Is doubting a sin?

Question

Hello people, this is a question for the christians that I've been confused lately...
So... the christians believe that you have to believe in Jesus and God and follow their teaching to enter heaven.But God has given me no clues what so ever for me to believe in him, so he's going to cast me in hell and torture me forever for something that doesn't make sense to me?
Lets say one day a mysterious man came up to you and told you about a supreme being called Dog created everything, he hands you a large book and say you have to worship Dog everyday or else you will suffer after you die. It would seem like nonsence right? Why would Christianity be any different? Why do God have the rights to do this, because he created us? Do you think a mother have the rights to torture her baby for not prasing her?
I'm really curious about what you guys think about these questions, I don't ABSOLUTELY doubt god's existence, but I don't believe he is the way you people say he is.

thx for the answer people, i am a bit less confused with it all, but it still doesn't do it for me.
Why are we comparing God to us humans? If he is a perfect, immortal being then he shouldn't be like any father to his son.
Shouldn't he be trying his best to let us believe, instead of forsakening us?
I can't have faith in something I ABSOLUTELY don't have contact with. I've tried speaking with God and nothing happened, he didn't answer me in any way (I think...)
If he wants us to acknowlegde we exist because of him, the least he could do is actually tell us, right?
I mean, would 'you' believe in it if you aren't christian? like the little story i made up.
I've tried reading the bible but I can't find what I was looking for, I suppose it only works for people who believe god's existence....

Answer 1

Insightful answer, it seems like you already have a better answer to your questions than you are going to get on here, but let me try. See, Christianity is based on faith. In order to get to heaven, you must have faith. Now faith is belief without proof. So if you have proof, how can you have faith? Its a bit of a paradox for sure. Its funny, but the more christians try to prove god, the more they deny entry into heaven, because if they could prove it, Faith would be lost and so would salvation.

Answer 2

Here's where you are wrong. You are acting like Jesus was some bum who suddenly appeared and started preaching about God. God has proven himself to mankind many times. Why should he come and show himself to you, just because you need "proof" in order to believe.
What do you mean " Why does God have the right to do this to us"? Do what?
God Loves us all and wants to see us in Heaven. he is all merciful and forgiving. But if you don't believe in him why should he have mercy on your soul?
God has told us what is good and what will get us into Heaven, and he has told us what is bad and what will send us to hell. We choose where we go in the end. Not God.

If you are having problems believing then maybe you should expand your knowledge. I was Christian once, and was very confused and had many unanswered questions. Through reading the Quran I have found my faith is stronger than ever and Don't have questions about God, or about what is right and wrong.
The Quran is the Third book sent from God. The Jews were given the first, the Christians the second, and the final book was given to the Muslims. Many Christians and Jews are confused, and that is understandable because there are many things missing from their books. These missing things can be found in the Quran.
It's like buying a trilogy novel. You read say, only the second novel leaving the last one. You will have some information and a general idea of what is happening. But you'll never completely understand the story unless you read the end.

Answer 3

"Me thinks thou doest protest too much." Christians do not just believe that Jesus is the way to Heaven; Jesus, Himself, said,"I am the Way; no man cometh to the Father except by me." God gives you clues every day of your life in Nature around you, for example, that you have a devine Creator. If no one has told you that Jesus loved you alone enough to die on Calvary for your personal sins, let me be the first to assure you that He did. He will, because He is a God of love and mercy, allow you many opportunites to here the Good News of His great love. Reach for the remote; the tv is full of evangelical ministers of the Word who can help you make sense of it all. Better yet, be bold and go to a local church where the Word is taught and explained. You won't find all the answers here, just opinions, but if you are truly seeking the Truth and the Light, He will not hide Himself. Hell was never meant or designed for people. It is exclusively made for Satan and his demons. Read John 3:16. It is not God's will for anyone to perish. He sent His Son to make a way for us to enter Heaven. He is the only way. Pick up a Bible, even if you are full and brimming over with skepticism and doubt. We are all doubtful, even fearful of the unknown. Start with the Book of John. It will reveal to you the person of Jesus Christ. Be assured everyone doubts. Thomas, the apostle, said,"Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief." Satan likes nothing better than to keep you doubtful. He is the author of all lies. The truth will set you free. Do some research and you will determine quickly who God is. I'll be praying for you to sense His love and for the right people to cross your path with the gentle answers you need. Blessings.

Answer 4

I think everyone knows some way or another God exists. It is too hard for me to believe something came from nothing. If you really want some scientific proof, God has people like this Kent Hovind guy, He has alot of proof vs evolution and why the bible is the truth versus other religions, look up his website at DR.Dino and he will help you understand alot.

Answer 5

Doubting is not a sin. It would be insane not to have doubts and questions about God's existence every now and then and the whole thing about God torturing us if we don't believe is bull, Hell doesn't exist, it is a scare tactic. God is a loving God and He gave us free will, to believe or not believe. In then end He'll show you that He's real.

