Religion

In my earlier years I grew up in a roman catholic home with my grandparents. I would have to go to church every Sunday and I was baptized as well as saved. I also grew up with my mother making me pray every night, The usual nighttime prayers, with my mother by my side and my brother there with me. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then when I got older we started to steer clear of it and there was no prayers at night. Now,my mother just yells at me if I use the lords name in vain.

When I was younger, after I moved out of my house, I welcomed paganism in my life. It was comforting and felt more "realistic" so to speak. See, to me, I need proof. I am more of a "I believe it when I see it" So to me nature was natural and so was your inner energy. Now as I am today, I take a little bit of each and call myself spiritual. Not really claiming a title.

Now as my panic attacks have become stronger and I have a fear of dying before my time ( first time I mentioned this) before my children grow up to a ripe old age. I feel myself going back to my roots of religion. Although some things about the bible I don't believe and feel that are much more unrealistic. If you got me so far I applaud you! Because its driving me crazy... So, I am just wondering if anyone has had this happen or has your religion changed. I feel like I went to prison and they forced Jesus on me.. (I'm sorry to offend anyone but My ex changed dramatically after he went to jail) It's kind of strange but I think its associated with feeling complete in church and a feeling of belonging in a place with other people. ( I really hope I'm making sense) I just didn't know if anyone experienced any life changes after having anxiety. To me, I want my children to have a sense of there own religion. Thats what my mother taught me. She never yelled at me for changing my religion. I want it to be the same way for my children. I just don't know for myself. It will be a long battle and I will figure it out. As it stands, there is no religion in my life. I am just lost right now.

Hey again,

I have actually known two people in my life who were previously Atheists but have now claimed to have found contentment through religion. One is my brother, and the other is a friend from the first university that I attended. I am an atheist still and am not ready to open-up to religion. If you can do it (i.e. - open-up to it), then I implore you to do so. I feel that religion - whilst mostly exaggerated - does provide a good way to live your life: It brings people together and teaches us how to be nice. That's not to say that you need religion to be a nice person though.

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

I understand the whole "opening up" Its an eye opener to me because I don't think I could truly open up to one religion. I love a little bit of a good handful. I pretty much took all of my knowledge of all of them and squished them together to make my own. Oddly as it sounds I feel more content with that. But, to my surprise, I have been going back to my old roots just for content and maybe the happier times of my youth instead of the abuse and so forth. This is just different to me and I feel that I wish I would just go somewhere with it and leave well enough alone. Just a sense of being would be nice too considering I don't even feel like myself anymore.

Nina

I also wanted to mention that I think your right. Thats one of the things that I wasn't too happy with considering roman catholic religion. It seems like its meant for people to be nice to one another and to find peace within each other. Like a List of rules on the wall of an indoor pool... know what I mean?

Yes, I know what you mean Nina. I'm just curious now though: Which religions have you read-up about?; and which seem the most - ummm - 'fair'? I think Buddhism is the fastest growing religion currently, while Catholicism is probaby the fastest diminishing.

My brother that I mentioned actually opened up to Buddhism, Zen, Yoga, and all of that. The other chap that I mentioned opened-up to Roman Catholicism (Ireland's main religion).

Kevin

Its between Roman catholic and Paganism. To a Catholic Jesus Christ is there lord and savior. TO me I do believe he existed but he seemed more of a realist and a guy who made changes for the people. At least for the good. I don't believe all the hype about him. I do believe he existed. I don't believe that there is a heaven or hell. Considering my best friend killed himself, his spirit would be in hell right now because that is a sin. In a pagan religion ( depending on your preference) you have natural energy and you may do specific rituals. Which is the same thing associated with Roman Catholic. They both have an alter with holy or sacred items. Thats just a few things that I do believe in. In the wiccan rede (sp its been a while) It states that no religion is better than another. Which a truly believe in. Who has a right to tell me that my religion is not true or my beliefs are a lie. Same thing when I approach someone with a different belief as I. Its not fair simple as that. But, with catholic religion, its generally a sin to believe into false pretenses.

I hope I don't offend anyone. This is My opinion. I don't want to start a debate but considering I did put my choice of words out there I'm sure to hear something.. lol. I was just wondering if anyones religion has changed since they started having panic attacks.

Kevin,

I noticed a few of your posts and read upon a certain paragraph that stated that some of your religious posts end in argument. I totally agree with you! Sometimes when you try to state your opinion some people aren't really nice about it. Thats why I posted a comment on how I don't want to start a debate. I hope I answered your question my dear

Misvenus000 wrote:Kevin,

I noticed a few of your posts and read upon a certain paragraph that stated that some of your religious posts end in argument. I totally agree with you! Sometimes when you try to state your opinion some people aren't really nice about it. Thats why I posted a comment on how I don't want to start a debate. I hope I answered your question my dear

Yes, it happens just about everywhere but the religion thread on the Asperger's Forum (which was the one I was referring to) has actually been very peaceful. Maybe people read my message and realised that arguing is futile.

You asked if people have changed religions since developing a panic disorder - Well, I can't answer that but I was watching CNN (yes, we get it here in Ireland!) recently and they presented the results of a poll that they did. Basically, the results showed that religion is not increasing or decreasing in the USA. However, people have become more open to different religions. So, I guess that you are a sign that that is true at least!

Kevin

I was not shocked to see that people are changing there ways. My grandparents actually changed there religion. They have been very strict roman catholic people for quite some time. There are toddler pictures of my grandmother in her *marriage to god* I can't think of the name for that to save my life. I think its comencement. Anywho, Its particularly funny that I would mention my changing of ways after this CNN viewing. I never have a chance to watch TV. Only at nights though. I'm glad you get it all the way over there! I love to watch it every so often. Its not my forte watching News. Sometimes that triggers me. Depresses me too...

Awww, I know what you mean. A number of months ago I couldn't watch or read the news without getting upset and angry. My mother kept saying that there's nothing I can do about the world though; that it will always be the way it is. It may sound defeatist but I think she's right. Anyway, the news is probably the thing I watch the most now. I read the newspaper everyday too.

Anything in particular bother you the most? It might be good to write out your worries/frustrations here.

Kevin

Thats exactly what my grandfather used to tell me. He always said that it was such a waste of brain power dealing with the world mess. You can never make everyone happy. Everyone is different.

I will be posting a few things on here when I can get the courage to write them. Its really hard to talk about them because it triggers my anxiety. I totally dread the group meetings. I'm afraid I will go into a panic attack while talking about these situations. Its never easy to open up a bottle when its shaken up. Its just a big mess.

I HAVE been talking about my issues to my family. For some reason I can't talk to my fiancee about it because I'm scared he will run away or he will have an attention span of a gnat. LOL I know he loves me though. I just want to get myself situated before I get married.

Misvenus000 wrote:I HAVE been talking about my issues to my family. For some reason I can't talk to my fiancee about it because I'm scared he will run away or he will have an attention span of a gnat. LOL I know he loves me though. I just want to get myself situated before I get married.

So, you're going to 'rope him in' and then land him with the bombshell...? Hehe, sorry, I'm just joking with you! I do understand your logic here. He will certainly feel more responsibility for it when ye are married. After all, he will be vowing to stick by you 'in sickness and in ealth'!

I think I'm talking to you on at least two different threads now. That's what happens here usually because it's very very slow-moving - i.e. two people can very well have their own conversation in the open forum without interruptions! Would you believe though, that it was much less active a few years ago when I joined.

Kevin