I'm not sure I'm capable of having any deep, meaningful faith. I try to be open minded, but I find it troublesome that there are religions out there that, if they are true, would have me spiritually condemned for what could be something I'm just not capable of.
If there's a Christian God, why would I be made like this if it would damn me?
2006-09-15 23:15:37 · 13 answers · asked by Terhial 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Very good point and I've felt the same way for a looooooong time. I say this so called 'God' is where the problem started. Like an experiment gone bad when supposedly this almighty power made man in his own image and of the first 4 he gets a woman that doesn't obey and lures her husband and then they have sons and one kills the other. Christians ask us to believe everything God made was perfect in his image and man is responsible for going bad and now we have to repent and find our way back to that perfection. Seems to me and according to biblical history that God screwed up in his experiments and now we're supposed to overlook that and take all the blame?? Pfffffffffffft .... not me.
2006-09-15 23:27:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
My friend, striaght off let me tell you that the enemy is trying to divert you from the blessings that God has in store for you.
It is a lie that you are incapable of having a deep and meaningful faith. You like me were dealt the same measure of faith that is of Jesus Christ and the enemy is trying to get you to deny the thing you already know in your heart is true. Satan's objective is to dampen the fire that already kindled from within, resist him and he will flee from you.
God has already done everything for you, all you have to do is reach out and accept His outstreached hand, his loving free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is only a step of faith away, it is not blind faith because it already exists inside us all. We also have His word on it, the same word that spoke creation into existance, the same word that makes the following promise:
Joh 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)
We must all recognise that none of us are worthy of a place in heaven, there is nothing that we can do well enough to earn our place there. Yet God has set aside a place for each and everyone of us and have made it possible because of the sacrifice He made on the cross.
Don't allow the condemnation of others to undermine the promises of God. His word endures forever.
God bless you.
2006-09-16 16:44:44 · answer #2 · answered by movedby 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The concepts of god in many of the religions are ones that are just projections of our own thought systems - making up a god that fits into what a specific group wants (even Jesus' original message based on his enlightenment experience was completely changed to fit what people who couldn't understand wanted it to be). Just watch a show on nature and the whole predator/prey model proves that there's no way a loving god created this universe/world. Faith is often misused - what many really have is just unquestioned conditioning (because they're understandably too afraid or too invested in something to question it). The irony is that when we rightfully reject and place no faith in these made-up things, we're called 'atheists'. The truth is that this is the foundation of real spirituality -- to start by doubting these beliefs and concepts that make no sense. Beliefs and concepts can not be it -- they just create a 'virtual reality' that give an artificial meaning to things (switch to another belief/concept system and poof! The 'world' changes for you). But is there anything, then, beyond what we currently perceive? The ONLY way to answer this is to have a direct experience for ourselves - the same experience that Jesus, the Buddha and others (e.g. St John of the Cross) had. Beliefs and concepts can be used as tools to cultivate the mind training for this but they are just that -- tools and not truth. The experience results in an overwhelming joy and realization that one's individual self/body is not one's real identity (one experiences god but not the god of theistic, ego-based theologies). I find 'A Course in Miracles' to be very good for this (it uses christian language but w/ completely different meanings; its concepts are zen-like). I was attracted to it because of my earlier christian background. Also, Zen is very good -- i recommend '3 pillars of zen' and read the descriptions of people's enlightenment experiences.
2006-09-16 06:38:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is about being able to recognize TRUTHS. It is something each and every person is capable of with a mind given by God. (Do I need to make an exception here for the Mentally retarded and children?)
Truth will speak to every person in a way THEY are able to comprehend. The problem with religion of today is someone tried to make it complicated and make people think you had to have a "higher" mind in order to understand it. That was Satan.
Faith is belief in a TRUTH. If you do not do it, you do not believe it. YOU WILL act on TRUTH, no matter what. YOU will always act on your belief, NO MATTER WHAT.
I tell you the building is on fire. You have two choices..you can believe me or you can not believe me. I do not have to ask you IF YOU believe...your actions will prove it. If you do not leave the fire, then you do not believe me...if you do leave, you believed me. Did you have to see the flames to believe? No, if you trust ME as your friend, neighbor, or mom, you will believe me.
Faith is like that. You find something which you are told is the truth. You test it to see. You think about it and mull it over. Then you decide, yes or no, I do or do not believe. Then your actions will show you.
