How did you come to believe the claim that god exists?

Question

Was it an argument (or series of arguments), or did you just accept the claim as truth and discover arguments to this effect at a later time?

Answer 1

Several years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away.

While driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.

Three days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to.

I feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.
During the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible.

I can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.

I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck. Love and blessings.

Your brother don

Answer 2

Wonderful thing you wrote about DonH.

Anyway, I can feel God's presence all around me. No, I didn't just accept it as truth the first time I heard it. I was raised in Church but when I left home, I left the church too. I wasn't even near a church from 18-40. Then things started happening that just made no sense outside of God's realm. Finally at 42, I became a Christian. And life is so much better knowing that God is right there and cares for me and even loves me. Me!! He loves me.

Answer 3

I accepted the claim as true and then discovered the arguments at a later time.

Answer 4

I still haven't. There are lots of arguments in favour of there being a god, but none of them are irrefutable. Same goes for arguments against there being a god. I've examined this question through the lens of philosophy, religion and science, and still can't find a satisfactory answer.

And that's what makes looking for the answer fun.

Answer 5

After much thought, I determined that God exists because *something* is going on. The universe exists, I exist. That same process led me to conclude that much of organized religion is just a bunch of hooey, really. It is all traditions and rigidity co-opted by very rigid people who dare not look around at their world and consider everything. So I believe in God, not so much religion.

Answer 6

Humans depend on the lessons of previous generations more than any other animal (don't eat the red berries). Genetically we are programmed to accept what out elders and especially our parents tell us. This programming over generations has become deeply ingrained into us.

Answer 7

god does not exist as the gods doesn't, not even your god exists. But there is a God that exists and his name is the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit. Holy Ghost is the God, and the Christ is the Son, everyone else are just plain old stinking humans and animals that farts and shits without shame.

Answer 8

Soul awareness. the fact that God created me and gave me a soul made me aware that God exists. It is an inner message that comes with us. Some accept it and some deny it.

Answer 9

God was knocking on my heart's door. The handle is inside. I opened my heart and asked Holy Spirit to guide me. I started to have a hunger for the Word, and God started to talk to me through the Bible. I currently attend regularly a non-denominational Christians church. I love to worship God. His promises give me hope.

Answer 10

I have experienced my prayers coming true over and over again plus the universe is so complex to just be chance.Thoughts have come to me that where too smart to be just mine.They had to come from a devine source,a universal consciousness