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Do you believe in God?

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  • #108136
    Kristin123
    Participant

    I want to believe in God. I was raised Catholic and I found comfort in religion in my youth. Through the years I lost faith. The world has jaded me I guess. Life got tough and I started to doubt more and more. Do you believe, and how do you know God is out there?

    #108146
    Joe
    Participant

    Kristin123

    I was never christened or raised in any religion but I guess when I was a teenager I used to believed in some kind of higher power – without subscribing to any one label, religion or belief system. I used to read a lot on the subject – buddhism, bible mysticim, kaballah, hinduism, paganism, wicca, spiritualism (parapsychology/ghosts/ESP)..I also loved reading about ancient Greek religion and the poetry of William Blake.

    But now, like you said, I too feel jaded by the world sometimes. I don’t really believe as much anymore – I don’t have answers. It’s a constant tennis match in my mind – do I believe? Do I not believe? I thought I had discarded many beliefs because I felt they didn’t work for me anymore but sometimes I still can’t help but internally debate whether they are true or not. I am a sceptic but I like to think I am open-minded – at least now I am able to see things more objectively.

    Joe

    #108291
    BrainontheWall
    Participant

    I do not believe that there is such a thing as a god (no capitalisation intentional). And certainly I don’t believe in the catholic church.
    I was raised as a catholic, but without any strong convictions on my parents’ part. My father is a divorcee and the catholic church does not allow divorced people to have a church wedding again. So they were kind of alienated by the church itself, with a priest telling them that they are a “problematic marriage”. They are together almost 30 years and are one of the best couples I’ve ever known. So that was the initial thing that caused me and my sister to doubt in the church and religion. Later on we started doing some research. She went in the direction of more scientific approach and I started studying the history of religion and Christianity itself and learned that gods were created by humans because of the lack of better means to explain their universe. Humans are curious by nature and they had to have some explanation why the sun is going up and down, etc. This is not the only theory on the development of religion and many scholars worked on that topic and why does humanity need mythology. But I found this the most convincing. With the development of science, religion becomes obsoltete.
    While one cannot rule out 100% that there is some higher power, we might as well wait and see how science develops. People used to believe the most outrageous things and everybody must be prepared to adjust their views as new evidence appears.
    Sorry for a long post.

    #108336
    Kristin123
    Participant

    Joe, I feel the same as you do. There is a battle in my mind. Part of me wants to believe and then the logical side of me has so many doubts.

    a-moore3, I agree. There are so many horrible things happening in the world today. Everything looks so bleak. I wonder through all these things, where is God? Why is he not showing himself in the midst of such tragedy.

    #108339
    Kristin123
    Participant

    brainonthewall,

    Thanks for the reply. I sometimes think that too, that the reason humans came up with religion is to explain to natural phenomena. Science answers a lot, but some things I feel don’t have an answer, or at least not yet. Such as if the universe started with a big bang, and energy can only be transferred or transformed, what energy started the bang?

    #108342
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Kristin123:

    You asked: “what energy started the (big) bang?”

    I have the answer.

    No, just kidding. But I have this point to make: we can’t know everything. We can know a whole lot of things but not everything. This is the trap of a lot of people: they have to know everything and if they don’t, they doubt the things that are there in front of them, very possible to know. For example: gravity exists, we know that. It is reality regardless of what started the big bang. Not knowing what started the big bang doesn’t take away from the reality of gravity.

    Here is another thing I know: if I care a whole lot about a person who is suffering a lot, who is in pain, and I have all the power in the world to help that person who I care for and who is suffering, why, I would help them right away. I will not trust a person who sees my suffering, can help me, has all the power to help me, and yet he or she doesn’t.

    I don’t need to know anything more about such a person who sees the suffering of a young child, has the power to help the young child and chooses to not help the young child, day after day, year after year. I don’t need to learn more about that person to know that I don’t like or trust this person to be good.

    And there is no way I can find comfort in this person’s (god’s) words, not as long as he doesn’t help the suffering children.

    anita

    #108346
    BrainontheWall
    Participant

    Kristin123,

    I agree with Anita, not knowing the answer to something does not mean that there is a higher power to it. In science sometimes you have to accept that there is no answer but that’s not the reason to stop looking for one and just explain to yourself that some being had to start it all.
    And I also agree, that with all the suffering in the world, it’s hard to believe that a merciful, good guy who loves everybody and is omnipotent wouldn’t react. Clearly there are people who did nothing to deserve their sad fate. And when people say they will pray for them it’s just masking their inaction and giving them exuses to sit on their butts and do nothing. It’s an illusion making people feel better about themselves while doing absolutely nothing.

