Going Through The Motions

[morostheos]

Any advice on what to do when the whole faith/religion thing seems to have lost its appeal? I know a lot of theology, have read many of the spiritual classics, have counseled many others in their faith trials, but right now I just feel so detached from it all. I feel like it's just something to do, a subculture that I'm a part of but feel like I'm peering in from the outside and watching all of our strange customs. It doesn't feel like spiritual dryness, because I don't care right now that I feel detached.

[CatherineM]

Theologians go through this. It's a bit like what doctors go through. Seeing the plumbing constantly makes you lose track of the miracle that life is. Our bishop serves food at the soup kitchen here occasionally to remind himself of why we do what we do.

You could try something like that.

[superblue]

I can't say for me that my faith has lost its appeal, but I am seeing a detachment and indifference starting to develop in my life towards the Church and life in general, and that my faith is really all I have left, if it isn't one thing that is aggravating me it is another, if it isn't one thing I can't control it is another, and then when relying on Christ is no comfort to get me through things then what is... would be like telling me while I literally burn in  flames hey stay strong Christ is with you, an i would have to reply do you think Christ could spare a bucket of water to put out the fire !    And Catherine major kudos to your Bishop on getting out in the trenches, i'd go on a rant on my diocese but why bother. All that would be is subjective criticism .  

 

all i know for me is it is just a another stupid phase, for me it'll pass, I didn't bother going to receive Communion last Sunday, just went through motions and got pissed off with the homily and reflections by the priest and wanted to pop off on him, but what ever.  Guess it becomes a real problem when we don't talk about the frustrations to any one any more and just stop going to mass in general with out telling anyone we are . Infact if i disappear it is either cause i am done, or critically sick and can no longer go to mass.  To try and find where one fits in a parish is impossible as it usually involves stepping on someones ego, and having to battle someone over something idiotic, so trying to connect better through a parish is out for me, it is a joke and if ya don't walk in with a superiority complex / or do not go along with those that do, chances are nothing is going to take place.

[beatitude]

Morostheos, I've been feeling a similar way. In my case it seems to be because my life is cluttered up with so many different concerns and activities, yet I seem to be getting nowhere with any of it. Unconsciously I started seeing my faith as just one more thing to do. However, in a way this is a good thing, because it has stirred up in me a restlessness and a dissatisfaction that keeps me constantly aware of my need for God, a thirst that nothing - not even Mass - seems to slake.

 

I think what we must do is to the remind ourselves that even if we feel detached from him, he is not detached from us; and to ask him to help us find Jesus in the humdrum and the everyday. This is a good thing to do just after Pentecost. That blaze of fire didn't last forever - the disciples had their personal struggles and difficulties after Pentecost, as they tried to carry that light and that warmth out into the world. We need to learn to be good disciples in the midst of detachment and numbness and dissatisfaction, as well as to be good disciples when everything seems clear and bright. I think it helps to look at this state of mind as just a new place in which to serve God. Let him sanctify all your moods. :)

[Credo in Deum]

Any advice on what to do when the whole faith/religion thing seems to have lost its appeal? I know a lot of theology, have read many of the spiritual classics, have counseled many others in their faith trials, but right now I just feel so detached from it all. I feel like it's just something to do, a subculture that I'm a part of but feel like I'm peering in from the outside and watching all of our strange customs. It doesn't feel like spiritual dryness, because I don't care right now that I feel detached.

Get in your car, go to your nearest adoration chapel, and kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Then make a spiritual communion and from that point be silent. Just look at Him and let Him look at you. If you can't make it to adoration to do this, then find a quit place in your home and do it in spirit.

[ithinkjesusiscool]

In such situations I think you must be very humble and let people who are wise help you. Discuss it with wise Priest and/or a good psychologist. You can actually discuss your problem with a psychologist. Another good thing is to read about St Ignatius of Loyola.

 

 

 

 

Get in your car, go to your nearest adoration chapel, and kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Then make a spiritual communion and from that point be silent. Just look at Him and let Him look at you. If you can't make it to adoration to do this, then find a quit place in your home and do it in spirit.

 

:notworthy:

[Credo in Deum]

In such situations I think you must be very humble and let people who are wise help you. Discuss it with wise Priest and/or a good psychologist. You can actually discuss your problem with a psychologist. Another good thing is to read about St Ignatius of Loyola.

 

 

 

 

 

:notworthy:

[freedomreigns]

There are times when I feel indifferent and detached from the Lord in my spiritual life.  I have taken this to confession because it has not only been a feeling of indifference but also a slide away from prayer and the other spiritual disciplines that are needed to truly live a life in union with the Lord.  Lukewarmness and acedia are some of the sins I am most prone to. 

 

For me, I try to let this experience be a springboard to humility, to beg for the Lord's Mercy.  Faithfulness to the Lord really requires His grace, and it is when I experience my own weakness that I am able to see that.

 

I find that sometimes it is when my life is "full" of other things, especially worldly entertainment, that I begin to lose my sense of fervor.  I am specifically not talking about "dryness" or "aridity" in prayer, but specifically a lessening of fervor that is expressed in a change in action: less attention paid during prayer, less faithfulness to fasting or mortification, less charity towards others. 

 

Speaking to a good spiritual director or a confessor would be a good idea. 

