MC Grace: My panic attacks destroyed my belief in God

[doogiet]

You said you wanted to have a chat in the spirituality section, so I'm all eyes and fingers now (instead of ears).

I don't want to get booted from this website, but if I'm going to be my true self and not be anxious from saying things I don't believe, I have to say that I don't believe in God. I mean, I prayed and prayed (and prayed) from 17 to 20 in high school before I went on anti-depressants, and God never helped me. I didn't do anything to deserve the hell I was going through, so I lost my belief in God. It will never return.

I don't fear hell or am trying to live a life in heaven because neither of them exist. We live, we die, we sleep eternally. We're made out of star dust. I try to be the best person I am.

I don't want to start debates about Creationism and Intelligent Design and the Watchmaker arguments and evolution not being proven.

All I can say is that I feel the time people spend praying would be better spent talking to counsellors, listening to Lucinda, taking medication, exercising, eating right, etc. These all have quantifiable results.

Best wishes.

[KDlady]

You're right. We are made from dust.
But, dust could never feel love like we do and have relationships like humans do if there was no purpose or Creator behind it.
I'm so thankful God provided all of those outlets that you wrote; exercise, medication, counselors, this program's message,etc.
He loves us whether we believe Him at the moment or not. It's crazy talk, I agree. But, what if that craziness is actually true...

[DEB EMENHISER]

GOD DID NOT DO THIS TO YOU. HE LOVES YOU. HE LEAD YOU HERE TO GET HELP. YOU DID NOT GET HERE BY ACCIDENT OR BY YOURSELF. IF YOU WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE BLAME WHO IS REALLY RESPONSIBLE SATAN.

[Lynnier]

Hi Doogiet:
Same question I asked the last time, only with a slightly different twist.
What did God ever do that made you so angry and jaded?
~Lynnier

[SusantheChatterbox]

I can understand how the panic attacks can make you question your faith in God. There have been times I also questioned God as to why he was letting me go through this along with the Agoraphobia. I know first hand how awful panic and anxiety are and how they can stop us from doing so many things we want to do. But dear friend you can't blame God for what the paths we ourselves chose to take in this lifetime. One thing that really opened my eyes up was the fact that we all seem to praise God for all good things that come into our lives but choose to blame God and even say he isn't real when the negative things happen to us. God doesn't make them happen to us but he does let us go through them for a reason. I have always said God must think we are very strong individuals to let us go through this so that we can be of help and support to someone else who needs us and who we can help get through it to. Thanks to all the chemicals, preservatives, etc. that our wonderful government has let us come in contact many people suffer with horrible diseases that I can't imagine and pray I never have to go through. I watched my sister-in-law and my Mother suffer with their horrible illnesses and then pass on (which was a huge blessing to our family so that their suffering ceased) and I think how lucky I am that I am suffering with an illness I can work on and take control over if I work hard at it and put my mind to being a more positive person instead of continuing my "what if" negative thinking.

Please hang in there and know God loves us all and is beside us to help us get through our situations. Pray for serenity and peace to get through your time of need and think positive thoughts. I know they are a huge part of my problems that I am still working on.

God bless and hugs to you,
Susan

[doogiet]

Lynnier: I'm not sure how to answer that. Obviously there's no reply that won't get me labeled as a cynic or "just another person dissatisfied with his life," so I should probably just leave it alone. It's not going to be anything you haven't heard before.

Hey, everyone. I took down my posting about why I don't believe in God because the last thing I want to do is upset people here after they've been so kind to me.



Best wishes,

-d-

[Faith_TX]

In my opinion, most of anxiety and depression is based on our thoughts. If that is the case, God won't just take it away. . . that would be taking away our freedom to think and work on ourselves.

Philippians 4
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If we really will trust in Him, that means we won't worry. I'm certainly not great at that, but I'm working on it!

What He will do, is put people in our lives that will help us learn how to be better.

As for the horrible things that happen on this earth: this is a fallen world we live in, and God will not take away all of those things in this lifetime. That would be called Heaven, and that is our reward for believing in Him and living out a Christian faith. I am certainly looking forward to a new body that never gets sick and relationships with people that never have any problems, hurts, or disappointments. All of those things will be made whole and perfect when we go Home to be with Him.

[DEB EMENHISER]

SO DO YOU BELIEVE WE ARE ALL JUST AN ACCIDENT? HOW CAN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF NATURE AND SAY THERE IS NO GOD. YOU ARE WRONG AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD READ ONE OF LEE STROB EL'S BOOKS"THE CASE FOR CHIST". HE SET OUT TO PROVE THERE WAS NO GOD AND BECAME ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN CHRISTIANS OF OUR DAY.

[NinjaFrodo]

Doogiet

I understand that you don't believe in God or that religeon but I feel that you are making an attack on MC Grace and I don't appreciate this. She was just trying her best to help you out thats all.

Weather you believe in anything spiritual right now may not be so important. Correct me if i'm wrong but what I get from you is that faith or religeon is all just a set of rules that limit the way you live your life. I'm actually very similar to yourself and I do not care so much for God or the Devil and I don't believe in heaven and hell. I personally don't want to follow that religeon because it has turned alot of people against gay people (yeah I'm one of those people). To me heaven and hell are just 2 diffrent mind states. It's really scary to think that you're going to go to 1 place or another forever and life doesn't work that way where we are forever condemned and are in the same place absolutely so why should death be that way?

I think the thing that may have been lacking in your religeous beliefs was the connection with other people. This is the main reason why spirituality is important for myself neways. So we know what your idea of God is...what is your idea of the universe? what about humanity and love?

Mike

[MC Grace]

wow, you really know how to name a thread, doogiet. i was really mad when i first saw it: but when i saw it was written by you i had to laugh.

thanks, Mike, for speaking up for me. it helps me feel less alone.

the other responses are very helpful, too. and, for the record , i was gonna start a thread--but, i thought i'd take some time to pray about it at church and maybe give you some distance from your break-up.

anyways, i don't really feel like defending God right now. thankfully others have spoken up.

i just believe God is bigger than panic attacks--and in a way i think Lynnier is making an important point--your statements about God sound angry. and, i hope this isn't too harsh, it sounds like you think being mad at God gives you control over God--which it doesn't.

oh, yeah--also, unless you're really mean (um, i can't say for sure, but i think you're walking a fine line with these angry discussion titles--that seemed almost aimed at people/harmful to others from the Stress community, like lucinda--and now me, wow (!) i'm in good company at least . . . well, anyway, there is a pretty good tolerance for expressing belief on the forums. on that note, i'll just say that i'll do my best to write more on my own beliefs during the coming week .