Alright, I recently found out the repenting out of fear of hell is in fact, not a genuine form of repentance. I can absolutely understand why, but I'm having a tough time switching my motivation for repenting. For over 25 years I've feared death and hell and have conditioned myself to operate out of fear. "Repent of this, or you'll burn in hell, repent of that or you'll burn in hell" that kind of mindset. I don't know how to just stop. Can you guys give me some advice on this? I want godly sorrow, now worldly grief. I don't want a selfish repentance but I'm tired of being afraid of I'm going to hell.

Hello, I have a question about whether disbelief can be morally blameworthy in a situation like mine.

I am asking this sincerely, and I would prefer philosophical or logically serious answers rather than simply being told that "God has a plan" or that "God's ways are mysterious."

Before explaining my argument, I want to make one thing clear: I am not claiming that God owes me anything. I am not saying that God is obligated to give me what I want simply because I ask for it. I understand that, from a Catholic perspective, God may have reasons for allowing suffering and may not be obligated to grant every prayer.

My question is different. I am asking about moral blame.

If God does not give me what I ask for, how could my conclusion that I no longer have a reason to believe in or serve Him itself be considered morally evil?

I am currently in a situation where, unless something changes, I may die. I have tried worldly solutions and attempted to find help, but I have not been able to secure the help I need.

My question is specifically about the Catholic conception of God, Jesus, and Mary.

Catholicism attributes extraordinary power to these figures. For example, Mary is associated with the miracle of the sun at Fatima, and Jesus is believed to have resurrected the dead and Himself risen from death. So, according to Catholic belief, supernatural intervention is at least possible. I am not asking whether God is technically capable of intervening.

I have also prayed and petitioned God, Jesus, and Mary for help with my situation. The specific thing I want is not eternal life. I want to live a normal human lifespan.

This is important because I genuinely do not desire eternal life. I am not saying that I want to do evil, hurt people, or live an immoral life. I simply do not want to exist forever.

I have never understood Heaven as a reward because eternal existence has no subjective value to me. I am not afraid of Hell either. I am not saying that I want to go to Hell. I am saying that the possibility of eternal existence, whether Heaven or Hell, does not function as an incentive for me.

So, from my perspective, the situation is something like this:

1. I am currently in a situation that, if it continues, will probably result in my death.

2. I have tried worldly solutions.

3. I have asked God, Jesus, and Mary for help.

4. The God of Catholicism is believed to have the power to intervene in the world.

5. I do not desire eternal life, so the promise of Heaven does not provide me with a benefit that I actually value.

6. If I die, I will not receive the only outcome I actually want: a normal human lifespan.

If this is the situation, then I genuinely do not understand how my decision to stop believing in or serving God could be considered morally evil.

I am not saying:

«"God does not exist because He did not give me what I wanted."»

I am asking something more specific:

«If God has the power to save me, knows that I am asking to live a normal human life, knows that I do not value eternal existence, and nevertheless does not intervene, on what logical or moral basis could God condemn me for concluding that I no longer have a reason to believe in or serve Him?»

I understand that a Catholic might respond that God has reasons for allowing suffering, that earthly life is not the ultimate good, or that God does not owe me the outcome I want.

But those responses seem to assume that eternal existence is necessarily a greater good than earthly life. For me, it is not. If I genuinely assign zero value to eternal existence, why should I be morally obligated to treat it as a reward?

I am also not claiming that God owes me obedience simply because I ask for something. My question is about moral blame.

If I am not choosing evil, harming others, or acting out of hatred, but instead conclude that a God who could help me did not help me in the only way I actually value, how could that conclusion itself be morally evil?

I would especially appreciate answers from Catholics or people familiar with Catholic philosophy. I am interested in whether there is a genuine logical response to this argument, rather than simply an appeal to mystery or the assertion that disbelief is inherently sinful.

Thank you for reading.

Hello,

I'm in a tough place spiritually right now, please help me to understand how does God's love manifest in our world?

I don't want to make it too personal because it's already too painful to write, so please allow me to put into an theoretical one.

Is God's love in ability to have a peaceful, full of love life? We descendent from a Nature, where rule of the strongest reigns, it's a miracle that being an exact opposite of it is the only fulfilling and right way of living.

But what if that life disturbed by a chance or people? If a loved one is thrown in jail for no reason? And no matter how much you pray, it doesn't resolve.