Answer 6

Consider this: A kid decides that no matter what he hears about getting an education, all the negative consequences of not having an education, he still refuses to go to school. In later life, should that same person wonder why he can't get a good job? He knew the pluses and minuses of getting or not getting an education, but he ignored them. Who's fault is it? Did he have a chance to get an education? Did he follow the rules and advice given him? I think religion is a little like that. We have multiple opportunities to hear the word of God We have been given the who, what, when, where, how and why of things. Jesus gave His life to believe and accept what He offers but if we still reject Him, who's fault is it? God doesn't just lay down a bunch of rules and leave us on our own. God has given us rules AND the answers to those rules. Kind of like the kid and the job, but in this case God offers us the job (eternal life) too. If we still reject it, who's fault is it? Should a person say "give me a lot of gifts but don't expect me to ever say thanks to you for them." God has corrected (forgiven) the sin in the world, yours included. This was done through Jesus death for the forgiveness of all sin, raiseing from the dead, and assending back to Heaven. God isn't forcing anyone to accept this gift or believe in Him but if we still say no to His offer, what can we expect? His offer is forgiveness, eternal, beautiful, painless, problem free, life in Heaven. Why not accept the free gift He offers?

Answer 7

YOU MY FRIEND ARE ABSOLUTEY RUGHT IN YOUR LAST STATEMENT HE IS NOT THE WAY MAIN STREAM CHRISTIANTY SAYS HE IS lets look at it this way okay if you made something that is awsomely and perfectly created by you that you love and admire always call your self to that creation ABBA OR FATHER just want this creation in your family where you can walk and talk with it and hold it close to your heart would you torture it for all eternity would you i thought not NEITHER WOULD THE ONE AND TRUE GOD THE GOD OF ABRAHAM ISSAC AND JACOB THE CREATOR GOD OF THE TRUE BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS OUT THERE

Answer 8

Sorry so long - I waited until most responses were in so that I don't take up a bunch of space in the middle.

Not all Christians believe what you are describing. Many of us agree with Scripture and maintain that all human beings will be judged by their moral character, and not by who/what they believed. The message of the Gospel is not "Congradulations! Believe in Jesus or Go to Hell!" The message of the Gospel is liberation from fear, guilt, superstition, self-destructive behavior, and condemnation. The Gospel is available to all, regardless of their personal religious beliefs. The Jew is free from the above, as is the Muslim, the Christian, the Pagan, etc. That is the 'Good News.' Christians simply believe that Jesus is reason for the Gospel.

The Bible describes a religion that is rooted in morality, and driven by the hope (not the proof) of a glorious immortality. That is the faith proclaimed in the Gospels and Epistles. The idea that people must accept the facts surrounding the life and death of Jesus before they can be 'saved' is really based on the faith vs. works debates of the Reformation. Many early Church Fathers (like Origen) were universalists, and believed that eveyone would be saved. Others maintained that the wicked, or those who refused to repent, would spitefully endure the presence of God for eternity, while the righteous happily enjoyed it.

The New Testament condemns religion that is based on fear and superstition, but it consistently affirms the universiality of God. Modern readers have a hard time appreciating the many names and titles of Deity in Scripture, most of which were not native to the Judeo-Christian system. Many promises and commendations in Scripture are offered to Pagans. Abraham, for example, pays a tithe to the Pagan king of Salem, who is recognized as a Priest of the Most High God. Joseph was married to the daughter of an Egyptian Priest, which was a station only available fellow initiates in the Egyptian Mysteries. Moses was likewise initiated into the Egyptian priesthood, and married the daughter of a Pagan priest in Midian. Rebekah and Jacob kept the gods of Laban. David danced before Ba'al on the threshing-floor, Jacob erected a Pagan phallic monument to God, and Daniel was the chief astrologer and head of the Babylonian priesthood. The Apostle Paul quotes approvingly from a hymn to Zeus, affirming that "in him [Zeus] we live, move and have our being... for we are also his offspring." Balaam, a Pagan priest, spoke with God on a nightly basis. According to Paul, Pagans know God, comprehend his power and divinity, and have his law written on their hearts 'on tablets of flesh.' Paul describes Christianity as a Mystery religion over 30 times in the New Testament. James describes a doctrine of causality that is drawn from Hellenistic Platonism. John opens his Gospel by describing Jesus as the Creator-Logos of the Pagan philosophers, and borrows a Pagan allegory in his story of the 153 fishes and the net. The idea of Jesus as the Good Shepherd identifies him as Hermes, and the allusion to 'fishers of men' is a reference to Apollo. Early Christian iconography consistently depicts Jesus as the embodiment of the Greek Orpheus. Jesus never once condemns paganism throughout his earthly ministry, even though (according to John) he spent most of his time in the Pagan Decapolis region.

Answer 9

Honestly its not just a book that somebody wrote. There is a lot of evidence to conclude that what was written in the Bible actually happened. Not to mention that there are books written that arent even in the bible. All of them are very consistent and written by many people in many different parts of the world an at different time periods.

If you had a son who refused to obey you, wouldnt listen to or believe you and was ungrateful and disrespectful of your wishes all the time and they were old enough to be out on their own. Would you keep them in your house or tell them to get an appartment?

Answer 10

Maybe you are trying to reach God with your mind instead of your spirit. Only with the purity of your heart can you know God. He knows your motives and if you seek Him with your whole heart,He will reveal Himself to you."the mind of flesh cannot understand the things of the Spirit" He will meet you wherever you are and the Holy Spirit will make known to you, the mysteries of the Gospel. He is pure love, and no one on this Earth will ever love you more. Trust Him! Believe that He is who He says He is.