How often do people lose their faith in God after a traumatic experience?

Blunary hub · Post by **Blunary hub** » 26 Sep 2022, 07:52

Most people do lose their faith after excruciating experiences. It's only that their stories are not always told. Being a believer and facing a difficult situation can be very hard. This is because going through the experience, you had hoped that you'd get supernatural help, and you strongly believe. When it doesn't happen, you start questioning everything. Therefore getting to a point of seeing the good out of a difficult situation is nerve wrecking. Those who survive and come out better, it means their faith stood the test of time that's the reason they are been celebrated. That's my own contribution.

Ash Lynwood · Post by **Ash Lynwood** » 26 Sep 2022, 16:29

Missing Person wrote: ↑02 Sep 2022, 15:30 I've seen a lot of discussion about how inspiring Tripodo's faith in God was. I've also seen many stories of Christians holding onto their faith after losing a loved one. In fact, I've seen so many of these stories of Christians holding onto their faith after a traumatic experience that I've come to the conclusion that the majority of Christians hold onto their no matter how much pain and suffering they experience, and that suffering is not the principle reason why most Christians lose their faith in God.

If my hypothesis is correct and the majority of Christians still have faith in God after losing their loved ones or going through some traumatic experience, then what exactly is so inspiring about Ron Tripodo's experience? Why were so many OBC readers impressed with Tripodo's faith? As an atheist, I find it difficult to understand some readers admiration for Tripodi's faith.

If the majority of Christians lost their faith in God after a traumatic experience then I would understand how inspiring Tripodo's faith would seem. But this is not the case. I've seen trailers for Christian movies talk about Christians becoming atheists after losing a loved one. For example, in the movie Let There Be Light, Dr. Sol Harkens lost his son to cancer and then became an atheist. The movie is about how Harkens regains his faith. If Harken's experience is a common one, then that would mean Tripodo's faith was a very impressive feat, if not that would mean that, at least in my eyes, his faith was a not meaningful factor in the heartbreaking ordeal he had to endure.

As a fellow non-believer, I came from a Christian background, and while I did not have a traumatic experience per se that caused me to lose my faith, I would argue that Christianity as a whole is a traumatic experience. That goes more towards other believers, and I am sure that most ex-believers who have come out of the church and especially fundamentalist beliefs, would agree that religious trauma is a big part of the deconstruction stage.

I fully agree with you that Tripodo's faith is not really necessarily that huge of an inspiring feat because Christians are expected to keep their faith no matter what. Everything is just the Devil testing you and God allowing him to. Seems kind of backward to have faith in a god that, if he truly cared, would not constantly test people through traumatic events and such.

Jennifer L. Armentrout · Post by **Hubre De Klerk** » 27 Sep 2022, 01:33

I believe that people that goes through a very traumatic experience, question a lot of things that happened and why God allowed it to happen as he is the All Mighty and can literally move mountains. In my upbringing, we were told that we aren't allowed to question God or things that happen, but I personally don't believe that is true. We can have faith and believe and still ask questions. That is how the world keep developing and expanding. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, although we almost never understand when it comes to traumatic and life altering experiences. Most of the times, people come out even stronger in the end and with a bigger faith even if they might have lost their faith for a while along the way. Maybe it is just one of the steps towards healing and overcoming the experience you went through.

Slimeball 555 · Post by **Slimeball 555** » 27 Sep 2022, 02:00

I really feel like there are more people who give up their faith than those who do in those situations. It's just that most of the times their story is less likely to be documented in a book or a movie. It's always the inspiring stories that are going to be shown, but there are definitely more people that give up than those who persevere.

Slimeball 555 · Post by **Slimeball 555** » 27 Sep 2022, 02:18

I really feel like there are more people who give up their faith than those who do in those situations. It's just that most of the times their story is less likely to be documented in a book or a movie. It's always the inspiring stories that are going to be shown, but there are definitely more people that give up than those who persevere.