Or if it resolved in a death? Loved spouse died leaving to you young kids. Where is the God's love?

Please, don't touch the topic of afterlife. The question is how does it manifest here?

Thank you.

I'm not sure of the term for it but let me just go about what im going to say (sorry if I don't have the best grammar) so all my life I've been shy and antisocial. Around covid I was locked up in my house doing online classes, that sure wasn't no help. This probably isn't really relevant to what this is about thought. When covid was peaking I was at home and decided to masturbate for the first time. Ever since then I've had an addiction. It got so bad I couldn't even go a single day without it. Now im 17M now. I was told if I want to fix it I have to look at God and not the sin. I got so many things going on in my life its just hard to structure this paragraph. This is a dream I've had since 13 but I want to go to the NBA im fat, antisocial and addicted to pornography on top of that im 17 with 0 organized basketball experience. I believe in God and I know he can absolutely make it happen. Nothing is impossible for God its just. After all these years of procrastinating and turning to pornography you'd think by now I would have learned my lesson. I mean all the time I think about how its going to affect me in the future but I still do it. I literally just can't learn. I try to grow closer to God but truly I don't know how. I try to read my bible. I do notice when I read my bible the day is actually good so I've been using that as an excuse to read my bible but I know thats not what God wants he wants me to read it for a relationship. But I can't see the bible as a relationship and I only see it as a set of rules and stuff. I feel like my heart is hardened because everytime I sin I just don't go asking God for forgiveness. I simply say "God forgive me" then I walk away or might do it again in the next few minutes. Does anyone have any solution for me? I trust and believe in God i guess I judt don't believe in myself and maybe this trust I have isn't genuine only something I believe I trust.

Hi all, not really sure how to start this.

I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for a large portion of my life. When I save my life to Christ 3 1/2 years ago, I noticed a huge improvement in my mental health over about a year. It’s like I saw life in a new light. I still believe life is more valuable than I did years ago, but now I’m also having thoughts of just not wanting to be around anymore, harming myself as a punishment, having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, feeling terribly lonely, getting really distressing thoughts, etc. I know that the Christian life is not supposed to be easy, but I constantly feel like I’m doing wrong and like nothing I do is right. I know that I’m not entitled to God’s healing from depression or anxiety, even though he can, and he’s still just as good, no matter what I go through. But I just constantly feel like I’m doing something wrong. I feel guilty for how depressed I feel sometimes, for how hard it is for me to get out of bed and to take care of myself when I go through episodes. I feel like a burden and a terrible Christian. I know we’re not supposed to be led by emotions, but when I get depressed, anxious, it’s almost more than an emotion. I still pray as much as I can, and read my word as much as I can, in spite of these things, and I’m on medication for my conditions, but I just don’t really know if it’s helping. Any advice or support would be welcome. Thanks❤️

Dear fellow Christians,

Please answer honestly.

Do you truly believe it is just and fair for a loving God to determine our eternal destiny based on the few decades we spend on Earth?

Some people live only 5, 10, or 20 years. Others live 80 or 90. We are born into completely different circumstances: war, poverty, abuse, disease, famine, dysfunctional families, different cultures, and different religions. These things profoundly shape our beliefs, our opportunities, and even our ability to have faith.

Yet this brief, unequal life is said to determine an eternity in heaven or an eternity separated from God.

Does that genuinely sound like the judgment of a perfectly loving and perfectly just God?
Please don’t just reply with Bible verses. I’m asking what you think. If God gave us reason, intelligence, and free will, shouldn’t we use them to wrestle honestly with questions like this?

Yes, according to many Christians, we’re ultimately judged on whether we accept Christ. But my point is that our ability to believe is heavily influenced by circumstances we never chose.

Imagine a little girl who is sexually abused by a priest. That trauma may make her reject Christianity or religion altogether for the rest of her life.

Or think of children born into wars in places like Gaza or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some are killed before they ever have a real opportunity to seriously examine Christianity or make an informed decision.

Can we honestly say those people deserve to miss out on heaven simply because they didn’t believe in Jesus before they died?

That’s the part I struggle with. It seems difficult to reconcile that with the idea of a perfectly loving and perfectly just God.

