Does Religion Make you Feel Unnecessarily Guilt: Do You Feel Guilty?

1. 64

   AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years ago

   One topic I have never seen mentioned on these threads is that of religious guilt.
   
   Isn't that one of the reasons that people leave their religions behind, however?
   
   Does religion make you feel guilty a lot? Did you belong to a religion and left it because of the guilt

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      no.
      
      you only feel guilty after you leave, and you feel guilty for leaving.

      replyreport
      1. 64

         AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Should I feel guilty for grammar mistakes

         replyreport
         1. 81

            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            nAH mESS iT UP IT is FUN!

            replyreport
   2. 62

      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      A lot of Catholic priests leave their religion behind, when they feel guilty for falling in love.
      this happens a lot, at least in Latin American Catholic churches.And it happens as well with nuns.

      replyreport
   3. 59

      sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      guilt? Why would one feel guilty? I know there was anxiety when I was looking for the right church, but no guilt. I think alot of it for me had to do with the unknown. I was not raised in a church, nor did I now how I would be treated.

      replyreport
   4. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I believe that religious guilt is often the reason people stick with a religion. It isn't a very healthy reason to do anything.
      
      

      replyreport
   5. 61

      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      "Its fine to be born into a religion but not to die in one" Swami Vivekanada

      replyreport
   6. 71

      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      All religious people felt guilty, because they are told that they were evil/sinners, and they were sad enough in self to believe it.
      
      After, they claim to give themselves to GOD or Jesus, then they are able to alleviate that guilt. Therefore, it's no longer recognized.

      replyreport
      1. 81

         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         The heavy duty religionists run the laws of moses as well. Must be fun trying to stay within those boundaries!

         replyreport
   7. 61

      TimeHealsAllposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I have two hubs you might want to read. "Does your conscience bother you" and "I Am". There are more on my site but I recomend these first. Blessings!

      replyreport
   8. 60

      evanlaeysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If your religion makes you feel guilty it doesn't teach that God is all-loving, all-forgiving, and all-merciful - which God is!

      replyreport
2. 64

   AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years ago

   And I do know the difference between an adverb and an adjective... just the booze kicking in (joke)

   replyreport
3. 0

   cosetteposted 14 years ago

   
   
   no.....

   replyreport
4. 75

   WriteAngledposted 14 years ago

   Roman Catholicism excels in laying on the guilt thick. However, once I started to argue with the dogma, I lost the guilt.
   
   My experience of evangelical Christians was that they used social ostracism rather than guilt.
   
   I now believe I am responsible for my actions and my destiny. Guilt has no practical use in such a context. If I think I've done wrong, the response is to take corrective action so as not to repeat the wrong. Self-flagellation won't help at all.

   replyreport
5. 59

   sooner than laterposted 14 years ago

   right. I would say God does not want anyone to live in fear outside of reverence.

   replyreport
   1. 81

      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Why does your god insist that you worship him?
      Is he a megalomaniac or just very insecure?

      replyreport
      1. 59

         sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Our God(yours included) wants loyal companionship that one might find in a good marriage. Its all in the book.

         replyreport
6. 60

   Wealthmadehealthyposted 14 years ago

   Religeon is how one perceives it.  God did not make us to feel guilty, our actions against Him are what cause the guilt.  If guilt if felt, it is because you have committed a wrong somehow.
   
   We are all guilty of sin.  This is why Jesus was born, lived life on earth as a human trying desperately to give us all the message of salvation in Him.  He died a truly horrible death with no guilt felt on the part of either his accusers or scourgers, his murderers....to save us all is we will only accept Him as our Savior.    We should be thankful for this and not feel guilty.  This is what the world would have you be...

   replyreport
7. 64

   marcel285posted 14 years ago

   If someone is devoted to god and feels guilt for some of their actions, don't they just ask for forgivness and it's all good?
   
   If god created us, then isn't he responsible for our actions that bring us guilt anyway, since he did not create us to be perfect??

   replyreport
   1. 81

      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It depends on selective reading!
      
          Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal."
      
