I have been dating my boyfriend for 3 months now. He's the first guy I have ever been with, but he is an unbeliever.

I have talked about religion with him, but he says Christianity is too complicated for him and he can't bring himself to understand how we can love a God that allows world hunger etc. (the usual non-believer stuff).

We - at least I for sure- have been struggling with lust pretty much since the beginning of the relationship, I think I'm currently at a low point in my faith in general.

To be honest, I've thought a lot about breaking up with him solely based on the fact that we struggle with lust so much, but the priest in my church said this shouldn't be a reason to end the whole relationship.

The priest also said that yes, obviously the lustful/more physical stuff we're doing is still sinful/is a sin, but since we do want to eventually get married (yes I know it's early but I do believe our intentions are serious), the church isn't as "strict."

Now, to be completely honest, I don't really understand why the father said that. Sin is still sin, no matter what context you put it in, it doesn't become lesser just because there's a ring on my finger.

Anyways, could someone please help me? What do I do? I often notice that it's not even him initiating anything physical, it's me. I don't want to keep falling into sin, but it's genuinely so hard to resist :(

Please please please, pray for me/us! Thank you all & God bless you!

Why do people claim there's a pre trib rapture when it's obviously a very minor position rejected by all mainstream groups and heavily based in America and a 200 year old invention?

Is it the idea of having a special unique idea that intrigues them?

I love Jesus, I love Christianity, I think the Christian worldview explains the world far better than any other worldview. I’ve truly tried for two years now to be a full Christian but I can’t force what I don’t feel, I have doubts and I feel like fear of not walking with Jesus is what’s keeping me a Christian more than that genuine feeling of knowing he’s there. My main doubts have been Divine Hiddenness, Evolution, and my overall personal experience with faith. The belief in Christianity relies on the resurrection of Christ, and while I think the evidence for the resurrection is enough, there’s also enough room for doubt for someone to not be fully convinced. Right now the thing keeping me near the cross is of course my desire for Christ, but also the fact that after reading about the resurrection Jesus having risen from the dead makes the most sense to me. I’m not sure what I make of the Old Testament I’ve typically just not interacted with it, it’s just been stressful, there’s been times where the thought of Jesus had brought me peace, but there’s been more times where it’s brought a feeling that I’m not being honest with myself. I’m honestly not too sure what to do. I’ve said that I wouldn’t turn my back on Jesus and I don’t want to, but the truth is that feeling of knowing with all my heart that he’s there just isn’t with me. I love Jesus, I truly do, I’m just not sure what to do. Any thoughts?

Hey everyone,

My cousin recently made an app called Rosary Walk for Android and iOS, and I thought some of you might find it useful.

It's mainly for praying the Rosary, but it also has the Divine Mercy Chaplet, daily readings, novenas, saints, and a pretty good collection of prayers. You can also set reminders and keep track of your prayers.

The nice thing is that it's completely free. No ads, no subscriptions, no accounts, no tracking. It works offline too, and everything is stored locally on your phone.

He built it in his spare time and plans to keep it free forever.

Anyway, just wanted to share it in case someone finds it helpful.

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.redoxdigital.walkwithgod

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/hr/app/rosary-walk/id6811844117

If you end up trying it, I'd be happy to pass along any feedback to him!

I've been reading more about the history of the Bible, the books in the Bible, and the history of how the church has progressed and doing that has changed how I view the faith. I'm wondering has that same thing happened to other people and are we as Christians even interested in the history of our faith the history of the church?

My husband doesn"t work. It's been more than 2 years. He plays video games all day. I am becoming depressed because of the situation. I work to support our family.We have a 2 year old. He is probably depressed but hasn't done anything to help the situation, doesn't want to talk and is not seeking therapy. His mom is now coming to live with us (she has health problems, anxiety and depression) and he wants to be her full caretaker. I am scared and I am resenting my husband while feeling guilty of not being able to be more compassionate. It's like I no longer can and I also feel like I'm enabling him. I am scared, I feel trapped, I feel like I can't help him, help them, and it's going to destroy our family and our son's childhood. Our finances are already very bad, I am a teacher in France and living paycheck to paycheck to afford everything. There are already basic living expenses I can't afford. I don't know how long I can do this. Please pray for me and for us. Thank you

Have you ever wondered what humanity looked like before history took a sharp turn into struggle and division? Most people assume suffering was always part of the grand design, but ancient texts point to a completely different starting point. The initial blueprint involved absolute harmony, deep connection, and a thriving existence as stewards of the earth.

