For as long as I can remember, I knew there was a God. I had very early memories of being in a special time and place before I came here.

Since then, I had sought God everywhere. It seems as though I have hopped from one stepping stone to another, overturning this rock or that to see what was underneath. Discarding what was unnecessary and taking with him what I treasured.

I visited many churches. Somehow, I felt the light of God in them, to varying degrees. The problem is that whenever I flit away to continue my journey, people tell me that I am going to hell because I have forsaken their church doctrine.

Like Jim Gaffigan, I am going to hell in three different religions. sigh. I don't want to go to hell. (My uncle says that he wants to go to hell because most of his friends will be there.) Mine won't be.

Am I lost because I don't hold tight to any one particular doctrine? It isn't as though I'm trying to take the easy route and so I pick and choose what I like. I do want to do what God wants me to do. But the churches interpret His word so differently. Which is the truth? There is only one truth, I believe, that trascends all of the churches' doctrines.

I don't feel lost. I feel as though I'm on an errand, a journey, and I will return to my heavenly abode someday. The goal was to learn and to experience. If we sin and err, it is part of the schooling. I don't want to sin or err. I try not to.

Another thing that keeps me from holding tight to only one doctrine is that it implies I must forsake all the others. Well, I feel the goodness in the various religions. It's in the heart of the good people who love God there.

I am open-minded so please tell me: am I lost? What must I do to find?

What is your truth? Which path do you choose?

The only one who knows whether you will go to hell or to heaven is God. He knows your heart and He even knows how long it will take for you to find a place where you don't feel as though you have to search.


Ask God to show you the way and to give you the assurance that you are in the right place when you get there.

I don't attend any church - I feel that they are more than a little hypocritical in their outlooks. However, I do believe in God and in his love for me.

Unfortunately - and I will probably get slammed down here - all religions that exist today have been corrupted by human nature - throughout the centuries of their existance they have had their doctrines interpreted and re-interpreted by people who had their own agendas.

You need to look in your heart for what you truly believe. I think that you are lost, simply because you are looking for the answers outside your heart. God doesn't need you to belong to a particular religion - he needs you to belong to him in your heart.

To go to heaven, you must act in the way that your heart tells you that God wants you to. Be true to yourself, and to God's love and you are guaranteed to go to heaven.

Remember - God will never forsake you unless you forsake him - and even then, he is waiting to welcome you back into his love.

I walked away from organised religion years ago after spending years IN organised religion. I saw a lot of hypocrisy and self-righteousness where I was, and even tried to shine a light on what I saw, only to get shut down. I finally made the very scary decision to walk away. Having said that, I do know that there is a Creator out there. Look around, the world is an amazing miracle of creation - there's NO WAY this was an accident! I know there's a Light that helps every one of us, but I don't pray to It. I pray to no one, but have conversations with chosen beings who I feel represent what I need at the time. I refuse to say that anyone else's beliefs are wrong, because we all have our own decisions to make. Your decision is right for you at this time in your life. We each have our own paths to walk. I think what this world needs more than anything else is more tolerance for each person's beliefs. If we could get to that place, this world would be a much better place. Peace

I won't get into an argument that is long and unending about organized religion.
Just remember that hypocrisy is a human thing. Not all religious people are hypocrits and not all hypocrits are religious.

Very much agreed! I'm sorry if I overstepped.

I think by asking the question "Am I lost?" you kind of answer yourself.

But you need to ask yourself the 2nd part of the question; "Can I find my way again?"


Everyone gets lost at some point in their life. We get distracted by shiny things that pull us off the path, stormy clouds come and the rain of doubt seems to wipe away the clear path that was ahead of us.

But God is always there to guide us, we just have to seek Him out and ask for His help.

Sometimes he will send us guides to help us, a pastor or a new friend that is wise. Or there is a lantern that can always help guide us - the Bible.

I do not speak against other religions, because I believe they can often help or augment the way. But the Bible has the basic set of instructions. It is your clearest map and you have a built in compass as well - it is called your heart. Listen to it.

Your wisdom moved me so profoundly that your words reverberated through my soul for the past several days. I am so thankful to you. I wish I could hug you.

I shall continue my journey, prayerfully and more aware of what I feel within.

Thank you so much.