Since I find stories of people who return to their faith in God and Christ to be very powerful and moving, I thought it would be nice to have links to some of them available here. Personal stories of members of our forum would be best, but not necessary.
So, I will start with this one that I read today:
https://kelidei.typepad.com/journey/
QUOTE |
My beliefs became more pantheistic--- God--- or as I began thinking more often--- Goddess was in everything--- she was the energy that created and enlivened the universe and my new skills were the way I tapped into and used this divine source so that I could achieve my fullest potential and help others do so as well. One day at the shop I was asked if I would like to be part of a study group. It was a more advanced study of divination methods and focused energy work or in the terms of occult practitioners the use of spells. It seemed to be the logical next step so I accepted the invitation. The group would meet the following week in the evening at a local family style restaurant. I met the group at the appointed place and time and after brief introductions we all sat down at a large table in the back of the restaurant. There were about 10 people all together and we all looked pretty average. I would guess that looking at us most people would have assumed we were a bunch of co-workers out together for dinner. After introductions we began talking about our own individual beliefs and practices and what we were looking for from the group. The things that were said were what I had expected to hear people say--- things like personal growth, stronger connection to the divine, personal empowerment and wisdom--- but as the conversation went on I began experiencing something I did not expect---- in fact it was something that I had never experienced before nor have I since. As the conversation went around the table I began to feel this heaviness around me--- The best way to describe it is to say it was like all the light and air were being sucked out of the room --- it was a very heavy oppressive feeling like as if gravity had just gotten five times stronger and the sun ten times dimmer. I was feeling very uncomfortable and was desperately looking for an excuse to leave when my pager went off giving me the perfect out. As I said goodbye one of the women chuckled and said as she pointed at me "don't think we"ll be hearing from you again" --- during the conversation I had unconsciously turned my body toward the exit and away from the table--- My body language was pretty obvious--- I did not want to be part of the group. I mumbled something about letting "D" know my decision" and quickly excused myself. On the drive home it was difficult to shake the feeling of oppressiveness that had lingered with me--- I was baffled by what happened-and in fact I had no clue what it was that had happened. It wasn't until years later when discussing the experience with my spiritual director that it began to make sense. You see at the time I didn't believe that there was an evil being or force per se--- humans in my mind were the cause of evil--- so---I felt no fear dabbling in the things I was dabbling in---to me Satan was just a mythical creature designed to scare Christian folks---I was too sophisticated to believe in such nonsense and so because of this dangerous and erroneous attitude it seemed that I had been allowed to experience the presence evil---- not that I believe any one person there was evil --- but that because of our openness to the occult I believe evil, just like water, will always seek the path of least resistance---Still whatever my beliefs after that experience I knew I didn't want to see those people again--- and I didn't. In a few days I had relegated it to just a weird experience --- negative energy--- and let it go. |
I met with a woman not too long ago that reverted back to Catholicism from another religion. She was not pleased that she left her life in the Catholic church to pick up something else that seemed to not fulfill her spiritual aspirations. However, as we talked it seemed apparent that she went back because it was familiar to her since her early youth and I believe that was the main cause - familiarity. Whenever something seems uncomfortable or unknown people revert back to what they are already knowledgeable about regardless to if it does them better or not.