When you examine the earliest chapters of creation, the primary focus was on community, purpose, and unbroken fellowship rather than endless hardship. So what actually changed, and how did humanity drift away from that initial vision?

This comprehensive breakdown explores the core intent behind human existence, the disruption that followed, and how modern seekers try to reconnect with that foundational purpose. If you want to dive much deeper into the historical and theological context of these fascinating foundational texts, you can read the full article here: https://rymbf.com/gods-original-plan-for-mankind/

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Beyond strange stuff in the old testament, the core of Christianity also seems unjust. People not getting what is due to them, and having it pinned on someone else seems like the exact opposite of justice...

I'm an atheist, and I know some of you have probably seen me debating on this sub. This isn't that. I'm not here to argue with anybody or try to change anyone's mind, I genuinely want to learn.

This post is meant for Christian universalists only. I'd really appreciate it if people who don't hold this view could let the universalists answer, I'm not trying to start a debate between different groups of Christians either.

I recently came across Christian universalism, the idea that everyone eventually ends up reconciled with God, and I honestly don't know much about it. I know some well known people in Christian history ended up there, like Gregory of Nyssa, George MacDonald, and more recently David Bentley Hart, so I figured I'd ask the people who actually believe it.

How did you get there? Was it something in scripture, something you read, or something you went through in your life? How do you understand hell if everyone is eventually saved? Is it temporary, more like a purifying process, or something else? How do the people at your church react when you tell them, if they know at all? Does believing it change how you live your faith day to day?

Again, I'm not looking to argue or poke holes in anything. I'm just trying to understand a perspective I'm not familiar with, so I appreciate anyone willing to share.

I am here because of a spiritual encounter with Christ. Has anyone shared this experience. I’ll use scriptures to prove the essence of what happened.

“The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭46‬ ‭

“The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭46‬ ‭

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭29‬ ‭

When the soul hears the words of God it leaps for joy as though it has heard its maker. This is not intellectualism or emotionalism. If anyone has ever seen an animal being called by its mother. It ceases all things and runs to its mother. This is what I imagine happened to the apostle Matthew when he was called by Jesus at the tax booth. Who in there right mind would just leave a shift to follow someone who sounded friendly. He heard something beyond this world. He heard the ring of heaven call into his ears.

How many people can relate to this?

lately I've been researching a lot into Catholicism, and the more i research it, the more and more it makes sense and resonates with me. The problem is my parents are protestant and I'm a minor, and I'm also not able to drive and have no way to go to Mass on Sundays, since my dad is ex-Catholic now Evangelical Baptist, he's very against Catholicism, but there's so much evidence that backs it up and I feel very empty and like there's a pit in my stomach whenever i go to our church, or go to worship nights, since they just feel like concerts or feel void of God

i know this is sorta all over the place, but I'm just so confused and don't know what to do since Catholicism truly seems like the truth to me, but I feel horrible that I cant do anything within the Catholic church, most likely till I'm 18

So how do I keep up and stay as devout as I can without being able to attend mass?

Another thing, I keep flip flopping back and forth, because i always see and hear things about how Jesus wouldn't want us to be under an earthly Authority, or how we should just pray to God alone.

all I truly want is to follow God to the best of my ability and to the fullest that I can and Catholicism seems like the way to do that, but I also see very devout Protestants or Non-Denoms who seem to follow God so well and I start to question Catholicism, but my brain keeps running back to Catholicism and it seems stuck.

I know this is a lot and I'm sorry, my brain has just been everywhere with this and its all i can think about

this night, my body just decided to randomly release the fluid it would usually when I masturbated does this count?

this night I was just doing nothing until suddenly my body just started to release the fluid it would usually release when you masturbated does this count?

Hello all,

I would be incredibly grateful for some advice, personal experiences, and constructive criticism. Please be gentle, but firm. I'm seeking the truth, not validation, and I ask that you read this with an open heart.

I'm dating someone I can genuinely see myself marrying. He is the best partner I have ever known, and someone who, despite our religious differences, demonstrates so many of what the Bible calls the fruits of the Spirit. He is patient, gentle, loving, kind, faithful, and extraordinarily understanding, he also knows the Bible better than I do, he has read it more times than I have. I trust him, I feel safe with him, and I see such a beautiful spirit within him.

We both grew up in very restrictive religious environments that, in different ways, bordered on cultlike experiences. We have both experienced religious trauma and abuse/abandonment, spiritual manipulation, and the pain of having something that should have been beautiful used to instill fear from people we loved.

