Wondering what beliefs about God do you have? And why?

Liz - posted on 11/28/2011

God loves us all even the gays if he didn't he wouldn't have created us.

Susan - posted on 11/28/2011

Preach it Cindy and Apryl!!!!!.....John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believe in Him will not perish but have an everlasting life.

Jeanie - posted on 11/27/2011

Well had you asked me this a year ago I would have said proud pagan (for 11 years) of my own choice. I was raise Catholic until I was 8. I am now full Christian no doubt about it... I am the most scientific person you can encounter... I NEED to see to believe. I used to be so anti-Christian, anti-God. But I stumbled upon beyond so much scientific evidence of God's existence and the truth of the Bible. It required me MORE faith not to believe in God. This change in my life has been beyond what words can describe, but I'll use awesome. I am a better mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend that even people who only seen me once or twice before have noticed a massive change. Now I know what I was longing for all these years. Jesus filled that empty feeling in me that was always longing and yearning

Laura - posted on 11/27/2011

I was raised Catholic. I went to a Catholic school and received all the sacrements. As I grew up and learned more I formed my own belief system. I now no longer believe in a creator and heaven & hell. I find more comfort in believing in science and that we are in control of our own existence and destiny. I simply believe in enjoying life and getting as much out of it as possible while trying to be the best and most respectful person you can be.

Alessia - posted on 11/27/2011

Hear hear Johnny!

Johnny - posted on 11/27/2011

I am an agnostic atheist. Raised in a home by a hard atheist father and a spiritual/Christian mother. I did not grow up in a church. I started to attend in my early teens to try to figure it out. Went to a few different Christian sects, tried out the Mormons, read the bible a few times, the koran, and several buddhist texts. None if it really spoke to me.



I simply do not believe in a creator to the deepest part of my core. No matter how much I wanted to suspend my disbelief to feel connected to this god everyone was so gosh darn keen on, I never felt it in the slightest. I do not claim to know that there is no god, I just don't believe it can every be proven, and it does not effect my life in the slightest not to know. I still put my shoes on one foot at a time.



I take my guidance from the scientific process, but I certainly do not see it as a religion or as something to believe in. I see it as a tool to increase our knowledge about how our universe works and things that do truly effect our lives.



I find the concept of worshipping a deity deeply odd, although I do understand why people believe. It's all the singing, praising, praying, and thanking that leaves me utterly befuddled. I just do not see what people think it accomplishes, because I have not seen any actual sign that it has ever worked. In my experience, every thing that anyone has ever contributed to God's hand is fairly explicable by other means. So I just can not understand. I'd like to, but I doubt I ever will.



I do find a great enjoyment in my sense of connection to our earth and our universe. Through understanding how we evolved and how our universe developed to what it is now, I feel so intertwined with the awesomeness of existence. We know so little about it now, and I love to just speculate on the myriad of possibilities about our place in the great vastness of being. I have never felt lost without a connection to the gods of religions, and I no longer feel any urge to seek it out. I know it is not for me.



Anyone, anything or any group that claims it knows the ultimate absolute truth about existence just loses my attention immediately. I find that sort of hubris frustrating in the extreme.

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 11/27/2011

I knew it wasn't, but it's amazing that some think it is.
I once did too :-/

Lyn - posted on 11/27/2011

The Bible says that God (our Creator) has set eternity in our hearts! We are born knowing there is more. And desiring to find it. If you seek you will find...read God's Word for yourself and see what you find. The truth is in every WORD. And the truth will set you free to do all that you were created to do. They will then be free to fulfill their God given destiny and find true fulfillment in this life and eventually the after! Blessings!

Alessia - posted on 11/27/2011

I am an Atheist. Born one and was never indoctrinated by my parents, rather given the freedom to decide when I wanted to. After much study, research and thought I am perfectly comfortable as an atheist. I accept the scientifically proven theories and evidenced research with respect to the origins of the universe and life on earth. There is no evidence for any of the thousands of gods people have worshipped past or present.

My children will learn about ALL the different religion, myths, and deities people worship and when they are older they can decide for themselves if and what they believe.

