Why So Many Yearn How To Find Inner Peace With God

By Jordan Schmidt


Modern life is extremely stressful. Many people struggle to cope with all the demands made upon them. Many more have started to question the very meaning of their existence. They feel as if they are missing something important. Perhaps this is why therapists thrive and why thousands of websites and books offer people self fulfilment and personal growth. Millions feel that the remedy is to learn how to find inner peace with God.

The last two decades have seen a massive increase in people becoming interested in spiritual matters and in methods, techniques and philosophies that promise self fulfilment, happiness and a purpose in life. Numerous books have been published in this field and there are countless websites dedicated to this genre. Personal coaches are in high demand and philosophies such as yoga enjoy an all time peak in popularity.

Organized religions are also experiencing a sudden increase in membership. Many people that grew up in religious homes are now returning to church, but they are not the only ones. There is also a marked increase in new members that did not grow up in religious homes. It seems that people need reassurance that there is order in the world and there is a deity that is in overall control.

One of the reasons why people are flocking back to the church is that they have become fearful. In their search for meaning in life they discover, among other things, that life is exceedingly short. They want to believe the message that there is such a thing as life everlasting and they want to make sure that they will indeed inherit eternal life. This is, indeed, one of the central promises of almost all religions.

The core of many religions is a dogma of love, obedience and acceptance. People are told that the deity loves them above all else, that they are created in the image of the deity and that they are unique and precious. They are also exhorted to also love one another. Many church members find this comforting and meaningful. The simplicity of the message of love becomes the meaning that they wanted in their lives.

For many people religion and the practice thereof becomes the main focus in their lives. Indeed, many churches are actively involved in a variety of charities and outreach programs. Involvement in these activities provides many people joy and fulfilment. For them, the real meaning of life is to serve their deity and other human beings. By serving others they forget about their own selfish needs.

Of course, organized religion has many enemies and critics. They say that believers are deluding themselves and that the security and contentment that they find in religion is false. Many critics accuse believers of turning to God for deliverance because they are to weak to manage their own lives and to find meaning within their own selves. They argue that man should accept responsibility for his own existence.

One fact is certain. Church memberships are growing and more and more people are finding peace and fulfilment in church. There is no harm in that, except, of course, when the religious order becomes militant, exclusive and abusive.




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