Is something wrong with me?

Question

Okay, so I grew up 100 yards away from a huge southern baptist church in my hometown. I was raised there and was forced to attend church twice on sundays and once on wednesday.. with that in mind..

now that I am grown I don't feel as strong of connection to GOD as I once did. Im in school with a major in IT so I like scientific stuff. For me, is there a GOD that created humans and the earth and everything? Possibly. Did humans evolve from bacteria? Possibly. I just don't know.

Is this normal? I don't want to call myself atheist, (my parents would kill me) but I just don't know about all of it. Any advice?

Answer 1

i would say (from one IT-er to another) : don't worry too much about it. Some people spend their whole live trying to figure that one out. And to what purpose i ask you ?

Just be yourself - be happy - enjoy your life - be good to others...:-)

Answer 2

Just because you doubt, does not mean anything is wrong with you. The worst thing to do is to force someone to believe in something, there is an inbuilt reaction to this and we then tend to fight the belief. Your parents were probably brought up in a religious atmosphere, or should I say spiritual atmosphere, as there was less technology. This is similar to the historical changes in all religions, before any technology apart from the wheel people did not go much beyond their own boundaries and would feel spiritual connections to the land. As soon as they were able to travel readily this almost disappeared. Whatever you believe if you govern your life by treating people fairly and doing what you think is right, you are being more Christian than many Christians, and the same would apply to any other religion. I know of a very religious church leader (had been tipped to become a bishop) who made a lot of money out of taking over the property of a local youth leader who sank all his life's earnings into it. The youth leader is now renting space to continue his work, the would-be bishop is retired in comfort. Who is the Christian (or whatever name you wish to give) of these two.

Answer 3

It is completely normal and healthy to question. I only worry about the people that accept without a second thought whatever people tell them. Good for you for having a mind of your own!

It isn't as though the only two options for you are fundamentalist Christian or athiest. You could be one of those, and thats perfectly fine. You could also decide you're a Christian who believes that the creation story is metaphorical. You could decide you believe in another religion altogether. Don't be afriad to research different beliefs. And as for your parents, remember that they've made their choice and you have to make yours.

Personally, for me, science and religion go well together. I believe in the scientific explanation for the formation of the universe and the evolution of species; however I think religion can explain some things that science can't- like what force caused the big bang, or how the spark of life emerged from what had just been matter.

Just because you were brought up with something doesn't mean it's necessarily right for you. Just take some time to do some research, explore your spirituality, and remember there's absolutely nothing wrong with you.

Answer 4

It's normal to have an inquisitive mind,I am proud to call myself a christian and I also have a fascination with science, I don't know if I believe the popular christian thoughts of creation of a few days or over several billion years, but I still believe that however it was done that God did it. It's not wrong to question things that you are taught, that is why God gave you a mind and that's how you grow, don't just take someones word for it research it and pray about it, in the end it will make you a better person and believer.

Answer 5

I have a Degree in Computer Science, over 15 years of IT experience and took the science courses for science majors and astronomy as options. It is normal to have doubts but you will just need to look at the evidence.

I suggest some reading like

Mere Chrisitianity by C.S. Lewis
Science: Christian Perspectives for the New Millennium - Ravi Zacharias
The Case for Christ and the Case for Faith and the Case for the Creator by Lee Stroebel.
and of course the Bible! Go to Church (a good Bible believing Church!!) and read the Bible it is a book about God and history and is accurate!

Here are a few quotes to remember:

"There is no incompatibility between science and religion... Science shows that God exists." - Prof. D. Barton, Nobel Prize Chemistry

"If I had no other data than the early chapters of Genesis, some of the Psalms and other passages of Scripture, I would have arrived at essentially the same picture of the origin of the universe, as is indicated by the scientific data." Nobel Prize-winning physicist Arno Penzias (Big Bang Theorist)

"The principle of [divine] purpose ... stares the biologist in the face wherever he looks ... . The probability for such an event as the origin of DNA molecules to have occurred by sheer chance is just too small to be seriously considered ... ."Ernst Boris Chain - Nobel Prize in medicine

"So many of my colleagues are Christians that I can't walk across my church's fellowship hall without tripping over a dozen physicists."
William D. Phillips (1948- ), awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics for using lasers to produce temperatures only a fraction of a degree above absolute zero.

Even Professor Antony Flew the former atheist (30+ years of speaking as an atheist) that had debated men such as C.S. Lewis recently said that the latest biological research "has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce (life), that intelligence must have been involved." (This one sent Richard Dawkins into a complete hissy fit! He is such a child!)


Good Luck and God Bless
Todd

Answer 6

Youre not an atheist youre an agnostic.

Mainly because atheism is a conclusion of the mind that God does not and cannot exist.

Whereas agnosticism is the phase of questioning that goes on before coming to a conclusion.

If you had come to a conclusion and the conclusion was God exists, this does not however render you a Christian unless you believe in the other things they believe in: He has a son, etc etc. So you would technically be called: a believer, until you adhere to the rules and obligations of a certain religion or path.

Answer 7

Sure it's normal. All people question their faith at some point or another, or so I hope.

I'm an atheist who had atheistic parents (my dad calls himself agnostic but he's not fooling anyone :P) so I can't truly identify with you. Growing up in part of the Bible belt though, a lot of my peers are really devout Christians, so I was a bit of an outcast in that matter.

It all comes down to you, and my viewpoint is more liberal because I am an atheist, but I want to encourage you to think about what you believe in, rather than just forcing yourself to believe (possibly because of what your parents would think?).

Hope this helps :) Don't stress it too much

Answer 8

It is perfectly normal to have doubts about God. These doubts can take two forms: religion and existence. The former assumes that the religion you are indoctrinated into is not for you. No worries; find one that is. The second is the doubt that God exists at all. This is agnosticism and the only way to proceed is to let your mind and heart tell you what you need to know.

Answer 9

You are normal... nothing is wrong. God gave us brains so that we would question things... challenge thoughts that were handed to us... prove things out so that we'd know what is certain and what isn't. In fact, He urges us in the Bible to, "Test all things, hold fast what is true."

So, honest questioning is good and healthy and that which is TRUTH never fears to be questioned. I am a pastor- have been for 25 years now... and I welcome honest doubts and questions and really enjoy giving solid answers to them. It's with great joy and pleasure that I can state catagorically- there are solid answers to all these common doubts and questions.

Mysteries don't stay mysteries long... if you're willing to enter into a serious discussion.

I'm available. Use the "Contact Us" button at www.wordoflove.org.nz and that will set up an email to me.
Ask any questions that are troubling you. I don't at all mind taking the time to answer them. It's my favorite way to spend time.

The Truth IS out there... although not typically being taught at our Universities.

I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you'll take the time.
Ps. Larry Lombardi
www.wordoflove.org.nz

Answer 10

Be patient with God and yourself. It takes time to learn, seek him, and God will eventually give you the proof in one way or another....Your heavenly Father's goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God --What is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. Romans 12:2

Answer 11

There is nothing wrong with you. You have been indoctrinated during your childhood to believe in absurd fantasies as well as being indoctrinated to feel guilty should you ever question said fantasies. It is time for you top shed the indoctrination of your childhood. You are becoming your own person, and not just some extension of your parents needs and desires.