Why do we believe in God

katlupe said:
I can only answer this question by saying why I believe in God. I believe because He has been there many many times in my life when I needed him. I talk to Him every morning before I start my day. I can't imagine how I would get through a day without Him. If you do not believe that is your choice.
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Thanks. That's the only motivation I need.
 

Many years ago, in my Christian days, I was sitting on a bench of a busy college campus in the warm sun recollecting my happy college years, when a young evangelist approached me. He sat down and introduced his topic by showing me two diagrams that were metaphorical representations of two different life styles. One diagram was a bunch of circles, some large and some small randomly placed so that many of them intersected other circles. It reminded me of a Jackson Pollock painting.The other was a series of neat concentric circles, getting larger and larger as they expanded outward.

He asked, "If these are your lifestyle choices, which would you choose?" Of course, I understood that a perfectly organized life, presumably with Jesus, was the expected correct answer, and I didn't want to bait this guy when the concentric circles answer was so obvious to him. But I thought to myself. I don't need perfect organization in my life. I'll take the surprises, along with some ups and downs, so I pointed to the messy diagram, and said, "I like this one."

He quickly stood up, and pointing his finger at me, he quickly replied, "The wages of sin is death!"

Oy!
 

Matthew 7:23, where Jesus says, "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'" - meaning that on Judgement Day, some people who claim to have known Jesus and followed him will be rejected because their actions did not reflect a true relationship with him; they only followed him in name, not in heart and deeds.
 
The crazy thing is that some who believe and are on fire for the Lord go over the top in enthusiasm and actually look like crazies to everyone around them. They don't mean to, but they are so excited and they think others will understand.
In alot of cases others do not, hence the reactions, (IE what is wrong with this girl/guy, they are acting crazy!!).
On another quote from Mitch86..................is there room for more?
God is the great I am. HE IS GOD.
There is room for all??
Don't get it? completely understand. But there is.
Don't know how or why but know he hears me.
Faith is something that is outside the realm of understanding, yet that's what is needed to approach him.
 
I believe there is a God. It's proven to me every day when I awake and see beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I am ever so thankful for living this life and having a great family. Yes, I have had some doubts and troubles along the way, and believe everything happens for a reason, I just have to figure it out. In the past week I have lost 3 friends but believe we will all meet again one day. My Father was a very religious man but said he
thought my mother was a better Christian than he could ever be., and I know what he means by that statement. She never attended church, and he was always there. The local priest said< "There is no such thing as a churchless Christian", I beg to differ that.
 
Rindee said:
The belief is based upon faith for everyone who believes......since there is no absolute proof of a God, what else could it be, but faith? Now, this leads to the motivation to believe, which is the hope of being accepted into Heaven, thus avoiding a trip to the Fiery Furnace, which in turn, even though you tried to define it differently, is still your motivation. Ultimately, fear and uncertainty are the true motivators for this, and faith is the insurance policy.
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WOW!
Way too deep. and I might add ambiguous.
I don't like to quote scripture simply because if you don't believe, then scripture means nothing.
I will quote this however
Matthew 18:3
and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven".
In other words you believe with your heart just like you did when you were little and your Mom and Dad where everything.
If you were fortunate to grow up in that type of family then this is easy.
If you grew up in a somewhat dysfunctional family then this is difficult.
At some point before the rude awaking of your life there was a point when you just, unconsciously, trusted. That is the point that God is driving you to.
It is so very hard, and painful to remember the past but you need to. God is not looking for innocents. He's not looking for sacrifice. He is merely looking for resignation, and the understanding that without him, you. are lost.
Thrash, fight, struggle with life, but when you have a quiet moument reach out to him. I don't know how we will respond but he will respond.
 
JustDave said:
Many years ago, in my Christian days, I was sitting on a bench of a busy college campus in the warm sun recollecting my happy college years, when a young evangelist approached me. He sat down and introduced his topic by showing me two diagrams that were metaphorical representations of two different life styles. One diagram was a bunch of circles, some large and some small randomly placed so that many of them intersected other circles. It reminded me of a Jackson Pollock painting.The other was a series of neat concentric circles, getting larger and larger as they expanded outward.

He asked, "If these are your lifestyle choices, which would you choose?" Of course, I understood that a perfectly organized life, presumably with Jesus, was the expected correct answer, and I didn't want to bait this guy when the concentric circles answer was so obvious to him. But I thought to myself. I don't need perfect organization in my life. I'll take the surprises, along with some ups and downs, so I pointed to the messy diagram, and said, "I like this one."

He quickly stood up, and pointing his finger at me, he quickly replied, "The wages of sin is death!"

Oy!
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No accounting for misplaced enthusiasm. Sounds like you forgave and moved on. Good for you.
Never the less, something stuck in your mind.
 
oscash said:
I believe there is a God. It's proven to me every day when I awake and see beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I am ever so thankful for living this life and having a great family. Yes, I have had some doubts and troubles along the way, and believe everything happens for a reason, I just have to figure it out. In the past week I have lost 3 friends but believe we will all meet again one day. My Father was a very religious man but said he
thought my mother was a better Christian than he could ever be., and I know what he means by that statement. She never attended church, and he was always there. The local priest said< "There is no such thing as a churchless Christian", I beg to differ that.
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Often reminded of Abraham Lincoln, who wasn't a christen but his words, his speeches, the understanding he had. He knew God.
 
