Dear God,
I pray that You show yourself to all of these people that are hungry for commitment but are tired of religion. Help us all.
Adilson - PortugalShare:
Dear God,
As I read the posts of other people on Dear-God, I am struck by the simplicity of my emotions and wants. There are so many complex people and hurt people in this world that my problems are meaningless. After all, I live in a well-off family, go to a good school and have a few good friends. But I can’t appreciate my well-off family, I can’t like my school and I can’t bring myself to get any closer to my friends beyond the superficial. It’s like the old saying; you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Some days I think I’m fine. Am I? Help me to know if I am. Help my mother to feel better than she does. It kills me to see her like she is, and somehow it’s worse to know just what disease she has. Blessed ignorance, that’s what I wish for. Help me as well. I didn’t ask for this disease, either. What did I do? Have I done something that needs to be punsihed? I didn’t know I was that bad. I feel like a hypocrite; I’ve never had any real faith. Maybe that’s my logical side coming through. But I want to believe-I want to believe so badly. Forgive me for bieng attracted to my best friend-she doesn’t know and she probably never will. But I really don’t know what to do. I’m fake, I lie and I lie to myself. I hurt myself, I hate myself and I punish myself for mere memories that I recall at odd times of the day. Please, just tell me that when I die, either on my own terms, by some accident, or by mere old age, that I won’t go to hell.Please tell me that there isn’t one.
Danielle - New ZealandShare:
In the event of my death
I hope that I loved you, the way that you needed me to.
I hope that I listened, when you needed me there.
I hope that I knew you the way that you wanted me to.
I hope to this day you knew that I cared.
Lil - London Share:
Dear God,
For years, I struggled with a faith that was forced on me by people without a clear idea of what it was you were.
When they finally let go of their own faith, I was able to shed all forms of religion and man-made belief. I could pursue a career that had been completely banned; read books and watch movies without condemnation. I’m still trying to eradicate the last shreds of that overpowering control from my life.
It took me a long time to stop blaming myself for everything that’s happened. It took me even longer to work up the courage to blame you instead.
And now, it’s taking every ounce of me to just write this, to say that, while I never, ever want to be constricted by religion in my life once more, I want to stop hating you.
I want to be able to walk past a church and not shudder; hear someone thank god for their success without internally mocking them. I want to be the person everyone believes me to be: accepting of everyone, from every culture and religion. I don’t want to boil with hatred at the act of recieving a religious pamphlet on the street.
So here it is, my last prayer. Not that you change everything, not that you take away all the hurt that you’ve caused.
But that I can move on with my life.
Thank you.
Anon/Australia Share:
Dear God,
I have your cross on my arm….. but I refuse to walk back into one of your churches. It has been over a year since I attempted to go to church again.. I made it to the door, and than turned around and walked away. I promise it is not you that I walked away from that night. It was all the judgment, and the holier-than-thou attitudes.
I made the decision to level with people. To step off my pedestal and just be there amongst them. Just be me. Without any intentions of preaching to them, or changing them. That is what I did for the last year… I stopped being a Christian and just tried to love You, and others.
I cannot say that I have been happy this year. Cause honestly, I really have not. You know the details. But it has been a real year, with real people. No one using me to please you. The people I have around me now are genuine, and when they help me… it is because they truly want to. Not because they are doing it to get points with You. So it has not been an astounding year, so what? It has been genuine.
I have not read the Bible everyday, or really at all. There are things in it that I think of everyday… and of course i get chills.
I still feel you. I know you are walking beside me. The other day I was sitting in a restaurant… and I knew you were there. I turned and looked at where your eyes would be. I just stared. It was so calming to look at you.
That means something. That fact that I know you are there tells me that You still love me, even though I have left the church.
So yes, you are on my arm. I love that you are on my arm. You are on my heart, and my mind. Your name is branded on my soul…. by me. Cause I want your name there.
I love thinking of you. I promise I will always be following you. Just not back to them. Not to church. I know You are there too…. but the judgment kills me. Frankly, it turns me off, and makes me want to go make trouble. I do not want to do that either.
Thank You for all you have taught me, I have learned so much. You bless me everyday.
I am here, and I love You.
