* more than welcome to comment

I was raised in a religious home and it took me years to come to terms with religion. Religion makes an interesting study and depending on the person religion can add value to life. Then there are people who do not do good, who start wars and are selfish and they are very religious. Concerns with religion aren't necessarily due to illness though I have met bible-thumpers in hospital (as fellow patients) that had embraced religion as a component of their illness. You don't have to believe in hell. I don't.

I'm not religious at all so I don't have to do all this worrying.

Life is simpler but generally harder I think as an atheist.

My relationship with God is very important to me and helps me through bad times and helps me appreciate the good times. I'm not a bible thumper and usually don't even attend church anymore but I talk to god everyday and feel him in my heart and my life. God doesn't mind us nagging Him if you ask me and everyone goes through times of doubt, that's just human nature. However, that is just my take on it.

I'm religious and I ask a lot. Probably is nagging. One thing I try and keep in mind is that its a child parent relationship. I'm not a god or a deity or whatever so I can't relate on an even basis. How's this. I met GF, 3 years ago, lots of ups and downs, she told me a year into the relationship she was bipolar. At one point I almost dropped the relationship cause I didn't feel like I needed the headache. Just being selfish. She felt similiar, I could never understand. Something made us try one more time. We're still together, and no I can never understand. She accepts that. It hit me later that this isn't the only, one more time episode, I've experienced in my life. Each time it came out right. Don't know about anybody else, just sharing my experience. At 22, I hope you have a few one more times like I had, maybe thats the way its supposed to be, I don't know.

I believe our faith is being tested on a regular basis.... I have a strong faith in God and there are times that I'd sure like to control what's going on but for the most part I accept that I don't, can't and never will...
I think many people go through these times and struggles zeinna....
I also have come to believe I've had most of my 'growth spurts' through some of my darkest hours so in hindsight I haven't gotten quite a bit out of the hard times..

You aren't going to Hell sweetie.... Heaven is his grace...Not something we have to earn or prove ourselves for ... It's a gift

Big hug for you....xo

Hello Zeinna, I have been a christian now and have dedicated to serving the Lord now for 11 years as well as being baptized and having a wonderful and personal experience at the age of 8. I am 50 now, and so I have definitely found that many times, one may fall but one thing is certain, He never does and will never fail us. As long as we are in this world there will be trouble but Jesus has overcome the world! That to me is astounding! We need not blame God, but blame the enemy (satan) who steals, kills, and destroys. And yes, some of the most kindest and honest people suffer greatly, this is just a part of life. God is God and He knows what is best and is in complete control of all things especially our times of hardship. It is explainable and don't want to sound like I know it all however the answers lie in the Bible as it says that by one man's transgression(Adam) sin entered and so it goes. By God allowing trials in our life, He is molding our character and likeness into His likeness. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. As you can see,I love talking about the Lord as well as encouraging others who are in need as much as lies in me. I find the word religion undesirable because sometimes it lacks relationship just as it were those who were defined "religious"crucified Jesus-Have Faith and be encouraged that we care in what you are going through.

sorry I meant I have gotten quite a bit from hard times

I am an atheist. That doesn't mean I'm amoral. I have a perfectly decent moral code. I hate when people imply that godlessness = being a horrible person.

My husband has taken a bit of issue with this. He has seen me evolve from sorta-Christian to agnostic to atheist and is constantly saying stuff like "Nothing? How can you believe in nothing?"

The way I think of it is that you can only think about now. Now is all you've got. Not believing in some universal loving life force also frees you from believing in the force of evil. "It is what it is" is my motto. DH says that makes me a sorta-Buddhist, and as he is more comfortable thinking that, I let him...

I am a Christian and have a wonderful faith. I find that people make me question my faith more than anything. Christians and non believers. I have all types of friends from atheist, agnostic buddist etc. I pray for everyone, even if they don't believe. We all have trials in any faith but I couldn't imagine spending my time here on earth with someone that wasn't a believer also...I couldn't imagine being without him after. I'm not sure if our illness makes us search for something higher but I think it's part of maturity to seek our own answers wherever we find comfort.

Lots of people have crises of faith.
It doesn't HAVE to be a Bipolar thing.

Having said that, Bipolar Disorder can sometimes play into it.

It sounds like you're saying that at this moment, you're questioning which is causing the guilt you are feeling about your beliefs, rather than the beliefs themselves.

Maybe you can track it and see if you're only 'troubled' when you aren't doing well in other areas of you life too, in ways that indicate it's the illness 'acting up'.

If there's a God listening to you 'nagging' at Him, don't forget!!! He can also see how troubled you are by all this!!!

(((((Hugs)))))

god is BRUTAL on people with mental illness, to the point where i personally think god IS a mental illness in and of itself.

I grew up in a non religious home. At the age of 55 I became a Christian. By this time my Bi-polar was raging. I put a lot of faith in the lord. I start every day reading my Bible. I even take notes on what I am reading.

For me it was a very positive moment. Without my faith in God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit, I am not sure I could continue to move on.

Thank you all for your inspiring comments :)

I'm an atheist

yes I love when people think because you are an atheist you will automatically lose all your morals and run out and do horrible things but it just simply isn't that way.

Nothing wrong with being an atheist. I feel more at peace since losing my faith. Actually I'm a better person now than I was as a religious person.