Imagine a woman who doubts her husband is cheating on her but she wants to believe that is not true, she does all she can to believe her husband is not cheating on her, but she cannot .
Is it her fault not to believe that her husband is "innocent"??? Maybe there is no evidence enough to really make her believe her husband is not cheating.
Is it my fault if i dont see any evidence that makes me truly believe in god?
Everyone appreciates one´s life but that does not necessarily implies that god created life.
When people talk about god revealing himself what exactly does that mean?
Why can christians be sure they are not "forcing" themselves to believe?
2007-03-29 16:24:25 · 20 answers · asked by alberto k 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are making a very good point. Ultimately, whether or not we believe in God is based on our attitude toward God. We all interpret things in light of what we believe and have certain biases. If we are biased against the Christian faith at the outset, then we are going to interpret everything else in light of that bias.
I think that people who think they can look at things from a neutral standpoint are mistaken. It is true that, as human beings, we have ways of looking at things in order to determine whether or not certain truth claims are indeed true. But again, we evaluate things in light of what we believe. And what those who believe in neutrality fail to see is that Christianity is not one of the things that can be evaluated with any of the ways we have to test truth claims. Rather, it is itself one of the ways we evaluate things. In other words, we do not look at the Christian faith to see whether it is true. If someone looks at Christianity in this way, they will not be able to tell whether it is true or not because their way of seeing is the problem. But if someone begins seeing through the Christian faith, they will then begin to see things as they truly are.
The wife who is unable to see that her husband is not cheating has a problem. The problem is her way of seeing. However, if she comes to see things in the way that a trusting wife sees things, she will no longer believe that her husband is cheating. In the same way, those who do not believe in Christ will never be able to see the truth of the Christian faith because believing in Christ is a precondition for seeing things as they truly are.
So then the question becomes, how can one who does not believe come to believe? This is the heart of the Christian message. Salvation (both salvation from hell and salvation from one's bias against God) is by God's gracious and unmerited favor. Because of our sinful natures, we are biased against God and do not love God. This renders us worthy of eternal seperation from God. But Jesus Christ came into the world and died to pay for sins committed out of that anti-God bias. He died for all who would come to believe in him and was then raised to life after three days. This is the gospel. Now, when this message is preached, God opens the blind eyes of those who formerly were his enemies. He gives us hearts that desire him and removes our hearts of stone that were biased against him. We then turn from our sin and put our faith in him. This is the new life that we have when we become united with Christ in his resurrection. We were spiritually dead but are now given spritual life because of the resurrection promise for the righteous. God counts us as righteous based on Jesus sinless life in the same way that Jesus was counted as a sinner because of the sins of his people. Thus, this is a salvation that is totally by grace.
2007-03-29 17:05:35 · answer #1 · answered by Steve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is your fault that you don't see evidence for God, but that's a good thing. I agree that there's no reason to believe in God, as well, and I think more people should look at the facts for once in their lives.
There are two ways people may 'see' God: 1) They're crazy. 2) They're pretending and seeing God in their imagination.
I'm not sure they have to force themselves to believe, because it's already pushed right into their minds that God is real, and they will not accept no for an answer, at least talking to strangers like us.
Edit: I can't believe how foolish so many people are to claim that the evidence is all around us, look at the Earth, you're living and breathing, etc. In no way does that support the existence of God. All of that is constantly being studied scientifically, and there have been major breakthroughs over the past 1000 years, giving us important theories such as Evolution of Species and Big Bang.
2007-03-29 16:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by juhsayngul 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your analogy is crazy and difficult to wrap my head around.
Its not your fault, and relax about the God thing...if its pestering you. I have come to an understanding: I was raised Luthern. Was baptized, went to and taught Sunday school, and confirmed. Since then (Im 25 now) I have only been to church for about 12 Catholic funerals. Them Catholics are crazy!! Seems almost cult like. I couldn't tell you the difference between "MY" god and theirs, but I can tell you, they know way more of what to say when. They kneel and cross themselves. Do you think God will like them more and let them into heaven because they do that, and I dont? I don't get really.
Anyway, I get religion to be a crutch. A crutch for the elderly, the weak and the paranoid. It gives people guidence and rules...the same rules laws are based on. Thats great. I respect that. I do not need that. Yet. I may pray if I get the chance one minute before I die, but as of right now, (all the older folk will call me "immortal") I doing Ok. I have a good heart and I treat people how I want to be treated. I do not judge, I beleive in fate a Karma. i don't lie. I praise my parents. Christians will tribute it to my church goings as a child molded me.
When I was 18 I realized I didnt HAVE to beleive in something becasue someone else told me to. I would really like to learn about all the religions,and see If I fit in anywhere. So far I think I may be atheiest, but I don't want to say, "there is NO God", becuase really anything is possible. Its is not yet to be proven in my eyes though. I as well would like cold hard facts. And none have done it for me.
I don't think most Christians are "forcing" themselves, I think they have been brainwashed and can't open their eyes to see the light. And such...this is life. A society based solely on religion.
2007-03-29 16:38:00 · answer #3 · answered by Ashley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that religion in general forces people to believe in something, for some this is a positive experience and for others, it is not. The most difficult thing to believe in is ourselves. When I believe in something other than myself, in a way. I am not taking responsibility for my thoughts, my actions... I have the "Religion Card" to play... 'It was not my fault...', 'It was the devil', 'it was my childhood'...whatever the justification is, it leads to the same thing.. deflecting responsibility. All of my suffering, has been my own fault. It would be convenient to believe that it was not all my fault, but in the end, it was and will continue to be until I figure it out... Like everyone else we suffer and we recover and learn valuable life lessons. But the only time change will occur is when the pain of it greater than the pleasure of the action. We all want to believe in something, try believing in yourself.
2007-03-30 04:49:45 · answer #4 · answered by Che K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is your fault you don't see evidence that makes you truly believe in God b/c he has been showing you and showing you. You are choosing not to see.
God revealing himself means you have opened your eyes and can now see past your small existence and see the realm of possibility we are not the most intelligent being of all time.
I can be sure I am not forcing myself to believe b/c if that is what makes miracles happen in my life, it actually affirms what I believe to be true.
God Bless
2007-03-29 16:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let's say you commit a crime and face a judge.If the prosecution has all the evidence to convict.The victim says only apologize and they will drop the charge.Will you opologize or will you curse and mock the judge and say you don't believe he has the authority to send you to jail.Do you refuse to believe you will go to jail or accept forgiveness by asking for it?
Romans 10
2007-03-29 16:36:52 · answer #6 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The evidence for god being real is obvious you are ovelooking.The earth is proofe enought the moon nature life.Its all gods.First you must believe than you will see it.Maybe if you talked to him if you believed you wont be asking so muh questions.Repenting and admiting you are wrong is proof you blieve so if you dont do that then you never believed.
2007-03-29 16:27:43 · answer #7 · answered by lightangellion 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yikes, one issue at a time please. :S
As for a woman believing or not believing her husband is cheating on her, that's all about what she knows about the man she's married.
I don't force myself to believe in God. The presence of God just makes sense to me.
2007-03-29 16:29:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know, pal, but that was a very sexist example you gave, there. Why is it that the man has got to cheating? Can't a woman be unfaithful? Why has a woman got to be a victim? Wahhhhh. Poor innocent woman.
I'm offended.
2007-03-29 16:27:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
BINGO It's drilled into our heads from little child to the last breath we take! And my agnostic husband doesn't cheat!! HA
2007-03-29 16:33:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