apologies for my influx of questions today, particularly this heavy one a little from left field. but I was wondering for the religious amongst us how you manage square your religious beliefs against your health?
I suppose what I mean by this is that I often feel very angry and disillusioned with my faith (non-dom christian, at this moment) and often feel locked in something more antagonistic. ultimately a form of self-pity, I suppose. at the same time, I see something quite extraordinary in others who have severe health difficulties and a faith - and for whom it is the latter that helps keep them afloat as a result of the former. I can’t quite ignore it.
any thoughts on here welcome. anything that could help me out would be appreciated!
I don’t know, James, the problem of bad things happening to good people really is a problem. It’s a problem - don’t you think? - for folks of any and all faiths and none. In my own life, I have people who are strong in their faith but nevertheless wrestle mightily with this problem. Their faith in grace allows them to live with it, but it certainly is a struggle for them and a painful one. I do wonder whether people who feel perfectly OK with that big problem maybe just haven’t thought about things very much!
I think your question is certainly a valid one. I am a Christian and have found my faith has helped me through my MS (for39 years now) and my other many unassociated health problems, particularly Marginal Zone non-Hodgkins lymphoma back in 2017. I know the prayers of the people at my church definitely helped me through that, and are helping me through the recurrence I’m currently going through. This time I can’t have the same chemo as it wouldn’t work, so I’ve been on cancer growth inhibitor tablets since January. If the PET scan I had yesterday shows they’re working I will have to take them forever as stopping them lets the cancer return. These tend to exacerbate some of my MS symptoms, but if they stop the cancer it’s worth it! But through it all I have been sure that God is with me and that my life is in His hands. The question of why bad things happen to good people is one we will never answer satisfactorily this side of heaven, as I always say that God sees the bigger picture of everyone’s lives and how they fit together. Maybe it’s the way that a so-called good person or someone who is known to be a Christian deals with their difficulties that helps someone else. We don’t always know what effect we might have on other people after all. I hope James that you can find comfort and help in your faith because God is bigger than our biggest difficulty and is always there for us. I pray you will find peace and comfort too.
I have never considered myself a good Christian but, I am a believer in a greater power than ourselves. Reading and keeping that faith is helping me through my own uncertain and changing times. Of course I’ve had my recent wobbles and I’ve definitely sinned in the past (I expect to have to answer for those one day) none of us are perfect, nor should any of us claim to be. All we can do is keep the faith and try to be the best version of ourselves. I’ve tried to be a good man for a long time. We are being tested but, we can only do the best we can with what we’ve got while trying to ride out the storm. (The Anger and disillusionment doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s just a part of the human condition). No more than that is expected of us. The fact that you’re still seeking answers is a good thing that surely won’t go unnoticed. Maybe take some time for some quiet reflection while you look inside yourself.
Don’t apologise on here mate - this is a good place for all of us to ask questions and look for help from our fellow man in all sorts of matters.
Keep the faith and stay strong mate - you do have it within you and, you will receive guidance if you ask for it.
thank you for this alison. I suppose my thoughts are these: I don’t consider myself an entirely good person - I have my share of unforced errors - and everyone, it seems to me, is a mess of good and bad people. the former takes a considerable amount of work to sustain in the day-to-day..
as for those who feel perfectly okay with it, I would be inclined to say they haven’t felt any of life’s sharp edges and so assume that these big problems are things that just naturally happen to others. which is understandable, I suppose; I wonder if we’re all guilty of that to degrees
thank you for this katie - I really appreciate all of this.
I’m so sorry you’ve had such a time of it and hope that things go a little easier. but I am glad faith has sustained you in that way - the rock they always describe - and you have a good community around you. regardless of how much I want to just abandon the whole thing, the thought that kind people are praying for you is always reassuring. I hope that for you it continues to do so.
it’s funny how suffering changes your perceptions of things: personally, at least, it has a way of completely sealing me in myself, a vacuum of ego or a six-foot child, almost incapable of appreciating the struggles of those around you. it then makes everyone appear as if their lives are easy breezy and free of trouble, which is not true either, but a bitter and resenting outlook is hard to fight.
thanks again - I hope I can eventually find the same security you describe. I hope the treatment continues to do its thing and the MS symptoms are alleviated; wishing you every comfort and the best possible health in the meantime..
thank you for all this john - much appreciated. I like Isaiah too - perhaps this is a little reminder to dip into it again..
what you write is all very reassuring. I consider myself a pretty lousy christian but they do say god loves a trier; that must count in my favour. I’ve got a shopping list of regrets that, depending on the day, I suspect I will have to face the music for in future. but I do try to read and keep the faith and I do strive to be the best, including helping others where I can. but keeping the faith can feel like a big ask and I find myself wobbling too; I don’t understand why something so imperative must be such a struggle. and the testing feels prolonged and acute. cut us some slack!
have you seen the odyssey, by any chance? surprisingly, I found that the film really spoke into a lot of these battles, particularly the scenes with athena and calypso…
anyway, thank you for all this - it’s a real help. wishing you all the best with your wobbles and uncertain moments.
