New & Questioning - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

tubesk · 01-31-2007, 08:57 PM

To be blunt, I've not yet read more than one post in this section of the board. If I'm entirely off-base please forgive me.

I grew up in a religion called cultish by mainstream christians. My parents took it beyond that.

The religions most appealing to me are Buddhism & Catholicism... for various reasons.

Part of me feels guilty for exploring those avenues... as I can't claim a firm belief in them.

Really, I guess, I'd just be interested in knowing how others explored religious/belief options... & how those have impacted their life...

nvragain · 01-31-2007, 09:58 PM

I was raised Catholic but have since drifted away. There are several reasons and part of them was that going to mass on Sun was a drag after a drunk Sat night, blah blah....

I don't know if I will seek out other avenues or not. The one thing that I do know is regardless of which religious community you chose if any, the personal relationship you have and nurture with your higher power is the most important one. No one can tell you how to do that. It is something that you discover on your own and find what works best for you. That is some wisdom you will find in AA.

I hope this makes some sense.

For me personally I am looking forward to finding a place that helps me build a stronger relationship with my HP (God). I look forward to a sober and spiritual life. One that is filled with others on a similar journey.

I have to admit I am scared a little to walk away from my old life but on the other hand it wasn't really that great any way.

tubesk · 01-31-2007, 10:10 PM

Thanks for the reply. it's very much appreciated!

both AA & church.... I feel guilty & afraid to go to.
I can't do the "yeah, I'm plantt. I've gone to These extremes with the drugs of my choice... then I heard the voice of God...."
(no offense meant)

just... I feel unworthy. I can compete in a lot of unhealthy ways. not in the Dramatic Ways of Using Drugs though.

The AA meeting's I've been to have been pretty much that =/ "Hi, I'm Suzy, I've been clean/sober for 30 years & life is still $#@@. I used to do x, y, z..."
granted, yeah, that's just been the limited number I've been to.

churches I just tend to be a chicken & not go....

I dunno.
I'd love to be able to meet a member or such before going. so I at least knew one person.
or have fair reason to believe it'd not match past experience.

again though. thanks a lot for the reply *smiles* I'm not being too up-beat atm I know...

**Ann** · 02-01-2007, 04:24 AM

I read a lot, teachings of Tao, Buddist and Hebrew readings, Native American writings and thoughts, poetry by the great Persian poets like Rumi and Hafiz, and what I found was that they all embraced a joy and peace of finding a spiritual connection with each other, with a higher power and with the universe as a whole.

I was raised a Baptist, which gave me a good foundation of faith, but as an adult I needed more than what my church and organized religion had given me. I also disagreed with some of the church doctrine (which is just personal and not confrontational).

Today I consider myself somewhat multi-denominational as I have found good things in most teachings and beliefs and keep my personal relationship with God more one-on-one.

This works for me and brings me peace.

Hugs

mike_mass · 02-01-2007, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubesk

I grew up in a religion called cultish by mainstream christians. My parents took it beyond that.

The religions most appealing to me are Buddhism & Catholicism... for various reasons.

There's probably a good reason why those religions are appealing to you. My guess would be you find some sense of peace with them, as opposed to the religion of your childhood.

Rusty Zipper · 02-01-2007, 05:44 AM

tube...welcome...

i'm right there with ann...

bottom line, the end result as of today...

a belief in something, freely giving, and honesty... to the best of my ability...

good wishes on your journey...

xxoo, rz

tubesk · 02-01-2007, 10:12 AM

There's probably a good reason why those religions are appealing to you. My guess would be you find some sense of peace with them, as opposed to the religion of your childhood.
--*nods*
I love the constancy & beauty of Catholicism... the peace & acceptance of Buddhism.
The struggle, for me, lies in being ok with picking & choosing what works for *me* rather than believing all parts of one religion.

indigo · 02-02-2007, 11:09 AM

I too was raised Catholic and have studied many religions, I am now non-denominational and do not have recourse to any religion. I have very strong beliefs that I am of spirit, that is for me the best way to explain it. I believe in the Oneness of us all.

indigo

TryingisDying · 02-18-2007, 04:23 PM

Im catholic and I love it! I would be happy to answer any questions you have about it.

stone · 02-18-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubesk

The religions most appealing to me are Buddhism & Catholicism... for various reasons.
.