[superblue]

I have given up finding and talking to a spiritual director or counselor on such a matter, as I find it only to be suggestions at best, and I feel all I am doing is rambling on and wasting the priests time, and since I have no understanding on how fasting helps in prayer let alone gets my prayers to God any faster I don't bother with it, same for mortification, which I guess adoration could be considered mortification except that I tend to think of mortification in a negative sense of the term so I don't see how that fits towards adoration, and I am in no place to be charitable to others outside my family, let alone in my family, my life is way to messed up right now, an there is something about taking the beam out ones eye before taking the splinter out of your brothers eye.. So I gota fix what I gota fix before I can do that again..... I did enjoy volunteering at a homeless shelter, I was meeting really nice people, and some really aggravating people who had a lot of criminal problems that they would bring in with them and I was responsible for kicking them out and keeping an eye on em.

 

I figure after consecration to Mary, and adoration, and the brief times I go to confession and can tolerate the priest rolling his eyes or making other un needed facial expressions , or just giving me confusing counsel, that some where in all of that is the help I need.

[freedomreigns]

Sometimes in the spiritual life it really helps to take the focus off of ourselves and put it on the Mercy of God and on loving our neighbor in whatever way we can, maybe starting out with just prayer for those who are suffering, or for the salvation of souls.  This is advice a very wise priest gave to me at a point in which things were very bleak for me.  And it has helped me tremendously.  Just a little bit of personal experience that you may or may not find to be helpful in your own life.  

[MarysLittleFlower]

Any advice on what to do when the whole faith/religion thing seems to have lost its appeal? I know a lot of theology, have read many of the spiritual classics, have counseled many others in their faith trials, but right now I just feel so detached from it all. I feel like it's just something to do, a subculture that I'm a part of but feel like I'm peering in from the outside and watching all of our strange customs. It doesn't feel like spiritual dryness, because I don't care right now that I feel detached.

 

hmm.. St John of the Cross talks about dryness in the book "Dark Night of the Soul", and he says that if things of the world make you feel better, then it could come from something that you need to improve (like repenting of something, praying more, etc) - but if the things of the world just make you feel emptier (so you miss God very much?) - then it could be a trial.

 

What I tend to do when I start "caring less" in my faith is I try to just think about Our Lord Himself, and try to find Him.... instead of thinking about theology, etc, I just go to Adoration and pray for Him to help me to care more again, and to come and do anything He wants in my soul. Then I try to be very still and just let Him do anything He wants. Also trust really helps... the more we trust, the more graces we receive :) try to just focus on your relationship with God... what is missing on your part? ask for those graces, and if you don't know, maybe ask for the grace to see :)

 

God bless you!

[MarysLittleFlower]

I have given up finding and talking to a spiritual director or counselor on such a matter, as I find it only to be suggestions at best, and I feel all I am doing is rambling on and wasting the priests time, and since I have no understanding on how fasting helps in prayer let alone gets my prayers to God any faster I don't bother with it, same for mortification, which I guess adoration could be considered mortification except that I tend to think of mortification in a negative sense of the term so I don't see how that fits towards adoration, and I am in no place to be charitable to others outside my family, let alone in my family, my life is way to messed up right now, an there is something about taking the beam out ones eye before taking the splinter out of your brothers eye.. So I gota fix what I gota fix before I can do that again..... I did enjoy volunteering at a homeless shelter, I was meeting really nice people, and some really aggravating people who had a lot of criminal problems that they would bring in with them and I was responsible for kicking them out and keeping an eye on em.

 

I figure after consecration to Mary, and adoration, and the brief times I go to confession and can tolerate the priest rolling his eyes or making other un needed facial expressions , or just giving me confusing counsel, that some where in all of that is the help I need.

 

I don't think it's wasting the priest's time to speak to him... they're there to help :) I've been really helped by priests. It's important to find a spiritual director who understands you but don't assume that a certain one won't.. sometimes it's a trial when we can't find a priest, but God can still work despite that.

 

With fasting, and mortification, - it helps us by making us less attached to the world, so that we give all our hearts to God, and not just partly. He wants us to be fully His because He wants to live in us, work through us, etc.. and so that we can fully receive His love and truly learn how to love back.

 

I don't think that you can't be charitable to others if you need to sort things out, I mean I usually always need to sort out a whole bunch of things.. taking the beam out of one's own eye first relates to telling others where they're sinning, etc. Acts of charity can be just things like helping to wash the dishes when your mom is tired. This can help to grow in love, which would be helpful spiritually as well :)

 

God bless you!

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Theologians go through this. It's a bit like what doctors go through. Seeing the plumbing constantly makes you lose track of the miracle that life is. Our bishop serves food at the soup kitchen here occasionally to remind himself of why we do what we do.

You could try something like that.

 

 

100% agree. Faith is one thing but jesus says true religion is charity. Do some works of charity whatever charity that may be that is outside of counseling. Though continue the counsel and theology if possible or just go to holy mass participate in the sacraments and do the works of charity for  while till your back up on your feet, although i reccomend continuing the works of charity even if getting back on your feet.

I started volunteering with vinnies for 2 hours a week 4 weeks ago and it has help my faith and theology heaps already. I just polish silver and cut price tags so far. :)

 

God is GOOD. (all the time)

Edited June 20, 2014 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Faith, grace and works. Faith+ Grace should give birth to works i'm led to believe. Perhaps GOD is calling you to do some works simply, of course without loosing faith and grace. That's kind of what i be meaning. :)

Edited June 21, 2014 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye