I believe there's a God, the name is not important, it could be GOD, or BUDDAH, or ALLAH or whatever but i have problems with recognizing the church as being important in my "relashionship" with God. For me the church is nice to look at or visit, but nothing more. I don't even want to start talking about the priests... for me they don't exist. So am I atheist? Is something wrong with me for not recognizing the church or the priests? I wonder if there are other people that share my oppinion in the world... cuz i have collegues that have the same so called "belief"...
2006-10-14 07:00:43 · 31 answers · asked by Ank 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many people have no need or desire to be members of an organized religion, yet they believe in God and adhere to a set of ethics. If you believe there's a God you're a theist. An atheist believes there is no God and an agnostic thinks we can never know for certain.
A lot of people have the same view, as you, maybe just not the ones you know. I think the bottom of your message was cut off where you begin to talk about your colleagues....
You sound like someone who wants to make up her own mind on this issue, and reading more about comparative or world religions could be of great help.
2006-10-14 07:02:57 · answer #1 · answered by Strawman Detector 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak as a Christian, so here is my view:
The "church" is the body of believers. It is not a physical place. I am a Christian and haven't found a church that isn't at least a little corrupted by the "traditions of men." I'm still searching because I think it's important to fellowship with other believers. Nothing is wrong with you concerning the priest issue. If you believe in God you are not an atheist. I don't know what your belief is, but there is my opinion.
2006-10-14 14:07:42 · answer #2 · answered by JohnC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you just have great insight. Tell you what I think you would like is a great study group that has a period of fellowship b4 or after where people share their spiritual experiences and happenings in their lives etc. Since it appears you are in the US the easiest groups to find will be christians. It does not make a differance the name you use, except that Jesus will be at the gate and I am sure He will make you know that eventually, b4 or after death I know not exactly how all that works but to be built up while one is here on eath makes life easier and for understanding reading scripture is both important and edifying. Ask around there is a study somewhere and when you go to the one with true believers you will know it, the feeling will be completely different.
2006-10-14 14:20:49 · answer #3 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people have a mystical approach to God, the direct approach. Others have what has been called a sacramental approach, mediated through people and things. Both are valid. You sound like a mystic.
When you take a pure mystical approach, names like God and Allah do become unimportant to you. Names also are mediated through the material.
As a Christian with mystical tendencies, I have this question about God's existence: If God created all that exists, in what sense does God "exist"? Is God also a creature? Surely not. So, the source of "existence" cannot "exist" in the sense that the world "exists."
The mystical approach to God does produce ideas superficially resembling agnosticism or even atheism.
2006-10-14 14:15:21 · answer #4 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You say you "believe" there's a God...so you are not an atheist.
But...You appear to be uninformed of The Truth of The Church. There are no priests in The Church. The Church is The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head.
Only those who come to God in The Way He proscribes and receive His free gift of Salvation become part of The Body that is The Church. Those of The Church are of The True Christian Faith... no one can become of The True Christian Faith by the decree of any man invented doctrin... only God decides who is of The Faith. and who is in The Body of The Church.
If you might have a question concerning The True Christian Faith you may email me... 1 honest question receives 1 honest answer... I do not spam those who contact me... I just don't have the time for those kinds of games...
2006-10-14 14:14:27 · answer #5 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in God, you're not an atheist.
I also believe in God and interpret the Bible from my own studies. All churches teach different things, and it can be confusing for someone trying to figure things out. If I attend church, it's more for the fellowship than anything. Because it doesn't make me feel any closer to God than when I talk to him myself.
If you research a lot of other religions around the world, they are all similar in many ways.
If you're comfortable with your relationship with God, and you're confident in your studies, don't worry about what others think or say. You and God are the only ones who matter in this deal anyway! Good luck!
2006-10-14 14:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by Lady J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Athiests have no religious beliefs at all. If you believe there is no God, no purpose for our existence other than some cosmic accident and that when you're dead, your dead, and that's all there is to it - then youd be an Athiest. You say you belive in some type of God so you're not an Athiest.
There are lots of people who are spiritual who do not attend Church...I personally think that it could be amazing to have a group of faithful spiritual people working together for positive change...but that's not always what happens in a Church. I agree with you, in that you don't need a Church to be spiritual. :)
2006-10-14 14:07:42 · answer #7 · answered by quilt_mommy_2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's pretend that your name is Susan Smith, and you are the mother to a little girl named Sally. Now pretend that a little boy on the playground came running up to you and said, "Bobby's mommy? I need some help tying my shoes, please!" You would probably feel the need to correct the boy about whose mother you were, and also help him tie his shoes.
The next day on the playground, the same little boy ran up to you once again and addressed you as "Bobby's mommy". No matter how many times you tried to correct him and tell him your name was Mrs. Smith, he ignored you and continued to call you "Bobby's mommy". After a while, you began to ignore him, because he was rude... although he didn't realize it.
Likewise, if a Buddhist prayed to Buddha for help in his or her life, the God of Abraham might not recognize that petition, because the Buddhist was addressing Him incorrectly. Even if you think it's alright to call someone by an incorrect name, it really isn't. Just a thought.
2006-10-14 14:15:10 · answer #8 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do not feel like going to your church is bringing you closer to God why should you go?
But I would say setting time aside to study on your own will help and you should.
I know allot of people who do this and in allot of ways they get closer to God then just about any body although some of them get to thinking they are the only person on earth who knows any thing and they stop learning. But on the whole yeah you are most defiantly a beleiver from what I read.
2006-10-14 14:12:10 · answer #9 · answered by esoreinna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think more people share your beliefs more than you realize. I know I feel the same way as you do. Many people fear the church and are scared to speak up because they don't want to be ridiculed. It doesn't matter really what the church thinks or says. Your beliefs are your own possession. Nothing wrong with that.
2006-10-14 14:05:30 · answer #10 · answered by LISA F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