Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How's your faith after vision loss? (self.Blind)
submitted by Carnegie89
I lost my vision when I was 15. My family is quite religious. I believed in their crap for about 2 years but it brought no results. I was still blind and was going through depression. After that, I took matters into my hand and started questioning things. My family didn't like that, however, I didn't care. After some self-reflection and research, I became an Agnostic. And about a year after that became an Athiest. I came out to my parents as an Athiest when I was 18. I changed my name at 19 and that was about 10 years ago.
KillerLag 8 points 4y ago
I've found that many of my older clients cling even stronger to their faith when they have vision loss. One of the re-occuring themes is that God works in mysterious ways, but he has a plan. Others lose their faith as well, but that seems to happen more often when they are cut off from friends/family/church services (enough vision loss they can't travel, and no one to take them).
I have no problem with people and their religion, but it can get disheartening when someone follows their faith at the expense of medical treatments. One of my clients refused to take his glaucoma meds because he kept saying God would cure him if he prayed more. When I met him a few years later, he had finally started to take his medicine, but had permanently lost a great deal of sight.
I have no problem with people and their religion, but it can get disheartening when someone follows their faith at the expense of medical treatments. One of my clients refused to take his glaucoma meds because he kept saying God would cure him if he prayed more. When I met him a few years later, he had finally started to take his medicine, but had permanently lost a great deal of sight.
vwlsmssng 7 points 4y ago
There are plenty of stories on this sub of people being harassed or at least getting unwanted attention from people wanting to pray for them. I also know people who gain comfort from their religion and the associated community.
Losing vision at 15 would have been right in the middle of a lot of stuff happening: education, independence, evolving relationships, self awareness, finding your place in society. I can't imagine what it would have been like for you or anyone else in a similar situation.
I hope everything is solid and positive for you.
Losing vision at 15 would have been right in the middle of a lot of stuff happening: education, independence, evolving relationships, self awareness, finding your place in society. I can't imagine what it would have been like for you or anyone else in a similar situation.
I hope everything is solid and positive for you.
Carnegie89 [OP] 5 points 4y ago
It was hard in the beginning but I found what I like and I'm doing that.
ABlindManPlays 6 points 4y ago
I grew up religious. Youth leader, missionary, praise team, all that jazz. I questioned the church's teachings, and was rebuffed for it. I left the church, dabbled in other spiritualities, always looking for answers.
For me, I found my faith while laying in my little room in public housing, after being homeless for years. I was so angry at God. I felt abandoned. But even in my anger, I could not deny what I felt, and what I had learned. I swore I would never be like those judgmental people. It was in the silence afterward that I realized that nothing I was taught had told me to act like those people.
When I started losing my sight, I was scared. But there was something I had said when I was younger. I'd rather lose my sight than my ability to listen to music, or to taste good and new food, or to smell the storms and snow, or to feel the touch of a friend. I don't think God took my sight as a result of that, but it reminds me of all the blessings I still have.
Funnily enough, my faith and trust is a bit deeper now. When I walk, I have to have faith that I am going to be okay, that the next step won't be my undoing, that my cane will alert me to any changes in the terrain. The same thing applies when I play video games. I have to have faith that, no matter what, I will be okay.
God and I still have our fights. I get angry and wonder what I did to make him hate me so much. But it passes. In the end, I'm here. I have a home, a family, good friends. I have food. My computer is my window to the world, so I don't feel so isolated all the time. My faith calls me to be a better person than my selfish default mode. When I'd rather not get involved, it reminds me to reach out. It helps me be more compassionate and understanding when I am not inclined to do so.
I'm not sure about an afterlife, or an eternal reward, or any of that. Don't have any evidence to support it. But I have this moment, I have this life, and I have these circumstances. I choose to use them to try to lift people up, to listen and understand, and to show kindness to whoever needs it. I don't care who or what people believe in, whether it's God or Buddha or Allah or themselves, as long as they try to make the world a better, kinder place.