We are just your friendly neighborhood atheists! Raising moral, ethical, caring children without religion.

Janine - posted on 11/27/2011

i will end w this quote that really has impacted my life. (i have chronic pain syndrome from a work injury to a back injury to thorasic outlet in my right shoulder, arm, hand, fingers.) God has been my ONLY support that never leaves my side. anyway here is the quote: I WOULD RATHER LIVE MY LIFE AS IF THER IS A GOD, AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE ISNT, THAN LIVE MY LIFE AS IF THERE ISNT, AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE IS.......AMEN. GOOD NIGHT ALL AND GOD BLESS U!!!!!

Brandy - posted on 11/27/2011

I'm Pagan. I wasn't raised with any religion growing up and I am very thankful for that. My parents are more Christian-leaning, but very liberal and open. I have always known that I wasn't Christian and would never follow that path. I started researching spirituality in my 20's and found the name for my beliefs...Paganism.

I believe in a Creator. I believe that all Gods and Goddesses from all faiths come from that Creator to help the people of different cultures. I do not believe in a heaven or a hell, nor do I believe in an all good God or an all evil devil figure. I believe that we all, even the Creator and the individual Gods and Goddesses, are manifest of both light and dark properties. Mostly the light is acted upon (ie, mostly people are "good"), but sometimes we act upon the dark. It is the nature of having two opposing forces within us. I believe in karma and reincarnation. I believe in a spiritual afterlife, but one where everyone goes, not just certain people or groups. How good your afterlife and next life is depends on what kind of person you were in this life (ie, if you didn't pay your earthly "debts" you will pay them in your afterlife, or in your next earthly life). I believe everything has a purpose (everything happens for a reason) and our soul's main purpose on this earth is to learn. Learning means we will make mistakes, but I don't believe those are sins, nor do I believe in sin at all. We are all created exactly as the Creator saw fit, thus how can we be sinful? I believe the Creator is in everything, and all around us. However, I do not believe the Creator has an active hand in our everyday lives. How can we learn if we are constantly being lead by a higher power? (Think of children...how will they learn if they have an overbearing parent doing everything for them?) I believe that if asked, in a dire situation, the Creator will help us, through the Gods and Goddesses we follow. Otherwise, we lead our lives, they are not lead by a higher power. I don't believe any one book or person has all the answers...not even (and actually, especially not) the Bible. I believe we are all on the correct path, no matter what we believe...or else, what would be the purpose of the many beliefs and faiths? IMO, there would only be one, if there was only one correct one. The only thing I do not like about another's faith is the pushiness of converting others that sometimes comes with it. I don't care what one personally believes (I am interested in learning all beliefs, but only in following the one I mesh with), just show me the same courtesy and don't try to change my beliefs because you believe something different.

Lisa - posted on 11/27/2011

God for me he's called creator. I was brought up christian then found my own god and that's what i choose him to call him today. he's gotten me thru alot of hard times and some really good times. either way he's been there for me.

Kate CP - posted on 11/27/2011

Yea, since writing was around in Mesopotamia I doubt the Bible was the first book ever written. The most widely copied and translated, maybe, but not the oldest.

Krista - posted on 11/27/2011

Yeah. It's not the oldest book around. Far from it.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_lit...



Heck, even the Kama Sutra was composed about 400 years BCE. :)

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 11/27/2011

....And according to the Bible, the oldest book around

^^Ummmm you sure its THEE oldest book around Religious or otherwise??

Apryl - posted on 11/27/2011

Keep the comments coming. I don't what this discussion is doing for anyone else, but for me it is helping me to see and draw closer to how our human nature and thinking all lines up with the diversity that I believe God loves in each of us. If you believe in God or not, there is no denying that there are some things that may never be explained to us fully and as we come to the realization of who we are we become more like the image that we were created to be....For me only God knows....And according to the Bible, the oldest book around, (Jeremiah 29:11) - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." but a lot of people turn down the hope because they want it come in the package they are looking for it to come in.