         Leviticus 19:13 "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him."
      
      vs
      
           Exodus 3:22 "And ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
           Exodus 12:35-36 "And they spoiled [plundered, NRSV] the Egyptians."
          * Luke 19:29-34 "[Jesus] sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village . . . ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. . . . And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him."
      
      Taking without asking is stealing isn't it?

      replyreport
      1. 70

         aguasilverposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "It depends on selective reading!"
         
         Something you specialise in Earnest, your reading and presentation is very specialized, in fact the only requirement is that it must allow you to take a tilt at God.
         
         But it's good that you recognise that Christ had prophesy correct about the colt being there and I guess you can either dismiss the prophesies accuracy.... by stating that Christ had sent someone ahead to agree with the owner.... or accept that Christ did prophesy correctly and knew that the colt would be there, be as yet unridden and that the disciples would be able to walk off with the said colt with no objection... maybe God had already spoken tot he colts owner.... Ye Gods there are multiple answers as to how and why....
         
         But trying to malign God serves your purpose, so lets just highlight whats in your heart.

         replyreport
         1. 81

            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It's your book mate, the words come from it. Can you twist the other few thousand anomalies as well? Religionists keep backing away from their own words, why do you think that is?

            replyreport
            1. 62

               Unchained Graceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Years down the road, stealing livestock earned you a hanging or a bullet.

               replyreport
               1. 81

                  earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Read the text aqua. The owner apparently knew nothing of it!

                  replyreport
                  1. 62

                     Unchained Graceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     That's because there was no allusion to ownership by anyone else but the original owner. Therefore, unauthorized use of said colt was just that. It's a black and white issue substantiated by the text itself.

                     replyreport
                  2. 70

                     aguasilverposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     "And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him."
                     
                     The owners obviously never complained either, they knew who 'The Lord' was and seemed to be quite happy to allow 'The Lord' to use their colt.
                     
                     Just more of Satan whispering in your ear Earnest....I'd suggest a new hearing aid and some better glasses!

                     replyreport
      2. 0

         brotheryochananposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         yer such an idiot ear nest.
         Do you not remember that god knows the hearts of all men. Do you hear of any objection from the owner of the donkey? NO. Do you think god would take a donkey as in stealing.. you twist scripture all the time to suit your devilish needs. I honestly wish you'd stop acting like a baby because you failed at following gods laws. There is no condemnation is christ jesus, come back to the flock earnest! We need your tenacity, i just wish you'd forgive yourself.

         replyreport
8. 64

   AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years ago

   Will you two Antipodeans give it up (mmmmmm, Antipodeeeans)

   replyreport
   1. 81

      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Now why would we do that?

      replyreport
      1. 64

         AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Actually I can hear an Antipodean in the background as I write. The TV is on ... House is on...(you know, the guy from Neighbours) (and that may be the last way I can think of to use that word ... oh well, never mind)

         replyreport
9. 84

   donotfearposted 14 years ago

   Does religion make me feel guilty?  NO, people do.

   replyreport
   1. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I also believe that this guilt being created is the great draw card for some people. It repels me but I know it draws others because I have seen it in action. They say you must fear God. I sometimes equate this fear with guilt and will have none of it.
      
      
      

      replyreport
10. 64

    marcel285posted 14 years ago

    It depends on selective reading!
    
        Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal."
    
       Leviticus 19:13 "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him."
    
    vs
    
         Exodus 3:22 "And ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
         Exodus 12:35-36 "And they spoiled [plundered, NRSV] the Egyptians."
        * Luke 19:29-34 "[Jesus] sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village . . . ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. . . . And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him."
    
    Taking without asking is stealing isn't it?
    
    

    replyreport
11. 0

    sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

    Of course if I do something wrong or mean and I know better I feel terrible guilt.

    replyreport
    1. 81

       earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Not much to feel guilty about that has not been covered in the bible!
       
       Ezekiel 16:17
       You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.
       