We believe in God because we don't have answers to things we do not know. Therefore we label these things as gods, or god based on fear of the unknown. God / spirituality are feelings of elation prompted by conditioning such as meditation, prayer, mantras, and unified repetition, songs, music and motion. Because human mysticism is attributed to the supernatural qualities of god, god is credited for spiritual and godlike awareness. Godlike awareness comes from a specific area of the brain usually after trauma or years of conditioning such as meditation or religious cues which has nothing to do with god, it is all in your head.
 
Mr. Ed said:
We believe in God because we don't have answers to things we do not know. Therefore we label these things as gods, or god based on fear of the unknown. God / spirituality are feelings of elation prompted by conditioning such as meditation, prayer, mantras, and unified repetition, songs, music and motion. Because human mysticism is attributed to the supernatural qualities of god, god is credited for spiritual and godlike awareness. Godlike awareness comes from a specific area of the brain usually after trauma or years of conditioning such as meditation or religious cues which has nothing to do with god, it is all in your head.
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Not entirely. Personally I think a lot of it is about control of the masses. Having everyone around you thinking the same way prevents doubts gaining traction, shuts down questions, and lays down a way of being that keeps the serfs happy, or absent that, in fear.

I watched a documentary tonight. It was about a ghetto in India. Christians are very much frowned upon, which is putting it lightly. They are very much third-class citizens, because their fundamental belief is different than the majority around them. They can't have christian churches, and have to meet in each others houses. They have the very worst jobs - such as clearly the sewers of blockages with no equipment other than a spade. Yes, they have to submerge themselves in sewage to find the problem. Their societal sin in firstly being Christian, secondly the disgraceful working conditions. But that's India.

Religion helped build the fabric of our western societies. Whether one believes or not, we can't deny Christianities impact on our everyday lives. It's simply part of history. But if we lived elsewhere........ Christianity wouldn't be it.
 
Mitch86 said:
Is there room in "Heaven" for all the TRILLIONS who believed in Him down through the centuries?
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Biblical answer for those interested: Short answer is "Yes"
Psalm 148:4 mentions "many levels in heaven below the waters". This verse refers to the concept of multiple levels of heaven, with the "waters above the heavens" being interpreted as a celestial realm beyond the visible sky. Or a higher realm beyond the earthly sky, sometimes associated with water vapor or clouds.
 
Lara said:
Biblical answer for those interested: Short answer is "Yes"
Psalm 148:4 mentions "many levels in heaven below the waters". This verse refers to the concept of multiple levels of heaven, with the "waters above the heavens" being interpreted as a celestial realm beyond the visible sky. Or a higher realm beyond the earthly sky, sometimes associated with water vapor or clouds.
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John 14:2-3
 
Mr. Ed said:
We believe in God because we don't have answers to things we do not know. Therefore we label these things as gods, or god based on fear of the unknown. God / spirituality are feelings of elation prompted by conditioning such as meditation, prayer, mantras, and unified repetition, songs, music and motion. Because human mysticism is attributed to the supernatural qualities of god, god is credited for spiritual and godlike awareness. Godlike awareness comes from a specific area of the brain usually after trauma or years of conditioning such as meditation or religious cues which has nothing to do with god, it is all in your head.
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We don't have answers because our creator has not given them to us. We know only what has been revealed. We work with only what has been revealed.
What you are saying is that life is not based on any order or balance. No rhythm, no reason.
Just accept what is.
We are just here, like ants, but with higher understanding. Big deal, same fate, right?
So why try and go deeper into it. You die like the bug.....stamped out at some point in time. HO hum!
Who's Next!

I find your answer to be fatalistic. We live , we die, we impact some people, some forget us, some remember, for what purpose I don't know.
Some people inspire others to reach out, which they do. Some never get it.
You don't find this all questionable. Worth consideration, not because God is the dumping ground for the unexplained but because there is a reason and purpose for his ways.
You exhaust me because I see where you coming from. Makes me think.
 
rbtvgo said:
You exhaust me because I see where you coming from. Makes me think.
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Think about this, the origin of god comes from our brains. Therefore spirituality and god is a matter of consciousness nothing more. Religious activity, prayer, bible study and worship services directly persuade people to think of god as it is presented to them repetitiously
 
It saddens me to determine while exists still for some people, but for me no more, at least in the celestial sense of god. On. the otherhand it is magical how the brain imagined god in the first place and to maintain all of this time that god exists, however misdirected this notion is.

I have always believed in god throughout my life. However recent developments in my thinking I must refute god as once I knew him and replace this ideology with common sense. I feel a loss that I am on my own now without god watching over me or better yet dealing with life as a proven benefactor relying on my own wits and intelligence. Not to worry though, it has always been this way, I just gave god the credit.
 
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