I LOVE the adventure that my life holds because I don't need to be in control of every aspect of the life I hold and I get the freedom of allowing a Loving God to provide the method in which He teaches me to become more like him....that is where the FREE will reaps the GREATER benefits of taking this life journey not limited to the finite mindset of man but to the infinite power of an infinite God and for me it is SLOWLY being revealed through God's Word - The Bible, as I pray for Him to reveal it to me as He sees fit!

Janine - posted on 11/27/2011

gosh, i always come here hoping there is nothing i can relate to for questions.....im assuming im older than most of u. i grew up lutheran, didnt know any different, i loved the literagy and the hymns we sang and we had a wonderful pastor. i find out now that these r lutheran hymns cuz i find them nowhere else, cept maybe in hte catholic faith. i went to confirmation, was confirmed, it really meant nothing to me other than i had learned about the Lord, and i participated in conver. regarding the Lord, and showed up every wed. for confirmation classes. i believed in the Christian God that i think u r thinking about.....i never prayed much, didnt know what to say, instead my grandma taught me the Lord's Prayer and Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, so i always said a prayer in bed each night. i was scared in my teenage years of death, of not being a true believer in God and that i would go to hell if i didnt believe in God. then i fell away from my church for a few years, went every so often, but i didnt associate God with church, i associated Church with sumthin u did on sun. sat in the pew and kept ur mouth shut til it was over, then darn near bolted out the door when church was over, i always nodded off during the sermon. i didnt know that one day, i would b hungry for God's word, and want a relationship w God. my kids were both baptized in the Lutheran faith. that i truly believed in. my pastor always told me that u should baptize ur baby soon after they r born, so that if they should die for some reason, we knew they were saved and would go to heaven.....THEN SOME VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES CAME INTO MY LIFE. I WONDERED WHAT THE HELL GOD WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO ME FOR. AND IT KEPT HAPPENING AND HAPPENING AND HAPPENING. i finally decided there is no God, cuz my God wouldnt let these awful things happen to me. THEN, one day i was selling Avon about 20 years ago, i had this one older lady that was always so nice to me, Iona is her name. and i always stopped to get an order or deliver an order. she started sharing about the Lord with me, i was VERY uncomfortable with this, but i wanted to giv her good service, so i would stop and the same thing would happen every time. Iona and her family are born-again christians, not so sure we use that terminology right now, to me a born-again is someone who was baptized at birth, and at an older age really understood God, the Bible, and really wanted God in their life. And we were re-baptized in a pentecostal church.....that iona had invited me to. that spelling might not b right. their believ at this church, which is called Assembly of God, is reading scripture and giving sermons straight from the Bible. this is what i was looking for, and singing, i loved to sing at church. over the past 19 yrs. i have to say im not a good church-goer, dnt fit in at any church, because of some of their beliefs, and Assembly of God's congregation had kind of fallen apart. So, i have been a believer of our God in Heaven, but there were many weeks, months, years when i told myself God wouldnt do this kind of stuff to me, so i decided to not like him. iona always stayed in my back pocket.......i think what really brought me back to God was the bombing of the towers on 9/11. there was no earthly explanation for the reasoning of this w so many ppl being killed, suicide bombers, why would they want to do that, because they believed Allah would take care of them if they were a suicide bomber, and they would go to their "heaven" whatever that might be. Since 9/11 when nobody even our President cld not explain why something this horrible cld happen and for what reason, to get back at the US. yes, prbly, but for soooo many ppl to die in so many different realms of life. There had to b a God, he was the only thing that i could fall back on to explain why 9/11 happened. and when president bush told us all we had to leave this in God's hands, i thot, yah, i hav to, cuz there is no other earthly explanation.......i always thot life would get better, obstacles would b less, easier, no hardships....WRONG. i have been with alot of what i now call non-denominational church ppl, ppl who learn straight from the Bible. i wanted to believe the bible, but i deidnt believe that being lutheran made me any closer to God, so i turned away from lutheranism. i am a straight-from the Bible person,. have learned many, many things about our God, his love for us, his compassion, why all of us hav hard times, and God isnt doing them to us, society is. God helps us make it thru it if we ask him to. my one dau. got into drugs and alcohol, i lost a baby, no explanation for it, our car would need repairs that were way beyond our budget, my bro and sis didnt communicate w me and still dnt, my mom would rather go see them, than myself......i have been with many, many, many ppl who believe in God, pray for his help, and leave things in his hands cuz there is not a darn thing we can do about somethings. we are not incontrol.....God is, when we try to control, God steps in and lets us know. i found peace believing in God, so ik this is where i should b. my kids dnt believe in God, my husband hasnt went to church for like 30 yrs., but i have chosen to have God in my life, and thru prayer, wisdom and strength move forward and hav God walk along side of me.....my friend tells me, God is having u do what ur doing for a reason, i got hurt at a part-time job at mcdonalds, long-short story, foot, back, thorasic outlet in shoulder, cant work that type of job, am also a Mary Kay Consultant, cldnt really do that either. i have been laid up for 19 months now, why, because marie, my friend, tells me this is where i should b, at home, with my family. i have 4 grandchildren, and would never get to spend time with them if i hadnt injured my foot, i was a stress-bomb, it is getting better......i believe everything happens for a reason, God lets us know when the timing is right.....Our God is an Awesome God!!!!!

