Why do we believe in God

Gardenlover said:
Nature itself, speaks of a creator.

Something even as simple as a pencil was created, it just didn't come to be.

How much more design would it take to create a universe? Do not be blind, open your eyes.

Professing themselves wise... they became fools. Do not doubt that we are created beings.
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So logic would follow that anyone who does not believe in a creator God is a fool. In the Bible we are warned by Jesus to never describe anyone as a fool...very bad. :)
 

Vida May said:
Forget the existence of God arguments. They are futile. However, we can ask ourselves if the stories are factual or imagined.
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Be an agnostic. We can never know if there is or isn’t a God. No point in arguing this or that, it’s futile, and if you believe you can disprove a God argument, what have you accomplished? Join me in agnosticism and let people have their God, or not as they choose. If someone believes a husband or daughter is waiting for them in the afterlife what is the point in shattering their belief?
 

Paco Dennis said:
Do you think it is possible to experiment with "believing"? Act like you believe, read the bible and study it, go to church and ask questions? IDK, I don't think that would matter. Maybe for some, but for most people what they believe about God is pretty settled, no matter what it is. You can't change someone's belief, they will change it if they want to. I know you believe and for you it is easy, but for many others they need to be left alone to believe what they want.

Today we got a knock on our secluded door in the wilderness. A older woman was at the door, and when asked what she wanted she said " I came to share with you the love of God." She stayed for about 5 minutes and drove off. It felt like an angel had visited. :)
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No, you can't experiment. I don't know how to explain. I'll try. In my case I have always believed that God was watching out for me. Don't know why. Just was what it was. Even though I thought that way It didn't deter me from being me. I married, had two children.
My wife , one day, told me that she had discovered the Lord. Okaaaaaay, what does that mean. She seemed on fire about the Bible. I, on the other hand was wondering what was going on with my wife.
So I listened to her, made notes and went to the Bible to check. Then something strange happened. I was reminded of my early days and the times I had talked to him.
Believe me, I didn't know who I was talking to at that early age but I talked. I remembered those times. I read the Bible, prayed for understanding and then it came to me, like a memory.
I had been talking to God. Now, however it was different. He knew that I knew so what was I going to do.
Ever since I have believed. He talks to me in weird ways sometimes but he talks to me. I ask a question and get a totally unexplainable response. But I listen and then think about it and realize that he is right.
At my age, 76, too much has happened to doubt what I believe. I could not go on if God wasn't there. But he is, so I have comfort.
Those who don't believe???????????? where is they're comfort? where do they go when they need help?
I am not going to even try to convince you. Can't and won't.
Close your eyes and pray to him. Then get up and go about your daily routine. He will either get back to you or not. If he does.....listen.
 
rbtvgo said:
At my age, 76, too much has happened to doubt what I believe. I could not go on if God wasn't there. But he is, so I have comfort.
Those who don't believe???????????? where is they're comfort? where do they go when they need help?
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That is so heartfelt. I can feel the comfort also. But then I was connected intimately with the Lord Jesus for a long time when younger. I do think that surrendering your troubles to that higher power brings comfort, and relief from suffering so much, but sometimes God does not listen. We have to be able to live without "him" at times. "Walk that lonesome valley...". :)
 
Vida May said:
You once said you would not reply to my post. I think that is a good idea. I asked you for verifiable evidence of the biblical story of creation being believable and if you have done so please direct me to that explanation. If you have not done so, our communication is ended.

By the way, the Germans were Christians just as much as the people of the US are Christians.
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Vida May said:
You once said you would not reply to my post. I think that is a good idea. I asked you for verifiable evidence of the biblical story of creation being believable and if you have done so please direct me to that explanation. If you have not done so, our communication is ended.

By the way, the Germans were Christians just as much as the people of the US are Christians.
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interesting that my computer crashed just as I was ready to reply.
Never the less here I am. I said I would not reply to your post, yet you did anyway. Last word?
I don't doubt there were and are Christians in Germany. I don't doubt that Germany suffered terribly because of the leadership they accepted.
The Bible is not verifiable . The story of creation is not verifiable. Belief or unbelief is not something you can rest secure in.
Evidence of actual events?????????
The Bible is the living word of God. In it he explains as much has he wants to. The Bible does not mince words. You get the good, bad and ugly. So why read it?

Simply, at this point, because you have nothing more important to read. If it speaks to you then keep reading. If it doesn't then close it and go back to the top 10 on Amazon.

bear in mind that you responded to me as opposed to ignoring me.
 
What are we doing here? I have very mixed feelings about discussing religion. What we believe about our creation is primary to everything in our lives. We all know people have killed each other because they held different beliefs and we can not get much more serious than that. But maybe this is not the place to discuss religion.

Understanding how important our spiritual beliefs are, I would feel terrible if I caused someone to doubt what s/he believed. I wish everyone felt the same way about respecting what others believe. Can we agree, I will not push what I believe on you if you do not push what you believe on me.
 
rbtvgo said:
God invites us into a dialogue with Him, even when we are struggling with our faith. He desires a genuine and honest relationship with us, where we bring our questions and concerns to Him.
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I appreciate; "He desires a genuine and honest relationship with us" One of the problems associated with a relationship with god is lack of being genuine and honest with yourself and god. Some people fail at being honest with themselves, they cannot bear the truth out of shame, until they come to terms with truth they cannot forgive themselves and move on.
 
