Please don't be offended?

Question

Alright, let me start off by saying I'm not an atheist or a believer, I'm kinda stuck in the middle I guess. I went to church when I was younger, was raised in a very Christian home, but as I got older, I began to have doubts about the whole God thing. I guess I don't understand how, if God created the whole Earth, why do people believe in different Gods? I mean, if he created all of us, how did Buddha and all them other things come to be? Why is God only worshipped in certain places? I have read the Bible, and all I really remember is "to live in fear of God" which makes it sound like all of this religon stuff is just to scare us into being good. I live my day to day life thinking of God, you know, if I do this, is it wrong? Or will I go to hell for doing this? stuff like that, but in the back of my mind I don't think there is a God. I just want to know if anybody else thinks like this. I mean, if anything good happens to me, I take it as a blessing from God, if something bad happens,

I rack my brain for what I did wrong, to see why God is punishing me. So does this make me an athiest, if I do think about God, but I also think the whole Bible and story of God is ficticious? Just want to see what everybody thinks.

ok, so apparently Buddha isn't a God, I get that now, which I didn't know before, nobody else has to make me feel stupid about that =)

Answer 1

The main factor I am not seeing in your analysis is that God gave us all free will. God wants us to choose to love him. If we were forced to love God, would that be love at all? Free will factors in all aspects of life. Your positive and negative experiences that you attribute to god favoring you with blessing, or punishing you, could be the results of someone else imposing their free will upon you. This is why in the Bible we are told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. As not to impose our free will upon them and effect them in a negative manner. It sounds like you are struggling with some very important spiritual dilemmas, I will pray for you and I wish you the best.

Answer 2

I think it is normal for you to be having the feelings you are and I think most of us feel this way at least once if not a a few times in our lives. I don't really think I can answer any of your questions, but I do have comments... I think that we go through these feelings so that we can turely find out what it is we believe in the long run, it is a part of what makes you, you. While you have these questions and are so worried about doing the right thing why can't we just say that God does wants us to enjoy life, God wants us to be happy and experience all we can about life and living here on Earth, when we experience things we do not understand or have hardship why can't we say oh well so much the better what is next in store for me and just be happy with the way things are and as the individuals we are. Without Gods and religion life would be a world without color. It is not a test it is not a quiz it is here are your options what do you think!?! And in the end we are all God's children and if we believe in God then we are forgiven anyway and if we don't beleive in God then we didn't know any better and it is all well anyway.... try not to put so much into it and confuse your self more b/c it is already confusing but in the end and soon you will see what your true calling is. It will happen naturally, things will just fall into place and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about to begin with... Good luck on your mission.

Answer 3

I think that you are just in a place of doubt right now, which is completely normal. Since you seem to have some belief in a god, it seems unlikely that you are an atheist (at least not yet).

I went through something similar to what you are saying; I was raised in a Christian home, but always doubted teh existence of any of it. I eventually decided I was an atheist, but it came after a lot of studying. That's what I'd suggest you do--study a lot, about every religion and philosophy you can. Learn the history of Christianity, read the Bhagavad Gita, study the Quran, talk to a pagan person, read the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle and Bacon and Nietzsche. Only once you've learned about all different perspectives can you really say with confidence what you believe. You may study all of that and come to the conclusion that Christianity makes the most sense to you; you may become a neopagan. I don't know, but at least you will have made an informed, thoughtful decision rather than parroting what your parents think because it's too scary to do anything else.

Answer 4

You do sound very confused. I can answer one thing for you though, the reason there is so many other (false) gods it becuase of the devil deciving people and getting their mainds so warped that they think that there are different gods. Also some people don't want to obey God so they creat a religion where they can do whay they want and still be "religious"

There is a certain fear you should feel, but it should be a fear of going to hell. Also the Bible does say to Fear God and ashew evil, I think that means that you had best not mock God, you'd better respect him and have revernce for him, his son & the Holy Ghost. You want to fear falling into sin too, but if you fall you will know it and immediately sincerly ask forgivness, God is merciful!! If you have a question about something if it is wrong or right, sincerly pray and ask God what he would have you do. If you are truly sincere God will lead you and guide you. Trust me though God does exist. Good things happen to everyone, and bad things too, all good things are from God, all bad things are just a way of life. the Bible says "it rains on the just and on the unjust". I really hope that something I have said has helped you in some way.

Answer 5

Not to offend, but by reading your question, I am afraid you were not well taught in Christianity. You must remember that one of Satan's main weapons against a person is doubt. Remember the garden of Eden? What was his main tactic? Sow doubt. Did God really say...... He tries to sow that doubt in all people.
Now, you seem to have a heart for God, yet I must ask, have you ever acknowledge your sinful condition? Have you ever come to a point where you know you are a sinner, cannot save yourself and need a savior, that person being Christ? If so, that is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, since a spiritually dead person will not do the above. If you are of the elect, the chosen, you are saved, from the foundation of the earth. If you are of the elect, there will be a day when it will finally make sense, when you will go from being dead in sin, to alive in Christ, when you will finally see your position in Christ. If your are saved, your sins are forgiven, past, present and future. Nothing can change that state. God no longer sees you in your sin, but sees Christ in your place. Only you and God know where you are in this process. I would recommend getting back into the book, read Paul's writings, especially Ephesians and Romans. I truly hope you are among the elect, and will enjoy Heaven with God.