       Read more: http://skirmisher.org/bullshit-meister/ … z0cMLNKgJ4
       Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
       
       Biblical Dildos!

       replyreport
       1. 59

          sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          'prostitution'- meaning worship. Any worship outside of God is prostitution. Hence "The Mother Harlot Church" <-- the main prostitute church. Scripture says "they have not layed with the Mother Harlot" means they have not belonged to the Whore of Whores. A prostitute.
          
          Maybe that is why you don't like scripture, its too hard for you.
          
          in short, they made gold and silver idols to worship= spiritual prostitution.

          replyreport
          1. 81

             earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             and maybe you have a problem with comprehension!
             
             the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.
             
             Clear enough?

             replyreport
             1. 59

                sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Let me translate this for you in scriptural light.
                
                The jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in false worship of them.

                replyreport
                1. 81

                   earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   That does seem a little more demure don't you think?
                   Nicer, and we only have to change one word to two!

                   replyreport
                   1. 59

                      sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      I suppose laughing off the truth has kept you under that fossilized rock for a very long time. I would hate for you to break your doldurm forum escapade to research scripture and find false churches and false worship are considered prostitutes and prostitution.

                      replyreport
                      1. 81

                         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         Been there, done that, plus I have had the advantage of sitting around listening to a bunch of fanatics arguing about the great harlot and all the prostitutes ad nauseum! I like this one literal!

                         replyreport
                         1. 59

                            sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                            hehehe. giggly wiggly- then I'm sure you would have made the connection and not tried to explain the scripture to me 4 times. But at least you admit you are wrong.

                            replyreport
                            1. 81

                               earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                               You are unbelievable! Your arguments would be thrown out by my four year old granddaughter!
                               Giggly wiggly????

                               replyreport
                            2. 64

                               AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                               Yes earnesthub, you are wrong. God is a prostitute (I wasn't really following this one, that was the gist wasn't it)

                               replyreport
                               1. 81

                                  earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                  Deleted
                                  1. 59

                                     sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                     Congratulations, you two just "wowed" me in the I feel sorry for you sense.

                                     replyreport
                                     1. 64

                                        AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                        I quite liked that response. Kudos

                                        report
                      2. 64

                         AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         What's wrong with prostitutes anyway

                         replyreport
                         1. 67

                            Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                            Too expensive!
                            
                            

                            replyreport
       2. 0

          brotheryochananposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          another muck up by ear nest. prostitution, fornication as is in the worship of false idols. The great harlot is rebuked for causing all nations to fornicate with her.. do you see a great harlot getting laid.. i dont.. i see a great harlot being worshipped.. try another scripture earnest... see if you can get this one wrong.. "jesus wept".

          replyreport
12. 64

    AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years ago

    Any worship outside of God is prostitution. How can I not comment on this statement? This doesn't seem right, somehow... I can't put my finger on it... but...

    replyreport
    1. 59

       sooner than laterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       look it up, its all there. Jesus said our ralationship is a marriage unto the Lord. Churches are reffered to as women, and the Mother Harlot is the prostitute of all false churches.

       replyreport
       1. 64

          AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Look it up? In the dictionary? Because I don't believe in the Webster's... my faith, and that of those around me, is exclusively in the Oxford English Dictionary... (Denominational difference, I guess...)

          replyreport
    2. 0

       sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Sure you can.

       replyreport
13. 64

    AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years ago

    And Giggly Wiggly was one of the Telly-Tubbies, so show some respect

    replyreport
14. 60

    double_frickposted 14 years ago

    i still have residual guilt from being a fundamentalist christian the first half of my life.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       AdsenseStrategiesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Hence the specs, perhaps...

       replyreport
15. 62

    Unchained Graceposted 14 years ago

    If you'll notice, guilt and control is alive and well behind many pulpits today. I've seen it firsthand. Recognized it and dealt with it.
    
    Jeremiah 23 alluded to the dirty deals in the pulpit as did I&II Timothy and Titus. Paul knew what he was dealing with which is why the Pastoral Epistles had to be written.

    replyreport
16. 70

    aguasilverposted 14 years ago

    God does not give us guilt, ALL guilt comes from Satan.
    
    God will give you get a spirit of conviction, not a spirit of guilt.
    