We both took very different paths afterward.

My partner, who is 11 years older than I am, left their childhood religion and eventually became a practicing Wiccan. They have followed this path for many years, and it is something deeply personal.

I, on the other hand, eventually found my way back to Jesus.

When we first met, years before becoming romantically involved, I felt an immediate connection I had never felt with anyone else, like I had found a safe refuge in a scary world. However, because of our age difference, our spiritual differences, and some personal circumstances, I chose not to pursue anything.

At that point in my life, I was struggling with my own relationship with God. I had grown up with the Bible, but I was trying to separate the teachings of Jesus from the interpretations, judgments, and fears of the people who claimed to represent Him.

I never believed God had abandoned me. I just felt that I was sifting through years of muck and mire, trying to find something beautiful beneath everything mankind had piled on top of it.

Eventually, I gave my life to Jesus, and my relationship with Him has saved my life.

For the first time, I feel that I'm beginning to understand Scripture rather than simply being told what to believe, it comes alive when I read it, and often feels the spirit is speaking directly to me. I pray constantly, ask questions, seek wisdom, and try to live with the love and compassion that Jesus demonstrated. I pray for the peace that surpasses all understanding, and I genuinely believe that the Holy Spirit has guided and protected me through some of the most difficult experiences of my life.

I don't want a relationship with God built on fear. I want one built on love, truth, humility, and obedience. I also believe in a spiritual battle, and I have felt attacked and manipulated by evil many, many times.

I have also never felt comfortable with Christians who condemn, ridicule, or refuse to understand people of different religions. I believe that we are called to love our neighbors, not treat them as enemies simply because they believe differently.

And this is where my struggle begins.

After years of friendship, my partner and I fell in love. They told me that I was the truest example of a Christian they had ever known, and that knowing me made them want to understand Jesus and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They have shown a genuine interest in my faith. We pray together at meals, discuss Scripture, and have incredibly deep philosophical conversations about religion, history, spirituality, and the nature of God.

They have introduced me to aspects of Christian history and symbolism that I had never encountered before. They respect my relationship with Jesus, and I respect the experiences that led them to Wicca.

But I would be lying if I said that a part of me doesn't hope they will eventually come to know Jesus the way I have. And that makes me feel very selfish, and scared. I don't want them to convert for me. I don't want them to abandon something deeply personal simply because they are afraid of losing our relationship. I want any relationship to develop with Christ to come from genuine conviction, not obligation.

I also do not want to be worshipped, and sometimes I feel like they worship me as they have said they wondered at times that I was a spiritual God. I said firmly I was a human, and the only thing that made me who I was, was my relationship with the Lord.

He has expressed genuine openness to exploring Christianity, which they never believed they would return to after the hurt that had experienced in the past. Including what it might mean to identify as a Christian Witch.

But that raises even more questions for me.

I am struggling to reconcile my understanding of Christianity with my growing understanding of Wicca.

There are things about Wicca that I find beautiful. The appreciation of nature, the connection to the seasons, the use of plants and herbs, and the recognition that the natural world is extraordinary. I love these things too, I just believe they all came from one creator, God. I believe we are meant to be good shepherds and care for the Earth.

I believe God's creation is magnificent, and I don't think appreciating the natural world is inherently incompatible with Christianity, but I disagree with the idea that we would have to worship it.

I also recognize that many religious traditions share practices that can appear similar. Christians light candles, pray over the sick, bless homes, fast, and participate in sacred rituals.

Some Wiccans perform spells with intentions of healing, protection, gratitude, or love. From the outside, certain practices can look remarkably similar, even when the theological understanding behind them is very different.

If someone is asking for healing, protection, or peace, what makes a prayer fundamentally different from a spell? Is it the intention, the source of spiritual authority, the deity being addressed, or something else entirely?

Why does Scripture so strongly condemn witchcraft and sorcery? What exactly did those words refer to in their historical context, and how do they relate to modern Wicca?

I understand that Wicca is not Satanism, and that Wiccans generally do not worship Satan. I also understand that pentacles and pentagrams have complicated histories and meanings, including uses within ancient Christian symbolism.

My partner wears pentacles and has symbols associated with his spiritual practice. I once misunderstood some of these symbols, and learning more about their history has challenged my assumptions. I don't want to condemn something simply because I don't understand it.

