Do you belive in God? why?

[Dorothy39]

jujuboy~

Your words comforted me today

[trayi52]

jujuboy, your words also comforted me. Your words sounded very familiar to me. Thank you for those words of comfort, especially now.

Willie

[shais_mom]

i just... dont understand what goes on the world and for there to be a God.
my short way of putting it.........

Vette that is my way of thinking aswell. My answer would be no i do not believe.

My thinking is if there is so many
bad things in the world we have to have something
bigger to believe in b/c if we didn't
why are we even here??

[Giselle]

My thinking is if there is so many
bad things in the world we have to have something
bigger to believe in b/c if we didn't
why are we even here??

Ah, the age old question... Why ARE we here on this earth? What is our purpose? How can we exist without a purpose?

My mind is a jumble of contradictory statements, facts, anecdotes, miracles, failures, and confusion. I am completely lost as to how to possibly place my thoughts into words, but here's the jist of it:

I believe religion is a manifestation of man's curiousity and inability to explain the unexplainable. I believe that as man grew more intelligent and aware of his surroundings (evolution), so did religion. Religion has been a part of man since we first began to harness the power of fire. Since the first ancient man walked upon this earth, there has been religion in the form of shells, burial rituals, and artwork. However, I believe that as time and circumstances pushed men to the creation of civilization, religion evolved once again to be morphed into a lever for power and control.

That said, I guess you could label me an Agnostic for now, but I like to refer to my mind as an endless notebook with no back cover. I believe that there is a higher power out there somewhere. Maybe Catholics like to call it God/Him/Our Father, etc. Maybe others like to call it Allah. Frankly, I don't know what to call it and I don't even know if it truly exists. However, I know that the biodiversity of life is far too complex and intricate to just "exist" as it does now. Somewhere somehow I believe a higher power was involved. I just don't believe that we must worship this higher power in the form of Catholicism's God or Islam's Allah.

I don't know. I guess this was a sort of pointless post since it didn't "get" anywhere.

ETA: I also wanted to add that Christianity, for example, is so "split" in itself. On the first page, a poster said that religion was a bit hard for her to stomach because of the idea that her life was planned out before she was born (pre-destination). Another poster than said that a person is in control of his/her own actions in the Christian belief. Well... They're both right. Pre-destination is a pillar fundamental in Calvinism, which, last time I checked is still a form of Christianity. Then again, Catholicism (still a form of Christianity) believes that one is in control of his/her actions which leads to personal sins and does not necessarily believe in pre-destination the way Calvinists do.

Just this simple disagreement among Christians makes me wonder about the validity of any religion. *sigh* I guess I talked myself into a circle again

[Christiansmommy]

You know, going to church isn't the sole reason for "feeling like a believer" it's a relationship with the Father thru Jesus...we are the church, not the building..so, for all those who think that they are "off the track"..."don't speak to God".."stopped going to church" etc...you may feel like you are not having a relationship with God, but the truth is that God is always in tune with you and all your fallabilities/shortcomings/stumblings..and IS LOVING YOU THRU EACH TRIAL AND HARDSHIP YOU/WE ALL GO THRU..HE NEVER ABANDONS US..it is we fallable humans that gossip/put down/reject/hurt/cast aside/cast aspersions...my goodness! the list is endless!!!!...God is faithful and true to His word..His love covers a multitude of sins...His mercies are new every morning...and there is no path or valley you can wander down or even loose your way that will cause God to drop you from HIS firm and faithful grip with each and every life...and it's the Holy Spirit that brings life to every humans hurting heart...and it's hurt that causes us to turn away..In my lifetime, i have found (unfortunately) it is church members who have judged/criticized/gossiped other believers when they may be different or eccentric or walk to the beat of a different drum (if you know what i mean)..fear stops the Love of God teaching/showing/embracing all walks of life...i have found that the narrowmindedness of religious "believers" are striving to "keep their faith" and "do the right things" for God...when was the last time us believers sat down with a drunkard on the streets and just said.."gidday, how are you going?" and just listened instead of being in some mindset of.."oh, this is a lost sinner, i must save him/her it is my mandate from God to do this, coz if i don't God will be angry and this person will go to hell coz i didn't preach hard enough to make this sinner believe"...it is the Holy Spirit that brings the truth of Jesus to life in our hearts..and if He chooses to use you on that day/hour/minute, then so be it...just trust God to do the work and trust that God, the Creator of all, knows how to speak to our very lost/hurting/empty hearts...Jesus is the way the truth and the life..He knows ourselves better than we do..and i truly believe that He does a much better job at tenderly touching our ever searching hearts in a powerful way that you KNOW when you have been shown the GRACE and LOVE of our Father who cares for us deeply and leads each and every one of us in all truth!!!..doesnt matter if other religions say that they are right, or people say that us "christian are twisted"...just leave it to the amazing work of God to reveal Himself to all mankind..revelation comes thru the Holy Spirit..our walk is based on who we are in Jesus Christ and the rest and the peace that comes by knowing this in our hearts....He does the revealing not us..we speak the seeds, another waters but it's God who gives life!!! ( us believers don't always have to be in control...control is based in fear and fear is lead by hurts)...if you don't agree, that's kool..bless you anyway...i trust that my Father (God, is Sovereign..and KNOWS how to and WHEN to touch peoples life)...God Bless you all...and for those who are fed up with church...lay back in the arms of Jesus and surrender all the hurts and fears to HIM..He is the great Shepherd and HE knows how to care for you!!! ...

Wow...I couldn't have said this better myself!!! Every last word of your post is sooo true...I guess all I can add to it is, Amen

[Chilli]

No.
When I was little, a good friend I knew(I saw her as a friend.. eventhough she was much much older than me) told me her opinion. She believed that religion was made up by ordinary people to help them explain what might lay ahead. The future is so uncertain, and so many people are scared of it, so they try to find some refuge in believing there is a high being to care for them and all.
I've studied different religions, and I've tried to understand them to the fullest extent, but my mind always goes back to what I was told so long ago.. about how people are the ones who come up with religion.
I live by the day. I don't count on something that has been said in the past nor something that may be in the future. I make every day count.
I completely respect others in whatever religion or lack-of-religion they follow. We were all raised diferently and all have a mind of our own.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I guess you could say I'm an agnostic. I believe that there is a possibility that God exists, but I am undecided and I don't really know if such a thing is even knowable.

[dab_20]

I think I do. I really am not sure, yet. I really want to believe in God... but I have doubts, also. I'm not really sure why I have those doubts. In my religion it would be really bad to say "I'm not sure God is real". It's all sort of confusing, How can you be sure something is real that you cannot see? And How can God let all the bad things in the world happen? I was told that everything happens for a reason. I can question God throughout my whole life, but I think I will always believe in him.
I was born into being Catholic, my family is. When I grow up I think I will change my religion, but I will always be religious in some way.

I believe that there is no such thing as hell. I think everyone who is good goes to heaven. (good meaning as trying as hard as they can to be good, but sorry for their sins) God will always forgive those who ask for forgivness. And I am not sure what happens to the truly bad people.

My post may have been kind of confusing. But, yes, overall I do believe in God.