Joy - posted on 11/27/2011

I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church and tried for many years to believe, to have faith. But it just wasn't in me. I always doubted. I couldn't ever relate to anyone who saw the stories in the bible as literal. From a very young age, I began questioning. And when my questions were only answered with more bible quotes, I questioned even more until, I finally decided that (after a lot of thought) I don't believe. I remember learning about evolution and it making perfect sense to me. Do the scientists know every detail of how we got here or how our universe was formed? No. But the difference is that they don't claim to, and to me, that's much easier to believe than to read a story about Jonah living in the belly of a whale and think it's real. To me, atoms colliding and creating an explosion makes sense. To me, believing that the first air breathing creature ever to live on this planet crawled out of the mud...that just clicks with me. I believe that when I die, I will cease to exist, except for in the hearts and memories of the ones I leave behind. I strive to be a good person and a good mother, to treat everyone with kindness and respect. I do not teach my son anything about God and don't plan to. But one day if he begins to ask, which I'm sure he will, I have no problem answering anything within my knowledge base or helping him to find the answers elsewhere. I mostly just want him to make an informed decision. If he decides he believes as I do, fine. If he decides he believes in the Christian God (or Muslim, or Hindu, etc), that's ok too. As long as it's HIS choice and HIS path that leads him there.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have nothing but respect for anyone who has faith (in whatever God). Faith takes strength. It just isn't in me. It's people who try to force their beliefs on others that I have a problem with. Love Jesus? Great! Want to share him with me? Ask me first, and if I want to hear about him, I'll let you know.

Mary - posted on 11/27/2011

i just join a church but mine comes from an accident acouple of year ago when i say my daughter my sister and my grandma and they told me to go back since then i got a really good church and been builting up my faith u might need to dig deep into ur selve and ask what is there what do i need it will come

Barb - posted on 11/27/2011

Appreciate the variety of views chiming in! I started out like many: raised Catholic. It wasn't until I was an adult that my eyes were opened to spiritual things. It's hard to understand the change that takes place if you've not experienced it. That's all I can say about that. I remember as a young adult looking at Christmas cards that talk about Jesus... And I said to myself "Yeah right. Like people really believe that!" It wasn't long before I understood. I've experienced God in different ways. Not just the ways that require faith, but real ways. I know others who've experienced things that cannot be explained outside of Him. I do not believe that the sciences are separate from Him but rather confirm His existence. The deeper I study such things the more He is evidant. It's truly amazing.

I believe religion(s) misrepresent God terribly. It's a shame but I also know that He has a plan and all will be set right and all will be known/revealed at the appropriate time. This gives me great joy. I am going to say something controversial here. I don't believe that God plans to torment people forever in a fiery hell as the church today teaches. This was not always taught in Christian churches. If you study the laws that God gave in the Bible, the punishment always fit the crime and was the purpose of correction, torture was never allowed - so why do we think God would treat most of His created beings that way? He IS love. His Word says we all will see Him... Some just sooner than others. Praise Him for that because truly seeing Him is a deeply beautiful thing. And life changing.

