Why does religion make my stomach hurt?  Why do "Bible studies" cause me such anxiety?
439919
Because it is all a bunch a crap to make you think " Oh I better listen to someone else because my thoughts are wrong. People want to control other people why trying to scare them with bible writings .The bible and religion has caused much hatred And sins over the years and some people will kill you if you do not believe the Christian ways. Look what white man did to the American Indian. Look what it has caused people to become in other countries.What is important is that you live a clean life and take care of your family and be good to the earth and animals.Do you really think Bush is a God fearing man, " If he was he would not have sent people to the electric chair or sent our boys over seas to kill other people for oil. We have plenty of oil and need to find other ways for energy which in fact we have but the oil business is afraid to lose money.I wonder if any of the men that were sentenced to death were innocent.
463932
Could be a rib out of place see a Chiropractor  see if it hurts all the way around could be the whole rib head or if your anxious could be anxiety\n\nOr it could be Gastritis If you need to burp drink something that makes you burp. Like a pop.
1035020
He's always listening, sweetheart! You might not be able to feel God in your life right now, but he's there, because you have asked him to be with your prayers. God hears all sincere prayers that are in line with his will, and has your best interests at heart. I am so very sorry for your pain, whatever is causing it! I know when I am in need of a shoulder and comfort from God, I read  in Psalms. You might try Psalm  4, 23, 25, 27, 34... all of these may bring you some relief from your feelings. Good luck, and you can get in touch via my 360 page if you need to 'talk'.
1047715
when they start demanding you go by their rules or else.  Do this, do that, God says you should be this way.  If it is against the moral of the bible (do unto others) it is a cult.  When they start telling you who you can and can't see, what you can and can't do, all in the name of God and the bible.  Be true to yourself, be good always, God knows your heart.  Religion is a way to make you feel bad and do what the religion of choice says to do.  When you go to church on Sunday you are only proving to other 'people' your faith, when it is God you need to prove it too, no one else.\nEnd Rant : )
123498
God bless you .\n\nIf you have a HOLY BIBLE can you read the book of (PROVERBS\n\nChapter 9 vers 10,}\n \nIt says, THE FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM, \n\nAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING.\n\n PLS read againg (Provebs chapter 8 vers 13) SAY'S \n\nTO FEAR THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL,  I HATE PRIDE AND\n\n ARROGANCE  SAY'S THE LORD ALMIGHTY. \n                          GOD LOVES YOU, Remain bless in JESUS NAME AMEN.
749737
Sorry, I too am an atheist.  I can't help you with your faith but I am sorry that you and your friend are going through this.  There is so much pain in the world.  In Africa a child dies due to diseases from unclean drinking water every two minutes.\n\nWhat I try to do, to ease the pain, is to volunteer.  To ease the pain of another and help where I can.  Because sometimes there is nothing I can do to ease the pain of one I love.\n\nI can't help restore your faith in god.  {hugs}
1008728
no, sorry bout your headaches. some people are more prone to the, when stressed. when i am stressed my tummy hurts.
