Faith? ok let's talk about faith... You say I'm scared of the unknown, so I'm weak for now having faith?

Question

Well I say you're weak for not questioning your faith. I care about religion so much because of how religious everyone else around me is. I'm an atheist in a religious world, so yes it concerns me. I do not have faith, I have knowlege. I have read the bible, forceably, and have not accepted it. So if that makes me, weak, foolish, immature, what ever the words are that you want to use then fine, yup that's me! But don't ever say that it does not concern me what everyone else believes. My family has disowned me and my friends look down on me, and I say fine, I'll enjoy the ride and punch any sucker in the face who tries to stone me, hey if they're devout in their faith they'll be traditional.

Answer 1

Stone you? A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Don't paraphrase a Bible you have just skimmed. If Christianity (not religion) spelled out all the answeres what need for faith would there be. God wants us to seek Him out, He won't dissapoint. You sound like someone trying to convince themselves of something your not quite sure you believe. I did question my faith, and everytime I did, I found the answer in God. I believe in reason and logic as well, I'm just smart enough to know that not every thing in this world falls into the category of reason and logic. Belief in God doesn't fit like a puzzle piece, but it is the truth. You just feel like it has to be proven to you, the Bible says "seek and you will find." So I challenge you to overcome your fear and seek... what have you got to lose?

Answer 2

Okay, let me start off by saying this. I'm atheist, too. However, I believe the reason you're having problems with people attacking you is because you're spitting your views at them and talking very negatively in a public forumn about something people care very deeply about. You don't like it when people preach to you, do you? Well you should respect every and their choice to believe whatever they want and not come online and degrade them for having faith in something. The great thing about this country is that they have the right to believe what they want, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Yes, I know you probably get a lot of degrading comments as well. I know. I live in the middle of the bible belt and I do not believe in God. What does that tell you? But you won't ever see me saying anything negative to anyone for choosing to believe what they want, whether it be a god or that circus clowns saved the world.

Answer 3

I am a Christian and NO I do not think you are weak because you have no faith. I do think however that people have tried to cram "religion" down your throat and you have had enough. I don't blame you at all. Religions are man made. Jesus did not ever ask that a religion be formed yet man just had to take over (as usual) and develop this denomination and that one etc. If you were force fed this doctrine filled nonsense, then I don't blame you at all for not wanting to believe.

Some day perhaps you will be able to open your heart to a personal relationship with God and will then understand what those of us who have that relationship are saying. I have been greatly blessed and I know you would be too. In the meantime, I will hope for you.

Answer 4

You say you've read the Bible forcibly, but have you studied it? Why should I question something I fully believe? Stop and think, those of us that believe in what the Bible teaches have journeyed through life and yes, at times, we have stepped back and looked at ourselves, questioning if this is what we want. Those of us that have accepted Christ continue with his teachings and live in our faith.

I'm sorry your family has disowned you, truly and if your friends, have stepped away from you, that is tragic, but stop and think, what is it they have that you don't? and I'm not talking about material things here.

Obviously it concerns you or you wouldn't sound so compassionate. All I'm saying is that you've read the Bible, but have you just taken the time to "read it".

As Christians, we too have knowledge. I'm sorry you're so angry. I was going to e-mail you but you don't allow e-mails. Contact me if you like. I'd love to continue this conversation if you want.

Answer 5

They are simply leeching other people arguments and taking them for their own. One of the biggest questions concerning Christians and Pagans is why Christians attack Paganism without knowing about it. Others, outside of Christianity, always answer that they fear the unknown. Now, it looks as if they are trying to use that same logic on Atheists... which would only work if Atheists didn't read up on any of this stuff and disregarded it completely without ever checking into it.

Answer 6

Its sad to know that your friends as well as your family has disowned, thats not the way it should be...Atheist or not, your not a bad person just because..I don't think you are a weak person, your a strong person in the way you believe..Blessings to you and hope you will except them, am not saying that in a mean way either, honest..

Answer 7

Good girl, stand up for your beliefs!
I have a rule about religion...I don't talk about it. My family is Catholic, I was forced to read the bible and go to church also. I put up with it until I was 18 and I haven't stepped into church since, not even for weddings, I just show up for the party!
Stay strong with your knowledge!

Answer 8

I'm sorry you feel this way. There are many of us who believe that not believing in God takes more faith than believing in Him.

Honestly, I believe in God, not because of what someone said or did . . . but because of what I felt when I was praying "God, are you there". I think God is so obvious to us that believing He exists doesn't take faith. My faith is in the fact that He could possibly care about little ol' me.

Answer 9

God exists, Religions were created by man for man. No insult intended but you do sound young. In years to come, may you live long and prosper, you will have disappointment, suffering and perhaps trauma, face the death of friends and family and finally your own, face unavoidable and unresolvable problems, face life. If religion remains unacceptable to you, you may want to consider spirituality, the foundation on which all religions began. You will get lost and it helps to find a path. through life.

Answer 10

I understand how you feel. It's easy to be bitter about atheist ideas. You aren't weak and from your story you're even stronger than most people I know. I can only partially relate, half my family rejected me, half accepted me with the apathy they'd always felt towards me. I too was alone amongst my friends. But I really really urge you that, though it is easy to be angry about people who preach tolerence and refuse to practice it, not to throw it in their faces. I did that for years and I actually de-converted several of my friends with my arguments. Though many would say it was a good thing, and for 3 of them it was, for one of them his faith was the only thing keeping him from a "darker path." Some people need structure in their lives. Ideally we can provide that ourselves, but he was too young and foolhardy to be able to do that for himself, and eventually got involved with drugs. Though none of this was anything but his choice, at the time his religion was providing something he could not provide for himself. This is the case with alot of people, faith has traditionally served society in ways that people have been hesitant to serve themselves. Though I fully believe that we as a society are ready and able to move past faith, just be kind in remembering that for some people, they still need it. Everyone has it in them to be fully thinking, rational human beings of good moral character and upstanding social citizens. Some people need (gentle) help getting there though.

Go on and know that though it is at time's lonely, you are doing the best thing you can for yourself. You are being true to who you are and what you are in this universe. Though we are alone in the sense that there is no father figure watching over us, we are none of us alone completely. Atheism is not the lonely life that the religious would relagate to us, for it is the ultimate expression of the human condition. Love, be loved, and live a life for yourself and others. Know that there are those of us who would take a stone or two for you as well if necessary.