As strange as this sounds I have religious dysphoria.

I feel like I should believe in something, but I don't know a religion that fits me. I can't find one that I'm willing to be invested in.
I tend to over think and question everything, yes, even science (reason I'm not a science major).

Everyone in my family is of some different religion, and I have no idea what mine is.
And I feel like I can't talk about it, because I fear others wouldn't understand the feeling.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Quote from: DisputedLeech on January 14, 2011, 08:51:45 PM
Can anyone offer any advice?

Believe in yourself.

I don't see any religions that are inspiring. I don't know if there is god or not. I believe that the Golden rule is excellent, "Do unto others as we would like done unto yourself." If everyone did their best to live by that the world would be a great place. If there is God he would approve.

I wish you luck in your choice.

Hugs.
Patty

Religion is like a political party, you don't need to be in one to have an opinion regarding politics.

Religion is simply an organization that markets a theology; as a political party markets a political ideology.
Religion can also be seen as a community that holds a common ideology regarding the supernatural (theology).

I wouldn't look for a religion, or a set theology. Rather, I'd seek something that makes sense to yourself. Don't be pressured into something simply because majority rules, or everyone else is doing it. You'll have more flexibility and feel far less pressure. Furthermore, instead of being told something is one way, you can think on it yourself.

In short: What vexing said.

  Shortly after I was confirmed catholic (so much irony) I dismissed christianity and started to think for myself.
  Over several years I thought lots and formed my own opinion of spiritual reality, then began to look for faiths that matched my opinion. I found one.
  There are so many folks that will try to sell you their particular faith; The harder they sell it, the faster you should run!!! Spirituality is something best found on your own.... Don't try to find a religion that makes sense; Make sense and find a religion that agrees. :-)

Quote from: JessicaR on January 14, 2011, 09:14:44 PM
Don't try to find a religion that makes sense; Make sense and find a religion that agrees. :-)

Good one!

Personally, I get a lot out of just believing there's "more" to the universe than I can comprehend. Is it a "god"? I don't know, but I've seen enough unexplainable stuff and know there is enough unexplainable stuff that it makes sense there are higher "forces" than ourselves out there.

I also believe in things like the golden rule and just having morals and boundaries. I was brought up Catholic, so I'm sure some of that comes from that. I also got really into Taoism. But either way, I just believe in being a good person. I don't need a "god" as a moral compass because I feel pretty good that I know right from wrong. I think many times people "need" religion to keep them on a path or to keep them humble (if a god created you, then there is something greater than you and that thing should be worshiped, etc.)

So although I believe there is "something", I don't feel a great need to know what that something is. I concentrate on being a good person and living a good life

QuoteI tend to over think and question everything, yes, even science (reason I'm not a science major).

The best scientists are the ones who question science.

Quote from: JS on January 14, 2011, 09:58:04 PM
The best scientists are the ones who question science.

I mean I question it to the point where I question reality and get depressed. It actually got to be a big problem, and I can't take a lot of upper level sciences...

Physics is a good religion, because it is true regardless of whether you believe it or not.

Other than that, everything else is just flavor.  Whether you call it gravity, or whether you call it the invisible hand of God pushing you down to earth, it doesn't really make a difference.  Personally, I got tired of personifying things which show no evidence of personality.  I prefer to look at the actual data and see what it says.  If it says that there are large omnipotent invisible dudes running amok in the universe, then that's what I'll believe in.  So far, the data has not supported that conclusion.

Of course, I have no problem with people believing in large invisible dudes, as long as they don't try to force me to believe in large invisible dudes.

Religion is more social tradition which uses spirituality as a base. Perhaps Philosophy is something you need to study.

Quote from: DisputedLeech on January 14, 2011, 10:20:52 PM
I mean I question it to the point where I question reality and get depressed. It actually got to be a big problem, and I can't take a lot of upper level sciences...

I question reality all the time. I'm always thinking about what "reality" truly is. Yeah I sometimes get depressed by my current reality, but that's probably why I like getting my mind outside of it.

In regards to your first post, I think the best thing is to not look at it as finding a religion that fits you but as finding beliefs that fit you. I think it's good to ask questions about everything, especially these basic philosophical/religious things like the meaning of life, etc. I actually have my own answer for that one which I arrived at after much thought. I've taken alot of science myself and my own beliefs are a mix of science and spirituality. I like to say that the Norse story of creation starting when fire met ice is a metaphor for the Big Bang, with the Bang being the fire and the empty cold void into which it expanded being the ice. The great thing about discovering your own beliefs instead of copying them from someone else is that you will learn a great deal about the universe, existence, and yourself in the process.

Quote from: lisagurl on January 15, 2011, 01:08:25 PM
Religion is more social tradition which uses spirituality as a base. Perhaps Philosophy is something you need to study.

Philosophy is awesome.