For me, I found my faith while laying in my little room in public housing, after being homeless for years. I was so angry at God. I felt abandoned. But even in my anger, I could not deny what I felt, and what I had learned. I swore I would never be like those judgmental people. It was in the silence afterward that I realized that nothing I was taught had told me to act like those people.
When I started losing my sight, I was scared. But there was something I had said when I was younger. I'd rather lose my sight than my ability to listen to music, or to taste good and new food, or to smell the storms and snow, or to feel the touch of a friend. I don't think God took my sight as a result of that, but it reminds me of all the blessings I still have.
Funnily enough, my faith and trust is a bit deeper now. When I walk, I have to have faith that I am going to be okay, that the next step won't be my undoing, that my cane will alert me to any changes in the terrain. The same thing applies when I play video games. I have to have faith that, no matter what, I will be okay.
God and I still have our fights. I get angry and wonder what I did to make him hate me so much. But it passes. In the end, I'm here. I have a home, a family, good friends. I have food. My computer is my window to the world, so I don't feel so isolated all the time. My faith calls me to be a better person than my selfish default mode. When I'd rather not get involved, it reminds me to reach out. It helps me be more compassionate and understanding when I am not inclined to do so.
I'm not sure about an afterlife, or an eternal reward, or any of that. Don't have any evidence to support it. But I have this moment, I have this life, and I have these circumstances. I choose to use them to try to lift people up, to listen and understand, and to show kindness to whoever needs it. I don't care who or what people believe in, whether it's God or Buddha or Allah or themselves, as long as they try to make the world a better, kinder place.
AnElusiveDreamer 5 points 4y ago
It certainly didn’t help my faith while I was going through some of the worst of it. My vision took a huge hit in my teens, so I can relate to what you went through. At the time, I was starting to question the Evangelical beliefs about homosexuality, other religions, and evolution as well, so I became agnostic in all but name for a while even as I went to church with my mom. Then, I came back to evangelical Christianity for a time after I met someone who I believe to be a godsend at the time and who turned me back to the faith. Now that I have lost more vision and gone to college, I am questioning again and struggle to call myself a Christian on many days. It's not just one thing, but many things that make me question. My family is Pentecostal-leaning, non-denominational Christian, so I grew up believing God might heal or stop my vision loss either through a miracle or scientific breakthrough. That did not help me come to terms with my condition or prepare for the impending blindness.
I am warming up to Christianity once again, but I think I’ve given up Evangelicals for good. I’m not denying the possibility of miracles, but I don’t want to go to a church that teaches miracles will rain down from heaven if I just have enough faith or that talks about the healed blind people in the Bible like there are no blind people in the audience. I’m looking into mainline Protestantism and possibly Eastern Orthodoxy. I enjoy the ritual, music, and moral contemplation that is lacking in Evangelicalism and would prefer a denomination which ordains women and doesn't rant against the LGBTQ+ community. I know they're out there. Regardless of the existence of a deity, I am trying to figure out if I am just one of those people who needs to believe in something. Even if I come to believe that religion is mostly metaphorical, I still believe it can have value. However, I live at home right now, and I know I could never be anything other than openly Christian to my family. My inability to drive has kept me from exploring other beliefs as well. I would love to visit a Buddhist temple someday, but I would have to go secretly on my own.
I also had a family friend who I hadn’t seen for years ask to pray for me in public. That was an odd experience, but it felt like there was no proper way to say no. I’m not sure what he thought he had that the others who prayed for me before did not.
Edit: Cleaned up the mistakes and tried to make things clearer.