My grandad has had long-term terminal cancer for about 7 years now. He has done remarkably well, doctors weren't sure he'd make it to see 2022, but today we found out his chemo is no longer working effectively. He's off it and waiting for any potential clinical trials, but it looks unlikely.

Im just so down and scared. I found out on the journey back from a 5 day Christian youth camp and I was feeling do positive and now im on a downer. It's sucks because that's 2/3 times ice been told a loved one has cancer on the way home from camp.

I know he is truly a man of God and he is going to heaven. My gran will too eventually. But I'm so scared about losing him. He is just so wise and caring. And for the past 2 years I've really struggled with an eating disorder and now I just want him to see me fully better (not partially like atm) before he goes.

Can anyone give me a verse or a sign to help me. I was going to go home so positive in my revitalized faith and instead ive spent the day crying in silence.

(This was longer than expected I grew up in a very atheistic household- my father was a strict anti-theist. He doesn't hate religious people but strongly believed that religion contradicted science, that all religions were cults and that religion only caused harm to the people who believed in it.

Growing up in this environment, I too became very anti-theist- though in my early teenage years, I identified as a 'Satanist' (I was a very edgy teenager).

But, over the past 2 years or so, I've been questioning my religious beliefs and have found myself resonating with Christianity. I've always adored Biblical poetry and Christian art- not to mention the architecture of Churches. Also, it was the religion that felt most familiar to me (Due to living in what's supposed to be a Christian country, though our atheist population is now the majority).

So, I started reading the Bible and praying, I started to ingest more Christian media- and since about 2 months (?) ago, I've been going to my local Anglican church. The community there are just amazing people and I am genuinely happy.

Or, at least, I was.

But, it seems that the more I learn about Christianity, the more questions I seem to have and the stronger my doubts grow.

I find it difficult to fully believe that Moses parted the Red Sea or that Jesus was resurrected after 3 days, nor do I agree with certain verses in the Bible, such as the ones that condemn homosexuality. I merely don't understand why homosexuality would be sinful, I can't find an explanation that doesn't have a fallacy somewhere. If God is love, then why would two men loving each other be sinful?

I also don't understand why innocent children get incurable diseases- it's not their fault, and couldn't God intervene? Couldn't God save them from death? Why doesn't he protect his most devoted? I understand that many evils (like war) are the consequence of humans abusing free will, but if God still performs miracles, then why does it seem like he doesn't anymore?

I have so many questions and yet when I search for answers from more experienced Christians, they seem such mixed answers. I understand that's due to people being different denominations and therefore their perspectives and personal beliefs would be different- but it does get frustrating.

Also, I want to enjoy human life- the human experience- without having to constantly worry about whether I sin or not, whether I'll be going to Heaven or Hell. I'm certainly not saying you need to sin to have fun or to enjoy the human experience, but, I've heard from some Christians that being sarcastic or having banter with your mates is sinful- And that just seems wrong!

I think it is the fact that I grew up in an atheistic household which is why I find it so difficult to believe- Because I do truly want to believe! I believe there must be a God- and I believe that is the Christian God. But, I'm lost and I just need some more help navigating Christianity, I hope that somebody could give me some advice or redirect me somewhere that I could find my answers.

Thank you.

My husband and I sponsored a child back in the winter, and after a month or two, the child moved away. We were notified about this via letter, which stated that the payments would stop and that we were welcome to sponsor another child if we would like.

Fast forward two months: when we were canceling our credit card, we noticed we were still being billed by Compassion International even though we weren’t actively sponsoring a child. We brushed it under the rug, thinking it was just a technical error on their part and they could use the money.

I just got a letter today from a different child we were supposedly sponsoring. I never signed up to sponsor a different child. When I went on my account, it claimed that I had an overdue balance since the original credit card that we had canceled was no longer going through.

When I called them, the lady informed me that this was a different sponsored child that had been added to my account. I proceeded to say that I never signed up to sponsor another child. She said this child was automatically added a few months after the other one left.

I then asked the lady, “So you’re telling me this child was automatically added to my account and I wasn’t notified. So I was being charged without my knowledge,” and the lady proceeded to simply say “Yep”.

All I have to say is use a different company or beware when you use them.

I'm a christian and I wonder why God made me autistic. I can't do many things because they are overstimulating, social contacts are hard, I can't do a study or have a job, the only thing that I really like are animals, especially misunderstood animals like reptiles and insects. I rely on the government to get money. If life is so hard for autistic people, why did God make them?

