I lost my faith years ago.. during the famine in Ethiopia in the 1980s. I saw people dieing slow painful deaths. I rationalised that perhaps God had deemed that they should suffer that way for not being Christian (or maybe Muslim). For having chosen and followed the "wrong" faith anyway.
I then realised that there were tiny children suffering similar agonising deaths, and those that didn't die would have disabilities caused by malnutrition. Their lives would never reach their full potential.
I asked myself, how is it that God would do this sort of thing? Even if it was the fault of the adults for having chosen the wrong or no faith, what about these children who were entirely dependent on the prevailing culture and religions their parents had. They had no choice or power to exercise a choice in faith. Why were they suffering by God's will?
2006-06-23 07:21:29 · 16 answers · asked by How Much? How Much???? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I then realised either
a) God was a dick, and not worth any "praise" or "love".. to soothe his insecurities etc. Not if he causes such pain and suffering in our world
or b) (and much more likely)
God was a concept invented by people in power thousands of years ago in order that they might control others, and propogated for ever after for similar reasons. Power and social control.
2006-06-23 07:24:31 · update #1
I lost my faith when Bush got in office. I knew that if there were a god, and he loved us he would never have let things get that bad.
2006-06-23 07:33:38 · answer #1 · answered by happytraveler 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure I ever had any great faith, other than the childish belief in a god that you get in religion classes. At that point, there's not a whole lot of difference between that and Santa Claus. Once I started thinking for myself and reading a variety of ideas, I decided that all religions are just mythology--a mythology that most societies seem to find necessary, but mythology nevertheless.
2006-06-23 14:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God didn't promise that u would suffer or that they people u care for would suffer. but he did promise hope.
In Job , Job was the most holy man in his time. Satan said that Job would fall and curse God if bad things happened to him. God beleived that Job would keep his faith so he let Satan destroy his life except for him himself. Job lost his sons, dauhters, and stock. Instead of cursing God Job praised God. Job didn't ask for forgivness because he knew that he didn't do anything. His friends said that he must have done something wrong. But Job trusted God and kept his faith. In the end Jobs family incereased by over 2x the original amount of children he had before. and his livestock increased by x the original amount
2006-06-23 14:32:46 · answer #3 · answered by holygrail Kniggit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It took about about two years, when I was 18-19.
I started college and had a World History class and learned about the documents the Bible writers cribbed to put the Old Testament together.
I began to notice the hypocrisy in the Christians I knew.
I grew up.
2006-06-23 14:24:50 · answer #4 · answered by grammartroll 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My faith relies on evidence and facts.
The bible is a book of mythology, humans invent Gods in their own images and there is no supernatural entity controlling or intervening in affairs on earth.
If people relied on themselves and each other to make the world a better place, it would be far more effective that relying on non-existent entities. And money wasted on charlatans promoting their own versions of supernatural entities would be far better spent actually doing something other than lining their pockets.
2006-06-23 14:27:29 · answer #5 · answered by Left the building 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lost it the first time in the mid 80's, then got lulled back into the Christian cult again. I lost it for good a second time about 5 years ago.
2006-06-23 14:25:37 · answer #6 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why are you assuming that God was punishing them? what if God wanted to take them and put them in a better place. we all suffer. some more than others. in the end, i believe that God took these children to a place where they would no longer be hungry. their endurance would be greatly rewarded with eternal bliss and shelter from famine and hunger.
2006-06-23 14:28:04 · answer #7 · answered by brainlessbandit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never lost my faith.There are alot of people that do lose there faith but God will test your faith but if you stand strong you will be blessed. Everybody faces hard times but you have to be strong and keep the faith.
2006-06-23 14:30:11 · answer #8 · answered by Nece 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been such a long, slow process, I couldn't really tell you. I started questioning my faith at around age 14. I have just recently (past year or six months) strengthened my atheist beliefs (rather, non-beliefs)...
2006-06-23 14:28:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started going to Church. The people there are hypocrites. Most of the Christians I know are religious zealots. They judge people more than anyone I know.
2006-06-23 14:26:37 · answer #10 · answered by jeannie_brim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