    When the Holy Spirit convicts you, you realise and accept that you have erred and repent to God, make restitution as best possible for the error and learn from the mistake.
    
    Or you just keep doing it and then God will have no option but to allow Satan to give you a feeling of guilt.
    
    Satan likes guilt, it makes folk stay clear of Gods mercy and grace, they feel guilty and unworthy, so like Adam & Eve (secular humanity) they try to hide their sin from God.
    
    If you repent, God will forgive you.
    
    If you give the authority in your life/sin over to God, He will stop you from sinning...for as long as you leave your life authority with God.
    
    Most take it back when Satan whispers "Did God really say that?"
    
    I hear Satan whisperers a whole lot on these forums....
    
    Eventually, when you have chosen guilt over conviction, avoiding God over repentance, God will have no option (Satan knows the bible better than you, he's the prime legalist) but to allow Satan to have his way with you, for you will have created a solid perch for Satan to sit on your shoulders and peck away at your self worth, God consciousness, and relationship with God.
    
    The you turn your back on God, maybe even start saying to others..."Did God really say that?"
    
    At that point Satan turns your guilt into bravado and gets you to believe that you no longer feel guilty, and gets you saying much more..."Did God really say that?"
    
    and hey presto! you believe you are a free man or woman who does not need any puny god to tell you how to run your life.....
    
    ....and Satan sniggers in the corner and slides out of the room with a happy smile upon his beautific face,
    
    "Did God really say that?"

    replyreport
    1. 62

       Unchained Graceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Well put.

       replyreport
       1. 70

          aguasilverposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Thank you brother.

          replyreport
          1. 62

             Unchained Graceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I wanted to once again thank you for the assistance you gave me some time ago regarding breaking up my text blocks in my Hubs. You state you thought I'd deny the comment, though I didn't because it was very helpful to me as I figured it would be to others.

             replyreport
    2. 0

       brotheryochananposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Satan has nowhere else to be but right here on hubpages. LOL and LOL
       can u clarify what you mean by satan? an angel who works at superspeed to be everywhere at once and knows exactly where everybody lives? c'mon its an impossibility. You need to rethink this satan thing completely.

       replyreport
       1. 59

          Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Well - I have to say - I love it when one ignorant religionist makes fun of another ignorant religionist for "misinterpreting" the perfect word of God. This is my whole argument against your ridiculous beliefs.
          
          2000 years of fighting over what the invisible super being meant to say and still you all think you have an answer when you cannot.
          
          Do it again.

          replyreport
          1. 60

             Allan McGregorposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Marvellous logic.
             
             Lenin, Stalin and Mao abolished religion, and look at what Utopias they created.

             replyreport
             1. 68

                alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                I think you are making a sideways jump there - abolishing religion was one of the good things they did - they did good and bad stuff, like any politicians do. What you claim is like saying America has heavy right wing powerful religious influence on its politicians - so attacking Iraq was right.

                replyreport
             2. 58

                Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                They deployed Communism, which is built on Christianity.
                
                You were talking about logic and utopia... 

                replyreport
    3. 58

       Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I wonder why grown adults have to make up fantasy tales in which they believe they know what invisible entities they've created will think and do, just so as to shift the burden the responsibility from their shoulders?

       replyreport
17. 60

    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    The Catholic Church makes me feel guilty - all over the world the hierarchy of the Catholic Church concealed child rape - here in Ireland the civil authorities including politicians helped the Church conceal the rape of thousands of children - that is enough for me - I think the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church are the sons of Satan.

    replyreport
18. 81

    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    

    replyreport
19. 68

    alternate poetposted 14 years ago

    Guilt is an integral part of religion - the Catholic church actually loads it onto its followers directly with original sin - at birth.
    
    Prohibition of so many things results in constant breaking the rules - which leads to guilt - which leads to forgiveness by god - which is an addictive cycle ensuring that followers can do pretty much what they like because they are not relying on their own moral conscience or on ethics - but the prop of forgiveness.
    
    You might wonder how so many catholic practitioners can reconcile abuse with their conscience, it is easy if there is no conscience just a cycle of abuse - guilt - forgiveness.

    replyreport