I am warming up to Christianity once again, but I think I’ve given up Evangelicals for good. I’m not denying the possibility of miracles, but I don’t want to go to a church that teaches miracles will rain down from heaven if I just have enough faith or that talks about the healed blind people in the Bible like there are no blind people in the audience. I’m looking into mainline Protestantism and possibly Eastern Orthodoxy. I enjoy the ritual, music, and moral contemplation that is lacking in Evangelicalism and would prefer a denomination which ordains women and doesn't rant against the LGBTQ+ community. I know they're out there. Regardless of the existence of a deity, I am trying to figure out if I am just one of those people who needs to believe in something. Even if I come to believe that religion is mostly metaphorical, I still believe it can have value. However, I live at home right now, and I know I could never be anything other than openly Christian to my family. My inability to drive has kept me from exploring other beliefs as well. I would love to visit a Buddhist temple someday, but I would have to go secretly on my own.
I also had a family friend who I hadn’t seen for years ask to pray for me in public. That was an odd experience, but it felt like there was no proper way to say no. I’m not sure what he thought he had that the others who prayed for me before did not.
Edit: Cleaned up the mistakes and tried to make things clearer.
EndlessReverberation 4 points 4y ago
I’m at a very similar place, although it’s more my wife who I worry about, and don’t share my doubts with. I don’t think my vision loss had a huge effect on my diminishing faith, but I must admit that loosing hearing in one of my ears a few years ago may have helped me down the path I’m trying to figure out now. I’m really conflicted about a lot of moral/philosophical questions around Christianity, life, and death.
Since you mentioned it, my wife and I are actually Eastern Orthodox. I was really into the faith when I first converted, but now I want to check out some African American churches. I love 50s and 60s R&B/Soul/Gospel, and I hear that a lot of this music has roots in the black church. There are beautiful aspects to the Orthodox faith, but it does have a very strong patriarchal aspect to it, so I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for. You should look into Lutheranism; they have a High-Church atmosphere, liturgy etc.. But I believe are much more equitable when it comes to gender and the church. If you do end up getting to attend an Orthodox liturgy, either read about it before-hand, or find someone who can help explain the service to you. There are a lot of non-verbal things going on; it’s almost like a symbolic theatrical performance. Although there is plenty to listen to as well, singing and chanting through the whole thing.
One last thought, I to do not like people praying over me for my blindness. I went to college at a Southern university, and I often had fellow students stopping me to try their hand at a miracle. This gave me a lot of practice trying different methods of dealing with such people, I’ll tell you what has worked best for me. When someone comes up and askes if they can pray for me, I ask what they want to pray about, even though I already know. They say they want to pray for my blindness, and I say something along the lines of; well, I don’t want you to pray for that, but actually I have been going through something and I would very much appreciate a prayer for that, if you want to pray for me. The thing you bring up for them to pray for can be anything, I have used final exams I was going to, important meetings I felt unprepared about, vet checkups for my cat etc. The person is usually taken aback, but they have always respected my request and prayed for the thing I mentioned. Then, when they are done, I ask them what they are going through and I say a quick prayer, for them, about that. I have been surprised at how this method can take an experience that feels annoying and demeaning and flips it around to be one of equality and real connection.
Good luck,
Since you mentioned it, my wife and I are actually Eastern Orthodox. I was really into the faith when I first converted, but now I want to check out some African American churches. I love 50s and 60s R&B/Soul/Gospel, and I hear that a lot of this music has roots in the black church. There are beautiful aspects to the Orthodox faith, but it does have a very strong patriarchal aspect to it, so I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for. You should look into Lutheranism; they have a High-Church atmosphere, liturgy etc.. But I believe are much more equitable when it comes to gender and the church. If you do end up getting to attend an Orthodox liturgy, either read about it before-hand, or find someone who can help explain the service to you. There are a lot of non-verbal things going on; it’s almost like a symbolic theatrical performance. Although there is plenty to listen to as well, singing and chanting through the whole thing.
