We Christians claim that God is more real than air, or water, or anything, but what if not?

Question

I have been a Christian for seven years and have told many people this, but lately, when I really, really think about it - it just seems "not real" to say that.

I mean, we see, taste, hear, feel things that are real. We can hhold these things, we can drink water and breathe air. We can observe water under a microscope. We can prove it, by finding water nearly everywhere - we cannot live without it.

But God. I've never seen heard, smelled, or touched him... Not really...

I have been studying psychology in college and it appears that people can convince themselves of anything they want to.

Delusions work exactly the way that I perceive my own religious experience and the experience of others with "God."

I'm afraid my faith is not as strong as I had supposed. Religious belief, to include Christian faith, seems increasingly like a neurosis or "mass/cultural delusion."

What do I do?

Answer 1

Don't pretend to be a Christian if that is not how you really feel or believe...and do not forget...people need only go to your profile to look up your old questions and answers. I do not mean to be mean to you...if you are truly struggling with faith I hope you can work it out...this is not a good place...but do not say you are a Christian if you really are not.

The Skeptical Christian, JPO
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 2

You ask "what if Its not real?" think about the answer, what IF there is no God? what if when we die there is no heaven and there is no soul? will you lie in your grave and regret spending your life trying to follow the teachings of christ in your everyday living? No, you'll be dead, if you have no soul then all will go black and you will never think again. I read the teachings of christ and with all honesty I can tell you that I do not care if He is the Son of God, I love him and I wish I could love everyone the way he did. so if the Atheists are right, I know I will not have any regrets about trying to live my life this way.
However, if the Athiests live their lifes denying that there is a God and they die and find out they were wrong, they will be kicking themselves in the butt for all eternity, wishing they had a little more faith.

Answer 3

People get nervous when the gospel is explained as illogical, or unexplainable by rational means (including, apparently, atheists like Dawkins), but I think there’s some truth to that. There are plenty of mythos-like things we depend on and know to be true. Love, for instance. It’s beyond scientific explanation (though scientific knowledge can explain certain aspects or factors dealing with love), but that doesn’t make it any less real or true.

If Dawkins is going to intellectually reject anything that can’t be proven using the scientific method, then technically he can also reject the scientific method itself. There really is a point in science where faith comes in (believe me: I’ve studied quantum physics), because at some point, you just have to believe in something just for belief sake. Can you prove to me that the scientific method is a sure technique that yields truth?

Descartes, in his Principles of Philosophy, rather successfully reduced the universe down to his own existence. You can’t really prove the existence of the outside world, so your own consciousness is really the only thing you can be 100% sure of. So where does that leave the atheist? Interestingly enough, the tool Descartes uses to rescue himself from such a solitary existence is…

The existence of a benevolent God. There’s no way he would let us be so deceived.

This certainty is founded on the metaphysical ground, that, as God is supremely good and the source of all truth, the faculty of distinguishing truth from error which he gave us, cannot be fallacious so long as we use it aright, and distinctly perceive anything by it.
René Descartes, Principles of Philosophy

Answer 4

Sounds like you're getting sucked into the intellect. College will do that to you. Doesn't look like you're gonna be the same person when you graduate as when you went in. College will do that to you. I'd be concerned, concerned that your understanding and faith wasn't as strong as you thought it was. You may roam through the wilderness for a long time before you have a chance to make it back, if that chance ever comes.

The more you descend into the intellect and try to analyze God as though he were some bug you could examine under the scope and compartmentalize, the more confused you will become. Careful. College has a way of making the proud think they are really smart when they are not. The end result is not good.

Answer 5

First thing you better check and see if you are really a Christian, Ask yourself, if I died right now would I be in Heaven if the answer is yes then you need to study more of the Bible(God's Word) and throw away those psychology books, or the next thing you know you will be going out here and trying to fly like a bird. If the answer to the question is No or I don't know find you a Bible, KJV, read Romans 1-:9-13 and follow instructions

Answer 6

It's good that becoming "Christian" hasn't completely stopped you from thinking. (If that's the case - other people on here seem to think you're a card-carrying atheist.)

I always say I'm an atheist, but what I really mean is that I'm an anti-theist. Organized religion is the problem. I am in fact deeply spiritual, but I refuse to apply the standard superstitious terms to my experience, or to indulge in fantastic hypotheses. The "God" who intervenes in human affairs (usually with tragic results, if scripture itself is to be believed) is simply a blown-up Freudian father-figure projected onto the cosmos. It's just sad that people have been led to believe that spirituality involves participating in this mass delusion.

Answer 7

"that people can convince themselves of anything they want to."

Almost... But this then doesn't give much of a pointer as to the nature of any objective reality (if any). There is a "wish fulfillment" component that can be argued against religious belief, but just because people have a bias towards a belief that does not, of itself, falsify the belief. It's not quite as simple as that.

You will have to work on whether the history of religion, and your experience of it, better fits a human psycho-social model or represents insight into a supernatural reality.
(That took me years, so I'm not going to rush you)

On religious experiences and psychology/physiology, you may find the work of Dr Michael Persinger interesting. (URL)

Answer 8

Matthew 24 tells us that peoples hearts will grow cold because of distance from God's word. If you are doubting God, then you are not in obeidiance and now is really a very important time to be especially careful (says Jesus)that you are not decieved. God is seperating the wheat from the tares; perhaps this should be a red flag for you. In this present time, those who are watching are seeing mass prophesy unfold daily before our very eyes;but you are questioning if God is real? You say youve been a christian for 7 years, like you joined the club or something.
You have salvation, is that what you mean? Perhaps your experience was a dillusion as you claim above ,or maybe you are one who recieved the truth only to have the devil come and steal it away,,have you bothered to grow? Read Matthew 24-25.

Answer 9

Our relationship with Christ is based on faith, if we could prove that he exists there would be no need for faith. We are examples that Christ is real, how else were we created we didn't just form out of thin air. Jesus is also inside of you, you are a Chirstian therefore he lives within you. Stay strong in what you believe and know that God is so great that we mere humans will never be able to know / understand everything there is to know about Christ.

Answer 10

First off Satan tries to get us believing its not a real thing like I see what you are saying. However the one question to stop and ask yourself is this. How did all the things that you are seeing, feeling, smelling, come into existince there is only one way there has to be a God or a creator for it. We havent always been in existince. I would go talk to a pastor who you can trust fully and tell him what you are now thinking I really think its an evil spirit trying to mess with ya. You will be in my prayers. God Bless.