Natalie Sheph · Post by **Natalie Sheph** » 27 Sep 2022, 10:19

There are often several stages of trauma and sorrow after a loss of a loved one. In the first stage, people are unable to believe what happened. After the tragedy has been comprehended and processed, a terrible rage toward the world and God, as well as a sense of unfairness start to emerge. All of this will eventually pass, but many people choose to hold onto their beliefs because they find that it makes life much simpler. Of course, this is a very generic statement, and everyone experiences this period in their unique manner, but I believe that for many people, losing faith and then regaining it is a part of mourning.

SMaqs · Post by **SMaqs** » 27 Sep 2022, 10:38

people'speoples pain around you, you think the worst has befallen you.

Post by **Smrithi Arun** » 27 Sep 2022, 12:06

Sometimes, having faith in a higher power is the only thing that could keep a person sane, especially after they've had an extremely traumatic experience. However, I know people close to my family lose their faith either partially or completely after having lost their significant other. I saw something similar on a daily soap too when this character's son slipped into a 4-year-long coma, but her daughter-in-law never stopped believing.

Okonobe Chioma Chukwuma · Post by **Okonobe Chioma Chukwuma** » 27 Sep 2022, 14:22

Hmmmmmmm...most people tend to lose their faith, after being faced with difficulties of life, losing some one close to you..when things like this happen some individuals tend to ask so many questions and not getting convincing answers to their queations, they tend to lose their faith in God..not getting enough answers as to why this particular thing, have to happen to them, they just lose their faith...

Sibongile Sifuya · Post by **Sibongile Sifuya** » 27 Sep 2022, 15:11

The authors experiences in his marriage can be described as the ultimate test of faith and true love. To maintain ones faith in God in certain circumstances is a daunting task. Tripodo's illness was enough trouble on its own, but to deal with the wife's terminal illness at the same time, was too much a burden. Faith can easily be lost in such circumstances. Tripodo demonstrated unconditional love for his wife and enduring faith for his God.

Post by **Leslie Kunde** » 27 Sep 2022, 17:52

If your faith is based on the idea that your God will spare you pain in your life.... Well then you do not have faith to start with. You have an emotional Santa Claus. God is there beside you while you go through the hard and painful times not to take them from you. If you allow yourself to learn from loss, then you grow. If you walk away and blame God because of the normal course of life has happened.... Then you can find yourself stunted in growth, bitter, angry and in general not happy. The death of a loved one that we all experience is hard. But death is a natural thing. The only two things you are guaranteed in life are: you will draw a first breath and you will draw a last breath. So, to answer you. I think it is not a question of whether they lose faith more often. It is more a question of was it true faith to start with.

Rocky Ellery James Tumbelaka · 27 Sep 2022, 23:28

I think it depends on the person. If that person understands God's plan and that His time is wonderful, I don't think they renounce their faith easily. Still, easier said than done. But I could say that anyone who retain their faith after traumatic events are strong individuals.

MinhDoan · Post by **MinhDoan** » 28 Sep 2022, 01:25

Everyone who has been through trauma is familiar with the feeling of a broken spirit. A person's loss of faith is caused by having their worldview overturned.

Ikechukwu Blessing · Post by **Ikechukwu Blessing** » 28 Sep 2022, 02:52

It's not an easy task to always push on when trials and temptations surface in one's life, some people will always give yield to the trauma, losing their faith in God. But it only takes God's grace In your life to still keep your faith. As a believer, you must also be intentional about keeping your faith alive irrespective of what is happening around you.

Shanesha Sammerson · Post by **Shanesha Sammerson** » 29 Sep 2022, 06:05

I find it admirable to have faith in God after a traumatic experience. The reason being I have recently gone through two traumatic experiences on the same day and find it hard to accept that God will put me through this. How can you be a good person live your life righteously and still be punished for this? If you can still hold on to your faith even after all the pain and sorrow, then you deserve to be recognized as an admirable person.