Two children by the pool. "JUMP" we shout. "Daddy and I will catch you!" "Come on, don't you trust us, don't you believe us." "YES! We believe you." One jumps, one does not.
WHO believed? Who did not believe?
Faith=what you really believe
Obedience=what you really believe
Disobedience=what you really DO NOT believe
2006-09-16 10:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by DA R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not want to damn you. He wants you to live the life you have to its potential. Here are a few quotes that give a different perspective.
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflections.” – Thomas Paine
God gave us life to live. If we live life, then we will make mistakes and learn. One learns much in the tempest of life that books cannot begin to teach. I do not make same mistakes I made as a youth. Yet, I am glad I made those mistakes, even though I may have died due to them. I learned lessons deeply and can relate to others.
“Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing.” -- Aristotle
“O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.” – St. Augustine
If you sin and then come back to God, broken, contrite, and repentant of that sin, you can be more valuable to God, and others.
“A virtuous man is never a novice in worldly things.” – Marcus Valerius Martialis
However, if you hide your sin, and are ashamed, you are useless to God and humanity. You are defeated. You become freed of sin if you do not hide it; you go through catharsis and grow.
“What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
As most people know, you learn from both your failures (sin) and your successes (living a moral life, loving God). If you fall into sin, what matters most is what you have learned, and what you do next. Never give up due to mistakes. Live your life fully to the end. Be humble, be wise, try things but learn from your mistakes. Listen to people that can communicate the wrong paths to take.
“To be a saint is the exception; to be upright is the rule. Err, falter, sin, but be upright. To commit the least possible sin is the law for man. Sin is a gravitation.” – Victor Hugo
Too often religion is overly involved in the details of people’s lives specifying what they can and cannot do. This needs to be re-thought. Dancing with a loved one adds great joy to life. Why make people feel guilty over drinking a glass of wine with a dinner?
“As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys.” -- William Blake
David of the Old Testament was a man of God. He was a hard-driving, drinking, womanizing, murdering, adulterous man, who loved and worshipped God. He was a man; he was a warrior for God who courageously fought Goliath. He was a moral, upright man fighting brutal wars and built a nation.
David struggled with sin. What church would accept this man, today? The media would have vilified him and he would have been prosecuted. Yet God loved him. Read Psalms, there is no doubt David was a man of God. God was in his soul. David accomplished God’s will in his life; he created a strong nation, although with mistakes, sin, rewards and pain.
“If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.” – Martin Luther King, Jr., an American Martyr
2006-09-16 09:11:04 · answer #5 · answered by Cogito Sum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am struggling in my faith a lot right now. i have these questions too. and the idea of damnation is what bothers me the most. (i was raised southern baptist--all fire & brimstone, "sinners in the hands of an angry God".) but i'm so glad to hear that you are seeking to have faith. i read recently (it was either in the purpose driven life, or my utmost for his highest) that what God desires most is a willing heart. i cannot give you all of the answers, as i struggle with the questions myself. but i can tell you not to give up in your search. if there is a God (and i still believe there is) i know that we can put our trust in him, and ask him, and he will show us, and whatever it is he requires of us, he will make us capable of, and whatever it is we cannot do to be perfect, he will love and accept us anyway, because of his grace and forgiveness. just please don't stop your wonderful, sincere search in wanting to know him.
2006-09-16 06:26:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is only One God, not just a "Christian God". Faith is a knowing and understanding that God is there for you. Maybe you are not quite ready for this yet. We do not go to God but Grow to God, step by step each day getting a little closer. So keep working toward getting closer to God, getting to know God and your faith will flow evermore.
2006-09-16 06:31:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus Christ will give you the blessings which come from faith in Him, yes, FAITH in Christ, He Is The Door to the blessing s of this life , This experience that is Life,This is the journey with in this life that God our Father calls us to, for completion
Im finding this out to !! Surfs up Bro
2006-09-16 06:34:56 · answer #8 · answered by David S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't worry about it. If God is all understanding then you should be able to live your life the way you see fit. He's supposed to love all his children no matter what.
2006-09-16 06:21:44 · answer #9 · answered by korines 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you are very confused. The first thing you must do is say the sinners prayer and accept Jesus into your life after confessing your sins.
Then in His name, cast out the spirit of confusion.
With Christ in you, all demons will flee.
God Bless, sister.
2006-09-16 06:21:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