How to Get Rid of Religious Guilt

Religion is still a foundation in some homes. Approximately 50 percent of Americans claim to be a member of one religion or another. While religion can be an asset in the bonding of families and the raising of children, it can also be detrimental if not introduced and taught properly. Some children are brought up in a strict, religious upbringing, which can cause many problems in the future, bringing on unnecessary inhibitions, guilt and confusion in later years. If you are one of the many who was raised in one of these homes, follow these ideas to help rid yourself of religious guilt.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Library
• Bible, preferably from different faiths

1. One of the first things you must come to terms with is whether or not you believe in a higher power. When deciding this, try to put aside your upbringing and make the decision on what you believe is, or might be, true. What you truly believe may not be the same as what you were taught and you should not feel guilty in discovering this.

2. Read about as many religions, faiths and beliefs as you can. You will find some viewpoints are the same and many are different. These facts will help clear your subconscious of what you have been told from childhood on, opening your mind to other, possible faiths that you feel are more true.

3. If you are inhibited or feel guilty for having human desires there are reasons for this. Ask yourself if it is due to your religious upbringing. If this is the case think about how men and women are formed and how it is obvious we were made to have intercourse. We are, after all, animals. All animals have intercourse and reproduce.

4. The power of a religious upbringing is amazingly strong. In some cases it is considered a form of brainwashing. If you feel guilt about normal human thoughts and desires then you have problems which stem from your upbringing or from other bad influences and you should consider that you may need therapy to rid yourself of this guilt. If you wish to take care of these problems yourself then you must find a way to have an open mind, ridding yourself of the baggage you have been given.

5. Talk to people about religion and listen to their views. It is enlightening to hear how many people have faith without guilt. These are the people that can help you find your place with religion and God without the unnecessary guilt you were given.

6. Attend different church gatherings and learn of different faiths firsthand. If nothing else you will meet many people and gain knowledge, and knowledge is empowering. Learning different faiths is not damaging, no matter what you might have been told.

Tips & Warnings

• These steps are nowhere near as helpful as a good therapist. You may want to consider seeing one if necessary.
• Religious guilt is very hard to shed and may take years to do so. Psychiatric help is sometimes the best way to rid yourself of these problems.

Resources

• Ridding Religious Guilt
• Religious Guilt Aspects

[MichaelJMotta]

on 6/14/2008 Very good topic Tena! Of course in addition to reading about various faiths, there's also reading critiques of theism and religion in general via more secular sources such as Marx, Nietzsche, Sartre, and many more.