My Spiritual Journey - Help?

I've recently begun to question my spirituality (and by recently I mean within the past 6 months to a year). I've done some light research here or there - mostly my questioning has been internal.

I was born and raised as a Catholic Christian but as I grew older, I began to slowly turn away from attending masses and praying. For a myriad of reasons (which would be a full read in and of itself), most of all the seemingly capitalistic nature of the church, I began to "lose my faith."

I'm at a crossroads with regard to my spirituality. I'm torn between beliefs.
and I have the usual basic questions. Is it all a big nothing? Or is there really a higher power? If there is a higher power, then what is our purpose?

Being a big Beatles and George Harrison fan, I've begun to delve into Krishna and the basic core values seem to resonate with me a lot closer than Christianity does. I feel as if I may have found a religion which I can "believe" in and not simply claim to believe in.

As an example, I feel that Christianity is a religion based around control and fear. As if man decided to take the basic principals of all religions, strip them down and build a religion himself. As if man speculated that "this is what they mean and therefore, this is how you should be, what you should do, how you should feel, etc."

From my basic research about Krishna I feel like it is a much more positive, less "manipulative", less "money-hungry" religion and I'd love to learn more. Is there anybody who can message me and perhaps start me on a course to learning more about Krishna? Where do I begin?

 

oh , Kris~na . i love to play with the devotees , especially in music , especially in the forest . love to play , play to love . the music makes circles and tender carefullness spins one on and on . oh , Jesus . may all play freely and trusting in goodness . i think to play a little bell is an excellent beginning unto whosoever you be with . it makes a sound of no trouble no fear no questions .

oops tho , why you playing that little bell ?

that little bell is your beginning of an Experience . yes , how
should you feel ? i hope you don't know that yet .

 

If you want an honest attempt at understanding the universe, look into science.

 

We're blessed (cursed? - it's debatable) to live in an age where information is only a click or two away.

Google "krishna" and you're on your way to learning more about it.

 

i recommend science, meditation, and some sort of kinetic learning, such as working out, dancing, or martial arts. on top of that, take every situation as a meaningful learning experience.

 

A couple of questions.

Are you ever going to have a solid answer for your questions before you die?

Is it more important to be right about your spiritual beliefs than it is to be a loving human being?

Are you more worried about being able to give yourself a label in order to validate your personal identity?

I can understand the need to have a philosophy to follow in life. I had this struggle myself a few years back. A lot of good ideas were placed here for you already. The universe is an amazing place and your personal experience is just as amazing.

The thing that helped me out during this time was..."The Belief-O-Matic". I did this test on a whim and it gave me some advice. I followed that advice and I found a belief that I agreed with.

Check it out and stop worrying about the unanswerable stuff.

Oh! Before I wrap this up. Meditation is your friend.

 

I was raised as Catholic also, never really questioning it or giving it any thought.
Confirmation is done in 10th grade at my church, and a few months prior to that, I really pondered my religion and faith, and decided that Catholicism was sexist, anti-gay/lesbian, close-minded, and far too conservative for me. I do not like it at all... (no offense to Catholics, my whole family is Catholic, and I respect your beliefs, but it isn't right for me.)
So I spent a few months feeling lost and broken, until I slowly began to stop caring. I was still confirmed, only because my parents gave me no choice (I did try to fight it a little.) I still go to church, and don't mind it so much. I don't say the prayers, nor do I listen, but I think worship is good for the soul...
But I've spent the past year with no religion. I was no longer Catholic, not Christian, nor athiest...just apathetic.

I stumbled upon Wicca while doing a school project...it has a lot of the beliefs and philosophies I think and try to follow, only it's an established religion. The only thing is the alters and tools kind of creep me out
I'm still learning more about it though, and may convert once I decide I like it enough

 

If you don't take offence against prejudice, what do you take offence against?

 

Personally I believe we are each supposed to discover our own beliefs through our life paths. And what we choose to learn from the universe

 

Do what you feel is right and trust in the unknowable "God" to judge if it is right or wrong.

In other words, get some REAL faith. Not the grovelling, sycophantic, phony faith that the stinking Christians figure God isn't awake to.

 

the ones who tell you 'i know', don't know. the answer to your question lies within yourself.

there will be a host of peddlers who will say 'i know the answer. $29.95, please.'. or, it could be more, if inflation keeps on like it has been.

go and search. i have spent about 40 years off and on meditating-tm and zazen, mostly. i am still 'me', and the answer has not changed, except that it freed me from the question. the answer i got is the one i gave you in the second sentence. if you get a better answer, then that's your answer.

 

I also was raised in a Catholic family, well at least the half on my father's side- my mother was always more of an agnostic type. I eventually got fed up with my questions not being answered, and the repeated responses of "Don't worry about that, just listen to what you are supposed to think." Unfortunately, I believe that mindset can be found within any religion. You can also find those with a deeper spiritual connection to their beliefs in any religion as well- it's all about finding the right people.

The words I found in eastern philosophies and religions seemed to make the most sense to me. With the understanding I received from those branches of belief I was able again to return to the Bible and other sacred texts and find the common vein that runs through them. Ultimately it was my own vision that had changed, and I was better able to get in touch with That Which I Sought.

Anyway, I am prone to ramble but I wanted to share this quiz with you. Now, I don't take it overly serious, however it may give you some avenues to explore along your journey.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

Ultimately though, it is not the wrapping (dogma) around the spirit that should matter, it is the richness and depth of the spirit itself.