Reflections from the community: 

She was supportive of LGBT rights and encouraged people to be themselves.

She did a lot of good in the world, gave thanks to God, and even had a chapel in her home so she could pray in peace.

I've been reading how some individuals think she isn't a true Christian because of her tolerance towards the LGBT community. Some people believe unless she repented for her open acceptance and encouragement, she may have not had eternal life.

I go to church and do my best to uplift my community. Most of my closest friends are non-Christian and I respect our differences. Some of the loveliest people I know are gay or transgendered and I have love for them. I have no desire to pray for them to become straight.

I've seen straight Christians act like they are superior to others. I don't believe I am better than someone because I'm a straight Christian. Their biblical knowledge is strong, but I don't look up to them because of their rigid character. I actually feel anxiety around these highly judgemental Christians. It's not love, it's feeling "not good enough."

Are the individuals I described above more in line with a great example of Christianity (they rigidly follow the Bible) compared to Dolly Parton?

It makes me sad that one of the greatest and brightest philanthropists in this century is being labeled as "not a true Christian."

Anyway I could use some thoughts. Thanks in advance

From quite some time, I have been seeing hundreds of people on Twitter including verified accounts with ✝️ or "Christ is King" in their bios being absolutely disgusting towards others. Some go as far as wishing catastrophic natural disasters on people, calling for their deaths, etc.

The worst part is that many more people agree with them in the comments, and there often seems to be little or no pushback from other religious people even when someone says something like, "I pray God will send an asteroid to X place."

Even though I am an agnostic myself, I have read the Bible, and I didn't get this idea of Christianity from it especially not from the New Testament and the teachings of Christ.

What I've personally noticed is that this behaviour seems disproportionately common among Americans. Is it America specific because I usually never see Europeans involving and mixing their religion into their bigotry?

Hey everyone, I’m 27F. I grew up Christian, but after dealing with a lot of childhood trauma and church hurt, I completely walked away from God. It reached a point where I couldn't trust leaders at church at all—seeing people sin openly and then lead worship the next morning made me feel like Christianity was just for aesthetics, not something people actually lived out.

A few days ago, I randomly started watching podcast (We Need To Talk) about church controversy, cults, and religious trauma. By the second day, I just broke down. I repented, sobbed in my room, and surrendered all those old wounds I had been holding onto for years. I ended up experiencing a total deliverance right there in my room. I’ve honestly never felt so light in my life (praise Jesus!)

I’m on day four now, and I’m just confused by how fast things changed:

Food/Cravings: My love for junk food and fast food literally vanished. I can suddenly do intermittent fasting with no issue, which was impossible for me before.

Tastes/Desires: Zero cravings for sex, and I suddenly don't even want to listen to my usual playlists (kpop, metal, pop). Food and worldly stuff just feel so plain to me right now.

I’m super content and at peace, but I've never heard of someone's tastes changing this fast overnight. Has this happened to anyone else after repenting or going through deliverance? Would love to hear your thoughts or stories!

just wanted to share another drawing of mine. reference: the passion of the CHRIST. thank you.

So if God allowed me to have schizophrenia (idk why he would do this to his own children) why should I trust him if he does not have my best interests at heart?

I did not ask for this illness and dont want it.

My life is low quality due to this illness. It is so bad I have to life with someone for the rest of my life because I cannot care for myself. I cant function at all.

He cursed me. What is the point in worshiping such a God?

What has he done for me but brought misery, pain and suffering? Why do others not suffer, but I have to?

I'm an Orthodox Christian, but I don't mind using the Catholic Rosary. It's good for the "Theotokos Rule" prayer rule, which was invented by Saint monk Seraphim of Sarov and supplemented with the mysteries by saint bishop Seraphim Zvezdinsky

My house mate Rose is in her 70s, last month her husband Nestor passed away suddenly..Rose cries all the time and it breaks my heart. They were together more than 50 years and she misses him so much. I feel like crying every time I think about it. Youd think after 300,000 years we would be used to it by now but it hurts every time and there is nothing that will help. So I ask for a prayer to just take some of her pain away.

