I was always brought up to believe that God existed and never thought that there would be a time in my life when I didn't. I was wrong. I took a religious studies A-level (don't think you have these in places other than England but you do them to get into university when you are 16-18) and I realised just how flawed I was for believing. I wish I didn't think like this and plenty of times I have asked God for something to let me know he is there, but to no avail. Sometimes I think that because I have turned my back on him by no longer going to church, he has turned his back on me. Why do you believe? Has anyone had a religious experience and would like to share it? x
I don't understand the awful things that go on in the world and why they have to happen. For example people who are disabled in some way may have their lives ruined by their disability or not have the same quality of life as myself. If we are both good people and we both end up going to heaven, what gives me the right to have had a better life than the other person? I can not understand a compassionate,creator creating this, and so can not believe there can be a God. x
why do I feel He exists? It's just a sure feeling I've got inside, and I see proof of it around me everyday. Consider the creatures and the flora and fauna ... how could any of that be created, especially knowing that each species is distinct unto itself, even though they may share similar traits?
my favorite thing to ponder is man himself. We can create babies in test tubes, we can perform all kinds of procedures to help a woman conceive, we can do things to help a man's sperm count bump up so that he can impregnate his partner .... but when you break it down, how does that zygote, that union of egg and sperm, know what to do? If it's just a blob of tissue, why doesn't the end result be a possum or a rutebega or some huge, indiscribable blob of cell mass? How does each cell know what it's supposed to do? Mama and Daddy may have contributed the genetic material that transforms that zygote into a sweet little baby, but something had to happen before then. Likewise, how do the cells in each of our bodies know what it's function is? Why can't the marrow from my bones create the insulin my body needs to properly utilize the food I consume?
the only answer I can come up with is a supernatural creator who designed our bodies to work flawlessly, and with a sense of order. Think of those folks who invented the computer, the lightbulb, the automobile, really, invented anything. Those items didn't just pop out of thin air -- someone had to seriously consider the design and functionality of those things so that they would work properly when the introduced them to consumers. On a subatomic level, therefore, there must be creator involved to create humans and critters and all other living things .... That's how I'm convinced there's a God.
don't understand the awful things that go on in the world and why they have to happen. For example people who are disabled in some way may have their lives ruined by their disability or not have the same quality of life as myself. If we are both good people and we both end up going to heaven, what gives me the right to have had a better life than the other person? I can not understand a compassionate,creator creating this, and so can not believe there can be a God.
why do rotten things happen? because a very flawed humankind is involved. Remember, we were the ones given free will to choose good or evil in the Garden of Eden, much like we're the ones who make the judgment calls on whether to get involved or avoid a situation. Man goes to war because he feels compelled to do so -- he feels threatened, he feels he must stand up for his ally, he feels that to do so now will bring about peace for later generations, and so on. However, he equally has the opportunity to find other options to peaceably reconcile a situation.
someone born with a disease or disability really doesn't have that free will option, because those are genetic flaws that manifest themselves. What overrides those diseases and disabilities are how others respond to the needs of that person. Blaming God for my godson's emotional disabilities doesn't make sense, because I and others around the boy are the ones charged with making his like better however we can. We're given the tools to make that difference, and we act on free will to do just that. That is how we know God is compassionate -- we see within ourselves the compassion he's instilled. Meaning, he's done his part, now we must do ours. If we're concerned about something, that's our call to make a difference because WE are the hands of a non-physical God, IMHO.
Sometimes I think that because I have turned my back on him by no longer going to church, he has turned his back on me. Why do you believe?
I believe that like in every other relationship we experience, the communication with God works two ways. In this instance, though, he's not the one who turns his back on us, because it's not what he's about -- his is to love us unreservedly, no matter how bad we mess up or how much we turn away.
why do I believe in God? It has something to do with knowing that I am his and he is mine. Forever. And that's a pretty good feeling.
Has anyone had a religious experience and would like to share it?
when my mother died, I was pretty upset, because we were really close friends on top of the mama-daughter relationship. I remember praying at her casket hours before the funeral was to start, just staring at the crucifix on the wall above, thinking, 'who is going to ever love me like she has?' And at that moment I felt a strong physical hug, almost like a bear hug, and I knew it was him. It was Jesus telling me that he would ... Intellectually, I've always believed in him, I've never doubted, but until then, I'd not made that leap from mind to heart that he truly has the capacity to love each and everyone of us for ourselves.