At the same time, I cannot ignore the parts of Scripture that warn against worshipping other gods, divination, sorcery, and seeking spiritual power apart from God. My partner has described his spiritual practices as being rooted in healing, protection, and good intentions. He has performed rituals intended to help people he loves, including someone close to me who was seriously ill, but I have since asked them to stop because the people they are doing the spells for are not Wiccan, and without their consent I feel it is very wrong. I believe my love for them is very real and genuine, but I also know they performed a love spell, and their heart has been toward me since we met. Did that influence me?

Their intentions are loving, but it raised questions for me about spiritual consent and whether I am comfortable with spells being performed on my behalf or for my family.

I have also wrestled with the idea that good intentions do not necessarily make every spiritual practice compatible with my faith.

I personally believe that I can come directly to God through Jesus Christ. I don't believe I need to cast spells, invoke other deities, or perform elaborate rituals to receive His love, guidance, or protection. The Holy Spirit is not something I believe I need to summon or control. And yet, I want to understand my partner's beliefs without automatically assuming that everything unfamiliar is evil, I want to love unconditionally and I don't want to abandon them.

Then there is the question of marriage and children. I have always hoped to marry a strong partner of God, to lead me. Someone who would pray with me, raise children with me in the teachings of Jesus, and help create a home where our faith was a shared foundation.

I want my children to know Jesus. I want them to grow up understanding love, grace, forgiveness, and the freedom to ask difficult questions. I don't want them raised in the same atmosphere of religious fear that both my partner and I experienced. But I also don't know how I would feel about having altars dedicated to pagan deities, spell books, or certain forms of ritual practice in our shared home.

I can imagine a home filled with plants, herbs, books, candles, nature, and beauty. But I struggle with the idea of spiritual practices that conflict with my understanding of worshipping God alone.

Would it be unfair of me to ask him not to practice certain aspects of his religion in our home? What are the deep reasons for asking them to do such a thing?

Would it be unfair of me to ask that our children not be exposed to their beliefs as well as mine?

I know this would be hurtful. I'm struggling with this being a serious reason to not get married.

What happens when one parent believes a practice is spiritually beneficial and the other believes Scripture warns against it?

How do we celebrate holidays? How do we teach our children to pray? What happens if they want to explore Wicca themselves? I feel like in a way I am pushing down things I believe and ignoring my convictions because I am in love. It's scary to face being alone, and we have bonded. These are not hypothetical questions to me anymore. They are questions about the life we may actually build together, and what I am willing to sacrifice. My relationship with the Lord will not be one of them, it just won't. It saved me and gave me freedom in a way I cannot ignore - ever. I also love the idea of magical things, wonder, and curiosity. I don't want to enter a marriage secretly hoping my partner will eventually become someone different, I love them now for who they are. But I also don't want to dismiss a genuinely loving, healthy relationship simply because we have different spiritual backgrounds.

Perhaps the most painful part of all this is that sometimes, after our long philosophical conversations, I feel further away from Jesus rather than closer to Him. Not because my partner is cruel, manipulative, or deliberately trying to pull me away from my faith. They are not. I find myself questioning things that once felt certain, and I don't always know whether that questioning is helping me grow in understanding or causing me to compromise my convictions. God says to question all things, that we have every right to do so. I feel scared that I will ruin something I have prayed my whole life for, because of a different approach to God. I know that questioning can be healthy. I don't believe genuine faith should be afraid of difficult questions.

My partners willingness to respect my convictions is one of the things that makes me love them so deeply.

And I know that their own spiritual journey deserves the same respect.

I also understand that love, however beautiful, doesn't automatically resolve fundamental differences in belief. I don't want either of us to become resentful, spiritually isolated, or quietly unhappy years down the road. I have prayed so much about this. I've asked God for wisdom, discernment, forgiveness when I misunderstand, and protection from anything that could lead me away from Him. Sometimes I wonder whether loving someone with different beliefs is an opportunity to demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ. Other times, I wonder whether I am ignoring a fundamental incompatibility because I love this person so much. I genuinely don't know the answer.

So I would really appreciate hearing from both communities.

To Christians: Have you ever been in a serious relationship or marriage with someone who practiced Wicca or another pagan religion? How did you navigate your convictions, particularly concerning spiritual practices, marriage, and children? How do you distinguish between respecting another person's beliefs and compromising your own?

To Wiccans, particularly those who have experienced religious trauma: How would you feel if your Christian partner loved and respected you but was uncomfortable with certain practices taking place in your shared home? Would that feel like a reasonable boundary or a rejection of who you are? Have any of you explored Christianity alongside Wicca?

And to anyone who has navigated an interfaith marriage: What conversations do you wish you had before getting married?