One last thought, I to do not like people praying over me for my blindness. I went to college at a Southern university, and I often had fellow students stopping me to try their hand at a miracle. This gave me a lot of practice trying different methods of dealing with such people, I’ll tell you what has worked best for me. When someone comes up and askes if they can pray for me, I ask what they want to pray about, even though I already know. They say they want to pray for my blindness, and I say something along the lines of; well, I don’t want you to pray for that, but actually I have been going through something and I would very much appreciate a prayer for that, if you want to pray for me. The thing you bring up for them to pray for can be anything, I have used final exams I was going to, important meetings I felt unprepared about, vet checkups for my cat etc. The person is usually taken aback, but they have always respected my request and prayed for the thing I mentioned. Then, when they are done, I ask them what they are going through and I say a quick prayer, for them, about that. I have been surprised at how this method can take an experience that feels annoying and demeaning and flips it around to be one of equality and real connection.
Good luck,
Carnegie89 [OP] 3 points 4y ago
I have had people ask to pray for me. They are mostly family. I just tell them that it's your choice, do whatever you want.
Once I was at the mall having lunch and some random lady started chatting with me. That was fine but in the end, she wanted to pray and heal my eyes. I told her to go fuck herself but in a Canadian way, so, "Please leave me alone".
Once I was at the mall having lunch and some random lady started chatting with me. That was fine but in the end, she wanted to pray and heal my eyes. I told her to go fuck herself but in a Canadian way, so, "Please leave me alone".
Windrainbliss 1 points 3y ago
We are out there for sure.
Myntrith 4 points 4y ago
A bit of background first:
I'm sighted. I initially came here because mom was blind. She passed away almost a year ago. I've stayed here because you've all been kind enough not to ask me to leave, and in return, I've tried not to be "that sighted guy."
My mom had RP. Her vision degraded over the course of decades until she was finally completely blind. Because of that and other complications in her old age, she needed more and more assistance until I finally moved in with her.
She was born a Catholic and remained a Catholic until the day she died. Her life was defined by family and faith. Nothing else was as important as those two. She raised me as a Catholic, but for reasons I won't go into, I slipped away. She didn't understand it, but she accepted it, and we had an ongoing agreement to just not talk about it. This wasn't out of any hostility. Her faith was an innocent one, and I didn't want to tread on that. She prayed for me, and that was fine. She always said "God bless you," and that was fine. It was her home, and I actively encouraged her to feel absolutely free in her faith without fear of offending me. I just didn't want to be preached to or reconverted.
Now to the point:
It came to be that I would be sitting in the living room, watching TV or browsing the web or whatever, and Mom, once or twice a day, would come into the room, go to one of the lamps, and turn it off and on, or on and off (depending on which state it was in to start with), then walk away. This was after she completely lost her vision, so it made me curious. At first, I didn't want to ask, because she was sensitive and vulnerable about some things, and I didn't want to intrude. But one day, my curiosity got the best of me, so as gently as I could manage, I asked her why she kept turning the lamp on and off.
She was praying every day, sometimes several times a day, and she included in her prayers some plea for some restoration of her vision. She would come in to turn the lamp on and off just to see if her prayers were having any effect. She was looking for the merest glimmer of light, literally. Just the slightest ability to be able to recognize the smallest measure of the shortest moment of transition between light and dark. That smallest bit of an answer to her prayers would have made her happy.
Her sight never recovered. She never lost her faith. She never stopped praying. She never stopped checking. I slipped away long before that, but if I'd been on the fence at all at that point, that definitely would have pushed me over.
I'm sighted. I initially came here because mom was blind. She passed away almost a year ago. I've stayed here because you've all been kind enough not to ask me to leave, and in return, I've tried not to be "that sighted guy."
My mom had RP. Her vision degraded over the course of decades until she was finally completely blind. Because of that and other complications in her old age, she needed more and more assistance until I finally moved in with her.