__________________ "College is the reward for surviving high school. Most people have great fun stories from college and nightmare stories from high school." – Judd Apatow
I am thoroughly greatful for your reply, it has actually driven me to tears. I don't know why though but I seem to pick anything out that may disproove the existance of God. In your reply you said that disabilities are not the fault of God but are problems that occur separate from him, yet for him to be an all powerful God why can he not take this problem away entirely? Is his design for the human being flawed? Does this make God flawed? If he has purposefully made human beings flawed, what kind of a God does that make him?
I hope you do not find me rude in being so argumentative especially after your beautiful reply that I want so much to agree with. I am just giving you an example of the questions that constantly put me off the existance of God. x
Originally posted by sburtug03
I don't understand the awful things that go on in the world and why they have to happen. For example people who are disabled in some way may have their lives ruined by their disability or not have the same quality of life as myself. If we are both good people and we both end up going to heaven, what gives me the right to have had a better life than the other person? I can not understand a compassionate,creator creating this, and so can not believe there can be a God. x
That is only your assessment of someone else's life -- how do you know they feel the same way? Perhaps they feel that you don't have the quality of life that they do because of some reason of thier own? Perhaps the person sitting in a wheelchair, needing to be fed by someone else, wearing diapers, and unable to see a TV show is thinking "poor sburtg03, she doesn't believe in God anymore - what a horrible disadvantage for her"
I think the first mistake that many Christians make is believing in God and believing that God controls everything. God gave us free-will to choose for ourselves. While He may know every choice that we make and everything that will happen to us, he does not control it unless we allow Him to. Remember the old saying "knowing is half the battle"? Well - that is true it is only Half.
There are other influences at work too (Saten for example) who use us against each other so to get us away from God.
I feel sorry for people and animals too. Especially children and animals--they have no control over their lives or over what happens at the hands of abusers. I question that all the time -- how can God let this happen to those whom He created and are innocent of any bad choices--iow - victims? Why?
I don't know that there is an answer to that question, or if the answer is one that we humans can understand. I know that religous studies teach on a different level than what is required for faith so its easy to brainwash people away from God -- or in some cased in favor of believing in God.
Faith requires no empiricle proof -- educational teachings do--even if its proof of a concept.
Originally posted by sburtug03
I don't understand the awful things that go on in the world and why they have to happen. For example people who are disabled in some way may have their lives ruined by their disability or not have the same quality of life as myself. If we are both good people and we both end up going to heaven, what gives me the right to have had a better life than the other person? I can not understand a compassionate,creator creating this, and so can not believe there can be a God. x
That is only your assessment of someone else's life -- how do you know they feel the same way? Perhaps they feel that you don't have the quality of life that they do because of some reason of thier own? Perhaps the person sitting in a wheelchair, needing to be fed by someone else, wearing diapers, and unable to see a TV show is thinking "poor sburtg03, she doesn't believe in God anymore - what a horrible disadvantage for her"
I think the first mistake that many Christians make is not just believing in God and believing that God controls everything. God gave us free-will to choose for ourselves. While He may know every choice that we make and everything that will happen to us, he does not control it unless we allow Him to. Remember the old saying "knowing is half the battle"? Well - that is true it is only Half.
There are other influences at work too (Saten for example) who use us against each other so to get us away from God.
I feel sorry for people and animals too. Especially children and animals--they have no control over their lives or over what happens at the hands of abusers. I question that all the time -- how can God let this happen to those whom He created and are innocent of any bad choices--iow - victims? Why?
I don't know that there is an answer to that question, or if the answer is one that we humans can understand. I know that religous studies teach on a different level than what is required for faith so its easy to brainwash people away from God -- or in some cased in favor of believing in God.
Faith requires no empiricle proof -- educational teachings do--even if its proof of a concept.
yet for him to be an all powerful God why can he not take this problem away entirely
That's not the deal. He didn't say 'I'll give you everything you want to make you happy from now on'. If He did that, we wouldn't be free to figure our own lives out.
I do not necessicarily believe in a "God the Father", but I do believe there is something. A source if you will. Of that there can be no doubt. With all that there "is", the universe just could not be a random thing, a chance occurrance. In fact, there is a term called specificity that applies to the likelihood of something occurring or not. What scientists have found is that it is not mathmatically possible that life occurred by chance! It had to have been created.
It is just a question of who or what created it. For myself, I don't think it was God Of The Bible, but there was some conscious creative force behind it. For anyone to try and figure out the reasons or the whys is moot. It just is.
