two days ago, i asked a few questions in which i was curious about. i asked about the stigmas of atheism, why christians want to convert atheists, and why being an atheist is a bad thing.
the replies i received were mostly disrespectful to atheists, and some were very disrespectful towards christians. i got a lot of "god wants us to tell you he loves you" and "you're going to hell if you don't believe in god" and "how can you not believe in him? it's like not believing in air."
so the new questions i propose are these: why, if christians are such good people, will they push you into the ground with disrespect for what you believe? and also, why exactly do you believe in god? what proof do you have to offer me?
i want to believe. but i can't. help me.
2006-09-19 16:23:08 · 8 answers · asked by Cayce A 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"i want to believe. but i can't. help me."
Can you please explain why you want to believe? How do you think believing will help you?
2006-09-19 16:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Jim L 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not bad. We don't take anything on blind faith. We use our reason. We ask questions. We are critical. We are trying to make this a better world without believing in some god or practising some religion or superstition. We don't need a god or the bible to tell us what is right or wrong, good or bad.
Christians always try to convert us. Christians threaten us with
the nonexisting hell. They really believe that atheists are bad.
Some christians want to jail us, do some real harm tous, deprive
us of our rights just because we don't believe as they do. Some
christians can be a real pain in the butt.
2006-09-19 23:45:03 · answer #2 · answered by kluane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Christian or an Atheist. I believe in a Higher Power because I cannot explain the complexities of the universe or human interactions or the science behind the existence of a tree or a swamp or a germ. In my opinion if I cannot explain everything and I have not met anyone else who can....then there must be a Higher Power.
I have respect for all forms of belief. I don't choose my friends based on race, religion, sexual preference or choice of patio furniture. I assume all people are created equally, and yet diversely by a Higher Power.
I have no proof of the Higher Power to offer you and the Higher Power does not need your belief to exist. He/She is already there anyways....unless it's my imagination then the Atheists are right. It's a circle of thought....it all makes sense. Love is the only difference. We should respect one another's right to freedom of thought.
2006-09-19 23:38:37 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good luck, i have yet to receive sufficient proof from a theist as to why i should believe in god. So far the most compelling advice i have received from any of them is faith. However, faith is simply putting trust in something you can't prove... so how does that make it any more real? I have tried faith in the past and I'm sorry, faith does not trump common sense.
Theists need to either give up trying to convince those without faith that they are correct, or find a more compelling argument that can't be refuted by science or reason. If any of you think you have it I'd love to hear it.
2006-09-19 23:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't prove God's existence to you, and no one else can, either. \
I am a believer in God, the God Jesus revealed, because of the way Jesus revealed that God: a God who is compassionate and capable of dramatic reversals: the poor being uplifted and the oppressed being free.
Many Christians believe it to be their duty to save your soul, lest you be condemned to hell. This is an error. My presupposition is that God exists and judges us on the preponderance of our actions: we make decisions that form who we are, and at the end of our lives, we have lived either in a "yes" or a "no" to goodness. This is the standard by which we are judged: not our religion, not our nationality or color or gender, but whether we lived lives of goodness. Karl Rahner said this decades ago, and I happen to believe it.
No one has the power to save your soul, no matter how well-meaning they are. Only God's grace can save us.
I do not wish to show disrespect toward your beliefs. I only wish that you continue to search for truth however you might find it. Truth is not limited to things we can prove. We cannot prove goodness, but we believe that some things are good.
Stop trying to believe. Rather, have faith. These two things are different. Belief requires you to adhere to a bunch of formulas. You don't need this. Faith is a conscious "yes" to adhere to goodness, which at the end of your life becomes definitive of you.
That's how I see it, anyway.
Good luck.
2006-09-19 23:25:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a frame of mine, and spiritual being. I believe because I was taught about Jesus from childhood, and my grandmother was the perfect example of a good Christian, through her I learned about Jesus and His love for us. When I got older, and studied more about Him, He called to my soul to join Him and be baptized. It is a feeling that comes upon you and makes you realize your sins better, you get an overwhelming feeling to repent, and cleanse yourself so you will FEEL worthy to serve Him. He doesn't say to me, well you aren't worthy but the action of your sinful life makes you feel unworthy. Since I accepted Jesus I have TRIED to walk truthfully with Him, although I have slipped and fell a few times along the way. Thankfully He is ALWAYS there to pick me up.
You see it is all in the way you perceive life, you either feel His calling you or you don't. You will know the difference when it happens to you.
2006-09-19 23:48:32 · answer #6 · answered by pooh bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you need someone to tell you what to believe anyway? If you are waiting for the clouds to part and a booming voice to provide you with the proof, you are going to be waiting a long time.
2006-09-19 23:32:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I fail to believe too. It is hard. I just cannot make myself agree with any religion. I tired many, but none fit, I knew I was lying.
2006-09-19 23:34:45 · answer #8 · answered by valkyrie hero 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