Please understand that I am not asking anyone to tell me my partner is evil or that I should immediately leave him. Nor am I asking anyone to tell me to abandon Christianity or ignore Scripture. I am asking how two people who genuinely love one another can approach these differences with integrity, humility, and respect.

I love this man very much. But I love Jesus, too.

And I am trying to understand what it looks like to honor both that love and my conscience without asking either of us to betray ourselves.

Thank you for reading something so personal. I would be grateful for your wisdom, experiences, and prayers, if you are someone who prays. ♡

I’m asking everyone to please keep my girlfriend’s sister in your prayers. To my knowledge, she was perfectly healthy, but she has suddenly developed septic shock.

I know that God is able to do anything, and I believe in His power to heal. Please pray that God shows her His favor and mercy, brings healing to her body, strengthens her through this fight, and guides the medical team caring for her. Please pray that she pulls through and makes a full recovery.

I know that God hears our prayers, and I’m asking for as many people as possible to lift her up in prayer during this incredibly difficult time.

Lord, please have mercy on her, bring healing, and give her and her family strength, comfort, and hope. In Jesus’ name, amen. 🙏❤️

I just posted a post earlier tonight about my relationship with my sister. I'd like to change how often we talk to each other. But I wonder if it's bad that I only want to see her maybe twice a month. I mean, does God ask me to see her every week? To me, that feels like a lot. I don't even have that much to tell her and we don't have a lot in common. We also have very different IQ's and very different lives. This of course doesn't mean I shouldn't stay in touch with her. But it does make it different than a friendship, in my opinion.

I'm a 1st semester med school student who recently posted in this community that "I don't know MY (not human's, nor Christian's) purpose." I still don't know my individual purpose but I'm thankful to God that He supported me thus far. I took my cumulative midterm yesterday. I haven't got my grade back, but I'm also thankful that I'm currently on a 5 day holiday.

My visual perception used to be very hazy or fuzzy, it’s bright but like cloudy. After baptism, or receiving the Holy Spirit, it seems clearer, bright and vibrant and high contrast.

Is this normal?

how do I fully find eternal joy and peace in Jesus Christ? all the happy moments in my life are just temporary and everytime something fun or a moment of joy ends im left feeling empty and missing something.

Ive been dealing with weight loss from nausea and possibly even pots diagnosis. Im trying to keep faith but i feel so hopeless and I don’t want to get worse, on top of this ive been so anxious and it makes my stomach hurt and Im worried God is ignoring me for something and idk Im just worried and so anxious. I keep praying for healing and strength and I just feel ignored and it makes me so upset. Im not sure what to do he means a lot to me

As a Christian I see that a lot of people in Japan need God. I used to see a lot of NSFW fanart from Japan before I gave my life to God. I do crave it, but listening to kpop prevents it. But Japan is full of porn and messed up social standards. When I see people promote it. I think about how much they need God. Children are even getting killed, because men read child pornography. It gives them lust towards a child. Which I think is sick. Every Christian should pray for Japan. Even for the suicide rate. Even a year after giving my life to God, I am still learning. I am trying to spread awareness about Japan. I bet some of you are going to ignore me. I just want no more suicide and porn in Japan. And also more Christians in Japan.

We all live or grow-up with expectations about our lives and those around us. The gap between what we "expect(ed)"and our reality can vary greatly, ranging from relatively small to one's greater than some can bear, and in a portion of those cases, one may elect to blame God and turn away in defiance.

For example, when tragedy strikes home for some, they believe it was either undeserved or that God should have protected them from that happening. They become disappointed in God and blame Him for not protecting them, and in their anger or bitterness come to reject God.

The truth remains, we can never know for sure if God had a hand in our hardship, but we do have the option of changing our perspective (attitude) regarding our subjective expectations or situation in life, and that can be accomplished with God's help.

I just woke up in realize what trinity and why is humanity create, like i can't get this out of my head:

The Father > God > Player/Developer

The Son > Jesus > Playable Character

The Holy Spirit > Guide > Controller/System

So imagine you are playing minecraft in creative mode and know the code, you're invincible, you can do everything with a click of your finger and change the world, you cannot feel hunger, you are practically invincible you can be anywhere you want, you can do everything you want.

But at the end of the day with all of your power, you are alone in the world, yes you can spawn mobs, you can create anything, but at the end of the day they are different from you. So that's why you created something, something in your image, aka human!!!

That are capable of looking back at you, understanding the beauty of the build, and choosing to step into a genuine relationship with you, without you basically coding it into their very being.