I cannot believe?

Question

I was born in a Christian household, I was loosely raised. Over a course of time however doubt came into my mind. I found myself challenging every religion at the age of 9. I found myself an outcast due to children teasing me and saying "you're going to hell when you die" or "I'm gonna laugh when I'm in heaven." For years I tried to find my place, not only in Christianity, but in all religions, but I found myself an outcast. I found the way of the agnostic, and it made sense to me, I had tried to lie to myself for years and say I'm Christian for years, but I had found the way that suited me best. Now I see people calling us lost, and hell-bound, but I couldn't convert to Christianity, it would be a lie to myself, it's not that its hard for me to do, it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to do.

hey vince lee, i'm sick of people who say that, what if you were told that you would spend time in eternal agony, wouldn't it hurt, especially coming from you friends! so I've had enoug with ***** lik you, and I'm sorry I had the misfortune of laying eyes upon your reply.

I actually tried buddhism, wiccan, atheist, deism, polytheism, and animism.

Answer 1

Contrary to popular belief. Your right. It is impossible for you to just become a Christian because you want to.

You have to have been "comvicted", by The Holy Spirit too Truth.



Good Luck.

Answer 2

First of all, I know how you feel, ive have once been in those same shoes. If you are sincere, and at least acknowlege there is a God then you must know there are forces at work against us. While the thought of cussing at God or hating Him may never enter you mind, the way Satan works is by making you think "Is This Real?' Doubt can be a huge deterrent. While I can not probably say one sentance that will change everything, I can at least tell what did it for me. Keep in mind what you & I believe about God determines almost everything about your life. Why? Because there are fundamentally 4 questions that you must answer in your mind and I answer in mine.

Origen-- How did you come to be?
Meaning--What gives life meaning?
Morality-- How do you determine right from wrong?
Destiny--What happens to the human being when he dies?

All other religions will contradict or fall short of the rest. Remember Jeremiah 33:3 " Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" or Jer 29:13 " You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" and finally remember in Mark 9 when Jesus met someone who wanted a miracle but said "if you can help us...." (he was talking to God on Earth how couldn't he?) Jesus responds " Everything is possible for him who belives" The next words are important. IMMEDIATELY the father said "I DO BUT HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!". Finally go to www.rzim.org and click on RADIO, then Just Thinking archives and click to hear truth.

Answer 3

Coming from a fellow agnostic who grew up in a Catholic family, I can easily relate to your story. Faith and religion are very personal and you need to find what you believe by yourself. No matter how much pressure you are under, I reccomend staying true to what you believe deep down. You're right that it would be a lie to call yourself a Christian if you really don't believe in what they preach. As to whether or not you are lost, I highly disagree. I believe you are on your way to being FOUND. You have found that being Agnostic seems to be where your true beliefs lie, and that's a huge and great accomplishment. Don't worry about "going to hell when you die." How could God (if there is one) punish you for thinking and being true to yourself?

Answer 4

If you cannot believe then why are you worrying about going to hell? You do not believe in a hell, so why do you think you are going to it when kids are telling you that. A little part of you says that these kids might be true, and then you struggle to find yourself. But the truth is the question you should be asking is, are you fine with your life, are you happy? this is what matters. Don't be afraid of religion telling you how to live your life and what will happen after. If you don't believe then you don't simple as that. Religion requires a whole lot of blind faith that is hard to trust if you are an atheist. i wouldn't worry too much about this.

Answer 5

My dear friend, if I may ask, what other ways of life have you tried before turning into 'agnostic'. I met a converted Buddhist in Sydney in 1988, and he told me that he turned to Buddhism after he failed to find peace in Christianity and looked for peace else where in other religions. When I asked him which religions he studied, he was speechless as he only scratched through the surface of a few he came across. So, I requested this Friend of mine that he should then not move around saying that he found peace in Buddhism rater he shoul say that he was looking for Buddhism instead. So if you failed to do so yourself then be bold enough to admit that you were searching to aspiring to become an agnostic. That way atleast your effort will be appreciated by a few.

Answer 6

I know how you feel dear. I was raised in a strict christian home and when I began to be honest with myself and did my own research, I found that what I had been taught wasn't right. For example, I was (when I was 6) taught my best friends were going to hell because they didn't go to the same church. They were christians but not the same type. I believe in a supreme being, but not in the church. I don't need to be told what to believe and feel. Just live, find people like yourself. You'll be fine. Good luck.

Blessed Be

Answer 7

Well... what else can I say but good for you? You've learned to doubt. Sure that sounds bad because the religious among us will pound it into you head that doubt is a dirty word, a weakness. But it isn't. It's simply a threat to their empire. Doubt is good, doubt is a way of life. Doubt makes the world make a whole hell of a lot more sense. Doubt is the key to true knowledge and you are well on your way. It's a better life, take it from me, and life is all we have. Don't waste it waiting for the end.

Answer 8

I know nothing about your family and their faith but I know that the best way to get people to believe is to live it, so that it shows. Maybe your family had some inconsistent ways about how it lived its faith in Christ. I think that it is not easy, so this is not a judgment just an observation.

You just need to be open to what you believe and be honest about what you think is true. Maybe now is not your time to believe in Christ. I hope that you find it friend. But your openness and candor shows more promise then you know.

God is not something that you need to fit into so much as it is a mutual fitting. God uses what ever is unique about you. Sounds like you see Christianity as a walled city that needs to be entered. I could be wrong about what your beliefs are, but I know many Christians see it that way, but it is not true. God judges the hearts of man, it is not mans job to do so, so I would not listen to them. Not to say that you can reach a point of no return but that is still a matter between God and you, not man and you.

These are just some thoughts to think about. You are in my prayers, but no matter what I think or do you are in Gods hands. :)

Answer 9

You are on a journey, and have yet to find truth...no problem, though, just looking in the wrong places.
Do yourself a favor & research a bit...as you do, find what feels right & positive for you, and leave the rest.
A great place to start is with Neale Donald Walsh's "Conversations with God"...a series of 3 books...great reads...lots of common sense & very heart warming...try it, you might like, if not, move on...just keep trying, that's really the important part.

Answer 10

Nothings impossible for God. You have been a victim of societies view of Christianity. Real Christianity is not at all as you said. All of those people who called you names or harassed you in the past simply DON'T KNOW the REAL love of God. If they did, they most certainly would not dare say such things. Start anew, re-read your Bible and pray that the Lord show you the TRUTH. He loves you too much to see you reject all that He has for you.

Answer 11

Well, this is why you need Christian Repellent™. I think it would smell something like an amalgamation of sugar, flowers, kittens, and baby powder.

EDIT: Put it on quick, man. My theory is that anything good repells Christians. This has been proven, as you can see. Thinking for yourself, for example, is a good thing. You have done this. Now you are being attacked for it. Having a belief that you, well, obviously, believe to be right for you. Also good. Look at what this gets you.