I understand and have been of the exact same mindset. The problem is that I believe the Bible is full of huge, huge problems that can't be explained without a lot of mental gymnastics.
Well, my point was that not believing when you are in a religious area absolutely sucks, and it is hard to stick with. That being said though, if I was capable of believing with confidence any of the religions in the world, I would.
I've been a very professed Christian for a majority of my life so please understand that I have looked at everything with an accepting eye. But when you actually read the book that your entire belief system is based on, things become unclear and terrifyingly human. I would elaborate more but it would be a very long post.
Please understand that I am by no means struggling with Christianity "just because", but because of issues that I can not account for after a lot of thinking and praying.
Well, I put everything in simpler terms, b/c the character limit and such, so it's not my sole reason.. Anyway, I don't think that's selfish, to want to see my loved ones again since everyone's bound to pass away? Not only my loved ones but I just.. wish everyone could go to heaven,. which goes without saying. Also, how are we weak-minded for believing that there is life after this life? Are we using God as a crutch to get on with our lives? Actually, that's true, without His sending of Christ to die for us, we would be doomed. yep this is all part of doctrine and I can see how it's hard for non-Christians to accept. obv, it's really easy for me to understand, but it seems ridiculous to you. Also, we as Christians all have reasons besides Heaven and God for living, too, but if they weren't part of my reasons why, I'd still wonder what is the point of it all and what will happen to me in centuries from now? p sure we all have existential crises now and then.. o well.
I agree, projectmatt, about the part where it's harder to convert into a non-believer... my philosophy teacher from ninth grade actually converted from a Christian to an atheist, and let's just say it was the hardest thing for her to do because her mom was suffering from a type of disease and she kept begging her to become a Christian once again. She became an atheist from studying other religions, so it is difficult to accept the Word of the Bible because you're reading it from a critical view. Now, I am not saying to be close-minded. I want everyone to open up to new religions and learn from their point of view. Don't be critical, be accepting.
The thing is, I'm saved. I'm a Christian. That means that I gave my life to God and trust in Him no matter what. So I accept whatever is in the Bible, and even if it seems illogical at times to other people, I will still believe. That doesn't mean I'll be illogical outside the Bible, though. I still know the rules and I follow them. But when it's against what the Bible says, then I don't follow them. I go to a private Christian school, and all of our rules are based off of the Bible. So I have no trouble with not following them.
As someone that is struggling with their beliefs, I gotta let you know that this is really far from the truth. In my own personal experiences with my own beliefs and also the beliefs of those around me, it's less about being scared that if you're religious that you'll be "forced" to do things and moreso a lack of compelling evidence or reasons to delve into religion.
The thing that set me off was actually reading the Bible with a critical eye. It becomes impossible to believe, as much as many people would like to be able to. It's far, far harder to be non-religious than it is to be religious if you are actually raised in a religious environment.
Alright HOLD ON you say that it's selfish to be at ease when your loved ones would be in paradise after they die? I'd say that if you didn't, then that would be selfish. I wouldn't call that being weak-minded if I were you. Would you not care if your loved ones are suffering right now or will be in the future?
In defense of Junhoes, are you calling us, Christians, weak-minded? I know some people have called us dogmatic for using the Bible as our only evidence, but truly the Bible is barely an evidence because faith is the only thing that allows us to believe in Christ.
uh, i said they don't have gods, there's a difference. religions that have no gods are referred to as nontheistic. (i.e. taoism and confucianism are nontheistic religions)
so your sole reason for believing in a god is because it puts your mind at ease as to where you and loved ones go after you die? that's pretty selfish if you ask me.
you can believe in god all you want dude but don't sit there and try and definitively say that without god there is no reason to live. i have plenty of reason to live without god or heaven, and those who use god as a crutch are weak-minded.
Okay fine.. I have been a Christian my whole life, but I never quite understood why people debate about these things? And you said that Taoism and Confucianism isn't a religion, so I tried to explain how it kinda is
I don't know how to quote someone so I'm sorry if this seems confusing. Okay to start off... they're both beliefs starting from one person and that's pretty much how Buddhism and many other religions have started. Because Taoism and Confucianism originated from a person, followers uphold that person's belief which then assembles into a religion. I don't know if that made sense, but yea... that wasn't the point in the first place
I am well aware that those two positions are completely different. Now, may I ask you... why do you choose to be agnostic? If you're unsure of how the world started, how will you carry out your life?
I believe God exists. Our universe is too complex and vast to have randomly appeared from nothing. It's disheartening, but our culture is becoming so degenerate, with the majority of people knowing who God is, but denying His existence. A lot of people claim to have been atheist all of their lives. But many of you probably were offered the knowledge and chose to reject it because of 'new advancements in science' and your own ambitions. "If there is a God, oh no, I have to go to church, and I can't do anything anymore; I don't want to be confined to this lifestyle. There is also science which 'disproves' much of the Bible! Let's be an atheist, it's easier to live my life that way and much simpler." Yes, there is the theory of evolution, but it is also flawed, like some of you believe the Bible to be. Yet you choose to believe in evolution. Why? Because I think many of you are not comfortable with the idea of being a Christian, since scientists claim that Christianity is stupid and if you believe in it, 1). You're dumb and 2). You'll just have a hard time, so be an atheist. Probably most of atheists have been exposed to Christianity first, and just when given the choice between atheism and Christianity, decided upon the worldly route. If you're atheist, you're free to do whatever you want. There are no repercussions, but no hope either. Honestly, there is no reason for living if there is no God or Heaven. We are all going to die, and it's difficult to imagine living without knowing where you're going to go when you die, or if you're going to go anywhere at all. If you die as an atheist, that's it. As an atheist, if you lose your loved ones, where do they go? They just disappear. There's no hope in that ideology, and in simple terms, I would rather believe in something that promises me hope and eternity.
sooo yeee that's my humble opinion, um it's more of my personal reason why, so don't come at me with sciencey things. i've yet to do research on THAT.., so yep!
Okay.. I searched up other religions such as Taoism and Confucianism and to my surprise, no results came up. So, why are we bashing or debating about the legitimacy of Christianity the most? What makes us so unappealing?