She was born a Catholic and remained a Catholic until the day she died. Her life was defined by family and faith. Nothing else was as important as those two. She raised me as a Catholic, but for reasons I won't go into, I slipped away. She didn't understand it, but she accepted it, and we had an ongoing agreement to just not talk about it. This wasn't out of any hostility. Her faith was an innocent one, and I didn't want to tread on that. She prayed for me, and that was fine. She always said "God bless you," and that was fine. It was her home, and I actively encouraged her to feel absolutely free in her faith without fear of offending me. I just didn't want to be preached to or reconverted.
Now to the point:
It came to be that I would be sitting in the living room, watching TV or browsing the web or whatever, and Mom, once or twice a day, would come into the room, go to one of the lamps, and turn it off and on, or on and off (depending on which state it was in to start with), then walk away. This was after she completely lost her vision, so it made me curious. At first, I didn't want to ask, because she was sensitive and vulnerable about some things, and I didn't want to intrude. But one day, my curiosity got the best of me, so as gently as I could manage, I asked her why she kept turning the lamp on and off.
She was praying every day, sometimes several times a day, and she included in her prayers some plea for some restoration of her vision. She would come in to turn the lamp on and off just to see if her prayers were having any effect. She was looking for the merest glimmer of light, literally. Just the slightest ability to be able to recognize the smallest measure of the shortest moment of transition between light and dark. That smallest bit of an answer to her prayers would have made her happy.
Her sight never recovered. She never lost her faith. She never stopped praying. She never stopped checking. I slipped away long before that, but if I'd been on the fence at all at that point, that definitely would have pushed me over.
SpikeTheCookie 3 points 4y ago
This is a really great discussion. :-)
​
For me, vision loss is a medical issue, and not a religious, faith, or spiritual issue. In addition to that it's a character trait issue (like learning resilience).
​
For me, vision loss is a medical issue, and not a religious, faith, or spiritual issue. In addition to that it's a character trait issue (like learning resilience).
OutWestTexas 2 points 4y ago
This pretty much sums it up for me as well.
Carnegie89 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
It's interesting how you compartmentalize various aspects of you.
SpikeTheCookie 4 points 4y ago
LOL! You're right. And I didn't start out thinking like this. But I remember years ago when a co-worker's mom was diagnosed with Cancer. She was crying because she might lose her beloved mother, and saying, "But she's a good person! How could this happen?"
​
It was so clear to me that she didn't get cancer because Mom was bad and being good was never what prevented cancer. It's a medical issue.
And when you look around at life, someone's religion actually doesn't exempt them from being in car accidents, having loved ones die, or experiencing upset. If it worked that way, heck, we'd all chose to be the religion that prevented cancer. ;-)
Instead, I think our beliefs about life and spirit could affect what we do with our fears and grief and life's journey. And it can help us define who we are "as we are in relationship" to our circumstances.
​
It was so clear to me that she didn't get cancer because Mom was bad and being good was never what prevented cancer. It's a medical issue.
And when you look around at life, someone's religion actually doesn't exempt them from being in car accidents, having loved ones die, or experiencing upset. If it worked that way, heck, we'd all chose to be the religion that prevented cancer. ;-)
Instead, I think our beliefs about life and spirit could affect what we do with our fears and grief and life's journey. And it can help us define who we are "as we are in relationship" to our circumstances.
TheBlindBookLover 3 points 4y ago
Hi. I think that it is normal to question your faith when going through an extreme circumstance. My vision is slowly deteriorating. The sme disease that has caused my vision loss also caused my kidneys to fail, which resulted in receiving a kidney transplant during my senior year. I had the normal questions like, why does God allow suffering or why did God let this happen to me? I found my answers. I went through periods of depression. I leaned on my faith during the hard times. Just because you have faith doesn’t mean you are free of questions and sadness and frustration. My faith has played an integral role in my life and especially in the instances of vision loss and health issues. The ministry of Jesus was built on praying for and healing the sick. Miracles sometimes happen. The faith community doesn’t always understand acceptance of a physical or psychological impairment. They do not always understand what to do when you don’t get your miracle. I believe that our prayers are always answered, but they are not always answed in the way that we want. My family still prays for a cure. I personally do not need or want a cure. I believe that my challenging experiences are just part of my tool kit to do God’s will and help others.