Pepper said:
The reference is already in place when one is born into society.
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when born does a baby gravitate to a reference of god without outside influences? Or is society responsible for a reference of god and individual reasoning of god does not exist? If you don't believe in god can you explain why? No judgement. Can we talk about this in a private message?
 
Mr. Ed said:
when born does a baby gravitate to a reference of god without outside influences? Or is society responsible for a reference of god and individual reasoning of god does not exist? If you don't believe in god can you explain why? No judgement. Can we talk about this in a private message?
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I won't be able to speak in any depth until after holiday. I'm really rushed and stressed out.
(((Mr. Ed)))
 
Mr. Ed said:
You must have a reference of god in order not to believe there is a god?
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No, why should FuzzyBuddy quote your definition. He didn't make it up, you did. It is your definition that is in question, not his. Go ahead, tell him what you think God is and see what fuzzybuddy will say. In any case, he said, ”I do not have a belief there is a god.” I see no confusion in that.
 
Vida May said:
What are we doing here? I have very mixed feelings about discussing religion. What we believe about our creation is primary to everything in our lives. We all know people have killed each other because they held different beliefs and we can not get much more serious than that. But maybe this is not the place to discuss religion.

Understanding how important our spiritual beliefs are, I would feel terrible if I caused someone to doubt what s/he believed. I wish everyone felt the same way about respecting what others believe. Can we agree, I will not push what I believe on you if you do not push what you believe on me.
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Vida May,
I totally agree with you that like politics, religion should not be a topic in Senior Forum. It is extremely divisive, and an endless debate.
 
@Vida May Discussing religions, and/or religious ideas can be divisive and very emotional. We can't avoid that from happening in almost any thread. We have freedom of speech, and we also have agreed on limits. So far there hasn't been the depth of depravity we sometimes witness when someone goes off the rails while discussing religion. Until it becomes a problem for enough people, we will do our best to to discuss the subject with mature emotions. :)
 
Mr. Ed said:
You must have a reference of god in order not to believe there is a god?
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FuzzyBuddy quoted this but left no reply. Well that can happen, so I will attempt to respond in his behalf:
.....
.....
.....
Nope! I got nothing.
Oh, wait...

Nope. Nothing.
 
Paco Dennis said:
@Vida May Discussing religions, and/or religious ideas can be divisive and very emotional. We can't avoid that from happening in almost any thread. We have freedom of speech, and we also have agreed on limits. So far there hasn't been the depth of depravity we sometimes witness when someone goes off the rails while discussing religion. Until it becomes a problem for enough people, we will do our best to to discuss the subject with mature emotions. :)
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That is fine for everyone but I would not have checked something said in this thread except you I will check because of the quality of your post. There is an important difference between reasoning and proselytizing. It is pointless and possibly mean to attempt reasoning with someone who is only interested in proselytizing. I am not going to mess up his thread and pleasure. I would not like myself if now that I am clear about what someone wants I continued to oppose that.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Vida May,
I totally agree with you that like politics, religion should not be a topic in Senior Forum. It is extremely divisive, and an endless debate.
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I am willing to handle the problem by removing myself. Many people love talking about God and Jesus, and how wonderful all this is, and perhaps they should have this pleasure and the rest of us can just stay out of those threads.

It is a tough one. I want so much to correct some false beliefs but the woman I walked with in the pool, expressed her opinion about allowing others their own beliefs. Her family moved to the US when she was young and their culture was different from the US culture. She became very good at managing differences by managing herself, not others. I admire her so much! Maybe if I imitate her I will become more like her.

Maybe we can remember the word "divisive" and use it when appropriate because there are times we have to let it be known we do not agree or a statement or attitude is very offensive.
 
Vida May said:
That is fine for everyone but I would not have checked something said in this thread except you I will check because of the quality of your post. There is an important difference between reasoning and proselytizing. It is pointless and possibly mean to attempt reasoning with someone who is only interested in proselytizing. I am not going to mess up his thread and pleasure. I would not like myself if now that I am clear about what someone wants I continued to oppose that.
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For instance, what is the importance of "revelation" to the believer? If they believe strongly that every word from their holy book IS the exact words of the Creator of our Universe, then it is hard to have a discussion. Most of the people our age are aware of the limitations of propagandizing by using that way. If all religions are revelations of God, they would be related to each other in many ways, and ARE when we have the eyes to see and the ears to listen.

I mentioned earlier we would visit the prison near us and have classes. We were studying "The Essential Unity of All Religions" by Bhagavan Das.
 
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Paco Dennis said:
For instance, what is the importance of "revelation" to the believer? If they believe strongly that every word from their holy book IS the exact words of the Creator of our Universe, then it is hard to have a discussion. Most of the people our age are aware of the limitations of propagandizing by using that way. If all religions are revelations of God, they would be related to each other in many ways, and ARE when we have the eyes to see and the ears to listen.

I mentioned earlier we would visit the prison near us and have classes. We were studying "The Essential Unity of All Religions" by Bhagavan Das.
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Joseph Campbell the guru of mythology, taught that God spoke to everyone but people in different environments understood the word differently. Now that would be fair if God spoke to everyone.
 
Vida May said:
Joseph Campbell the guru of mythology, taught that God spoke to everyone but people in different environments understood the word differently. Now that would be fair if God spoke to everyone.
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no it wouldn't.................He is God. All languages were created or allow by God.
 

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