Peace.

P.S. Forgive me if I sounded preachy.

Krista - posted on 11/27/2011

PAPARAZZI Sista has it right.

Religious discussions can get VERY ugly on here.

So, in order to make sure we don't go down that path, I am simply reminding everybody that everybody's beliefs are equally valid, and that in order to keep the discussion respectful, it is best if we do not start delving into religious debates, or into the realm of trying to convince each other that OUR way is the best/only way.

'Twas just a friendly reminder, that's all, Apryl -- similar to your initial request that there be no judgement here.

Thanks.

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 11/27/2011

The past has a way of repeating over and over and over

Apryl - posted on 11/27/2011

Paparazzi, Thanks for explaining but that is the past....I hope we would live in the PRESENT....where the GIFT lives!

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 11/27/2011

Krista wrote what she did because it has gotten ugly in the past.

Apryl - posted on 11/27/2011

@Krista - preventative notion from what??? This a discussion and we are sharing what we believe...So, if we choose to share, we share what we like with NO JUDGEMENT. This is a forum with no limits on sharing. What you believe is your choice, right? So what does it matter if others make an attempt or not?

Sarah - posted on 11/27/2011

I came to my beliefs after yrs of research on many different religions and yrs of soul searching. I believe in the triple goddess...mother, maiden, crone

Cathy - posted on 11/27/2011

Churches are made up of people. Human, sinful, fallible people. As such, none of them are going to be perfect. I dare say, if we judged the rest of society as we judge the church and its members, we would turn our backs on entire families b/c of the actions of one disfunctional member. We would quit our jobs b/c of one person who rubbed us the wrong way. We would quit school b/c of one or two teachers with whom we disagreed on the way things should be taught. (I just realized the verb I used above...judge. I would change that, but it is the correct verb for the thought I am trying to convey. Seems it goes both ways, this judging.) I remember walking back into a church for the first time after many years of absence. I had to go alone b/c my husband would not join me. It was in a very small community, so I knew everyone would be looking at me and wondering who I was. I was not looking forward to that kind of attention. As I approached the doors, I was very nervous and considered not going in. But then it occurred to me, I am coming to worship God. This is between me and Him. Whatever I have or have not done in the past is of no importance. AND I am pretty sure every person sitting inside this building has something in their lives they wouldn't want splashed all over a billboard for the world to see. I proceeded to walk in those doors. Yes, people were curious, but very gracious, accepting and inviting....especially the older ladies - most of whom were widows. That has been my church family and home now for almost 20 years. I still go alone. I am no longer married. Oddly enough there are very few people of my age attending there. Most are a good deal older or a good deal younger. What had spurred me to try again to find a church home was something the last pastor I had had told me. Now mind you, this man, to me, was extremely judgmental and hypocritical in his teachings and his views. Because of my distaste for him, and what I considered to be a cold congregation at an even smaller church, in an even smaller community, than where I now reside, I had stopped attending church. But oddly it was his words that made me try again after moving to my current home. "If you are displeased with the church you are attending, you don't need to stop going, you just need to keep searching until you find the one in which you ARE happy." Well, I have found it. And, yes there are times I would like to give a piece of my mind to a few of the "solid" members. Instead I just let it go in one ear and out the other and soon we are back to normal. We ARE a family. We don't always see eye-to-eye, nor even always get along. Yes, some are more judgmental of others than I think they should be, but we are ALL human. I guess that is one of their flaws. But if I go through a hard time, or I am in need of ANY kind of assistance, my church family will be there for me and they will see me through and keep me strong. I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt. And a congregation can and will do so much more than a few good friends are capable of alone. Better get off here, I am due for a "family meeting" in about an hour. I look forward to worshiping with them. I will come away refreshed and renewed. Blessings all.

Stifler's - posted on 11/27/2011

I also had a hard time taking everything at church seriously. especially the scandals that were covered up while the church judged everyone else.

Stifler's - posted on 11/27/2011

I grew up christian. I still believe in god but don't go to church and my husband believes he is an atheist but i'm pretty sure he entertains the idea of god. his family are also apparently christian.