Bets - California/USA Share:
Dear God,
Why do you let so many fake religions exist? It screws up the world and holds us back from maturing and sharing in truth and the one family that we could be here on earth. So don’t you think its about time you sorted this mess (you created) out yourself now instead of sittin there watcing the thousands of people here dying unnescessarily. You know how our minds work, you created every aspect of our psyche. You knew it would happen like this. Are you happy with it? I pray that one day soon none of us believe in you. I pray that one day soon we all believe that this life on earth is all there is going to be and that its up to us to make it. If you answer my prayers, I think you would be happier too, because people will be happier, and as you love us, and your love is REAL love and not the conditional kinda “kiss my ass” love of some fake religions, it would therefore be the best thing all round, for you too, even if no-one gives two hoots about you (although secretly to me you would be my hero). Bru - LondonShare:
Dear God,
I was a pastor for 23 years. It killed me. I am not sure I was every called to it. As you know, the overwhelming numbness finally caved in all around me. Now, I am on the outside of the church looking in and I don’t like what I see. Why do we have to be fake to be a Christian or part of a church? How did we buy the lie that showing up occasionally was the same as a relationship with you? Now that I am not a pastor, people are honest with me. I had no idea how hard life was for so many people because when they came on my “turf” they pretended just as much as I did. I feel hope inside God. Now, without the job I feel like you let me go through everything to understand pain. I want to do what I can, but I feel like a failure every day. Can you still use me? Brian, USA/OhioShare:
Dear Mother Goddess,
I really, just wanted to see what the reaction would be if I were to post this here. You see I am a skeptic, I have a scientific mind that does not readily believe things. Which is a real disadvantage in my religion. I spent a long time trying to find a religion that sat well with me, I was raised an Atheist and was introduced to the church in year 1. In year 8 I chose to become a Baptist. I studied the Bible, I prayed every night, I did not however go to Church as that was not part of my family’s life. About a year later I realized that it just did not work for me. It did not sit easily, something was out fo place. I could not quite put my finger on it, but something was not right. I loved the feeling of religion, just not THAT particular religion. It was then that I truly found paganism. I just seemed to sit well. Many people think that I am odd, or going to hell, or that I am worshiping Satan (I’ll give them the odd bit, but other than that…). It makes for interesting friends and an interesting time at school. You have to live with the fear, the perscution and the uncertainty. You never know how someone will react. It must be a great thing to be able to wear a crucifix in public and not get strange stares, or even have people cross the road to avoid walking near you. The problem is that, adult pagans think that you are going through a phase and don’t often take you seriously and everyone else thinks you are a freak.
It’s not really the way you want to grow up
The other thing that I detest (though I do it too) is pagans who complain about the way they are treated by the main-stream faiths, but then turn around and bad-mouth Christians or similar. I realized that some of the things I have caught myself saying could come across quite mean.I always say myself as a religiously tollereant person but, apparently not that tolerant, it is easy to complain when something discriminates against you, but so much harder to stand up and say something when something discriminates against people who treat YOU badly.
I suppose it is here that I need to remember the Three Fold Law… 
So, why can’t we all make the effort to understand BEFORE we judge, to know before we guess. Wouldn’t that just make the world run that bit more smoothly? I we want to be treated with tolerance and understanding, we must treat others with that same consideration. I know it is cliche but it is oh so true. How can I complain that people treat me badly, if I do the same to others. If we all make an effort, it can only bring us closer to true understanding and harmony.
What religion or race you are does not matter, we are all human and we all deserve to be understood.
So, dearest Mother, (and everyone else who may or may not read this) Help me to make an effort, so I can help others to do the same.
Blessed Be,
Kay, Sydney/AustraliaShare:
Dear God,
I don’t really know where to start, or which category this is meant to fit into. I haven’t prayed in ages and I don’t know how to do it properly anymore, I feel like I’m talking to myself.
I’m confused - about everything. I used to believe in you, and then you didn’t answer for a whole year and it felt like you weren’t there. So I stopped trying. And now you’re still not there, but at the same time I sort of still believe. I think you’re out there, somewhere. But every time I go to church or think about Christianity, I think it’s more and more whacked up. You created the world so how can u destroy those that don’t believe? In the end we are all lost and confused and searching for answers - is that a crime worth punishing?
Christianity used to be the answer to all my problems - it used to be the fairytale ending to a miserable life; the hope and light in the darkness. Now it just doesn’t make sense to me anymore and I’m searching for a better fairytale ending, an ending that doesn’t involve anyone at all dying or suffering eternally. If Christianity really is the truth then it seems like it isn’t good enough - seems as if you tried your hardest to save everyone but couldn’t, so “that’s life” and we just have to deal with it. What’s your excuse - what’s the great reason behind it all? Is that the way it’s just meant to be, or will you end up saving everyone, somehow?
I feel like nothing’s really happening in my life, it’s just standing still. And that scares me because I think something big and awful may happen soon, it always does.
I wish I could believe like I used to. I wish I could push my doubts aside and sincerely believe in you and love you like I used to. It’s weird where I am, I don’t really get it. The concept of religion, and life and everything else almost scares me. It’s like I’m going crazy. What’s the meaning? Why are we here? How can I escape without dying and going to hell?