191341
Hello The Great an... :)\n\nI was not raised in a Chrisitan home..my dad was an alcholic..my mom used to abuse us with a belt..If I listened to my mom and my dad, I would still be an atheist..\n\nI was not afraid of going to hell (I did not believe it existed)..I did not believe that heaven existed either (God was not real to me)..\n\nI tried the Wiccan religion..it had no answers for my drug addiction..or for taking away the feeling of loneliness..I did not like the idea of any god or godesses'..for if they were real, my life would not have a hell here on earth..\n\nI also tried Buddism..it said you have to find yourself within to change..that was the problem I was having..I could not change my self..No matter how much I tried.. :(\n\nI could not have followed the marjority..because before I asked Jesus into my heart, I did not even know that Christians were the marjority..I did not even want to know..I hated Christians..because they were sicky sweet..telling everyone that Jesus Loved them..they did not know how to have fun in life, they lived boring lives..\n\nThen one day, I just could not take life anymore (I was going to kill myself that day)..\n\nMy brother came over on Sundays to take my children to Church..he asked me if I wanted to go..I told him I was not dressed, he said he would wait for me..So I went to the Jesus Freaks Church (that is what I called them)..I cursed the Pastor..all he did is tell me that he Loved me and so did Jesus..I said I would be coming back next Sunday to curse him out again..\n\nThe following Sunday before I was able to say anything the Pastor asked if anyone wanted to be baptised that afternoon..before I knew what I was doing, my arm went up into the air..I was baptized that afternoon..\n\nThe next morning I was quoting scriptures from the Bible (I had never even read it before)..my oldest daughter came down the stairs and I said to her, I Love you and for the first time in my life, I felt Love for my little girl, she came running to me and we hugged each other, I was crying, because you see, I used to abuse my little girl.. :(\n\nI was immediately set free from drugs, greed, hatred, anger, self pity, lust, and fear of what tomorrow may bring..\n\nNo one, had ever able to give me total peace within my heart..or given me a reason to live..nor have they ever been able to fill the emptiness within..\n\nUntil that one day on August 28, 1978..when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life and forgive me of my sins..for if one asks with a sincere heart, your sins will be washed away and you will feel as clean and as white as snow..a veil shall be lifted from your eyes..then and only then will anyone believe that:\n\nJohn 3\n\n16  ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\n \n17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.\n \n===========================================================\n\nThank-you for asking this question.. :)\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
852716
Well it definately sounds like you have high anxiety, Yes, anxiety attacks can feel like a heart attack, the sore jaw, probably from grinding your teeth in your sleep or when you are mad/stressed.  Anxiety can also cause high stomach acid. the only other thing I can think of is gall bladder problems. I would suggest seeing a doctor ASAP... Because weather it is anxiety or somethuing worse. you should still get it checked! Good Luck
1071259
I often feel as you do. Confused and hurt, by a God who was supposed to be there for me. I also agree with you that the bible is no more relevant than greek mythology, or even the eastern relgions. I still conteplate the existence of a God period, yet the fact that all these religions exist, might lead us to a God.
240087
I am a former fundamentalist Christian and I can tell you that religion definitely causes harm. It instills fear - especially in children - fear of God, the devil, the unknown, demons, natural feelings... the list goes on. I spent my life terrified that anything I did or didn't do might have been a sin, and praying for forgiveness just in case. I think I was more afraid of Jesus than any "devil". Of course, I believed in the teaching that Jesus is love, and therefore any fear came from the "evil one" - but the fact of the matter was that it was God who imposed all the rules in the first place, so at the heart of it, I was terrified of my idea of God.\n\nI preached to strangers, gave more than a tithe (tenth) of my before-tax income every week, and was only friends with non-Christians because I believed it was my duty to bring the Gospel to them. I read the Bible every day and believed my church pastor and elders when they told me that it was my responsibility to take the message of Jesus to non-believers, and that if I let an opportunity slip by when I could have shared the Gospel, and that person then died without knowing Jesus, "their blood [would] be on [my] hands."\n\nReligion has caused countless fights within my own family alone and was the basis for abuse at the hands of my ex who raped me (among other things). The church elders informed me that I was too tempting for him, it was my fault because I was a woman. I was to accept such treatment (and other abuse) because I was the woman and the man is the head of the house - it was not my place to question this.\n\nIt took me years to recover, and after living in fear for so long - and fear of a person for which there is no historical evidence - I can tell you religion definitely causes harm.\n\nMost people wouldn't hold religious beliefs if they weren't taught those beliefs. They may believe in a "higher power" but in today's society, chances are they wouldn't believe in the stories of the Bible. We know that bats are not birds, that donkeys and snakes don't talk, that you can't determine a sheep's colouring by the plants they view while copulating. Most people today would not extol the virtues of a book that tells us to feel happy while smashing babies' heads on rocks, that contains a rape manual, and that glorifies brutal treatment of women and slaves. There are many people who, if they actually read that book, would be utterly horrified at the things that have been attributed to their god.\n\nWhether people want to believe in a deity is neither here nor there, as far as I'm concerned. What they do BECAUSE OF that belief is what matters - and that's what religion is: organised belief in a deity.\n\nI have helped more people as an ex-Christian than I ever did while a Christian - and whatever I do to help people now is worth more because my motivation is that I give a damn about people, and not out of fear of punishment. When "help" is given by religous people and organisations, there is often (not always) a pound of flesh - whether that be an expectation that you attend services, or constant conversion attempts, whatever - because the motivation is a religious one. If people would just love each other because they CARE, it would mean much more.\n\nWould you like your loved ones to help you and be good to you because they care, or because they think they're going to get a reward from you (an inheritance, perhaps)? Worse, would you want them to help you because they're terrified of what you'll do if you don't?\n\nI'm not saying there is no "god". I'm saying that I believe there is no god as people believe it. If such a being exists and is truly all-powerful and all-loving, it certainly doesn't have a need for a "hell" and sure doesn't need our money.
