Why exactly do you believe in God?

[spc]

1. Kill yourself.  Seeing as your faith is so strong you should go to heaven right??  And we won't have to deal with you then.
2.  Watch a good man's head explode in front of you and tell me that a fair and just god as depicted by the majority of christianity exists.

[Reddog787]

I'm sorry if I offended you.  I am truly not trying to push my religion onto you.  I am just saying what I believe if anyone wanted to know.  I didn't mean for you to have to deal with people like me (christians).  I'm ok with what ever you want to believe.  I have watched a good man explode in front of me in Iraq in a car bomb.  He left behind a wife and two kids.  I don't know why stuff like that happens.

[spc]

OK serious time:  I consider myself very loosely affiliated with the catholic faith.  If it weren't for the fact that it requires regular attendance I would convert to judaism.  I'm trying to make the point that as far as religion goes nothing can be proven or disproven.   I just find it hard to believe in the catholic just and fair god when I see a mans head explode and wipe gray shaZam! off my chest only to learn later that his wife just found out she was pregnant.

[Reddog787]

yeah its tough.  a lot of military people i know either believe in god or dispise him.  i go to a southern baptist church.  i can't find any proof to show you other than what's in my heart.  some christians are over the top and hard to deal with.  i don't see any just or fairness in a family loosing a loved one.  my thoughts go out to that family.

[PuddleJumper]

I don't know if this will make sense or not. But here goes...

6 years ago my son was born. He was 9 weeks early because of a prolapsed umbilical cord. I later found out that if this happens in a Hospital there is a 5 minute window to get the babies out. Even then, of 5 babies, 2 die, 2 have serious brain damage and 1 might come out of it OK.

For my son, the time frame was 1 hour and 22 min from the time I called 911 and the time the Docs got him out and on a vent.

13 days later, the Doctors told me to take my boy home. There was nothing wrong with him.

This is an example of the good things that God lets us experience.


4 years before that, I lost my first child and almost lost my wife.

This is an example of the bad things that God lets us experience.

Sounds conflicting doesn't it?
If we are to be free to choose who and what we believe, then we have to be free to experience the good and the bad.

I can't explain why bad things happen, It just does. The Bible never promises that life will be free of hardship, Just that we will have the strength to face each day as it comes.

Over the last 10 years, I've never forgotten my first child. It happened 3 days before my birthday. I won't say that it's any easier now than it was 10 years ago. But every year when it gets real bad, I always get the strength to go on.

I'm not trying to convince anybody, Just answering the original question.

Spcterry, Anyone that volunteers to serve this country the way you do has my respect. Having a difference of opinion on religion is the best part of America. To many places don't have that option. Instead of talking we would be shooting at each other, Just because we couldn't agree on something like the freedom to choose how we will live our lives.

Stay safe out there.

[Reddog787]

One thing I have always found ironic is that Islamic/Muslim, Judaism, Christianity all worship the God of Abraham.  Everything after that is man made.

[spc]

Essentially the old testament exists almost word for word in the 3 major religions

[yamahonkawazuki]

indeed, myself as a christian, ( southern baptist as well) am willing to discuss my views with others as well as listen to theirs FIRST. and until tonight, ive never run into anyone who believed in pink unicorns. care to fill us in Eg? tell us what its about?

[yamahonkawazuki]

no one can prove 100% one way or the other you might say more facts point to A, whilst almost nothing points to b. but without 100% which i doubt youll ever find, all youve got is faith/theories on either side of teh fence

[Reddog787]

Egaeus is kool  I really mean that - no joke.  The pink unicorn might be a motorcycle god.?

[yamahonkawazuki]

perhaps, that or mebbe keeper of the pr0n or something. tis why i want his expy on it.. i enjoy having a thorough discussion on things like this. rarely ever do i bore

[RVertigo]

This is an example of the good things that God lets us experience.

[...]

This is an example of the bad things that God lets us experience.

Uh...  Not to minimize your experience, but I have a similar story.


Several years ago, I was riding the bus and traffic was very heavy...  Just then the battery on my CD Player died.  I had to sit on the bus and stare out the window with nothing to do and no music.

This is an example of the boring things that god lets us experience.





What's the difference?  Life is chance... Sometimes it's seriously f%&ked up...  My friend's dad just died at 53...  Sometimes life is freakin' amazing... Why does someone have to be causing these events?  Why does someone have to be responsible for them happening?     I mean:

When you step in dog shaZam!, is that god trying to tell you something or is it just something that happened?  When you find a great parking spot, is that god trying to tell you something or were you lucky?  Did my upstairs neighbor burn toast and set off the building fire alarm at 8:30 on a Saturday morning because god wanted me to be tired on Saturday or because my neighbor wasn't paying attention?


Where does god's control start and stop?  Why is god always responsible for sports teams winning, but never for them loosing?   I mean...  If god made one team win, couldn't the other team say, "We lost the game 'cause god was on the other team?"


Did god give me food poisoning?  'cause if he did, I'd like to have a word with him about foodborne illnesses.

[frankieG]

if there is a god this string will be locked and forgotten about 

[spc]

Frankie:

[RVertigo]

if there is a god this string will be locked and forgotten about 

I don't think god is a mod here.

[spc]

[spc]

One more for ya frankie:

[oramac]

A "just" God doesn't allow or disallow death of other human beings.  Death happens, and violent death usually happens due to choices.  Your buddy's exploding head wasn't caused or not caused by God, it was caused by ordinance, and another human being.

God provided this world, and he gave you and I life to see how we would live it, and if we would follow his law, or succomb to tempations.  It's God's promise after death that is his gift.  We are all supposed to endure hardships on Earth.  Thank Adam and Eve for that.

Honestly, when I read these threads and I listen to religious zealots (islamic extremists, catholics vs. protestants, dubya), all I hear is "blah, blah, blah...I really never read the Bible or payed any real attention to the teachings of Christ".  

Those (Christians) that hate based on difference of religion are not living by Christ's word, those that kill in the name of their religion, are not living by Christ's word, those that push violence on any criminal, homosexual, or deviant of any kind are not living by Christ's word.  

People that have a little knowledge about their religion are more dangerous than people that know nothing.  Yes, I believe in God and Jesus Christ.  Because, in my times of greatest trial and hardship, it was prayer that gave me strength and brought me peace.  It didn't solve my problems, it gave me the clarity and perserverance to continue until I solved them my self.

Honestly, I don't get angry with people that don't believe or that sin, because I do too.  Instead, I pray that they will find God's grace and forgiveness before they die, and that I do too.

This thread, though, is too narrow an area to truly discuss religion...that's a face-to-face topic if ever there was one.  But in short...God bless all of you whether you believe or not!  

[spc]

[spc]