Christians: why do you refuse to change your view of God?

Question

Are you so positive that you've gotten it right the first time around that you won't change your opinion, despite a rational argument that still supports the existance of your God?

Is this from stubborness? Fear?

(I'm partially referencing Rachel's latest question, which I think will be better recieved by atheists than Christians. If only more people could actually think about their religion instead of accepting what they're told: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070710095015AAixHcI&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTBVWGY_bjp7lzrp8xISfYsaFhuEFr_z4Q--&paid=answered#LbhLO1HbLHRAXond0J_w)

Answer 1

The reason why I posted this is I'm sick of just writing off the valid questions that atheists ask with a stock answer. Some of them really do have a point, but in response to this we don't have to be afraid that they're going to prove God doesn't exist. Just reevaluate who God really is.

What we believe and the way we approach faith show grow, mature and change as we ourselves grow, mature, and change. This doesn't mean we lose our faith, it just changes. So many people seem to see it as you either stay believing what you always have, or just throw it all out the window. I have always been a fan of the middle ground.

Answer 2

What makes you think this is the first time around? I've held many outlooks in my life, and only settled my faith after a full life of seeking, and trying to understand what I'm here for.

My view of God is much like that of the current Pope, who has also spent a lifetime seeking. That controversial speech that caused Islamic riots in the middle east was actually a very nuanced theological speech describing what might be considered the limits of divine transcendence.

In his view, an excessively expansive view of transcendence "might even lead to the image of a capricious God, who is not even bound totruth and goodness. God's transcendence and otherness are so exalted that our reason, our sense of the true and good, are no longer an authentic mirror of God, whose deepest possibilities remain eternally unattainable and hidden behind his actual decisions."

This is not unlike those newbie questions about, "Could god done make a them thar rock too big to lift?" Of course God cannot satisfy nonsense questions; God must be consistent with his own goodness. It is better to think of these not as "limits" so much as personality.

If you think about it, a God completely without even self-imposed limits is a God that cannot exist - such a God would be closer to the "atheist God" than the Christian God. We believe about God that he is constrained to be real, he is constrained to be good, and constrained to be the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. A God that is without limits is even free to not exist, or free to be evil.

Answer 3

I know that there are many who like to bring up science, biology, etc. when they discuss the existence of God. However, it's not stubbornness nor fear that has me refuse to agree with them. God is BIGGER than science and I just have faith that the word of God is real and true.

"We live by faith, not by sight."
~2 Corinthians 5:7 (New International Version)~

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
~Romans 10:17 (New International Version)~

Answer 4

Your first mistake is assuming we haven't challenged our religious beliefs with secular ones. Do you assume that all Christians are just stupid, mid-state fundamentalists? We have brains and logical capabilities like the atheists, we just chose the Christian path. Here's a kicker, why won't environmentalists change their beliefs despite plenty of logic disproving their Theseus? Seems to me that the Temperature Prophet, Al Gore, is their Savior to them.

Answer 5

Probably for the same reason that atheists never change their mind about God. Most people don't just come by their beliefs lightly; contrary to what you might think, most people think about their beliefs quite often, and wonder about the same things that you do.

Just because they reached a different conclusion than you do does not imply that they are any more close minded or stupid than you seem to them.

Answer 6

My view of God seems to be changing constantly. I try to study the scriptures every day. I go to church every Sunday. I'm always learning more.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's my final answer

Answer 7

It's more that just being told something. It's about learning from experience and reading it from the Bible. I've heard many things from many people, shows, music but I can see through it all.

I've had doubts myself. It isn't like I'm closeminded, but my heart is closed in a sense

Answer 8

Christians are intimidated by the very book that they claim to "believe". They are afraid they're going to burn in "Hell" if they DON'T believe. They are spiritual opportunists. Why would a truthful book have to threaten and try to frighten readers into believing what is written therein?
Atheist, on the other hand will not make excuses or be cowardly in confronting the many lies and contradictions in this childish book.
In the final analysis, Atheist are simply more decent human beings than Christians.

EVOLVER---Boy is your brain in a whirl. ---If your god might be evil and might not even exist, according to atheists ---why do you even bother yourself to make excuses for him if in your mind he's such an ordinary being?
Good luck in finding someone to believe that the amazing creature who created all that we can see, has the limitations that you so authoritatively describe.
To whom does your "restrained" god answer?
Sure wish I could get all the inside infomation that you seem to have access to.

Answer 9

I find your question odd - I mean all of us who are non-Christians are working hard to encourage the Christians on this forum to be tolerant of other people's faith and you are slamming them for what they believe. Is that right?

Just asking.

Answer 10

I don't follow 1 in particular. I have a mix of beliefs . I don't trust all of what sciences teaches. It's mine and mine alone.
GOD BLESS and SHALOM