2006-09-27 17:08:51 · 19 answers · asked by Ken 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I already believe in many Gods and Goddesses.
2006-09-28 19:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by Witchy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well....in Christian Chat, I always state the following proposition: "If God exists and has created a hell for non-believers and God truly loves us and wants to see us in Heaven, then God should slam the door to my computer room right now, and then I will become a Christian".
So far, my door has not slammed.
Christians say I am tempting God with this proposition, but if one reads the Old Testament, particularly, the Book of Judges, one finds many examples of Jewish leaders asking God to provide a sign before the leaders will act upon God's command, which is usually wiping out a neighboring culture. In these cases, God provides the sign and then the genocide/infanticide commences.
Of course it's possible for there to be a God that is not the Judaeo-Christian God. I have prefaced my slamming the dog proposition with contingencies like, "I am not assuming you are synonomous with any god that is the subject of worship in any current or previously held belief system on this planet, and after you slam my door, I will not bother you again or expect you to intervene in, interact with, or assist my life in any way whatsoever. Nor will I expect eternal life as a consequence of my decision to believe in you, should you decide to slam my door at this moment." Even when these "no-strings-attached" propositions are offered up, there is no slamming of my door.
I realize that if there is a God that, say, created the entire universe, then it's possible that this God is very busy with other matters. So, every once in a while, I restate my proposition, sometimes with other variations or contingencies. As long as there is no response, which has been the case so far, I will continue to be an atheist.
God is supernatural. I need supernatural proof, like the slamming of my door when there is no breeze in the house and no earthquake going on. It's that simple.
Just look at the plight of people in Africa at this time. No God who created us and loves us would allow that much suffering.
Atheism is my choice.
2006-09-28 00:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by fergal_lawler_iowa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in a mixed-religion household. I always thought I believed in God but now know that I was like a lot of people who answered this... just looking for proof. It was easier for me to believe in God when I stopped asking for proof, stopped asking "why me" whenever something went wrong and started to give up fighting for what I thought was best for me. Maybe I was depressed or desperate but I started reminding myself to trust God's plan for me instead. And you know what, as soon as I started even when things went wrong I could see why it was best that way. I have so much more understanding and happiness now than I ever did. The change I made was not a result of any proof I received or from reading the bible...it came after I agreed to believe without proof. Isn't that a definition of faith? To believe without having proof? I won't even pretend to know anything about the bible but I seem to remember from my childhood that this was the message they were trying to get across between all the hellfire and brimstone: just have faith and God will make it all better. Took me a long time but I finally tried it and I will say it again... I have never been happier (and now I get proof almost every day without asking for it).
2006-09-30 02:45:07 · answer #3 · answered by - 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before I even considered believing in "God", this "God" would have to be properly defined. As of yet, no one has defined "God" in a meaningful way. Therefore until I receive a satisfactory definition, the question "does God exist" will be considered to be logically equivalent to "what color is Saturday" as they are both nonsensical and cannot yield meaningful responses.
2006-09-28 04:50:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly for some of them there is nothing short of a miracle to bring some of them to God. But take heart for God specializes in miracles, He gave Paul one on the road to Damascus and forever changed his heart. One cannot be saved except for the calling by the Holy Spirit so keep praying and believing that God is up to the challenge of changing their hearts.
2006-09-28 00:18:08 · answer #5 · answered by Godb4me 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It takes God's will to allow me to believe. God works within the heart to give us faith to believe, even when we cannot see or understand him.
2006-09-28 00:17:06 · answer #6 · answered by J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't need anything to make me believe in God. The signs are all around us! Take a closer look...
2006-09-28 00:14:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Evidence.
2006-09-28 00:10:46 · answer #8 · answered by need help! 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The same thing that happened to Bruce Almighty!!
2006-09-28 00:14:52 · answer #9 · answered by ~ Sara ~ 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Irrefutable proof. Not scripture, not bible quotes, not heresay or testimony about prayers answered. Proof.
2006-09-28 00:15:02 · answer #10 · answered by Skeff 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