118876
Yes, felt that way b/4, but this is what helped me out. I have to get very close to God. Remembering what the scripture says in the book of Job 22:21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace;Thereby good will come to you" I remembered also remembered and read Numbers 23:19 which says “God is not a man, that He should lie,Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" Having this at the back of my mind, I then strongly believed that God loves me by believing the scripture John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ..." After then u can not imagine how well and healed I was, my worries disappeared. God is Great - give Him a trial today.
303564
religious people scare me too
524249
I wouldnt really worry too much about it. The human psyche is an odd thing. Maybe religion makes him uncomfortable. Maybe he had bad dreams that related to organ music when he was little. Who knows? People who are prone to anxiety attacks can get them just from being in a building that reminds them of somewhere theyve had one before. If hes not telling you, its probably either something he thinks is embarrassing, or he really just doesnt know exactly what it is.
809196
I know how you feel. I have / is going through something similar to your experience. I married young, I wasn't a very religious person neither was my husband at that time. As months went by he started to get more religious and more involved with our church and he started dictating the way I should dress and the way I should act. Forcing me to do many things in the name of religion that I hated.. subsequently, because of this I started slacking of on my religious duties.. I know it is wrong but he made me hate the religion and everything that has to do with it. Religion stops at the bedroom door.. God did not dictate what you can and what you cant do with your wife/husband . It's bringing pleasure to the person you love and in doing so you are being a good person. Trying a different position or trying something new is not sacrilegious. The problem is.. you have wonderful sex with your lover, but that is scars .. and you are left in the meanwhile with an unwilling partner and many temptations.. I say don't get tempted to have another affair.. you will only complicate your life with the lies, hiding and sneaking. And believe me it will only make you despise your husband more and you feel more frustrated with the relationship. Try to talk to hubby again.. explain to him the severity of the lack of passion. If that doesn't work my advice is, consider your options.. are you willing to scarifies the marriage and your position in the society to fulfill your sexual desires or can you find means of self satisfaction..an uncomplicated affair ? You might be a better person because you won't feel as guilty as you do right now and have some peace with your self and with God... Best of Luck...
352899
Are you holding anything back?  God wants you to get real with him.  He knows all about you already, tell him your fears and He WILL comfort and help you.  I have been in your situation.  I have had to learn like others have said, there is not always that magic feeling that we want to feel and that is where faith comes in.  You have to remember, the devil knows all about you also, and he will do everything in his power to make you doubt yourself and most of all doubt God.  Clear your mind and ask God what is going on, He will reveal His path for you.  When I was saved I did feel different, I knew it was real, but the peace and presence of God that He has shared with me came much later after I grew in faith and wanted a real relationship with God not just seeking a feeling.  Keep close to God, find spiritual friends and leaders, and spend time with them each day.  God loves you, He is leading you through this and I have learned those times when I have felt down and out of the loop with God, -if I kept the faith- He always brought me out stronger than before.  Seek Him with all you heart, trust me He WILL answer.
924742
If the Bible study you have been attending is not helping you to grow spiritually and helping you to get closer to God, it is good for you to find another.  Fear of displeasing men is not nearly as important than fear of displeasing God.  Really search for the truth of God's word and you may be able to help lead your friends to life everlasting.  That would be so much better than just pleasing them socially now.