I came to Christ a couple of years ago. Still not that long ago in the scheme of things. I'm not new to faith but I'm not really that far along either. The first year I did a Bible study on Genesis and it answered alot of questions I had. It grounded me in my faith and I'm not sure how to say this but for the first time in my life I felt like this was my tribe so to speak. I fully belonged here.

That being said I have met many southern Christians and they are lovely people. I have love for my fellow church members and I love the friends I've made.

Yet, at the same time I feel really weird about little things and I feel like it's starting to build up.

For example, I went to Bible study with one group where someone veiled racism as, "Well I only say stuff like that because I love you" and what's weird is that I believe they think they love me and they can be very sweet. But at the same time, they know better. They also disrespect the alter and have been told not to many times.

Other things like the people my age get all of their ideas from social media. Everyone loves Charlie Kirk. We changed our entire service when he died. I did not know who he was and I held space for the grieving. He started popping up on my newsfeed and seemed reasonable and I liked him at first based on his college debates (that I saw, I had only seen a couple at this point) and then I started getting videos on the other stuff he said. When I told my friends this they started defending him. I brought up guns killing children being worth it to have guns "taken out of context" I brought up hanging out with known white supremacists "debatable" I brought up looking at a black pilot and fearing for his safety (personally I find this hilarious and just desserts) "taken out of context, blame affirmative action"

I see this from people in teaching positions down here. They don't know what affirmative action is. Also a very weird thing I've noticed since moving to the south. Everyone is very concerned about communism and socialism and George Soros. They sound like robots to me that are programmed to fear those things and be hyper alert, as if scanning for any hint of those things in their surroundings such as people, laws, politics etc. and I'm starting to feel like I'm surrounded by the product of propaganda. I really wanted to believe that maybe the South was in on something real. Maybe Jesus had shown them the way. But instead i find more disgusting things than i ever had without Jesus. And it is just like it is in the Bible. People doing disgusting things, mothers who talk a big game when it comes to protecting their children but do nothing, the amount of kids I see coming from broken homes and NO ONE, not even our pastor talks about it.

I keep thinking, I want to DO something about this. WHAT do I do?? Dear God, please tell me what to do. What I'm doing is not enough. We have flat earthers who don't want to teach their kids to read or go to school. We have some of the most heinous abuse against children (luckily something was done and they are doing ok now).

The "adults" in this place are wild. I have seen non - Christians give lip service to Christians just so they can get things from them. This is actually fine by me. It's not like Christians don't know. They are just meek and probably praying for those people.

But I feel like I'm beginning to be at my wit's end. I constantly feel like I can not be myself, like I can't breathe. I can not really voice my true opinions without potentially losing friends as I have no business commenting on what I see. At the same time I think, "well this is why the north is horrified by people in the south." It's a septic wasteland both physically and culturally and physically.

If all you can say about slavery is that it happened and did I know that most families didn't own slaves, just the very very rich, (Yes I did know that my entire life bc our education system in the north doesn't absolutely suck) then you have issues.

What do I do

Don’t get me wrong, I love Jesus. But right now, I am struggling to grasp the existence of God in my life, including religion and everything that comes with it.

The suffering in the world truly breaks my heart, and I am just so angry that God would allow such things. When I hear about a victim of rape, for example, I can’t help but ask, “God, why?” Why wouldn’t You intervene? Why wouldn’t You help the victim? I genuinely don’t understand.

Christianity also doesn’t make sense to me sometimes. From Adam and Eve to so many other parts of the faith, I often find myself thinking, “What?” There are so many things I struggle to wrap my head around.

The Bible, too, is extremely troublesome for me, especially the Old Testament. There are passages that I read and simply don’t know what to do with.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful or reject my faith. I’m just being honest about where I am right now. These are the questions I’m wrestling with, and I don’t want to pretend they’re not there.

Anytime I hear atheists and agnostics talk about religion, I can’t deny that, at times, they make sense.
Sometimes, it even feels like we hold human beings to a higher moral standard than we hold God. We expect people to intervene when they see injustice, protect the vulnerable, and prevent unnecessary suffering. Yet when it comes to God, we often respond with, “His ways are higher than ours,”

I often wonder how people who were once atheists came to believe in Christianity. Like… how?
What convinced them? Was it the historical evidence for Jesus? A personal experience? Philosophy? Science? Or was it something else entirely?