Answer 6

Sounds like you're agnostic, actually - you aren't sure if there's a God or not. The thing with you constantly questioning whether your actions will be pleasing to God may be a result of your growing up in a very Christian home rather than a reflection of your personal beliefs.

You're in a period of questioning, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Just take your time to think it out and come to your own conclusions. You may find that there is a religion for you, but it turns out to be something other than Christianity, or you may decide that there is no God and you'll become atheist... or you could decide that you like being Christian and go back to church. Whatever path you choose, keep that questioning spirit, it's the best way there is to keep peace between the different religions.

Answer 7

I don't see anything offensive here. I think you can call your self an agnostic, btw. People worship different gods (even from the time the bible was being written) because men (mankind) have itchy ears. The other religions, usually, do not have a "hell" or if they do have a "hell" no one stays in hell forever. Also, the gods of the other religions are accepting to everyone no matter what they do. This is contrary to the Christian God (also the Jewish God, one and the same) because with this God, you are held accountable for your sin. I don't know why it is so hard for some people to accept the perfect sacrafice God made to abolish our sins, but as mankind goes, we think we know it all, and we think we can either earn our way into heaven following another religion or reject it all together and place the blame card to God of "You made me this way.

Answer 8

"Why is God only worshiped in certain places?"

People worship deities/spirits/forces all over the world and always have. I am guessing that you grew up in a culture where Christianity is the majority religion---but if you had grown up in a country where another religion was practiced by most people, then you'd be wondering why all of those people practice Christianity. There are many creation myths besides the Christian ones---people of most religions believe that their deities created the earth and humans.

Perhaps you would find a class in world religions interesting. Or maybe even just to sit down at the library with a dictionary of world religions. I'm not suggesting this to dissuade or confirm your current beliefs, but rather to help you understand the views of others.

Some non-biased on-line resources:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/profiles/listalpha.htm
http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10000.html

Answer 9

Not offended. You are exercising the thing God gave you...Free will. If you were raised to know an angry God then that is on the people who influenced you when younger. Salvation comes from the price Jesus paid for you. Jesus (son of the living God) paid the price (crucifixtion) for your sins and my sins. You are talking about Old Testament stuff, not New Testament. If the people are scaring you away from religion, pick up a Bible and start reading. Most people who turn away from religion have done so because they are uninformed and turned off by the people that twist and bend God's word (the bible). I would recommend you read: Lee Strobel, evidence for jesus, jesus christ or Case for Christ. Don't turn away from Jesus until you have performed a complete search for answers. I promise Christ will provide the answers you seek. I wish you the best in your journey.

Answer 10

Do you want to learn more from the Bible?
Of course, there will be things that you do not understand at first. It can be a little humbling to ask for help, but do not hold back because of embarrassment. Jesus said that it is good to be humble, like a little child. (Matthew 18:2-4) And children, as we know, ask a lot of questions. God wants you to find the answers. The Bible praises some who were eager to learn about God. They checked carefully in the Scriptures to make sure that what they were learning was the truth.—Acts 17:11.

The Bible is truly a unique book. Yet, its value extends far beyond its internal harmony, scientific and historical accuracy, practical wisdom, and reliable prophecy. The Christian apostle Paul wrote: “The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12.

Godly fear is wholesome, not morbid. It motivates one to be firm for what is right, not to compromise by doing wrong. Mankind as a whole is not motivated by the quality of godly fear. At Romans 3:9-18, the apostle Paul describes how far humans have fallen from original perfection. After stating that all are under sin, Paul quotes from the Psalms, saying: “There is not a righteous man, not even one.” (See Psalm 14:1.) Then he provides details by citing such things as mankind’s negligence in seeking for God, their lack of kindness, their deceitful speech, cursing, and bloodshed. How accurately that describes the world today!

Continue searching for God!

Answer 11

I once questioned many of the same things you have. There are no other Gods, Buddah is not a God, it is a religion people follow. There are diffrent "Gods" because PEOPLE interpretted things diffrently, people, not God created other religions.

God can be worshipped anywhere, even over a morning coffee, or in bed before you sleep. God does not require you go to church just to worship him.

And there are so many beautiful messages and history lessons in the Bible. I fear God because he is powerful, but I am not scared. He is not scary, he is all Loving. He doesnt want us to be afraid of him.

No, its GREAT you think of God, you should!!! He is amazing! He loves you, and if you think of him, it just shows him you care!

If you dont think there is a God, if you are not sure, then you are an agnostic. It means you arent sure if there is a God, there may be, or there may not be. My hubby is an agnostic. Its okay.

To be an atheist, it means you believe there is DEFINITLEY not a God, at all, so you cant think he makes good things happen, because you would not believe in him at all.

It sounds to me like you should seek out more information, and decide for yourself what you believe or dont believe. Its okay to question. I did for years. You can email me if you want.