I'm from the south, and I was raised in a good Christian household. It seems that I stopped believing in God when I stopped believing in Santa Clause. I'm extremely skeptical, yet I have a horrible fear of death. I feel like I should believe, but I can't make myself. I've tried praying, and appreciating my surroundings, etc. etc., but I've never felt the connection that so many people describe. Am I doomed? Please, no mean answers. This is a serious question.
2006-08-23 20:38:07 · 35 answers · asked by justme 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
U cant make yourself believe in god. don't try. and don't let anyone push u to believe. no u aren't doomed. give it time. like u i don't believe in god but i looked and studied all religions till i found something that felt right. Wicca. open a book n talk to ppl u might find where u fit 2.
2006-08-23 20:43:26 · answer #1 · answered by bambino7758 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with that. It is good that you are smart enough to break away from the christian religion and not allow yourself to be brainwashed by the christians.
I don't believe in God, though I am not an atheist. I believe in a "higher power". I guess you could call it God, but I don't like the idea of God. People say God is a powerful man who is watching you and will punish you. No! That's ridiculous. I believe "God" is just a higher power with NO gender. God is not a human being. God is field of intelligence, creativity, and power. The reason why I believe in a form of "God" is because I do not think this world could just come out of nothing. I do believe something created it.
I do not think anybody really has the right to tell people how the world came to be. There is no proof of "God" creating us and the world, so I suggest everybody just leaves it at "we may never know".
I also do somewhat believe in some of the philosophical theories that we are all here out of absurdity.
It's possible.
I think we will never know, so we should keep quiet and stop believing every little thing religion tells us.
I think God is me. God is you. God is everyone.
God is within you. God is something you can trust.
It is complicated.
Be GLAD that you are not another brainwashed sheep. It is good that you question your religion; It shows that you are smart, and not gullible. Continue questioning "God", and religion until you feel comfortable.
You shouldn't force yourself to believe in something you are not sure about.
If you're content with your life now, godless or not, continue living your life the way it is and be happy.
2006-08-23 21:54:36 · answer #2 · answered by Stella 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Belief isn't a choice. Faith must be earned or learned. The only things that can make you believe in a god, set of gods, or absence of any god is enough faith. For some people, that means parental brainwashing. For others, reading a religious book enough times will do it. For others, maybe they see something in the world that convinces them.
In any case, my suggestion is to start from square one. Question everything. Try looking through other religions. Try coming back to christianity if none of them convince you. Maybe no religion will fit you. Maybe you'll never run out of questions. Eventually you will end up somewhere when it comes to belief, whether that is a firm belief in any (a)theistic religion or with the conclusion that it is too arbitrary and that no religion is convincing enough to believe in given the (lack of) evidence. Whatever happens, finding out what you really, truly believe in is far more important than picking a religion and blindly believing in it for no good reason.
What doomed means depends a lot on what you mean by doomed... but as this is a christianity based question, remember that if you don't believe in hell, it doesn't make a lot of sense to be afraid of it. Maybe a good place to start asking questions is to figure out why you think you might be doomed in the first place.
As an aside, fear of death is perfectly natural... in many ways it's a great defense mechanism.
Best of luck.
2006-08-23 21:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in the South as well. I was raised Southern Babtist. My belief in Santa Claus waned at an early age but my belief in God never did. I just know that this world is an awful place for a reason. It's so easy to become bitter and cynical in today's world because that's the way society has become. Our society is petty, cynical and too critical and disrespectful of others. God is above all that. A common mistake with human beings is to think of God in human terms. He is not a man. He is not the earth or the universe. He is not mortal. He is seperate from his creation. He is above sin and reproach. Mankind has forgotten that he is a creation and not the creator. We are arrogant and we all too quickly judge and condemn those who are not like us. Try to find beauty in small things and this I believe will help you see God at least on some level. It's very hard to find peace in a world that has gone so wrong on so many levels. But it's there right underneath the surface of all things. You have to look. I know this may all sound cryptic but God is not easily explained. I hope I've helped at least a little bit.
2006-08-23 20:52:01 · answer #4 · answered by kingofnarniaforever 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll give you a serious answer. Deep inside you know that God exists. The first step you need to take is to spend some quiet time reading the Bible, not skeptically, but like a story book. It says in the Bible that you believe by reading the Bible. Don't expect a connection right away, or anything drastic to happen.
As far as logic. I believe that you can know that God is real, and like I said I believe we all know, but our minds are cluttered with doubt, and we have been taught not to believe. Belief in God does not automatically make you a saved person. It's just the first step.
There are many thoughts that make you disbelieve in God. One of them is "Why is there so much suffering, and war?". God allows free will, and people choose to do evil. We are seperated from God because of our sin. I'm sure you have heard some of that, it takes time for that to sink in. Reading the Bible, especially the Gospel of John will open your eyes.
Please read the link.
2006-08-23 20:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by The Bible (gives Hope) 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well ur not alone ... me too im beggining to be skeptical.. i sometimes believe that death is the end for me no heaven nor hell.. no soul just gonna end up eaten by worms etc.. but you know what.. theres something inside of me even though a little bit that says god really exist.. just look at urself... ur different from other animals.. you can think, you got a conscience you now wuts right and wrong you got sooo many ideas.. and you know thats thers always a higher power than you.. well think about it can a mouse, lions. cats dogs and other animal have that?? i guess not eh.. i tell you onething even the most logical scientist here on earth believes that cant deny that theres a higher power than us humans.. and its up to you to discover that higher power.. and dont fear death once you die you will forget everything... you wont even know ur dead.. and death is not really the end its only the beginning of this never ending cycle of life.. just put that in ur mind and everything will be fine..
2006-08-23 20:51:55 · answer #6 · answered by evertroland 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe what you need is psychological help. No, I don't mean you're crazy. I just think you may need help to deal with an extreme fear of death. In the meantime, you're not doomed. You're human. And we all have a fear of death. Only that it doesn't usually keep us from living.
Here's a thought for you: "There's a life BEFORE death". Don't forget that. Good luck.
2006-08-23 20:48:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The fact that we all have to give up the ghost is regrettable. But try to keep in mind that most people die in one of two ways: suddenly, or slowly and painfully.
As for suddenly, you may not even be aware of what happens to you, it's just all of a sudden *bam* and lights out. That was easy.
If it's slow and painful, sure you'll have some anxiety about dying, but at some point things will become so painful that you'll sincerely *wish* you were dead. So in that case it becomes something to look forward to.
Yay! Horray for death!
2006-08-23 20:48:26 · answer #8 · answered by Good Times, Happy Times... 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well I'm from the south too and i am raised in a Christian home too and my mom is a Evangelist and you know what you have to do.........you have to renewed again what i mean about that is that get baptize again and then read some Scriptures in the bible and think about what they mean........and don't listen to the people say that yo are doom they might be worse and they might be hypocrites listen to what your heart says because you know what....... that's gods telling what you suppose to be doing the right and by the way I'm 16 year old my email address is (hot_diva2008@yahoo.com) if you have any more questions......... god bless you
2006-08-23 20:52:52 · answer #9 · answered by mekasweet 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe your taking the first step and don't realize it? I feel certain you are aware of what the Bible says, but maybe your under conviction... Let things happen, but I will tell ya that there is Nothing you can do to reason God out. Nothing is Logical about it. He is just that G O D a great big Wonderful Loving God. When he's ready be ready accept him. It may seem complicated but it quite the opposite! Let Jesus take control and everything will be totally GrEaT!!
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God Bless You
2006-08-23 20:59:58 · answer #10 · answered by lilAudrey 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