to all of you in R/S. Can you point me in the right direction?

Question

i have begun to have serious questions about God, the bible & to be honest, i guess everything to do with religion. Now, what i DO NOT want is a bunch of scripture thrown at me. I think about what i beleived in, but now i just can't make any sense out of any of it.

i would like to draw my own conclusions. i already know what the bible says. i want other references please.

i would also like input from the athiests, thiests....ect.....

thank you in advance

witnessbr1
what's wrong with coming to my own conclusions about things....i have a mind and i want to explore what else is out there. i have always considered myself a christian but as i stated i feel differently about things that the bible considers sin...sorry but i have a real issue with putting god before my children...don't start with the story of Abraham...i know it. i am a married woman with 3 lovely children and i also have a problem with what the bible says about homosexuaity...i know, i know it's not the homosexuality that's a sin it's when they act on it so to speak.....how would you feel if it were wrong for you to love your spouse...let me guess you would walk away!? i'm not going to go on about this....i feel you get the point i'm making......

To all that have answered thus far.....

TAHNK YOU! you have given me great places to start.......keep em' coming!!

wefmeister:
i read that story and i'm sorry but i beleive that is exactly what it is JUST A STORY

Answer 1

I think your first step is to find out the origins of the bible. How did the book "come to be"? Who decided which books would be "holy" and which books wouldn't. You can just wiki this. Also important in your search will be: Council of Trent (when they decided the trinity existed) and the Council of Nicea (when they decided which books would go in the bible).

Once you research the origins of the book itself, start looking at unbiased sources - or look at "both sides" of the picture. For a skeptical look at the bible, I would recommend the library at: www.internetinfidels.org

Good luck!

Answer 2

It is okay to question your beliefs. You get stronger that way throwing off what no longer fits you and taking on more beliefs that better suits you.

If you believe the bible then by all means keep reading it. The Old Testament is of value on what God expected of Israel while the New testament is supposed to be of benefit to all mankind and all time. It is where Christianity comes from due to the worship of Christ.

I studied the bible seriously over 25 years. It was the study of the Old Testament mainly that cause my belief changes. I won't go into that because now as Wiccan it is not my goal , desire , or responsibility to try and convert people. and it may appear that I am.

Just keep searching, asking and questioning and you will find your true path that is right for you.
BB

Answer 3

As a non-believer who was catholic at one time. All I can say is this. You should believe in what you want to believe in and practice what you feel is right.
There is nothing wrong with doing that. There is no law that forbids you to practice your beliefs in a manner that you are happy with.

For example, if you do not feel happy with going to church and feel that it is better to pray once a day for five minutes in your room than do that.

You have to decide what is in your best interest for yourself. Yes that may sound a bit selfish but you should never let someone or a church dictate to you what and how you should worship god.

Ask more questions so that you can draw on a better conclusion. Never take no for answer

Answer 4

if you want to pursue the questions, maybe this can help:

http://www.geocities.com/questioningpage/

and maybe not. If not, let me know so I won't refer people to it again... but I think you can find a lot of info there, and just following the guided tour is strictly optional I think.

edit: oh, and that is the path of questioning thinking. There are other paths, more intuitive one may say, as cliche as that word is. In that catagory I recommend the Daode Jing, though it is really tough to get into at first. Read and reread, muse, browse, feel how it makes sense to you or not.

http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/daodejing.html

I find switching back and forth works miracles.

Answer 5

Let me say one thing Biblical! It says to seek wisdom! Not just biblical wisdom. Kim once you study philosophy but remember your roots then you will have more peace. You will never have complete peace, this is a faith based situation, and it sucks I know, but, it's all we have! If you are not much of a reader then you are going to be a target for allot of cults. If you don't read, then you must go and experience first hand other beliefs, and that is dangerous! I did it that way and to tell you the truth it set me back years in my search for truth. Read! Anything you want, but read!

Answer 6

Don't look to be pointed in the right direction but instead try and examine what you are questioning and why. What are your own value and why. And if your beliefs steer you towards any particular system or not. And maybe the first stop you take will not be the final. I was Christian and then Atheist and then Wiccan then to just non denominational Pagan.

Answer 7

Just start exploring. You'll find the answer. It's also OK if you choose not to believe in God. Sometimes an alternate doesn't give you more answers just more years with more confusion. I settled into Buddhism but I also observe some Hindu and even Catholic traditions ( I was raised Catholic) as well as Wiccan rituals. I like being open and not having to subscribe but I do practice the dharma. Blessings

Answer 8

There's the problem...."I would like to draw my own conclusions.' That's why there are 'atheists, thiests, etc.' Everyone is 'doing right in his own mind'(oops, sorry, there's scripture). Do you see righteousness today? Look around you, better yet, look IN YOU. You judge what you see, but you don't realize you are judging that which is inside you that you hate. Think about it.

Answer 9

The only answers you'll ever get will come from the Bible, or from someone who knows the Bible. I don't know what you're looking for outside of it, but I'm sorry to tell you, you won't get anywhere that way. =/
Now if you want to know what the Bible really MEANS, that's another story.
Do you understand God's plan for your salvation? Believe it or not, everything in the entire Bible ties into this one single theme.
God created a perfect world. Satan came in and corrupted man.. Man is now born into corruption, separated from God with no hope of reconciliation. God's holy nature hates the sin, but his loving nature offers a second chance. He comes to earth as a man, bridging the gap and becoming personal to man once again. He lives a stainless life and offers himself up to suffer, to take the punishment man's corrupt nature has earned. Justice is served because someone paid the price that had to be paid for sin. Mercy is extended to man because God is the one who paid the price that had to be paid for sin. Now man has a choice - to stay in corruption, or to turn from it and accept God's substitution. If man chooses to accept God's substitution, when he passes into eternity he will be with God. If man chooses to remain corrupt and separate from God, when he passes into eternity he will be apart from God. Since God is all things good, right, and loving, the absence of God is all things evil, wrong, and hateful - Hell. Man chooses for himself. God hopes man chooses Him.

Answer 10

I became an atheist at age sixteen after being taken to church every Sunday since I could remember. It sounds like you are beginning to think for yourself. Good for you. You might google Richard Dawkins. He wrote a book called "The God Delusion". Take care.