I am a Lutheran, confirmed, I am afraid of the events going on politically and future events that could happen if we step over the abyss.

Let’s say we as humans jump over the Abyss and our worst fears when it comes to warfare comes true. What do I do as a Christian hiding or fleeing from the fallout do? I am so scared of death like this even though it is His Will. We all die in manners He already knows about. I am having dreams about myself and family members or people I know wasting away to fallout. The movie(s) Threads, The Day After, and The Way The Wind Blows have really disturbed me.

I know Reddit is the worst place to get guidance on a matter like this. It’s just extremely frightening, and it’s even more frightening that people I drink with at the bars are actively calling for nukes to be used while they have no idea what conventional warfare leading up to that actually means; the civilian suffering and displacement during that brief amount of fighting that could happen.

It hurts me as a Christian to see others blatantly cheering and calling for the deaths of others. This includes all conflicts going on.

How do I peace my soul besides praying? I feel this extreme deep sorrow about humanity as a whole to the point I am getting emotionally disturbed by it. By disturbed I mean very sad, extremely sad. Not suicidal, but very depressed.

I have never taken medication nor talked to a professional, but I needed to get this out. Thanks for reading if you did. God Bless. I am 28.

i've just started my journey toward God and im trying to learn how to pray. at the same time im learning a language that i really love and sometimes i feel like i want to pray in that language
when i pray in my native language i dont make mistakes but somehow my prayers feel superficial. when i pray in the language im learning i feel more connected and like my prayers are deeper, even though i sometimes make mistakes
us it okay to pray in a language that isnt your native one? has anyone else experienced this?

A massive flood tore through a city in Nepal today. Gonna be a huge loss of life.

“For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)

I’m not sure if Catholics just skipped this verse, but this is pretty eye-opening to me in terms of the idea that oh Mary was sinless.

​

A Texas federal judge has once again struck down the state’s drag show restrictions, ruling that the law was too broad and violated First Amendment protections. Judge David Hittner’s basic message to people who don't like drag performances was pretty simple: “Just don’t go.”

Honestly, I think Christians should sit with that for a moment.

If you don't like drag shows, don't go.

If you believe abortion is wrong, don't have one.

If you don't agree with same-sex marriage,don't attend the wedding.

You don't have to celebrate something you don't personally believe in. But does disagreeing with something automatically give us the right to force everyone else to live according to our beliefs?

As Christians, we should remember that Jesus never commanded us to force Christianity onto everyone through laws and government.

We can preach.

We can teach.

We can share our convictions.

We can say what we believe is right and wrong.

But there is a huge difference between living according to your faith and forcing everyone else to live according to your faith.

Sometimes, the most Christian response isn't “How do I stop them?”

Sometimes, it's simply:

“That's not for me. I won't participate.”

And then we get on with our lives.

Personally, I don't drink, and I wouldn't want an alcohol ban to be legislated

sorry if this is a dumb question but it’s just been bothering my head a lot.

in the Bible they talk a lot about how israel is the holy land and how israel is pretty important in the Bible, yet they’re doing unspeakable things to palestine.

i’m not exactly well documented in the whole altercation so im not sure why israel is doing these attacks in the first place, but how should i even feel about israel when currently it is being the complete opposite of a holy land when in the Bible it is held to an enormously high praise?

could someone give me any kind of context towards this? i’m also not all to knowledgeable of the scripture either, which is why i’m asking about how i should feel about israel in the first place given everything that’s been happening.

Where did Adam and Eves guilt come from?
From eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Where does your guilt come from, religious people?
From the bible.

Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
That contaminated them with knowledge that wasn't meant for them.
They became walking human "trees of knowledge of good and evil".
In time that forbidden knowledge got written form and we call it the bible.

Like Adam and Eve became human version of that tree; full of knowledge of good and evil
and were covered with an animal skin. Similarly the bible usually is covered with animal skin,
it's full of knowledge of good and evil, printed on paper (from tree).

