It has been said that He doesn't give us anything we can't handle. If that is true then why are there so many here on this forum? Why are there so many therapists, hot lines, medications? I have asked Him what my purpose here is and I think I have my answer but why do I feel so alone in this? There are no footsteps beside me and I am certain I am not being carried. I am stuck in this maze. Everyone expects me to stand above it, and see the right path. But there are so many things pulling me down. All I see is a black forest and I can't find my way. I have asked Him for insight. I have asked Him for guidance. Failing that I asked Him to just take me, but quickly and quietly. Yet I am still here, still lost. I'm sure I could do this if only I had a gentle hand to hold, a warm place to go, someone to tell me it's all going to be ok. So I just try to be brave and keep hope. As the song goes "My makeup may be flaking but my smile - still stays on".

After reading parts of this post, I am glad I am a Pagan. My gods do listen, even if things come to me in unexpected ways. And before anyone starts bashing pagans, there's a few bit of info:

1. Pagans do not worship the devil- we don't believe in him. Go find Alaster Crowley for satanism.
2. Yes in the past, some religions did commit human sacrifice in times of great need. But what we did was a drop in the bucket compared to what the Christian Crusades did.
3. We believe that all creatures are deserving of respect. We have a deep connection with nature and are thankful to the spirit of every animal that gives it's life to feed us.
4. We respect others' right to practice their religion and try not to push our on them.


Penn- I am sorry you are having such a bad time. Please just have faith. Look for the little things for comfort. As for your little furbaby, they are never truly gone, they stay in your heart and are honored by the stories you tell of them. Instead of looking for peace, look for guidance to peace.

With great respect to ryverrat's and other posts above, my father-in-law was a pagan for years. He eventually starting having some doubts, started experimenting around and settled on catholicism. He is now happier than he has ever been. Nearly all religions have several factors in common. They are responsible for horrible and wonderful things. Their members range from devout worshippers, to participants to doubters to radicals. My core belief is that every person owes it to his fellow brothers and sisters to be kind, compassionate, and respectful. Most religions would agree with those values but many of their members do not practice them. Beyond that we should be free to believe anything we want or that speaks to us. We shoud be careful not to exalt a person, a religion or a set of beliefs over others. This precisely is the root of this planet's most dangerous and horrifying problems. I am glad your gods are listening to you. I believe my God is listening too. His wise response is forthcoming but as a human I am impatient.

good gosh.

I won't tell any of you what my religous beliefs are.. I don't post about religion or politics. NEVER.

I believe it's a personal thing and I don't judge anyone or claim to know everything. I am content with my beliefs and I love you all know matter what yours are.

Penn. I know your pain with your kitty.

I do. Just want to give you a hug............. and let you know I'm thinking of you.

LMT

oh FUCKING Julian fries what the double h e hockey sticks is going on?

I will never in my x-sistance here on this earth EVER understand why any one and yes I do mean U would quote a manufactured BOOK, or even quote scriptures....shit and pukes....I think I'll quote the Kellogg's cereal box I just know there are word of wisdom on it IF I just rearrange the letters.... oh crap I just might have offended some one. Well to tell the f'n truth I am offended for some reason, may be mine own, I could not read every reply to this post....JUST couldn't...

YES I was raised in that filthy crap AND yes nothing that came off of that PULLFUCKINGPIT ever made since as the shit that was spouted never came true....So all U peeps and I know U are many hence I will CALL U "LEGION" can just go get bent cuz effectually U all ready are....

stupid is as stupid does and following some writings from a people who can't even EVER keep their same names...Jews, he-brews, is-railie-lights....give me a f'n break, an,d ur gona quote them....oh fuck I'm just gona find me an out house and jump in it head first and just wait for MANNA from heaven.........

Mr dog type guy,, as an admirer of yours (secretive like of course) I humbly disagree. I'm no slouch at rationalism, have a good amount of intelligence and am not prone to robot like following of imaginary people. So, yeah I believe and most people who are friends who actually have met me aren't really all that repulsed by accepting I am what I am, which I extend to them without demeaning their respective beliefs.

In other words, to each their own.

Hi Peppers :0)
to each our own.

let's be ourselves.

Our authentic selves. that's good enough.

With no disrespect to Penntucky, I'm amazed at the religious sermons and wild explanations of some. One even spouted Leviticus!!
In regard to your original post, I'm very sorry to hear your cat is ill. It's the absolute worst. I've been through it myself.

We all have the right to post whatever we want. I think religion is in keeping with what the original poster brought into play along with her sick kitten...by the way, how is your kitten.

If you don't believe, skip the posts that are religious. Pure and simple. Take what you need and leave the rest alone. If Catwoman wants to quote the entire Bible that is her business. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Unless you are a Christian, you won't understand anyway nor will I understand pagans, satanist, atheist, or whatever type of non christian faith there is out there. I don't even understand all of the christian religions. I don't consider myself religious but rather spiritual.

However, that , doe not mean I don't want to be friends with you, I am sure their are other things we won't agree with either. We may not agree on clothes, haircuts, cures for depression, whether of not to be a vegetarianism, animal rights, popular stars, whatever.(and I have been caught up in all of these topics) That's ok. I am not one that has to be like everyone else. I believe what I believe and you believe what you believe. I am sure life will continue on without us believing in the same things.

And, we are all adults and I think we can put our differences aside in order to help each other with the disease of depression. Hell, I don't even agree with everyone on what causes depression.

I am not perfect or all knowing. I smoke, occasionally cuss, and have been know to take a drink or too. It's ok, my God still love me, he meets you where you are. You don't have to be perfect to believe in him. Tell you the truth the perfect Christians scare the hell out of me. Ha Ha Ha, I didn't even try for that pun. I hope you know what I mean, they scare me because I am not perfect and don't think I will ever be perfect. God doesn't expect that. I guess I will piss a few devout Christian off with this. Any who.....

Love you Dog, I consider you a friend and we did not even know what our spiritual beliefs were. I hope that does not change. This post was not directed at you, but at everyone. Pepper, love your responses too. Sorry, I don't know everyone on this thread. But I do respect you right to post even if we differ.

Hello. Penntucky. I like your name. That's neat.

What I would say is that each person has to decide for themselves what they believe and do what works for them.

There are so many varied beliefs.

Some suffering is senseless. Some suffering is consequence (GENERALLY SPEAKING-not you, necessarily).

Although I find some AA stuff distrubing, I think that the AA version of "God" is best--that we do sometimes lean on a Higher Power as we understand it but not to get too hung up on magical thinking.

It could be that prayer subconsciously assists our minds in helping us achieve goals or puts positive energy out there to assist us in working towards a goal.

I live in the Bible Belt, and I have a super weak personality so I am pelted and persecuted and abused into Christianity, but I also listen to the Bhagvad Gita as a means to keep myself from hurting so much because my life is filled with suffering due to my high level of emotional distrubance and PTSD.