I feel trapped. I just want to breathe again. I’m only 16 and people think I’m just going through teenage life when I try to explain my problems. I hate it. I just want to be happy again and experience real joy and meaning (like I used to) but maybe religion is not the answer - maybe it really is the “opium of the people”?
All my friends have really screwed up lives and I don’t know whether being friends with them has screwed up mine.
I don’t think I’m christian anymore, but I don’t want to say for certain because it scares me and ’cause I’ve only admitted it to a couple of friends going through the same thing. I’m lonely and depressed - help?!
P.S. Sorry for the rant, now that I read over it it sounds like a whole lot of self-talk psychobabble…
Amy, QLD/Australia
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Dear God,
Please forgive my dishonesty. I am beginning my submission as such, but only out of politeness.
Instead of praying, let’s learn to find joy and happiness from helping and loving fellow mankind. We are compassionate and kind because it feels good to do so, and not because we are afraid of burning in eternal hell or suffering in the endless misery of reincarnation.
Let’s face it, there is no God, we are only writing to each other here. Having even a remote association with a religion is one too many - do we really want to give up our rational mind and be manipulated by religious leaders, all playing politicians and vice versa?
Unfaithfully,
Eric, Canada/BCShare:
Dear God,
It’s interesting that I pray to you here because I don’t really believe in you. I’m a Buddhist. Still, cultural customs die hard, and culturally I’m as Christian as any American ever was. Besides, I find it hard to pray to the Buddha for whatever reason.
I pray because in this lifetime I want to become a monk. I know it’s a path with meaning. I could become a lawyer, an author, a professor, or anything else I want to be, but I want to give it all up and put on the robes. Why? I just know deep down it’s for the best.
But to give up everything for the sake of an enlightenment I’m not even *really* sure exists? I’m not even talking my video games and my books and my music here; not even my friends. I have to give up *desire*. I investigate this in my meditation and I know that the message is true - life is suffering, attachment causes suffering. But when you find out your mind hangs together strictly because of desire? That’s the glue that binds our personality together, desire and lust and fear and disgust. It’ll take me all my life to even make a dent in it, and the whole time I could be off making love, having kids, listening to beautiful music, surrounding myself with beautiful things.
I want to do this. May my last desire be to prostrate before the Buddha eternally. May no obstacles impede me as I step into fear and release myself from the prison of self.
Amen.
Chuck, Wisconsin/USAShare:
Dear God,
I pray because I’m lost.
I am from a small Aussie town. I went to boarding school as a child where, after a few years, began to be sexually abused by a teacher. I mentally tortured myself and wanted to die for years but finally told my family who will do anything to help me. I don’t know if I was confused before, but ever since the abuse I have been in a sexuality crisis. Now I am 25 and don’t know what or who am I am and live in constant guilt that if I was to go one way, I will be going against God. I have lost my faith in the church but haven’t lost my faith in God. I don’t think the Church and its institutions represent God and this is my only comfort. I research the Church and sexuality and the hypocrisy and arguments only fuel my confusion and anger. I try and rationalise how I feel but nothing helps. I take massive amounts of anti-depressants and sleeping tablets every night and then every day, stroll into work like nothing’s wrong.
Only a few of my closest friends know all of this and I want to run away to another country and start again. Sometimes I wonder if God did all this to test me, to see what sort of man I could become and to test my strength. Sometimes I think everything I’m doing is against God and my life will be judged severely. I moved to the city after boarding school where I felt no one would know me or judge me. I work in a very liberal industry but this doesn’t seem to bring me comfort.
I want to return home and help my Dad in the family business but feel that I would bring shame on the family if I did eventually decide that I was gay not straight. Everyone in town probably thinks it anyway so am I really saving anyone any embarrassment by living away? My family knows that I’m really confused and am struggling and are totally supportive. I just don’t want to embarrass them in a fundamentalist Christian town where everyone would judge my family and I. I loathe the thought of my very proud and traditional school finding out everything and thinking I am the one to blame or that I am an embarrassment to them. Even if they don’t know about the abuse, I hate the thought of all the other students finding out and taking delight in knowing their taunts of ‘faggot’ were accurate. I feel I’ve lost connection with my hometown because of all this and I feel I have no home and forever am lost and transient.
I wonder if the confusion, pain and problems will ever go away or whether I will end up sad, alone and angry. Am I being self absorbed and spoilt? Or do you feel my prayers are needed? I feel I can’t trust the church or its interpretations of Jesus. I feel like I am a disappointment in the Church’s eyes but hope, whomever I become, I won’t be a disappointment to Jesus. I wish I was stronger. I wish I could just stand up, grow up and get over it. It doesn’t seem that easy though. Please hear my prayers and guide me.