__________________
"Do you ever just get down on your knees and thank God that you know me and have access to my dementia?" -- George Costanza
why can he not take this problem away entirely? Is his design for the human being flawed? Does this make God flawed? If he has purposefully made human beings flawed, what kind of a God does that make him?
nah, you're not being rude, you're thinking this all through, and that is a good thing!
my personal theory on people's flaws, be they physical, emotional or mental? to be in the presence of someone with that flaw or disability is our moment of grace, to chose to either respond with compassion and love that He has given us, or to completely turn away. Remember, it all has to do with free will.
there is an email story that makes the rounds, allegedly written by the father of a young disabled boy. He talks of being upset that his beautiful boy is flawed, that people shun him because of it, and that he's frustrated because he cannot help his child. Where is the beauty of God in his child, he asks. The answer he finds one day on the way home from picking up the child from school. The little guy wants to play ball with the other little boys they see in the park, but the dad is afraid that his son will be shunned as usual. But the boy is so happy and excited about wanting to take part, so the dad ignores that feeling of dread to call one of the boys away from the game.
to his surprise, the ball player tells him something like, well, the game's not going to well for us, and we're about to wrap it up if we don't hit in another runner. If he wants, then yeah, he can play.
the daddy thinks that his son will be ridiculed -- like he usually is -- but instead he sees something he can only described as a miracle. The other little boys on the team start making adjustments for the disabled child, throwing the ball more softly, helping the boy bat, exaggerating throws to each other so the little guy makes a home run. The dad figures out then that the beauty of God is present in his child, because through his child, all those other boys were able to respond with compassion, with a certain kind of love and respect for one who had those "flaws."
and I think that's how we discover God. How we, who are supposed to be created in his image, relate to others is how we sense Him. That someone has a flaw or disability that we can see isn't the point: it's how we respond to that someone and how we tend to his or her needs. Honestly? I don't see those flaws as something that necessarily detracts from someone's quality of life, because that gives others around him the choice to respond with love and kindness and compassion to someone who is more than that disability or flaw. But that's just my take on things.
I agree a lot with what quankanne ( sorry if i spelled it wrong) has to say. I did want to reply about why God created some humans flawed. God sees beauty in everything it is man that has put stipulations on what is beautiful and what is not.
There are verses in the Bible where they are describing some of his angles and it will says something like they had a head of a human the body of a hores the tail of a dragon. To us that is a messed up looking creature but to God it is beautiful.
A Lot of things that happen in the world are a result of demonic influeneces. I believe a big part of this is Satan wanting to turn people away from God. Or have them say well if God is so forgiving or so loving why would he allow? But like quankanne stated it is all about free will.
i would love to share more but i have to go home from work now. Write me you questions i will be happy to answer you.
I believe in God. I feel that you have to have faith in something in order to survive in this world that we all live in. There's no hard evidence that proves He exists but that's why it says for you to have faith. If you don't have faith in this world.. what do you have to live for? Faith gives people the drive to succeed, whether its for himself, his family/friends, children, or his belief in God. Even though I've done some wrong in my life.. I honestly feel that though I have turned my back on him.. he's always been there for me. Sometimes I would ask Him why I'm going through the things I do, I would ask him why me? but I know that there's always a reason for everything. We, humans, cannot understand His great wisdom. Humans have always wanted to be like Him, it says in the Bible to be like Jesus, to live in his footsteps. But we can't possibly understand his great plan, and because we can't...we just have Faith alone to guide us.
I'm a strong believer, I'm not saying that I go around preaching the Bible or anything, but whenever someone has doubts.. I would try to help them see the bigger picture. There's been studies done that showed that people in the Hospital that have Faith in something were the ones to survive from their illness as opposed to those who were non-believers. Even if there isn't a God, but by your Faith alone.. there's changes going along in your mind, body. You can make things happen with just your mind alone. Some call it the placebo effect. I don't really know what more to say.. other than you just trying to SEE.
Just have Faith yo.. believe me.. it'll give you motivation.. it'll give you a feeling of worth. You'll may feel that there's a purpose for you living, whether its to help others... you never know.. maybe those people with disabilities..those with strong hearts.. they go around helping others.. helping them to see that life still goes on..whether you have your legs or not. You'll be surprised to what some people do to go through life.. having those handicaps.
I hope you find what you're looking for.