Anna - posted on 11/26/2011

I am Jewish. I grew up reformed but my views have changed since then, I am more conservative. It isn't an innate thing. Your parents believe in something, you grow up with that belief and as you get older you make your own decisions based on how much you have experienced and how much your eyes have opened up.

Michelle - posted on 11/26/2011

I was raised in a home with an atheist father and a Lutheran mother but religion was not a big part of our lives. We grew up in north Louisiana in the bible belt and everyone around us was very Christian. I often felt alienated because my family didnt attend church. I went to bible school and church camp with friends on occasion and peer pressure led me to get "saved" and I was Christian for a few years. Age 15-16 or so. But it really never felt right to me. It gave me no sense of peace or joy. It only scared me into thinking that most people on earth were going to burn in hell, my dad included. By the time I went to college, I considered myself agnostic, and by the time I graduated college, I was a self-proclaimed atheist. I was more comfortable with this belief than the Christian beliefs, yet I still had this feeling or hope that there was more to life than random chance. I really wanted to believe in God, but I couldn't. Since then, I have read about Buddhism, and about many people who believe in a different kind of "God" than the one described in the bible. I am currently reading a book called Healing our Planet, Healing Ourselves, and am surprised to have found many scientists, Christians, and students of religion who share my current belief and are able to put it into better words than I. I believe that God is in everything. "He" is not a separate entity that created us and expects certain things from us. It is hard to imagine such as anstract concept, so we have created an image of God after ourselves. I believe that any fundamentalist religion that translates ancient texts literally is bringing more pain than peace to today's world. I cant understand how people can study one book and accept it all as truth without studying any other religions. I also think the "science as religion" belief is shortsighted and ignores the most important aspect of life. There is something greater than the physical world. Something that can't be detected with the five senses or scientific instruments. There is something that unites us all and if we can tap into that awesome, powerful love, I think we can heal the suffering in this world.

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 11/26/2011

Just a quick aside: this thread is going nicely, and it's great to see everybody sharing their beliefs. However, just as a preventative caution, I urge everybody to refrain from any conversion attempts. Everybody here is already comfortable in their own beliefs (or lack thereof), so let's just leave it at that, shall we?

^^aww why not? LoL

KIm - posted on 11/26/2011

Its a feeling that surrounds you that you can feel as you stand and look at that surrounds you. For me it was an awareness as a small child that there was a God and that each and everyday there were signs of his love goodness, mercy and most of all grace. He has showed me love and strength through the loss of a child, The healing of another child and one that seemed from the moment she was born she was aware of him

Carol - posted on 11/26/2011

I agree one hundred percent with Jane Hamilton. I learned about God as a child, but God has spoken to me personally through his Word and through the voice of the Holy Spirit to my heart. His guidance and comfort have made a HUGE difference in my life. I find that when I do things His way, blessing results--for example, when I was lonely and single and pursued by a very attractive married man, I did the right thing. After 2 more lonely but spiritually productive years, I met my husband. We've been married 35 years. I am so grateful for God's presence and power in my life, and for my mother who introduced me to Him.

