity and killing of others in the name of our god and religion. This is insanity.

Real love, does not demand a price. Like for example an atheist firefighter who gives his or her life to save a stranger. The firefighter sacrificed everything with no religious hope for some paradise, or heavenly reward.

Before Jesus saves you from his Fathers deadly hand, you must accept him as your almighty Savior.

So, honestly, whose actions are more "Christ-like", more loving? The atheist firefighter who gave all unconditionally. Or the Bible deity whose love is conditional on our devotion and adoration? It would make more common sense that the Bible deities give praise to the firefighter - for this mere human is greater than they. Why is this?

The answer is simple. Many here would give their life anonymously to save others, with no need for reward or worship; and this reveals love greater than the Bible god's because the man-made gods of the Bible are foolishly petty and small; and it's easy to blow their cover.

Again, in my opinion, the more we fearlessly and honestly look at these Biblical creatures, the more we see how unrealistic and childishly foolish it is to give them credit for the creation of the extraordinary expression of life and universe. Certainly our genuine Source and Sustenance, whatever that is, must be unimaginably more than the Bible characters.

There is hope, there is another way. A healthy way. A way that does not imprison us in some "true" religion or belief system. As a book about trees in no way offers us the breathing and vibrant reality of a tree -- words about the reality behind our existence are empty of what we seek as well. But the life which vibrates within us, is real, and is closer than close. The oldest of wisdom says to seek here. To go silently, openly, humbly into the center of our own being...and discover first-hand our true Source.

p