When you read the Bible.. ask God to help you interpret the Bible.. not all that reads will understand, but those that seek..with real intent..will understand the Bible's full meanings.
What is it about the course that makes you feel 'flawed' for believing in God?
Look, a lot of people - myself included - are skeptical and even a bit cynical when it comes to organized religion, but that's something that in my opinion is separate and apart from the existence of God itself.
Organized religion doesn't equal God. If it did, God would be a murderer and a child molester, and there's not a shred of evidence to suggest that this is the case. In fact, I've always believed that God doesn't really do anything - at least not in terms of divine providence, which is a human fantasy. God created the Universe eons ago. What God will do in the future is to me unfathomable.
Sometimes I think that because I have turned my back on him by no longer going to church, he has turned his back on me. Why do you believe? Has anyone had a religious experience and would like to share it? x
I'm not Christian, so I don't know if you want my input in this or not. But I don't think God really gives a ***** if you go to Church. God cares more about what you do outside of Church the other 167 hours a week, and if that doesn't add up, the one hour you spend on your knees won't mean a damn. God, assuming it is a judgmental entity, can sniff bull***** before it enters our brain and leaves our @ss.
I don't know if God is like the one mentioned in the Bible, but I know I believe in a Creator. Why do I believe? Simple: there's no way in hell all of this just happened.
__________________ Should have been dead on a Sunday morning bangin' my head, no time for mournin', ain't got no time -- My Own Prison, Creed
I feel that relgion has turned a lot of people off to God. God didn't create religion he intended for us to have a relationship with him. when God created Adam and Eve he (through the Holy Spirit) walked with them and talked with them. Why do you think When Adam and Eve ate the Apple they hide? They were the only to in the Garden so who where they hiding from? They were hiding from there father (God) They had a personal relationship with him and the new they dissapointed Him so they hide.
It's just like when you have a boy/girl friend if you don't spend time with them then your relationship won't grow. God requires us to spend time with Him and also to spend time with other believers in Christ. It says in the Bible to not forsake the gathering together of the saints. I believe that one reason for this is the incouragement that you receive from other believers. Also there is a verse that says " If one of Us can put a thousand to flight then Two or more can send a legion fleeing." meaning that God's power can be manifested when you come together in prayer all in unity with one single purpose.
I KNOW that there is a God. Did you know that if earth was even 1% closer or farther away from the sun that we would either burn to death or freeze. That in it self is something that couldn't just happen by chance. Or even think about the fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. There is proof that Jesus Christ existed and was a real person. Scientist can create a Child but they always need a man and a women. Jesus was not born of a man because if he was he would have been born into sin.( Thanks to Adam and Eve we are all born into sin thus needed to be reborn in the spirit to become children of God) So it isn't are falt that we lost our oneness with God but it is our falt if we don't choose to accept the free gift of salvation. You need to ask Jesus into your heart so that you can become a child of God. It's that simple. When he comes into your heart he will send the Holy Spirit to live inside of you. The Holy Spirit is kind of like your conscious he leads you, and guides you. He is even the one that convicts you and leads you to accept Jesus Christ. If you want to Ask Christ into your heart just say a simple pray like: "Lord I know that I am a sinner and I realize that I need to be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again three days later and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father."
Another reason I know that God exist is because my mother was in serious car crash were they had to pry her out with the jaws of life. Her car was totaled but she did not have a scratch on her. God sent an angle to protect her.
It's something that I feel deep in my spirit. I know that through out all of my party days and all of my not obeying the spirit of God he has still kept me. He has protected me from several car crashes.
God says seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be open. It seems to me that you are seeking and that is a good thing. Try reading the Bible and asking the Lord to reveal himself to you spiritually. Trust me he won't leave you wanting.
Asking the questions that I have asked and discussing my problems has really helped and I want to say thank you to everyone who has replied. Your sense of faith is so strong and has touched me incredibly. What is more, is that I have realised the compassion of God is present within all of you, having cared so much about my lack of faith by replying at length. My faith has not understandably been returned overnight however I hope that it will begin to grow again. I would appreciate anything more upon the topics mentioned from anyone. Thank you again, Samantha (sburtug03)x
ADVERTISEMENT In association with Amazon, a portion of your purchase helps support LoveShack.org
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:27 PM.
Please note: The suggestions and advice offered on this web site are opinions only and are not to be used in the place of professional psychological counseling or medical advice. If you or someone close to you is currently in crisis or in an emergency situation, contact your local law enforcement agency or emergency number.
Linear Mode