hopesthoughts 1 points 3y ago
I definitely agree! I wasn't raised in church. I first started going when I moved out of my parent's house. At first everyone wanted to pray for me to be healed. Of course it was a pentecostal church lol. Eventually, they just accepted me the way I was. I'm also one of those who definitely don't want a cure. I often say that I'll never put anything inside me to give me vision, most likely because it could lead to other bad things happening.
AllHarlowsEve 3 points 4y ago
I was raised northern baptist, go to church on sunday, passive Christian. Thank God when good things happen, say grace on holidays, etc.
I had little faith as a kid, and less as a teen. I had a very bad series of things in my life, my parents are bad people, and going blind and becoming chronically ill was the last nail in the coffin for me. I cried and begged and pleaded for any kind of help, any kind of answer, and it was only when I came to the point of accepting that death may be on the table, that's how bad the pain was, that I feel any comfort.
Ironically I veered from Christianity because I felt no faith and it all seemed so illogical and fake. Now I'm a neo-pagan/wiccan. Life's strange.
I had little faith as a kid, and less as a teen. I had a very bad series of things in my life, my parents are bad people, and going blind and becoming chronically ill was the last nail in the coffin for me. I cried and begged and pleaded for any kind of help, any kind of answer, and it was only when I came to the point of accepting that death may be on the table, that's how bad the pain was, that I feel any comfort.
Ironically I veered from Christianity because I felt no faith and it all seemed so illogical and fake. Now I'm a neo-pagan/wiccan. Life's strange.
Laser_Lens_4 3 points 4y ago
Nonexistent, though to be fair I already hated religion before I lost my sight. I think it had to do with my mom forcing me to learn prayers and attend catechism and church weekly.
My family kept praying for me. They thanked God when a surgery was successful. I quietly brushed that off but inside I was screaming at them to thank my surgeon who actually performed the fucking surgery.
I'm pan. I'm trans. Now I'm blind. If there is a god then it's an asshole with a twisted sense of humour.
My family kept praying for me. They thanked God when a surgery was successful. I quietly brushed that off but inside I was screaming at them to thank my surgeon who actually performed the fucking surgery.
I'm pan. I'm trans. Now I'm blind. If there is a god then it's an asshole with a twisted sense of humour.
LucasConnor97 2 points 3y ago
Maybe not directly related, but I’m been legally blind for life. My faith continues to be strong, knowing that God will use it for His Will somehow, someday
violetsocks 2 points 3y ago
I believe in a higher being but not an institutionalized religion. Former Muslim.
[deleted] 2 points 4y ago
[deleted]
Californiaolivia 2 points 4y ago
My friend’s faith grew more when he lost complete eyesight. It's up to you. I’m a visual learner it was hard to accept to believe, follow, and serve a spirit I can’t see or a proof to us. I read my Bible talked to my friend. That's how I became religious instead saying I’m an Atheists because I did my research and saw no proof of Him. One thing I wish I did do for research is read my Bible. I hope you do find your faith.
Olivia💙
Olivia💙
Carnegie89 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
I hand found my faith and that is Atheism. I don't need religion to do good. I do good because I want to and not because of the fear of retaliation.
Californiaolivia 3 points 4y ago
I never mentioned religion as reason for doing good. I actually love helping way before religion. It's my passion and love for doing it. Christianity just came with loving enemies, forgiveness, etc. I hope you really do find happiness in that.
