I was raised as a christian, but now I'm not so sure. I find it difficult to believe in god and think I'm becoming an atheist, but at the same time I'm uncomfortable with that. Everyone is so sure of their belief or non-belief and I am not. What should I do? Please dont say, "just pray".
2007-09-14 18:28:23 · 23 answers · asked by jblack988 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
read....
A LOT
dont worry about other people. trust me, they might seem confident on the outside. but everyone has doubts about their beliefs, as they should. anyone who is confident about inherently unknowable things like what happens after one dies or what exists outside of the universe, is just plain lying to themselves
2007-09-14 18:33:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
College is a time to question things and to look for answers. Most people who think about things with any depth at all have questions at some time in their lives.
If you really are a seeker and not just looking for a way to make the good time you want to have 'OK' until you finish college, you will find some answers.
Maybe you'll come full circle back to your faith, maybe you'll move on to something else.
Not believing in the faith you had as a child does not automativcally equal atheism, although it can.
It's time to think about what each of these things means to you, and the sort of person you can be if you believe one thing or the other. Join a few clubs and groups of varying sorts (like a christian group and an atheist group, for example) and try to learn what each has to offer without deriding either.
Talking with people, reading and becoming involved are all great ways to discover the answers to our questions.
Take your time, find your own way and have some fun :-)
Best wishes :-)
2007-09-15 01:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by thing55000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're in a great setting for learning new things! Take a comparative-religions class and see if anything rings your bell. You may find another tradition you like (Christian and atheist aren't your only options, after all), or you may find that religions just don't make sense to you at all anymore. Then you might feel more comfortable about walking away. It's not an easy step to take. I was raised Catholic, and it took me a long time to shake off my baggage and find the courage to follow my own path.
If others seem certain of their beliefs, you can be assured that many of them took time to grow into those beliefs. Lots of people find themselves at a spiritual crossroads at some point in their lives -- you are most certainly not alone. It took me a few years to figure out my comfort zone. So just be patient with it, enjoy the ride, and go where your conscience leads you!
2007-09-15 01:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by Cap'n Zeemboo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't just become atheist just because you're not sure. You DO need to pray, read the bible, and of course research other options. If you think being an atheist is the right choice for you, than do it, but only do it AFTER you fully search until your heart says you're ready to accept the truth. Whether that truth is Christianity, Hinduism, Atheism, Islam, etc...who knows? I cannot tell you that, only yourself can.
But I BEG YOU do not just "jump on the band wagon" because most likely than not those kids who are so sure of their faith, or the lack there of, will probably question it also in the next few years...some will change, some will stay the same, but they will most likely search for the truth.
2007-09-15 01:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people don't want to believe in God.
Some people do want to believe in God.
We all wager our lives on whether or not God exists.
The "great wager" is made by faith.
Blaise Pascal said, "Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false?...If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lost nothing."
Reasons People Don't Want to Believe in God:
1. Intellectual opposition:
a. not relevant to a modern world
b. wish fulfillment; not supported by facts
c. suffering seems incompatible with the idea of a loving God
d. Christianity is based on a series of unjustifiable, outdated, and incredible events that can no longer be taken seriously
2. Failure of Christians or Christianity
a. "all the hypocrites in the church"
b. the crusades, the Inquisition, modern televangelists, etc.
c. failure of Christians and/or the church to live up to expectations
3. Pride or inferiority
a. unwilling to believe or admit that they need God
b. sense of inadequacy and inferiority
4. Carnality
a. don't want to stop sinning
b. don't have to give up anything they currently have or are doing
Reasons People Do Want to Believe in God
1. To escape hell
a. to avoid punishment
b. fear of death and the afterlife
2. Hope of Heaven
a. they want Heaven
b. look forward to an eternity in the presence of God
c. eternity without pain, heartache, and tears of this life
3. Intuitive belief that there is a supreme creator
4. Purpose and meaning
a. if we are created and can know God, there is possibility for meaning
5. The credibility of the Bible
a. the Bible is remarkable
b. the Bible records prophecies, a plausible explanation for the world, and a keen understanding of the nature of humanity
c. when obeyed, we benefil
d. when violated, we suffer
e. compelling reason to believe in God
6. The life of Jesus
a. most important person ever to have lived
b. teachings are profound
c. life is exemplary
d. works remarkable
e. death and resurrection so unexplainable that many people believe in God because of Him
You might not realize that not to accept God is the same as rejecting Him, that you don't have the option of not wagering on God.