J - AustraliaShare:
Dear God,
I sometimes feel that our relationship is one sided. Lately I’ve been feeling as though you have given up on me and have left me to drown in a sea of problems. I have always had faith in you, but I’m not sure that your on duty. I have had faith in you through my good as well as my bad but now I’m not sure you care enough to help those that are deserving of your help. Please come back!!!Neesh, Boston/USA
Share:
Dear God.
I tried to convince myself you weren’t real. If you were, I definitely wasn’t going to be let into your club. I earnestly asked you into my heart years ago, but apparently I was one of those guys that just didn’t get it. I didn’t fit into the church scene. I was too self-centered and untrusting to really let you in my life. I
hurt inside and tried to mask it with irresponsible risk-taking, drinking, stealing, and sex. I was plagued by my past and the way that I had hurt my family and people who loved me.
As you know, my dad left when I was 8 and didn’t make a big point out of seeing me or knowing me or helping me after that. Then when I got in trouble at age 15 and said I needed him, he let me come and live with him. That only lasted until he saw who I really was. He asked me to leave after 2 years because he didn’t want to deal with me. He didn’t want to be with me because I had too many problems. That was 21 years ago. I was 17 and I felt pretty worthless after that for a long time. I think that’s why I’ve had such a thick head about believing you.
I lived so long as the perpetual bad boy who was out to prove that I was unloveable. I was waiting for you to break me down and punish me for not giving in to your program. I was waiting for you to reveal the real me to the world - the liar, the thief, the hypocrite, and the addict - so I would get what I deserved and my worthlessness would be confirmed.
Then, the other day you showed your fierce, unrelenting love for even me. You showed me through a perfect storm of people, events and a book by Donald Miller. I cried like a baby for the first time in years. I felt clean and loved. I understand you a little better. I know you are not in the business of breaking me down into submission because you are the mighty creator. Instead you are my greatest help, my friend, my rock and my provider. You made a place for me and want me with you forever. That is everything to me today. Thank you.
Love,
Chris, Florida, USAShare:
Dear God,
Do you get tired of having to constantly figure out the rules we give You? We as a populous have come a long way from the time You gave us rules through the Bible, the Koran, and Your various other attempts. Now we set the agenda. We decide whose side you choose in a war. We decide which people we should go to bed with. We decide who the guilty are… and then we say that all this is due to Your viewpoint. I am sure it is somewhat difficult for you to keep up with.
Truth be told most of us quit listening to you a long time ago. Instead we have other people figure You out and explain You in ways that make us feel good about ourselves. To some You are a right wing hate-monger sending natural disasters to clean blemishes off the earth. To others You are pure love and happiness. I have a feeling that we can never truly understand You, and I am perfectly alright with that… I just wish we would quit trying to force our extremely limited understandings of You on everyone else.
As for me, I want to simply quit telling You about who You are, and start listening to You tell me about who I am. Perhaps in doing so I will find out more about who You are to me… and the great thing is You can be something completely different to someone else and that is fine. No rules, just God.
Listening, Alabama/USA Share:
Dear God,
I don’t want to leave these kids. I am so afraid that there won’t be anyone else who believes in them the way that I do. Protect them please, show them that they are of infinite value, and that they have so much to offer this world. Protect them from those who would tell them that they can’t make it, break through the racism and the assumptions about colored kids from the ghetto. Hold them in your arms.
Amen
Jessica, California/USA
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Dear God,
I want to pray for Tibet. It makes me sick when I think we go to war for weapons that don’t exist but we leave the monks to be killed by the Chinese. China has no God but money and America needs to stand for more than that. It makes me so sad when I think what this country could stand for and how much blood has been shed in the name of nothing. I pray for our country. That we have the strength to show the rest of the world what’s right and wrong once again.
Ally Friedman, New Jersey
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Dearest Allah,Since I move to California from Bangladesh I experience many joys and problems. I love USA and am being with my family. But why do so many make comments about Islam and terrorists? Four boys in a car call out to me yesterday morning, calling names and cursing God’s name. Why! Also why do they think I am Arab? Please be helping them to understand more your great mercy.
Rayhan Khan, Orange Country
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Dear God is a global project for people around the world to share their innermost hopes - and fears - through prayer.
It doesn’t matter what your version of God is…Jesus, Allah, Buddha or simply a spiritual universal energy… praying to a higher power soothes and heals. It is believed that people who pray are healthier, happier and more resilient.
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