How do people believe in any religion? /u/PrettyMuchParker No such thing as stupid questions

I try to be very understanding of friends who practice any religion, I think it’s great if they have something that makes them feel more happy or certain about themselves/their situation/life matters/etc, but I struggle with being empathetic (?) about certain things.

I’ve never understood prayer or how people can believe in any god(s) or higher powers realistically. My mother used to take me to church when I was younger and I would pray and attend a Bible school where I made friends, but I’ve always viewed it as just something fun I did. I never took it seriously or believed in anything seriously back then or now. Whenever I’ve tried to pray I just feel weird and honestly embarrassed, even if it’s a silent prayer to myself. I recall my dad getting into a car accident (he walked away okay) when I was younger and my mom said she could take me to church and I could pray for things to be okay if I wanted. All I remember from that was praying out loud in a room and sitting there awkwardly afterward and not knowing what to do. It just felt extremely awkward and strange to me. I don’t know if I didn’t “believe enough” in my prayer, but even when I tried to believe my hardest in any prayer, it still felt awkward and unreal to me.

I have tried to get into practicing Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, and have researched and tried to follow the beliefs of a few other religions as well but none have ever stuck. I even tried to practice spells and believe in crystals and tarot, but it just feels kinda dumb when I try to do it. I just don’t get how people can believe any religion or practice like that.

I’m not upset about not having any religion to follow or practice, I just wish I could understand more and empathize with my friends who do practice. My mother thinks she “failed as a parent” because I don’t believe in any faith for myself and she even goes as far to say that she thinks I’m nihilistic and “don’t love myself” because of my lack of following any religion. I feel very happy without following anything and have never been bothered by it unless someone brings it up (like her).

I understand belief systems but I just never get how so many parts of a religion work; why people believe in baptism or things of that sort. I don’t get why my mother thinks I’m not happy if I don’t practice a religion/believe in God. Why is it that big of a deal to people?

When I’ve tried to read and revisit the Bible, it just reads like any other book to me, nothing special. The whole concept of believing in some biblical events or even just some all-controlling or omnipotent being seems so strange to me. It’s like a fantasy concept and I just can’t understand how some people take it seriously. I understand the why of it, just not the how.

I’m not hateful at all of anyone’s practices. As I stated before, I really am happy if people practice something that helps them be happier and helps them understand or process things in the world or their own lives, I just want to emphasize and understand as much as I can if it’s possible. I don’t know why there’s such a block for me when it comes to grasping parts of religion.

I try to be very understanding of friends who practice any religion, I think it’s great if they have something that makes them feel more happy or certain about themselves/their situation/life matters/etc, but I struggle with being empathetic (?) about certain things.

I’ve never understood prayer or how people can believe in any god(s) or higher powers realistically. My mother used to take me to church when I was younger and I would pray and attend a Bible school where I made friends, but I’ve always viewed it as just something fun I did. I never took it seriously or believed in anything seriously back then or now. Whenever I’ve tried to pray I just feel weird and honestly embarrassed, even if it’s a silent prayer to myself. I recall my dad getting into a car accident (he walked away okay) when I was younger and my mom said she could take me to church and I could pray for things to be okay if I wanted. All I remember from that was praying out loud in a room and sitting there awkwardly afterward and not knowing what to do. It just felt extremely awkward and strange to me. I don’t know if I didn’t “believe enough” in my prayer, but even when I tried to believe my hardest in any prayer, it still felt awkward and unreal to me.

I have tried to get into practicing Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, and have researched and tried to follow the beliefs of a few other religions as well but none have ever stuck. I even tried to practice spells and believe in crystals and tarot, but it just feels kinda dumb when I try to do it. I just don’t get how people can believe any religion or practice like that.

I’m not upset about not having any religion to follow or practice, I just wish I could understand more and empathize with my friends who do practice. My mother thinks she “failed as a parent” because I don’t believe in any faith for myself and she even goes as far to say that she thinks I’m nihilistic and “don’t love myself” because of my lack of following any religion. I feel very happy without following anything and have never been bothered by it unless someone brings it up (like her).

I understand belief systems but I just never get how so many parts of a religion work; why people believe in baptism or things of that sort. I don’t get why my mother thinks I’m not happy if I don’t practice a religion/believe in God. Why is it that big of a deal to people?

When I’ve tried to read and revisit the Bible, it just reads like any other book to me, nothing special. The whole concept of believing in some biblical events or even just some all-controlling or omnipotent being seems so strange to me. It’s like a fantasy concept and I just can’t understand how some people take it seriously. I understand the why of it, just not the how.

I’m not hateful at all of anyone’s practices. As I stated before, I really am happy if people practice something that helps them be happier and helps them understand or process things in the world or their own lives, I just want to emphasize and understand as much as I can if it’s possible. I don’t know why there’s such a block for me when it comes to grasping parts of religion.