church going and the story of Jesus as a God in general since I was a child. So my question is: If I had these questions and doubt since I was a child is my non religious attitude built into my gene makeup or learned from others and my enviornment?
Some info:
We did not go to church as children, but had a very Christian up bringing, yes sir, no sir all that, taught respect for others, punished if we even looked like we were going to act as bigots, in other words brought up like Christians just without the church or Bible reading.
Looking for serious answers, has any one else ever had these same questions as a child?
2006-08-30 16:08:32 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes you are very correct in your thinking. If the Bible is the word of God how come so many readers understand the word differently and draw different conclusions. If you live a good life and respect others and believe in a higher power and do good in your life, is it not the christian way? You can still consider yourself a christian if you like. Born again Christian really don't have an organized church per say... they just preach the way they feel and find a church that makes them feel good to attend. So you are right, raise your children with goodness and mercy and teach them right and wrong. Award them for goodness and punish them for badness. They will grow to hold the Christians Golden Rule close to their hearts too. Good Luck and My The High Power Bless YOU.
P.S. The problem that I have with most churches is that saying everyone is born in sin. This is the most hog wash I have ever heard. If Jesus died for out sins, how can we be born in sin. We just got started. Babies are the purist thing to God and Jesus. The slate is clean, it is only after you are born and start to learn you may become a sinner. God people give the babies a fighting chance.
2006-08-30 16:17:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a similar experience, except my family went to Church every week on top of the CHristian morals and upbringing. As long as I can remember, I have doubted the Christian story, I have never felt close to God, and I do not believe that the Bible is a true book. I used to feel guilty about it, but I have come to understand that I am what I am. I live life like a good person, but I am not religious at all. I think that there may be a higher being, but I do not believe in the Christian God (or any other God, for that matter). Be proud to be who you are! Explore other religions and see if there is a right fit for you! That is what I have done, but I haven't found one that suits me right!
2006-08-30 23:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by Stevy L 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I went to Lutheran Church and Sunday School as a child. Except for a few very famous Bible stories in Sunday School - and the reading of the gospel, etc. at church, we did not use the Bible too much.
When we reached Confirmation Class age, we had to memorize all the names of the books of the Bible - but we surely didn't need to know the entire Bible - basically The 10 Commandments, and what was written in our catechisms.
2006-08-30 23:17:29 · answer #3 · answered by Terri C. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people are practically atheistic from birth, they have always been repulsed by the very idea of God. You could say that it is in their 'genes'.
Others may try to find the answers but when they get none become frustrated and so also become atheistic. Here the environmernt has played a significant role.
I am not sure that your in either category as there's nothing wrong with questioning your beliefs or those of others - this is a sign of intelligence. But you have to be sincere to find the answers because the enviroment nowadays is one of the godlessness and total lack of spiritual understanding. If you have strong faith in God He will guide you.
2006-08-30 23:58:03 · answer #4 · answered by debarun p 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem with the Bible is that nobody reads it. Do not connect the Bible from pseudo-religions like we have right now. The Bible never commanded the people to create lots of religion. People created these religions then blamed it on the Bible. My suggestion: Read the Bible and then if you have any questions regarding what you have read then you look it up, where, not in the dicvtionary or the encyclopedia but, in the Bible itself. You can find it. The Bible is a collection of 66 books written within a span of 3000 years but somehow all of them are interconnected. So read and study it and I promise you you will never be a religionist fanatic like most people are.
2006-08-30 23:20:50 · answer #5 · answered by Marlo M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A Christian is a person who believes in Christ. You were taught right morals and values which I applaud your family for but you weren't raised as a Christian.
Church going will not save you and neither will acting right. Jesus said "No man comes to the Father but through the Son."
What it breaks down to is this....IF you have a problem with the Bible then you have a problem believing in this "higher power" because He is the one who inspired men to write it.
You have to make a decision what you will do with Christ. He came because man could not keep the ten commandments, he died for every man's sin and rose again. You have to choose what you are going to believe because ultimately it will be the decision which will decide where you spend eternity. And If you accept Jesus you will have to read and accept the Word God inspired.
2006-08-30 23:16:58 · answer #6 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd clarify that you had a moral upbringing, but if there wasn't Jesus Christ, then it was not a Christian upbringing. Christian parents need to teach their children very clearly who God is, who Jesus is, why Jesus died and rose from the dead, how to become a christian (personal prayer and confession that Jesus is Lord) and a clear understanding that being raised in a Christian home doesn't make one a Christian by association.
Your non-religious attitude is from being raised in a non-religious home, and is inherently natural because every person is born in sin and opposed to God. Every person has the desire to be their own God, and that is strictly because of the original sin from Adam. The only thing to reverse your non-religious attitude is to be renewed in Spirit and Mind, and to be born again.
2006-08-30 23:15:54 · answer #7 · answered by Strange question... 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think as children we all question things we cannot see and the relevance of those things to our world which is very narrow and specific.
I think your upbringing isn't necessarily Christian, but more conservative than most. The things you were taught are things that are important in the Bible that's true, but there is more to Christianity than just behaving in a socially acceptable manner.
Christianity is accepting the Lord God as your Savior, studying the Word of God (the Bible), understanding it in the context of your life and applying biblical principles to all you do. Biblical priniciples aren't just being "good" or "nice" or "kind", although those things are contained within them. Biblical principles are having faith in God, serving others as Christ served us, imitating Christ's behaviors in all that we do, acknowledging we fall far short of those goals, etc.
If you are looking for answers in your life, I suggest you find a Bible based church where you feel comfortable and the pastor teaching directly out of the Bible. Get involved in Bible studies and learn how it all plays out and the relevance to our lives today.
Be blessed.
2006-08-30 23:15:50 · answer #8 · answered by Sandy S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you believe in a higher power but have a problem with the bible (welcome to the club!) then check out "Conversations with God" as it makes more sense than the bible and, as an added bonus, is more fun to read. In these books you will discover why "God" does not approve of religion - which may help you to understand your non-religious attitude. Quite an eye-opening experience for me!
2006-08-30 23:24:46 · answer #9 · answered by tomleah_06 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I absolutely have the same questions. I was brought up exactly the same way you described. But as I've gotten older I've become much more disillusioned with religions. I'm a spiritual person and do my very best to live as "as God would have me live" but I don't not trust most religious leaders and feel like a lot of churches are not much more than cults.
2006-08-30 23:14:20 · answer #10 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