I struggle believing in God/Jesus after learning more about other ancient religions. How Christians came in and essentially erased them to be the ultimate religion. How people were literally burned at the stake and hung and tortured for not believing in Christ or in the faith.
I grew up with God and Jesus. So I still feel drawn to Christianity. I miss it. And with the new wave of Christians coming in who are doing new interpretations of it, I want to re-join and explore the path. But I can’t just…invest? When it feels like there were gods that existed before Christ was discovered and the bible came to be. It feels like it’s invalidating the existence of God and Jesus’ being.
This is a person struggle and idk how to deal/overcome it.
This started off as a comment, but I wanted to say too much, so here, have a reblog!:
Hey, I feel you. I am in the same place, for the most part. It feels strange continuing to go to church and talking about Jesus as if I haven’t learned all this. I feel more spiritually alive now than ever, but also more disconnected from my religious social circle than ever. And I am a social creature: I need that connection sometimes. I think what has helped me the most in bringing some sense of continuity between the two (my current understanding/spiritual path vs. my need for those connections and community, in particular) is “The Pagan Christ,” by Tom Harpur. In it, he uses comparative mythology/religion to show how the Christ story is connected to even older myths, and how it is meant to be symbolic, BUT ALSO how that doesn’t necessarily mean it is any less relevant. He shows how you can reinterpret the Bible in a more pagan and symbolic framework, through which it’s been easier to invest in the conversation of Jesus without feeling like I’m totally putting up a front (though I haven’t admitted to anyone that I use the craft as a spiritual/meditative practice yet; it might get me some odd looks!! 🤣). His final points in the book are how this practice:
Makes the Bible come alive
Inspires fresh hope for a cosmic faith
Clarifies the ancient symbols
Underlines the dangers of literalism
Emphasizes our responsibility for our own evolution
Highlights nature’s guiding role
Explains what the Jesus story really means to us
Gives our rituals more potency
Enhances belief in life after death
It’s been just one part of my HUGE stack of reading I’ve been doing as my spiritual development, but it may be the most influential for me. It has certainly smoothed the transition from being a Christian to whatever flavor of pagan I am. I hope it helps! Here’s what to look for if you want to look into it:
So what you’re saying is, is that’s the coolest book written ever? Heck yeah, I’m going to have to check that beauty out. It sounds like it could be totally helpful and enlightening to read.
As for your previous comment: I am a social creature as well. I crave community in my faith, others I can share my path with and discuss teachings/readings with. But also, I love and miss the way Christianity made me feel, which was secure and hopeful. It is hard to find people with the same views or interpretations, though differing views sometimes are also healthy and helpful!
There is a church in the town that I moved to which has a lovely group of church ladies that I like – they have bible studies, I have attended one and it was interesting! So might start with that again.
fair--y backup 