Hi, you might enjoy reading these buddhist quotes

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ought-day.html (Buddhist Thought of the Day)

SaTiT · 02-24-2007, 10:30 AM

I grew up with christian background.
it didn't work for me or I process it all wrong.

I had to give spirituality a try. I didn't comprehend anything.
It was a process.

I basically spent time in nature or away from sociaty at first in recovery.
A combination of a retreat of sort and I was non-functionable.
I spent the first 6 months of my recovery just going to meetings
(which I didn't comprehened) I found or felt peace in those rooms
for some reason. Between the meetings I would just ride my motorcycle
into the mountain or to the desert and just spend time with nature.

Kind of like JC spending 40 days and 40 nights in the desert becuase
the noize of the world got too loud.

It was all i could do at the time. i didn't want to hurt myself or
anyone else. i had a lot of anger, rage,and withdraws.lol
I was going through a mental and emotional breakdown and a re-birth of my spirit.

Gradually i just learned now to BE. And i grew from there.

Even years later, 5 years into recovery. I became discontent with recovery
and my life took a chnage.lol
I thought i givng church going a my go again to find some type of answers or peace.
It just so happen minister is a long time member of recovery.
She helped me through a lot and she also defind or tranlated the bible in ways that i could comprehend.
I miss interpred the bible in many, many ways.
She gave me a lot of new tools and also introduced me to the course of miracle, the innerchild and a lot
of new ideas.
It's a journey.

jeepgirl · 02-26-2007, 09:41 PM

I was raised Catholic, but gave up on the church 10 years ago. I am not against it, but it was not getting me where I wanted to go.
I meet with a spiritual group once a week in a private home. It is sort of like a Spiritual book club. We are currently reading Radical Spirituality by Dick Sutphen, and Your Life - Understanding the Universal Laws by Bruce McArthur. We read books, do dream interpretation, past life regressions, etc.
I found similar concepts flow through the Naranon 12 step literature. These meetings have gotten me through some hard times - or did the hard times bring me to seek out spirituality....
jeepgirl

Hangin' In · 03-03-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubesk

just... I feel unworthy.

Tubesk,

I admire you for asking the question and posting here.

I am a Christian and just wanted to assure you that in God's eyes, or your HP's eye, you are so very worthy. Don't you ever forget that.

Big hugs,

Hangin' In

01-31-2007, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
tubesk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 52	New & Questioning To be blunt, I've not yet read more than one post in this section of the board. If I'm entirely off-base please forgive me. I grew up in a religion called cultish by mainstream christians. My parents took it beyond that. The religions most appealing to me are Buddhism & Catholicism... for various reasons. Part of me feels guilty for exploring those avenues... as I can't claim a firm belief in them. Really, I guess, I'd just be interested in knowing how others explored religious/belief options... & how those have impacted their life...

02-01-2007, 04:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ann Forum Leader Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 25,227	I read a lot, teachings of Tao, Buddist and Hebrew readings, Native American writings and thoughts, poetry by the great Persian poets like Rumi and Hafiz, and what I found was that they all embraced a joy and peace of finding a spiritual connection with each other, with a higher power and with the universe as a whole. I was raised a Baptist, which gave me a good foundation of faith, but as an adult I needed more than what my church and organized religion had given me. I also disagreed with some of the church doctrine (which is just personal and not confrontational). Today I consider myself somewhat multi-denominational as I have found good things in most teachings and beliefs and keep my personal relationship with God more one-on-one. This works for me and brings me peace. Hugs __________________ “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Winnie the Pooh~

02-01-2007, 05:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rusty Zipper Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: my room in ct. Posts: 34,860	tube...welcome... i'm right there with ann... bottom line, the end result as of today... a belief in something, freely giving, and honesty... to the best of my ability... good wishes on your journey... xxoo, rz __________________ *Rule 62*

02-02-2007, 11:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
indigo Community Greeter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mid-Life Express Posts: 9,928	I too was raised Catholic and have studied many religions, I am now non-denominational and do not have recourse to any religion. I have very strong beliefs that I am of spirit, that is for me the best way to explain it. I believe in the Oneness of us all. indigo __________________ When you judge others, you do not define them, you define yourself." Namasté

02-18-2007, 04:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
TryingisDying Getting out of my own way! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Looking for a place to turn around Posts: 257	Im catholic and I love it! I would be happy to answer any questions you have about it. __________________ **************************************** "Nothing changes..Nothing changes" ~Do Daily~ Am I meditating and getting closer to God? Am I eating and exercising correctly? Am I keeping up on my obligations and commitments? What am I doing for my pleasure?

