Why do you believe in God?

Question

And I want to know more than "because the bible tells me so." Did your parents believe? Did you just listen to whatever they told you to? Have you thought outside your personal "box" as to whether or not it's actually the truth? Do you see religion and God as mythology that is believable or it just "is"?

I know about Pascal's Wager... basically, it states that you might as well hedge your bets and believe in God because you have nothing to lose if you do and everything to lose if you don't. It has nothing to do with faith and everything to do with "just in case." I'm pretty sure God knows the difference between those who truly believe in him and have faith in his existence and those who are merely hedging their bets so keep from burning for eternity.

There are so many scientific flaws in the professor/student tale, I don't even know w here to start. But thanks for sharing the story. I can definitely hear Christian heads nodding. Of course we cannot see evolution at work because it takes THOUSANDS of years for just one little tiny bit of evolution to take place. Has anyone lived that long? Nope. There are many ways to test evolution but theists refuse to perform those tests, continuing to insist that science prove the negative, which your story has proven cannot be done. Why then do theists continue to insist that non-believers prove a negative? Science has proven evolution has taken place but theists manage to provide "proof" that it hasn't and their proof is almost always bible-based. And the bible cannot be used as proof of anything factual because it is a book of wonderfully useful stories and nothing more.

Answer 1

For myself, I was brought up with God in my life. There have been plenty of times during my younger years that I questioned myself. But as I grew older and had children and went through the hurtles of life, I found myself leaning back toward God. It seemed like the more trouble I was faced with the more I leaned toward God and I always came through unscathed. Some people believe it's just luck but I believe that God does exist. Just because of my own personal experiences. The bible is history in the making. Just like our history books today were written by man so was the bible. Do I believe things were changed? Yea I think things were changed some what. I know one thing, if the Bible is fake, someone had a good imagination.

Answer 2

Very good question. I can honestly say it's NOT just because the Bible tells me so. There's so much more to it. I suppose that it's more this way; how can I not believe? I grew up as a Christian, my parents were/are Christian (dad passed away when I was 9, mom is doing well). My family has been through much tragedy but overwhelmingly more joy, which is not to be confused by happiness. Everytime I begin to doubt or wonder I am repeatedy reminded through people and through nature that He is with me. I am a Christian because I have experience a love that goes beyond what anyone else could ever show. I recommend that if you are serious about this that you read "Surprised By Joy" by C.S. Lewis. He tracks his life as a "Christian" during his childhood to Atheism then back to Christianity.

Answer 3

I believe in God because chance and coincidence is not the perfect explanation to everything. Everything that came about with evolution relied on pure "chance". So many things have happened in my life that are just too often to be considered a mere coincidence. Small things that have happened have ended up setting the course for my entire future. God works by small and simple means. It is up to us to recognize His hand in everything. I know that God lives because everything witnesses of His name and His glory.

Answer 4

I am a Pascalian Christian.
Pascal wasn't a holy man or a prophet. He was a mathematician. Essentially, he said that if you don't believe in God, you might be a big loser.
Check the wikipedia article on "Pascal's Wager"

Answer 5

I grew up in a church, but I stopped going for a while. I came back to spend time with new friends. I stayed because I wanted to. I believe in God because I know in my heart that he is truth. However its not about belief its about faith. Because even satan believes in God.

Answer 6

its something just bigger than you..its a feeling of completeness within my heart

its faith
read this
its so beautiful

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new students to stand and.....


Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.


Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.


Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.


Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
Student: (Student is silent.)


Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.


Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.


Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God...


Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.


Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.


Prof: So who created evil?
Student: (Student does not answer.)


Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.


Prof: So, who created them?
Student: (Student has no answer.)


Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son....Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.


Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No , sir.


Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.


Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.


Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.


Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?


Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?


Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn't.


Prof: (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.


Prof: (There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?


Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?


Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.


Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?


Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?


Prof: (The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?


Prof: (The class is in uproar.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?


Prof: (The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?.....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?


Prof: (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir.. The link between man & God is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

Answer 7

Yes, I grew up with it. But it also just makes sense to me.