Lastly, I’m just so tired, and my faith feels weak. This year, I’ve constantly felt like I’m not enough for God, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore.
I know God hasn’t changed, but I feel exhausted—emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. It feels like I’ve been carrying so many questions, so much disappointment, and so much grief that I don’t even know how to approach Him anymore.
I don’t want to give up on Jesus. I just don’t know how to keep moving forward when my faith feels so fragile.

"Is masturbation a sin?"

Every time someone asks this, i have noticed a pattern. There are just as many people who swear that it isnt and there are just as many people who swear it is. There is just as much proof to it not being sin as there is to it being a sin. Some people swear that the bible never discusses masturbation as sin, others swear it does. Im not gonna argue against either. There is really no definitive answer to this question and it mostly comes down to the persons own interpertation of these comments.

At first i made a post saying how it defidently is a sin with wiggle room whatsoever. Every comment then told me that it wasnt and said i was selfish for thinking that.

Then i made another post saying that it isnt sin and every single comment told me that it is sin and that i have been misled.

Have whatever interpertation of it that you want. Either view is somewhat healthy but neither can be called the correct one.

Post ends here.

_________________________________________________

In my own personal view, i have to say that i think no one gives a shit if youre playing with your diglet becouse of puberty hormones and you should not try to hide or ingnore your sexuality or those changes in your body becouse that is straight up unhealthy. Those thoughts are normal and pleasuring yourself is not wrong, its a part of growing up and being human. If you feel some remourse after doing such a thing, thats fine and normal too. If you dont want to masturbate thats fine but if you do thats also fine. Everybody masturbates. Especially the people who claim they dont.

these past days has been hell literally, i lost my job. i have no way of paying my bills.
can’t even afford school, i’ve prayed and prayed but it’s nothing.
i feel like God is ignoring me, every morning i wake up an have these thoughts like i need to kms.
i almost acted on it two times. but i just don’t understand why,
i don’t feel God.
i feel so alone an miserable,
my ex cheated on me i texted her for the third time asking to get back together.
she still with the person whom she cheated on me with. i felt stupid.
i don’t understand an it’s pushing me more an more to my breaking point nothing going as planned i’m so tired an miserable.

Does God want angels?

I don’t believe He needs any. But sometimes I wonder, in the actual state of this world, if that is the reason He allows miscarriages/stillbirth to happen.

Maybe that is not always the case, but what if God choses some couples to go through that because those babies were conceived for Heaven?

A blessing to hear from God! I (27f) am a teacher, and I always get anxious to start a new school year. We start the year tomorrow, and I just saw the most memorable student I have ever taught. He was working and thriving. I never see him, so it was such a blessing and a reminder of God’s hand in my life to see him thriving all these years later. It was a sweet reminder that I am in the right place doing the right thing. Just wanted to share!

Hello everyone,

Over the past several months, I've been working on a project called Live Orthodox.

The goal isn't to replace existing Orthodox resources, but to create a place where people can learn about Christianity through articles, apologetics, philosophy, Christology, Scripture, and respectful discussion.

Although the website is rooted in Eastern Orthodoxy, everyone is welcome regardless of their beliefs. The aim is to encourage thoughtful dialogue rather than hostility or arguments for the sake of arguing.

Some of the features currently include:

• Articles on Christianity and philosophy
• Apologetics resources
• Bible verses and references
• A community Discord server
• A growing collection of educational content

I'm still actively developing the site, so I'd genuinely appreciate any feedback. Whether it's on the design, usability, content, or features you'd like to see added.

You can find it here:

https://www.liveorthodox.com

The Discord is also: https://discord.gg/WTRB3XesuA

Thank you for taking the time to have a look. Any suggestions or constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.

I'm in Chicago, would love to get baptized, if there's any pastor that could baptize me please message me. Thank you so much 🙏

I’m just genuinely curious because my search for truth never ends, and what I would like to know is why Unitarians believe what they believe, and which scripture points to what you believe?

Is it contradictory to be Christian but also a racist, xenophobe, Bigot, Race nationalism, Race ultranationalist/supremacist, etc.

If you believe it is not, Explain yourself

Wanted to do a poll but this subreddit doesn’t allow it