How many people REALLY believe in God?

Question

I've heard it argued that if someone believed in God, they would be frantic trying to learn more about him. They would not be content to have a minute pass by without thinking of his desires...

Do you think this is true? Do you live your life this way?

Answer 1

You may have heard it argued that way, but that doesn't make it true.

As you grow up a bit, you will learn not to believe everything you hear, even if it appeals to your own biases and prejudices.

Answer 2

Just because someone believes in God does not mean they understand, know and experience God. Those all are different things. I don't just not only believe in God, I do understand and know God. I also have experienced God several times before. I don't mean moments like "Oh I see God in everything" or "I feel God when I'm having a peaceful moment." Those are very subtle experiences that one is open to. What I mean by experiencing God is that I have experienced how powerful the love of God is. Human love no matter how much we receive it from our partner, family, friends, chidlren, etc. is only a tiny drop of the ocean of Love that God has for us. It is unbelievable, extremely powerful, even words aren't enough to describe it! Once I tasted it, I just gotta have more of it!! God's love is SO intoxicating!

I did not believe or understand God in my younger years, but I was open minded. I believed in love, believed in good and being the best possible person. It was just over time that I had several glimpses of God's greatness, beauty, love and stillness.

This is something that everyone will discover through their own personal journey at their own time whether this life or next life. It does not matter what religion or what beliefs a person has. I wasn't even practicing or believing in religion when I experienced it.

I'm not too clear what you mean by "they would not be content to have a minute pass by w/o thinking of his desires." I'm a bhakta. On the bhakti yoga (path of devotion), we think about God every minute of the day. It's one of the most powerful, easiest and most effective ways to experience God. Ever since I started the path of devotion over a year ago, it has been incredible since then. I also experience so many syncronistic moments which are so much fun to have! It makes life so much more playful and fun! Whenever that happens, I feel so much love, gratitude and smiles just appear on my face more often. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti_yoga

Answer 3

I think a lot of people 'believe' in God out of fear of Hell. They do not really believe or love God - but instead feel compelled to so that they will not be damned. I actually have a Christian book that encourages this thinking.

In actuality there is no fear in love. To believe in God - is in many ways to love God. Especially for Jews and Christians both.

Personally - I believe in God. I am not frantic for knowledge because I have a relationship with God. I try to make my life a prayer to God. I think about God all the time - and allow God into my life. I am always learning about God - seeking knowledge - and above all else widom. Which is said in Proverbs to be the most precious of all treasures. And true wisdom only comes from God.

I do think that those who truly believe in God are always thinking of how to do His well. That they desire to have a closer relationship with Him and to have the gift of wisdom. But God also has given us this life on earth as a precious gift - and He wants us to live this life to the fullest extent.

Answer 4

I do believe in God and his son Jesus Christ, also the holy spirit and all three of these persons make up one God. I try to live my life the best I can in accordance with God's word and have conversations with God everyday. If I go a day without a conversation with God my life feels empty, when my life feels that way, I realize that is usually a day I did not pray. We are not perfect, even us Christians/others who believe in God. It is easy to get caught up in the world and forget God even though is is always thinking about you. He is there and he is real. My conversations with him and other people confirming that he has said certain things to me proved it to me that he was/is real. No matter how close you are to God, no matter if he was constantly in physical form and you were around him all the time, you would still mess up. It would probably make you more conscience that he was there and you would mess up less frequently but... even the bible says that even those who see great miracles by him will still not believe.

Answer 5

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The proof and evidence is all around you and everywhere, undeniable proof, and indisputable visible evidence. It is called creation and life. Unless your are blind, deaf, and senseless. You can see, smell, taste, hear, feel, and examine the evidence.
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We live on a planet teeming with life. Plant life with approximately 250,000 species, animal life with over a million species. Scientists are learning just how complex life is. So complex that it requires design. The evidence of design requires a designer. Scientists are also learning the conditions for life; just how perfect conditions here on planet Earth are to support all this life.
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The human brain, it absorbs forty megabytes per second of data while awake. That is two terabytes of data a day. At night, it sorts and stores that data through the creation of new chemical bonds and synaptic connectors.
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Sure, right, this all just happened and evolved. This sort of thinking takes considerable faith, exponentially more faith than believing in a creator.
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Answer 6

You pose a question that illustrates and maybe exagerates a fundamental part of Christianity. It is true we want to learn all we can, although I would not say 'frantic'. God is supposed to be at the forefront of each action and speech. Is this always true, probably not. Christians are human and have shortcomings, our best cannot measure up; but that is not the point. The point is to continually put God back at the forefront. Our efforts do not save us, only the blood of Christ.

Answer 7

That is the way alot of Children of GOD are when they get saved. The explanation for this is in the Bible.
Not all are like this right after they get their spirit recreated (Born-Again).
As you grow, you mature as a Child of GOD, and the "frantic" goes away as you Learn.
I know personally, Ditto.

Answer 8

Frantic? No. But yes. I do try to make the right decisions on how God wants me to live...

Answer 9

I do not believe in god, so this question is personally irrelevant.

If someone truly believed in god as a manifestation in the real world, than wouldn't they try to understand more about the universe from a scientific perspective?

Instead, many claim that their god created reality 6,000 years ago and all species on a six day fun fest in a garden. But wouldn't a deity be larger than that nonsense? Especially in a universe with billions of stars and galaxies, possibly teeming with life?

This is one reason that I don't believe in religion. I also think that a personal god is unlikely to exist. That's my view, for what it's worth.

Answer 10

I really believe in God, and believe that Jesus was his only son who gave his life as an atonement for my sins. I long to learn more about God and all his wonders. I wake up everyday to praise and thank him for all the wonderful blessings he has bestowed on this earth even though we do not deserve them....

Answer 11

I strive towards that goal. I would like to get to the place where my mind is stayed on God, where He is always in my thoughts and I am always worshipping Him, praying without ceasing.

But the flesh is weak.

I will continue to strive towards that goal though. One day, even if it is only in eternity, one day I am confident that I will get to that point. For no one can look on His wonderful face and not want more.