What are your thoughts on the concept of having faith in a Higher Power but choosing to distance oneself from established religious doctrines?
What are your thoughts on the concept of having faith in a Higher Power but choosing to distance oneself from established religious doctrines?
Hey, so I believe in a higher power but I'm not on board with any particular religion. Anyone else think it's cool to just fly solo as a good human, no religion attached?
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I very much doubt you'll find anyone here who discourages you from stepping away from organized religion.
I'm a former Christian pastor on a hiatus from church life, but in no way done with being a Christian in my private life.
I believe the Bible boils religion down to three basic life roles for every individual person to follow: priest, steward, and keeper.
- As a priest, every person is meant to determine how they ought best to live.
- As steward they are to take care of the world around them in accordance with their beliefs.
- As their "brother's keeper" they should work to ensure everyone else is free from coercion to believe and live how they think is best.
When people function in all three roles they are revealing the "image of God".
Live your best life and help others do the same to the best of your ability. Or, as James the brother of Jesus, said, true religion is this: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
I was raised in a very religious family. It's very hard to break free but I have decided to go on my own path.
I trust you'll find it a healing process. Most importantly, be patient with yourself.
What do you mean by healing process?
According to my perspective, having autonomy is core to being human and most religious structures actively work to squash autonomy and force conformity. I think that is harmful for everyone.
For me, it's taken time to even recognize how hurt I was and I'm still going through a healing process.
I wish you well
Thank you, the same to you as well.
There is significant propability by just beeing here that you were hurt in the past and you didn't heal properly. First step before acknowledging the pain is to go to a safe place, where there are no toxic people and where your basic needs are met. Hurt people are like magnet for toxic people, and hurt people are comforted by familiarity of toxicity.
I am just guessing here.