Olivia💙
Olivia💙
B-dub31 2 points 4y ago
I was a Christian before and after my vision loss. It didn’t affect my faith negatively. In fact I feel blessed because my neurologist said that the majority of the people that have the blood clotting disorder I have die suddenly with little warning, but here I am two and a half years later making the best out of a bad situation.
septemberfall 1 points 3y ago
Im a mother of a blind girl so the question may not be directed towards me. But i was really religious before my daughter was born. I was in a bad state of mind and at that time i really was asking god for his help. I was practically begging him to help me and guide me towards better. Well i ended up pregnant and my daughter was born blind. It took a year of denial. A year of praying for a cure and stuff like that. But then i accepted it. God was never there for me and will never be because he doesn't exist. I've been atheist 6 years now and never will i go back. Talking to a man that isn't even there makes me feel dumb. I control my own destiny. I do good because i am good and want to be good.
Autumnwood 1 points 3y ago
It's so easy to say "Why me?" and feel down, and if God is All-Powerful and Loving, why did He do this to me?
Me too. I would say probably everyone who has been through extreme difficulties too. I have had many piles upon piles of hard problems. I've questioned why I have been getting these things. Why can't I have a charmed life too? Why can't I be healthy all my life, why can't I have the money I need so I can do what I like to do and explore my hobbies, heck sometimes we can't put enough food on the table. Why do I have multiple strange health problems? I could take it all out on God and just turn away. But after awhile of being angry, I came around each time, and my faith and compassion became stronger and my lessons learned grew. It's all about growing and learning and giving back and holding onto God. You think we are not tested? Some more sorely than others. My husband tells me that God loves those whom he tests greatly.
I heard of a man. He had a really great business. He would say "Thank you, God" every day. He was so grateful. One day his business burnt down, to the ground. He said "Thank you, God." I'm really starting to finally understand this, but it has taken years. May be something for you to contemplate too. Best wishes to you on your journey.
Me too. I would say probably everyone who has been through extreme difficulties too. I have had many piles upon piles of hard problems. I've questioned why I have been getting these things. Why can't I have a charmed life too? Why can't I be healthy all my life, why can't I have the money I need so I can do what I like to do and explore my hobbies, heck sometimes we can't put enough food on the table. Why do I have multiple strange health problems? I could take it all out on God and just turn away. But after awhile of being angry, I came around each time, and my faith and compassion became stronger and my lessons learned grew. It's all about growing and learning and giving back and holding onto God. You think we are not tested? Some more sorely than others. My husband tells me that God loves those whom he tests greatly.
I heard of a man. He had a really great business. He would say "Thank you, God" every day. He was so grateful. One day his business burnt down, to the ground. He said "Thank you, God." I'm really starting to finally understand this, but it has taken years. May be something for you to contemplate too. Best wishes to you on your journey.
matt_may 1 points 3y ago
Finding out was the final push into leaving the faith. Some of the faith community took it as a sign of god’s judgement against me, others tried to heal me. They had no idea how to deal with my pain so they refused to accept it.
oncenightvaler 0 points 4y ago
You sound like you might want someone to talk to? I have been blind since birth, and I am a Christian still at age 27. I always particularly appreciated this Bible passage from the gospel of John chapter 9. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9&version=NIV If you would like to talk more about your loss of faith and causes which lead to that I will totally listen, I like imagining that there is something out there greater than us, that life has ultimate purpose of serving God and serving others.
Carnegie89 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
I have a friend who thinks like you do. He lost his vision when he was 4 or 5 due to brain tumor. He tries preaching Christianity to me too but hasn't worked. Yet we have been good friends for over 10 years.
Also, why would you assume that I came from a Christian family?
Also, why would you assume that I came from a Christian family?
oncenightvaler 3 points 4y ago
I am sorry if my comment implied that you came from a Christian family, I know that you just said religious and not Christian. I was just sharing my Christian beliefs.
hopesthoughts 1 points 3y ago
I also very much enjoy that particular passage!
[deleted] -3 points 4y ago
[deleted]
Carnegie89 [OP] 3 points 4y ago
Please explain
[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
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Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.