Issues of Faith

As we go through life we are often affected by issues of faith or spirituality. Some of us have a sense of spirituality. Most of us at one time or other have asked the question who are we, why are we here, and where will we go when we die?

Numerous religions throughout the world have attempted to answer these basic questions but for some of us we are still left asking and wondering and can be left in conflict or even mental anguish as to the answers.

Organised religions have a tendency to be black and white in their teachings e.g. they tend to be rule based which is often contradictory to real life.  These contradictions often lead us to have mental conflicts with the faiths we subscribe to.

 Issues of faith come about mainly due cognitive dissonance which means holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time.

Some example of this could be.

• How can I believe in God when he has taken my loved one away from me?
• My husband treats me badly but my faith says I must stay married.
• I am in love with someone who has a different religious belief than me, it would be wrong for me to marry them.
• I am living with someone and my faith says that’s a sin and I should marry them but I am not sure.
• I am pregnant and I don’t want this baby but my faith says abortion is wrong.
• My faith says when my father dies I will become the head of the family but I am scared and don’t want the responsibility.

Faith issues are numerous and above are just a few. Other issues arise out of us being in a state of flux meaning that as we go through life we have a tendency to change our views and opinions and a belief that we held dear at one time doesn’t necessarily hold true at a different time in our lives.

Most of these issues bring about emotions of confusion, anxiety, guilt, sadness and sometime a sense of loss.

Counselling is an excellent place to look at such feelings and to try to make sense out of our spiritual conflicts and ultimately put them to rest and move on.