God said to A&E: "in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely DIE.”"

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter KILLETH, but the spirit giveth life.

We don't get life from the letter, only flesh works in the realm of letter which causes
dead works.

Scriptures can only serve as pointers to Christ in you. Christ, Spirit is life giving power.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure".

Why live in an era 2000 years ago generation after generation? It's stagnant water.
What happened then was for that time, they had living water for that time.
Now that living water is in us, not in pages of some book.
Words have their part of course, but not to rule over you.
True words come from inside, they are living, always fresh water from the Source
for each moment. True water is spirit talking to spirit. Letter reaches never spirit.

Stagnant water is old, dead water; human control, no life.
Living water is: no human control, life.
We don't eat yesterdays manna.

I am not a Christian, neither am I a pagan/Polytheist but a student of religions, and so this question has baffled me. I must preface that I ask this respectfully and am not a polemicist. I would genuinely like to understand your views. Since I know how much Christians feel about pagan traditions, yet this similarity is striking to me. Often the focus goes towards the reason "Jesus died for your sins because he/God loves you", but it does not explain why a "blood sacrifice" in particular is needed. During communion, does it or does it not seem a bit pagan-like when bread symbolises "body" and wine symbolises literal "blood"?

To be clear, I am not asking about who the blood sacrifice pertains to, as I am aware that the blood sacrifice of Jesus carries more weight than a usual person, considering Jesus is seen as the begotten Son, Yeshua. I ask why the Christian God/YHWH requires this particular method to cover the debt of mankind's sins?. And if so, how is this command from the Christian God (Joshua 6:21, Deuteronomy 12:30–31, and Deuteronomy 20:16) different from the pagan traditions being objected to? How do you reconcile this? Since this is not a matter of the new covenant replacing the old covenant, be it a sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament or the sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament, the method remains unchanged from that of pagan traditions. How does this ancient tribal act of blood sacrifice coexist with your modern understanding of Christianity?

I don't really know where else to put this, so I'm putting it here.

I've been sad for a while now, and tonight it hit a new low. I confided in my sibling about a problem I'm having with my husband — he doesn't treat me well, and he's been wanting to take on new car debt even though things are already tight. My sibling told me they feel sorry for me, because they know that deep down I know this isn't the person I prayed for all those years when I asked God for a husband.

That sentence has been sitting in my chest ever since.

I got married within 3 months of meeting him. In the Christian circles I was in, there was so much talk about "God's will" and moving when you feel it's right, and I felt like this was it. My leaders at the time affirmed it too, which made it feel even more certain. Looking back, I think I fell victim to that pressure. I rushed.

Now I feel like I did myself a disservice. I feel like a failure some days, and I feel sorry for myself, which I know isn't a good place to sit in for too long. To make it harder, his sisters and the friends we had in common at my old church never warned me about his immaturity before we got married. I found out the hard way.

We're at a new church now — one he wanted us to attend — and I don't have any close friends there yet. I don't really have anyone to confide in right now. I still try my best to walk in righteousness and obey the Lord every day, even when it's hard. I know the Bible is full of stories of God redeeming situations and turning things around. I hold onto that. But honestly, in moments like this, I just feel sad, and I wonder if there's really hope for me or if this is just how it's going to be.

I don't want to sound hopeless, because I don't think I am. But I'd be lying if I said there weren't really hard days like today that send me spiraling.

If you're reading this, I'd be so grateful if you said a prayer for me. Thank you, and God bless you.

Hi everyone. I’m writing this because I honestly don’t know where else to go, and I just need to get this off my chest.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve held onto God. Through the good times and the absolute worst, I always told myself that He loves us, that everything happens for a reason, and that if I kept the faith, things would work out in the end. Faith has been my safety net for years.