Cathy - posted on 11/26/2011

I am a Christian. I was raised in a household with parents who both came from a long line of Christians. I was not forced to go to church, nor were my parents in church with any regularity. But it was important to both of them to instill in us a belief in God as the Creator and Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and, yes LOVING Father. I do now, at 54 years of age, believe there is no one alive, or who has lived (apart from Jesus) who has done so without sin in his or her life. I believe that God had declared that "the wages of sin is death." So, due to my sins, what I have earned is death. I would like to add here, that to God there are no big sins and little sins. To Him a sin is a sin is a sin. He gave us an excellent source in the Ten Commandments. If anyone (whether they believe in God or not) can look on those and say they haven't come short of any of them, I would seriously doubt their truthfulness. But God knew none of us could live a life completely free of sin. And He couldn't back down on His word. That would make Him untruthful and unjust. But He doesn't want ANYone to perish, so He sent the ultimate sacrifice to cover over ALL of our sins. That sacrifice was Jesus Christ. GOD born in the form of a baby, sent to live as a mortal man, to experience the trials we face - plus many none of us will ever face, and to ultimately die in our place. The only thing he expects of us is to accept the fact that he did that for us - and believe that He (being God) is more powerful than anything - including death - and was raised to live again and sits in His place in Heaven. It is a GIFT (not something you can earn) that He has on the table for EVERYONE. It is our decision whether we pick it up, or leave it on the table. The decision is OURS. Some find all this seriously hard to believe...yet they choose to believe in reincarnation or something else that is equally mysterious and inexplicable by human standards. My God asks me to believe in Him by faith (being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see). He tells me to first draw nigh unto Him and He will then draw nigh unto me. I have tried this over and over and He always proves Himself to be faithful when I am. I have one last thing to say here. If we had never seen a child or a puppy or a kitten or any other living creature enter earth and life in the way they do, I wonder how many people would not believe in the live birth theory. But our disbelief would not make it any less real or truthful. And for those who harbor resentment for Christians who would try to share their faith with you, I would ask you this. If you saw a bus coming, and you thought it was about to run over someone that you care about, but you knew that person didn't believe that being hit by a bus would kill them, would you just say, oh well, and walk away. Christians try to share their belief because it IS what they believe to be true. They only want you to be safe. They care about you.

Erin - posted on 11/26/2011

The Big bang theroy is hard to believe, because if it was true it to would have a creator.. I believe in Creation and is grateful for what I know about God... I have come to know God Personally... By getting to know his name and he listens to me everyday...

Jane - posted on 11/26/2011

I guess my beliefs first started as a child with my christian upbringing, however there has been many amazing things happen in my life which have confirmed my beliefs. I am a believer without a doubt

Krista - posted on 11/26/2011

Just a quick aside: this thread is going nicely, and it's great to see everybody sharing their beliefs. However, just as a preventative caution, I urge everybody to refrain from any conversion attempts. Everybody here is already comfortable in their own beliefs (or lack thereof), so let's just leave it at that, shall we?

Donna - posted on 11/26/2011

The bible is how I come to believe in what I believe in. You can make up all your own rules and beliefs but the only ones that matter are God's and what it says in the Bible.

Sherri - posted on 11/26/2011

I was raised Roman Catholic, and have always believed. So has my husband and my children. I went to church every Sunday, went to Catholic school from 4-8th grade and am quite religious still to this day. There is nothing to question in my mind.

Krista - posted on 11/26/2011

I was raised Roman Catholic, but never believed. Not even from day 1. Even as a child, it just seemed nonsensical to me.

I am now what is considered an agnostic atheist. I do not believe in any deities, be they Christian, Hindu, Muslim, what-have-you. However, I do not make assertions that deities do not exist. They might. Hey, for all we know, Zeus could be real. I think it's HUGELY unlikely, but I could very well be wrong. I believe that the universe has always been here, in one form or another, and was not "created" by anyone or anything. It has just always been.

Erin - posted on 11/26/2011

Hi, I think that it is programed in us... the desire to believe in God... Even though I was rasied a christain... my mum taught me to find my own belief and not just follow what she believes even though I am in the same religion as my mum...I look at it this way... The earth.. the planets and stars moon and universe did not just happen... it must have had an intelligent being to create it... and the fact that we look at our bodies and see how it works.. makes you believe we are wonderfully made... I grow to love God everyday... he has given me and my family many blessings and I have a wonderful husband and though the use of his word the Bible we learn how to love and respect each other... we are also blessed with two beautiful chlildren... the bible says that children are gift from God... I believe that... even when they challege us...We are taught to love and repect people of all races and that we have a brotherhood...I hope this has help you.

Lauri Che - posted on 11/26/2011

Believing came from a place deep within, a searching and longing for something more motivating than self.