No, I’ve never seen that film. I became unable to properly see and follow the plot in films and programs very well in 2023 so, I stopped watching. I now read more. I looked up the film after your post though so, I can kind of see where you’re coming from.
I was reading this earlier: Mark 3:17 says, "James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means 'sons of thunder.
They’re described as sometimes hot headed and zealous - I think if even Apostles were once rebuked, we could be forgiven for a little frustration with the situations that we find ourselves in.
I agree mate - staying the path is a challenge sometimes now but, nothing worth having ever came easy.
There will be signs to help us - often subtle but, I believe they can be seen if we stay open to them
I’m glad that these exchanges bring you some comfort and reassurance.
I think the trick at the moment that a lot of people struggle with is to honestly know themselves and accept who they really are.
thanks so much for this. I love it all. often it feels very frustrating and, like you I guess, I can feel admittedly very hot-headed about the whole deal. anger leads to guilt and it all leads to a horrible mind soup. and I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly no apostle
MS often feels like the narrow way to me, in more ways than one. you’re on it, whether you like it or not. but much agreed for the little sign posts. listening is the key there, and that’s a skill I’m trying to hone all the time.
thank you for all this - it’s much appreciated. let’s keep on keeping on.. enjoy your weekend
I’m good. It’s just the colder mornings and evenings that are creeping in now seem to chill me to the bone since MS came along.
I’m certainly no apostle mate - I just meant that even if they can get a bollocking then, surely you and me can’t really be doing too bad in the grand scheme of things
You don’t want to open that can of worms. Is there a god isn’t there? Best way I can put it is it is a matter of faith. There is no proof that there is or isn’t a god. I am a Catholic but by god, no pun intended, I have questioned my faith a lot. Yes, to do with MS etc, but it’s the same for atheists, no proof.
Now, a few things I did a lot of digging about and the oldest recorded religion is Hindu. So I started to think. Is their a god. Best i can come up with is all religions are man made, so are prone to errors. Believing that there is a greater power, or a god, is a personal choice. I am not arrogant enough to say that there is or isn’t a god. I choose to believe it as, while a lot of bad has stemmed from religion so has a lot of good. My soon to be brother in law is an atheist I respect his view, I personally find it odd as the opens up more cans of worms like 'what was here before the world? FYI the big bang theory is just that a theory, clues in the name.
So what I am trying to say it is s personal choice with no proof one way or another.
The can only gets opened if people want too enforce their opinion on someone, me i’m a live and let live person, enough **** at my own door with out looking for other people’s. I do my best too be a good christian but fail alot of the times .
As for the big bang theory in my mind there had to be something there to make the big bang can’t have a big bang out of nothing (imo).
thanks for this paul. I don’t want to open the can, but I still feel I need to
this is an interesting take on things. I’ve always had an interest in buddhism too, particularly w/r to negating the self and living in the present, accepting all that befalls you. but all much easier said than done.
I’m inclined to think the bad blood that comes from (organised!) religion is inadvertently displaying what it’s trying to say w/r to human nature, and what people (even apparent believers) are ultimately capable of.
thanks for this mac. I know what you say here - I consider myself a lousy christian but a good trier. wishing you the best with the **** at your door - take care
Same as Mac. I’m very much a live and let live kind of person. Everyone is free to chose their own path and take guidance and comfort wherever they feel works best for them but, I won’t be moved from my choices that I haven’t taken lightly. No one gets out of this short life alive so, I believe that the best way is to enjoy it while you can and, be happy
I think you need something too believe in Jon. I do know that god has help me at certain times in my life, my-be even times when i haven’t realized it. Don’t get me wrong i’m certainly no holy joe.
There’s a song Elvis sang Why me Lord which i love especially when Elvis opens up send shivers down your spine (not that we need that ). Though it was written and sang by Kris Kristofferson who also did a great job.
Religion has never been on my mind since my nephew died at the grand age of 7 days. Things just happen, that is life just stop looking for things to blame if you find comfort in Religion accept it with both hands we all need something to hold onto, anger pain frustration are all the emotions we go through from my Catholic upbringing I know God will not turn his back on me, he will always be watching and waiting for me to calm down. Like real friends they dont give up on you. Have faith in yourself. Good will overcome.
thank you for this folks - really interesting to hear people’s thoughts and experiences. it’s certainly true that in the mess and chaos of things, something secure is needed. and as I’m finding in my own MS experience, particularly when things just lurch from here to there and back again..
the last two years have not been my favourite, particularly with the diagnosis last december. but I like to think that my spiritual life has grown and deepened through these admittedly difficult years. you find out the hard way, don’t you
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). Though it was written and sang by Kris Kristofferson who also did a great job.