You might put off the wager, thinking you have plenty of time, and then run out of time.
You might lead others astray. Just because you're willing not to bet on God doesn't mean that you should encourage others not to bet on Him.
2007-09-15 02:49:36 · answer #5 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can only tell you what I think you should do... Go out QUESTION everything, look into ALL religions, beliefs etc. Talk to as many people of different beliefs as you can, ask them questions about what they believe(Answers is a good place to do that) Explore past and present cultural beliefs, practices... everything. Learn all you can, then sit and ask yourself what rings true in your own heart.... Ask yourself the most difficult questions, ask yourself what you believe and what you FEEL when you read/hear about different beliefs and their history. Then you will learn what your own beliefs are and you will be very sure in the end about what you believe personally.
2007-09-15 01:37:37 · answer #6 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think you need to start by asking yourself one question: "Does God matter?"
There are 3 possibilities regarding God:
1) God doesn't exist. In this case, humanity would be better off trying to take care of the problems in the world ourselves instead of waiting for someone who doesn't exist to take care of them.
2) God exists and is almighty, omniscient, and benevolent. In this case, God can and does help with the problems in the world, but he would prefer for us to help out and would not have any desire to be worshiped. Prayer is useless because God already knows your intentions and that time could be better spent working to help God improve the world.
3) God exists, but is not almighty, not omniscient, and/or not benevolent. In that case, humanity would be better off working to improve the world than worshiping God because there are some things that God either cannot or will not do to help us. Worshiping such a flawed deity is a mistake.
In every case, you get the same result. Worshiping God is a waste of time that could be better utilized working to improve the world around us.
In my opinion, God is completely irrelevant.
Any educated atheist can provide a host of reasons why civil and moral behavior are beneficial personally and to society. Religion is not necessary to provide an incentive for it and I'm sure we all know many people who are very religious are also very immoral. Clearly, religion and morality are not the same thing.
True morality is based on logic and empathy: the empathy to care how your actions affect the rest of the universe and the logic to figure out how they do so.
If you want to learn to become a better person, you should focus on logic and empathy. Not religion.
2007-09-15 01:51:58 · answer #7 · answered by scifiguy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just make a pledge to yourself that you will act completely morally regardless of whether you feel that God exists or not. I think you will find that if you have a clear conscience about your behavior, the question of God's existence will not bother you so much. You'll know that if He does exist, he would be pleased with your good deeds, and if He does not, then hey, you are still a good person who contributed something to humanity. And in the end, that is what all humans strive for after their own basic needs are met. Otherwise, life is completely meaningless.
2007-09-15 01:34:46 · answer #8 · answered by Ayla 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wow what a good question! You know the story of when Jesus fasted for 40 day's in the wilderness, It Say's when Jesus was hungry the devil came to him and asked the question if you are the son of God........This is the same thing that he does to us as Christians, The big If Question, It is usually when we are most vulnerable. Our Wilderness can be a dry place. A place of testing......a place where we can not feel God's presence, the wilderness/dessert is scorching hot in the day and at night it is bitter cold. Do you feel that way right now in your life? This is what each and everyone of us must go through. Weather some admit it or not. One thing that helps me is a ask God to show me people in the Bible who went through something similar, and it helps give me wisdom. God say's "My people perish for lack of knowledge." Do reasurch, and as you do ask God to give you understanding. I am Praying for you my friend. You will be ok. God Bless
2007-09-15 02:01:35 · answer #9 · answered by Rev.Michelle 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just because you are not a christian, doesn't mean you are an atheist.
Read about other religious beliefs from a non-biased source. Find something that fits how you feel about the world, decide on your own beliefs, or choose to become an atheist then.
2007-09-15 01:35:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