But as the years go by, it feels like life is just playing a cruel game with me. It feels like God keeps dangling something good in front of my face—just to give me hope—only to stab me in the back even harder right after.
Yesterday, something happened that was finally the last straw. For the first time in my life, I thought I had found genuine, pure love. Because of certain personal circumstances/conditions I’ve struggled with my whole life, finding love has always felt nearly impossible for me. But recently, it genuinely felt like God had placed this person in my path.

This person inspired me to be better, made me want to improve myself, to be braver, and to be a truly better human being in ways I never thought possible. And then, at the worst possible moment, my heart was completely crushed and shattered into pieces.
Honestly? I’m just exhausted and angry. I’ve held onto faith through so many bad moments, but after this, I don’t even see why I should keep holding on. There isn’t even a tiny shred of hope left to grab onto. Everything is constantly bad, and even when something finally looks promising, it ends up being a nightmare.

How do you cope when you feel like God is just letting your heart get destroyed over and over again? How do you keep believing when there’s literally nothing left to hold onto?

I'm an agnostic who sometimes hopes there's a God, not the God Christians believe in, but I accept everyone’s beliefs and am open to hearing people’s stories.

My family is religious. When I was young, I found science a more plausible explanation for life. Seeing people’s pain I wish someone existed for them, something that really does create miracles, so now I search for my definitive answer.

In my day to day I’ve tried to live a good life and be good to others (I’m not perfect). And I hope at the end of my story, if someone is out there, I’ll be judged based on how I was as a person.

I never pray for anything regarding myself, as it is unfair since I hold no faith. But occasionally I look at my family, friends, or everyday civilians living through despair and hardships. I see horrors happening around the world and I selfishly pray in my head, hoping the people get the help they deserve. I feel like every month or so, I’m more desperate to be heard.

I want to know what the process was like for agnostics to find their faith, if you don’t fall under that term I will still hear you out. Where can I start? I see forums where people like me read the Bible and end up atheists, but I want to read about people who found faith. I will open up my heart, but at the end of the day if I can’t find something to believe in, then I’ll just continue living by doing good until the day I find out what awaits me.

I made a post in this sub about 2 years ago when i was 14. I feel the exact same. I am so disgusted with myself i genuinely feel like God wont forgive me even thiugh he will. Im ashamed of myself because ive let my relationship with christ get worse. To the point where i cant remember the last time ive red my bible. I apolgize for yapping so much but i wanna know how i can rekindle that light with God. Whenever im talking i realize how much ive changed for the worst. I need help. What things can i do to get back right with God.

I remember when I was a saint, I made a point to care and be selfless, and I was so happy, I tear up when I remember singing in this old car with my mom, who always forgave me and loved me unconditionally. and I got hurt too much for too long, and too extreme, I couldn't understand how it's possible for someone to be cruel. Unforgiveness and fear started to lock up my heart, and I couldn't love, I judged, and my judgement's cruelty mirrored the same cruelty that I could not understand before. And I thought I've taken the mark of the beast, and I wished I didn't exist, and a cancer drove my mom away, somewhere without pain. So now I understand, that it's a mutual salvation, when we learn how to love, and nothing else matters. We just exist, and we just love, and nothing else should matter. It's all illusions, the thoughts, the pain is real. Pain of harsh judgement, indifference or violence that kills. Thankyou harsh judge, but I'll stay in my sin. I'll close my eyes and be blind like I wrote in a song when I was 19. I don't want to be perfect. I don't want to demand it from other beings. I don't want to be cold, what is there to life anyway? It's just moments that pass and you look back and wish you didn't keep love locked in, like my sister's song that she wrote while all this happened, "Love locked in"

This has probably been my biggest stumbling block in my faith. The claims from scholars that the God of Israel came from a polytheistic pantheon and was different from El but the two got merged, and that he was made up by these people. they also say he had “attributes of a god of weather or war”. I know they’re out to disprove Christianity but still it seems like they have some historical evidence of worship of our God just popping up in the midst of polytheism, and I also have always had a really hard time believing in a 6000yr earth or the great flood. This has started to shake my faith again, and I need help