Cindy - posted on 11/26/2011

thats your problem!!!! you were brought up in a catholic school nothing but rules and regulations thats why I am not part of a religion only a relationship with our heavenly father who cared enough for us, to send his only son to the cross to pay for our sins... something we could never pay for on our own....and as for reincarnation!!! the bible says its appointed once to die, then the judgement, you will face God for all the things you have done good or bad and be judged... believe it or not! God created all things!!! I don`t think this beautiful world GOD created just flipped out of the ocean and grew... if you see a beautiful painting you know there had to be a painter, same with this creation, there had to be a creator...open your eyes and you will see the truth, keep them closed and you will not see till its too late

Sherry - posted on 11/26/2011

I was forced to go to church when I was a child and raised Catholic. Over the years I have done my own research (this took a LONG time) and I don't believe in any gods, nor do I feel the need to worship anybody. I believe nobody is better than me or worse than me, so nobody deserves my worship and I don't deserve theirs. I do believe in other worlds and reincarnation.

Apryl - posted on 11/26/2011

I am so grateful for all of the responses up this point! Proof that a religious question can be discussed without all the distractions of name calling and getting out of control.

I believe we all are created to bring forth something GREAT to this earth....be it through science, music, communicating, etc. How can anything GREAT come forth without GREATNESS being able to provide it?

The thought that there is no God seems very unlikely to me given all of the wonderful and amazing things on the earth that no man has created yet we still get to wonder in them. The Sun rises without fail, birds know when to go south, the firmaments of the sky stay in place, stars flicker in the night, and all of us are born with bodies that have such a intricate system. There is no way any person could be that smart or great without some help from something or someone greater imparting the knowledge of them to us. We're just not that smart on our own...no matter how smart we may be labelled or think we are!

The more I read the Bible the more I realize how incorrect my thinking has and can be without God's help. It gives revelation that I would not have without it and continues to unfold beautiful discoveries everytime I dig into it. We are given free will to choose to believe in God or not, but for me, I can not see how one could not choose God. I believe it takes more effort to believe there is no God over all the amazing and wonderful things that are created yet without our full understanding of them.

Jenni - posted on 11/26/2011

Like Ashley Taylor, science IS my religion. But I do believe there is much about our World, Universe, other demensions/realties that we are just beginning to scratch the surface on.



Does that mean the answer to those unknown questions and answers is a god? a higher power? a diety? Not likely in the sense that anyone here on Earth has theorized or invented. An intelligent being with grand designs for each and every creature. Including each and every potentional life form in the infinite number of other universes. One that has spoken to us humans and given us the answers on how to micro manage our lives. Favours our species over all others? It DOES seem a little farfetched to me.



The religions here on Earth. Seem like the work of enlightened human beings with all their flaws. Not that of an enlightened, perfect, super entity.



I won't be so bold to pretend I already have the answer(s). I'd rather ask questions free of preconceived notions.

Kimberlea - posted on 11/25/2011

I believe. More so now than ever before. I like this quote (no idea who said it) and I find it appropriate for this discussion..."To believe with your eyes is proof; to believe with your heart...FAITH." It gives me comfort to know that there is a higher power, God, who accepts me as I am - unconditionally, flaws and all. Confessing my sins doesn't not mean keeping a laundry list of everything I've ever done wrong, it simply means acknowledging that I am not perfect. The best part of that is that He already knows that and loves me still. God Bless... ♥

Ashley - posted on 11/25/2011

I have no religion I am not atheist I do not believe in god really but rather science. To me religious fails in so many things that isntead of giving an answer they say "that is the way god wants it". I have many religious friends from differing backgrounds so I do not judge people based on religion either. I just know it does not work for me.

Teresa - posted on 11/25/2011

I was brought up in a Christian household but never really shown how to excercise my faith. After 41 years I am now understanding how things work for those that love God. My mother was my cornerstone of beleif and I grew up beleiving what she did. My life experiences have led me to believe for myself. I know that God is watching over me and guiding my life even when I think I'm doing it myself. I was living in a sketchy part of town, a young, single girl, working as a waitress, and I went to bed one night and was awakened by a voice clearly saying "go NOW". I got up and grabbed a few things and when I opend my front door a car turned itself on and turned on it's lights, facing my trailer. This was in the country so there should have been no other cars there. I got in my car and left, this was about 3am. I KNOW God woke me up an got me out of there before something really bad happened to me. That is one of many examples I have for my faith in God. Now, 20 years later, it's a bit more clear when God intercedes, and it just makes me more grateful that He is there.