Source
r/AskReddit•
lawstudent22

I've been a lifelong athiest, but I now want to believe in something. Have any of you made this transition or know someone who did? Please tell me about it

I've been an athiest ever since I was around 8 years old, I just realized that the idea of god seemed like an impossibility to me.

Now I'm 24, and my life is pretty on track. I have decent money, I go to a good school learning valuable skills in a field that interests me and I have good prospects in.

But there are still some other problems in my life, I lack discipline and I feel as if my mind worries too much about alot of things.

I feel as if I truly believed in religion it would help me alot, I don't want to push my views on others and I'll most likely keep my beliefs to myself.

My thoughts are jumbled, but I feel as if I just take the time to put a belief in something, that I will be able to be more than what I am currently. The belief that things will work out and that something greater than me actually cares and will help carry me through the rough times in life is a really comforting belief and I envy those that can feel that way without ever knowing for sure if there is a god.

Posted Nov 6, 2012, 12:40 AM UTC

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hairofbrown•

Check out the Unitarians and see if you like it. They will be welcoming and you may come away from a service feeling there is "something greater". I also would check out Buddhism, that most humble of religions.

3
rileymanrr•

You don't necessarily have to just jump onto a religion. If you believe something go with it. For me I really don't have a religion, I just pray to a higher power to keep my priorities in line: I pray about things I can't effect, and don't about things I have power over.

Don't expect resolution from religion, don't expect anything from religion. Calmness come in faith, which can come in pretty much any form. Faith in Humanity, a higher power, yourself, loved ones, they are all equally valid in my views.

2
lwest340•

I went to Buddhism. I feel different. As an atheist, I felt book-smart. As a Buddhist, I feel wise. I feel more intelligent and awake.

2
rozey202•

No matter what you choose to believe, one doesn't have to rule another possibility out. Religion can be a great jumping off point and give a sense of belonging and belief in a greater purpose, but it doesn't have to rule out science. I'm Christian but my views don't fit into one neat little category. Go with your gut... Unless of course it tells you to rape and murder, then you should avoid that.

2
[deleted]•

I doubt forcing yourself to belief in a certain diety is going to work at all. Maybe you could do some religious shopping. Take things you like from religions.

That, or you could try and attend different services to see if there's something that sticks with you. I have no firsthand experience with any organized religion, so I can't recommend anything specifically. I did hear that Buddhist philosophy is very accesible.

EDIT: You could also try to read a book called "Religion for Atheists" by Alain de Botton. He goes into some detail on the thing you seem to be experiencing.

1
z_impaler•

My advice is: the LAST place you need to solicit advice about this is here. There are many people with very dogmatic views here that don't believe in a higher power. They will, whether though intellectual means or intimidation, try to dissuade you from this sort of journey. I commend you for opening yourself up to the possibility of something bigger. I won't interject my beliefs. Your path will unfold for you if you seek it. You just may be on to something though! =)

1
lawstudent22OP•

my brother was a hardcore athiest growing up, then when he hit 30 and had kids for some reason he just became more religious.

not crazy religious, just normal a casual normal religious dude like most of america is I'd say, and he seems happier then he was before

told me he sat down and thought about it and decided to accept that perhaps there was a higher power

1
z_impaler•

Kinda/sorta my story. As you get older and/or start to have kids, your perspective changes in a lot of different ways. You may want to read this book. It is a very interesting approach. I'm Christian and contrary to what a lot folks think about Christians, I am pretty open minded. (That, in itself, was a journey for me.) If you are truly interested and want to PM me and give me the general area you are in, I may be able to give you my take on where you might want to go. It's VERY important to go to a church that has a sound and balanced approach. I'm definitely not a "holy roller". In fact, I'd say I might even be on the opposite end of the spectrum but I still think that spirituality is worth pursuing for your own life in your own way.

1
lawstudent22OP•

i dont know why I'm being downvoted for a legitimate question

1
z_impaler•

Those are from the atheists.

1
Randorii•

Gotquestions.org helped me out when i was converting from athiesm to christianity. if you have any qustions feel free to ask.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
BakedGood•

Wanting to believe something and actually believing it are two different things. You can't make yourself believe things. Or at least I can't.

1
khasingkables•

I like to believe that there is something out there that we should live for, because if there is not, then what is the point of living.

1
smokesteam•

A grew up with no religious practice in the family but with some sense that there was something. I made a decision to do something about that in my late 30s and ended up an Orthodox jew but I dont think the path I took is right for you.

Along the way I did do a few years of Zen and I found that it was very good at building up self discipline and helped me understand my own thought processes much better. As another plus, Zen doesnt require you to believe in anything or not, Buddhism simply is not about the divine at all.

1
keitarno•

Well. Convert to Christianity, just stay away from Ted Haggard.

0
swordofthelord•

Try scientology. It has science in the word!

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