How can you be sure?

Question

I asked a question in this section last night about childhood influences on current beliefs, and some of the answerers seemed very certain of both their faith and its origin. So my question now is how? What is your personal proof that your beliefs are valid? I'm not out to criticize or judge, I just want to understand. Thanks.

Answer 1

It is apparent by the way you've constructed your question that a lack of intellect is not an issue for you, so I'll save the "Belief is faith" bit.

Having read your previous question, and because it's relevant, I will say that while I attended a private, Christian School, my family was never overt in their parenting; that is they didn't insist I follow a specific path. For this I will always be grateful because it allowed me to internalize the vicissitudes of life without the undue guilt I was somehow betraying my faith if I failed to act in a particular manner..

I credit this for never questioning my beliefs or the teachings of my religion when faced with the inevitable difficulties we as people share during our lives. So I guess you could say this is what confirms my faith.


Also, I've been blessed to witness acts and constructs of nature that could only have been engineered by God.

Answer 2

When I was really young, my family didn't go to church. Mom occasionally told us some Bible stories, but we didn't practice religion. When I was nine, and my sister was six, we started going to church. The churches we went to were very conservative and advocated an extremely literal interpretation of the Bible. Before long, I came to accept this as truth.

Nowadays, I still believe in God, but I am not so sure that He gets very involved in what goes on here on Earth. That doesn't mean that I think He doesn't care; I just tend to believe that he gave us what is necessary to survive and that, for the most part, we make it on our own. I mean, if we couldn't last a day without God, then atheists and people of other faiths would be falling over dead left and right.

In short, I believe in the morals taught in the Bible, and I believe that God expects us to follow them. I came to these "conclusions (in quote because I still question my beliefs from time to time)" on my own, but I guess that my basic belief in God is based on my upbringing. If I had not been raised in church, I might have turned out Agnostic (I guess I AM a little Agnostic now in that I don't really believe that God can be understood by us people) or Atheist.

Answer 3

I've always taken my religious beliefs seriously. Mostly, I remember my classmates finding religion a bore, and I remember what horrible little monsters they were. If that is the result of disbelief, then there's a very good reason to believe! I don't EVER want to be that kind of hateful, thoughtless person. Plus, my faith has been rewarded with a deeper understanding of what goes on around me. All in all, I'd just rather believe than not believe.

Answer 4

I believe the Bible is the Word of God. I believe what it says. Over the past 150 years many things spoken of in the Bible that were thought to be myth have been proved by archaeological finds. No part of the Bible has been proved wrong yet. many people do not believe it, this I know. But not believing something does not make it false. When I was born again, the holy Spirit moved into my heart (soul) , and changed me from the inside out. Before I could care less about doing wrong, now I recoil from sin. I have a inner desire to help people know the truth. I can see a lie that others can not see. I recognize truth. There is more, but that is enough proof for me.

Answer 5

My childhood beliefs were christian. My parents were fundies so I did all the camp counsellor, bible quiz team, winning souls for the lord thing. I also went to a bible college to fully study the word of god. There wasn't a doubt in my mind it was true - I just wanted to know "the meat of the word."

A thorough study of the bible led me to believe that it was the opposite of that. Through, primarily a class called "Hermeneutics" where we study the bible in it's original language and context, I began to doubt the veracity of the bible and christianity itself.

My "personal proof" that my beliefs (atheism) are valid is that atheism was the last thing I personally wanted to have as a "belief system". I am open to changing my mind, but when I put "claims of this or that god" to the test, they always fail.

Hope that answers your question.

Answer 6

Holly,
Unfortunately, no one can answer this question for you. Faith is the evidence of that which is not seen, there is no proof and never will be. Your taking a scientific approach (used to understand the physical world) to answer a metaphysical question. Admirable, but it will only leave you frustrated (as it does both scientist and creationists). These two worlds can coexist, they just should remember to use the right tools for the right job.

Answer 7

Religion is not based of proof dear. Religion is based on faith. If you don't have complete faith in your religion. You must pray until God gives it to you. A lack of faith is very dangerous. Just be assured that though you can't prove your religion is real you believe based on faith, no one can prove it is false either. Jesus asks us to keep the faith. That's what you do. That is those of you who have faith. As for me I am an Atheist. God bless kisses Betty.

Answer 8

The vast majority of all people that come to Christ come as children raised in Christian homes. That is the way that God designed it, and that is the way it works. I became a Christian as a young boy but when I got older I began to study on my own and totally reafirmed for myself what is true. In my case I have accepted the Bible as truth and will not accept any teaching that I can not find clearly taught in the Bible. I can not see anything else that is as solid as the Book that God gave to us.

Answer 9

Guess explaining can me Hard!!!
But those of us just Know, Feel, Sense, See, Smell everything you just Know at least for me!
I'm Native American Lakota Sioux!
I see the Creator (Wakan Tanka) in Everything and Ever where!
Go to Black Hills and maybe you'll understand, Read Black Elk Speaks! Commute with Nature!

Hokahe

Answer 10

The only way to enter into the kingdom of heaven is through acceptance of Jesus as your savior. Because God said so.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3;36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him