    If you’re interested in religion and the scientific side of things I recommend Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion”. He tackles a lot of theological arguments and tries to explain the science of the universe without involving religion. It’s not an easy read (I don’t have a background in physics and biology, maybe it easy for some who do), but it’s worth it, and may clarify some things, especially if, as you wrote, the logical side of you has many doubts.
    Religion is not necessary to be a good human being to yourself and to others.

    Best wishes

    #108349
    Anna
    Participant

    My new outlook is that if you believe in yourself, than you believe in God. God is the spark with in you. I find more access to my own personal power that way, because I am not groveling to an imaginary being outside of me.

    #108352
    Karmasoda
    Participant

    I believe in God. When human hands get involved or in the way (Religious Dogma), I lose interest in the conversation. I have been at various points of struggle and contemplation in my life where I ‘believed’ and prayed to God and walked through these struggles and came out stronger and in a much better place. I know that when I pray to God and have my mind and body in-tune with what hope and goodness can bring, then my path is illuminated and I keep walking.

    Also see The Eightfold Path of Buddhism

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Karmasoda.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Karmasoda.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Karmasoda.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Karmasoda.
    #108357
    Karmasoda
    Participant

    a-moore3, I agree. There are so many horrible things happening in the world today. Everything looks so bleak. I wonder through all these things, where is God? Why is he not showing himself in the midst of such tragedy.

    I believe that bad things are done by those who are not in touch with God. God, to me, is available as a source of strength and enlightenment. Given we are human, we cannot avoid suffering and/or death. Is it the responsibility of God to get you that date with the girl/guy you want to go out with? Is it in God’s hands to get you that job you really want? I don’t think so- your life is a series of events, of cause and effect. Simply put- God is not to be confused with a Genie who makes our lives perfect, with everything we want, with no real effort on our part.

    #108363
    KeepItHumble
    Participant

    Kristen, I’ve tried replying a couple of times, the post never shows up. grrrrr…
    So this is highly condensed version.
    I was like you, born Catholic, raised in early years as Catholic. Spent most of adult life with a mindset similar to brain’s. After 45 years, I have returned to the faith. God is there. Actually, here, there, and everywhere.
    Would be happy to continue the conversation in direct dialogue with you if you like.
    Take care.

    #109063
    Nekoshema
    Participant

    i don’t believe in the Christian God, i was raised Anglican, and while i was was devout for my childhood, i lost the connection, which caused me to question, which resulted in my soul searching and i concluded Christianity wasn’t for me. however, i’ve always been a very spiritual person so i kept looking until i found the path that completed me. I’ve been Wiccan for 12 years now [and counting] and i’ve connected with my God and Goddess, so to me they’re real because i’ve felt their presence.

    spirituality is personal, so no one can tell you it’s real or not, you need to discover your own path. research other faiths, go to other spiritual leaders and speak to them, meditate, journal, pray, go to church, read The Bible, go to other holy temples and observe a service. just be open. there is no one true path [in my view anyway] and they all lead to the same divine energy. i personally believe in reincarnation, but no one really knows what happens, find what speaks to you. God is always listening, you can try speaking with him if you still feel Catholicism is the right path.

    while i converted, my mom and sister are still Christian, and they say it’s thanks to my spirituality they decided to return to church. my mom had some major low points in her life, but she decided to focus on the things she wanted to, and she chose to be optimistic about everything. so if aspects of the world has left you jaded, cut them out. i don’t want you to be ignorant to the suffering of the world, but put a filter on your life. constantly reading stories about how horrible people do horrible things will leave you raw, try subscribing to a newsfeed that talks about charity work, or people helping others. heck, try joining your local church for any volunteer work. [i’m not Christian but it never stopped me helping the Anglican church when they were low on volunteers.]

    #109719
    Authorgirl
    Participant

    I believe in God : )

    #109871
    Ajna
    Participant

    I believe in God and a follower of Christ.

    #109894
    Taryn
    Participant

    No. I was raised Lutheran, but have been an atheist since about age 23. Lack of evidence and philosophical and logical objections to religion and supernatural beliefs had led me there.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 40 total)

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