01-31-2007, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
nvragain Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WI Posts: 3	I was raised Catholic but have since drifted away. There are several reasons and part of them was that going to mass on Sun was a drag after a drunk Sat night, blah blah.... I don't know if I will seek out other avenues or not. The one thing that I do know is regardless of which religious community you chose if any, the personal relationship you have and nurture with your higher power is the most important one. No one can tell you how to do that. It is something that you discover on your own and find what works best for you. That is some wisdom you will find in AA. I hope this makes some sense. For me personally I am looking forward to finding a place that helps me build a stronger relationship with my HP (God). I look forward to a sober and spiritual life. One that is filled with others on a similar journey. I have to admit I am scared a little to walk away from my old life but on the other hand it wasn't really that great any way.

01-31-2007, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
tubesk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 52	Thanks for the reply. it's very much appreciated! both AA & church.... I feel guilty & afraid to go to. I can't do the "yeah, I'm plantt. I've gone to These extremes with the drugs of my choice... then I heard the voice of God...." (no offense meant) just... I feel unworthy. I can compete in a lot of unhealthy ways. not in the Dramatic Ways of Using Drugs though. The AA meeting's I've been to have been pretty much that =/ "Hi, I'm Suzy, I've been clean/sober for 30 years & life is still $#@@. I used to do x, y, z..." granted, yeah, that's just been the limited number I've been to. churches I just tend to be a chicken & not go.... I dunno. I'd love to be able to meet a member or such before going. so I at least knew one person. or have fair reason to believe it'd not match past experience. again though. thanks a lot for the reply smiles I'm not being too up-beat atm I know...

02-01-2007, 10:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
tubesk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 52	There's probably a good reason why those religions are appealing to you. My guess would be you find some sense of peace with them, as opposed to the religion of your childhood. --nods I love the constancy & beauty of Catholicism... the peace & acceptance of Buddhism. The struggle, for me, lies in being ok with picking & choosing what works for me rather than believing all parts of one religion.

02-24-2007, 10:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
SaTiT Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: anomaly Posts: 2,181	I grew up with christian background. it didn't work for me or I process it all wrong. I had to give spirituality a try. I didn't comprehend anything. It was a process. I basically spent time in nature or away from sociaty at first in recovery. A combination of a retreat of sort and I was non-functionable. I spent the first 6 months of my recovery just going to meetings (which I didn't comprehened) I found or felt peace in those rooms for some reason. Between the meetings I would just ride my motorcycle into the mountain or to the desert and just spend time with nature. Kind of like JC spending 40 days and 40 nights in the desert becuase the noize of the world got too loud. It was all i could do at the time. i didn't want to hurt myself or anyone else. i had a lot of anger, rage,and withdraws.lol I was going through a mental and emotional breakdown and a re-birth of my spirit. Gradually i just learned now to BE. And i grew from there. Even years later, 5 years into recovery. I became discontent with recovery and my life took a chnage.lol I thought i givng church going a my go again to find some type of answers or peace. It just so happen minister is a long time member of recovery. She helped me through a lot and she also defind or tranlated the bible in ways that i could comprehend. I miss interpred the bible in many, many ways. She gave me a lot of new tools and also introduced me to the course of miracle, the innerchild and a lot of new ideas. It's a journey. Last edited by SaTiT; 02-24-2007 at 10:52 AM.

02-26-2007, 09:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
jeepgirl Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: on the road Posts: 105	I was raised Catholic, but gave up on the church 10 years ago. I am not against it, but it was not getting me where I wanted to go. I meet with a spiritual group once a week in a private home. It is sort of like a Spiritual book club. We are currently reading Radical Spirituality by Dick Sutphen, and Your Life - Understanding the Universal Laws by Bruce McArthur. We read books, do dream interpretation, past life regressions, etc. I found similar concepts flow through the Naranon 12 step literature. These meetings have gotten me through some hard times - or did the hard times bring me to seek out spirituality.... jeepgirl __________________ Keep coming back

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