why is it that when believers of God matter of factly explain?

Question

that which they have experienced and felt, without fanfair or pride in any way - just as a matter of the ordinary "this is how life is" they are ridiculed and verbally beaten?

For me, the presence of God in my life just "is". I do not doubt that He's there, around me and in me. It's part of my life, part of my being, part of what I breathe. It's the most natural feeling to me. Others find similar experiences with their own beliefs. I find it interesting then, when explaining my experiences to others (after being asked of coure) that people find it necessary to express their thoughts, or even have a need, to go out of their way to thumbs down or riducule truthful statements.
Your thoughts?

thank you for your thoughts thus far. Allow me to explain that I am not offended by thumbs down. I'm just curious as to the motive behind someone who would think of ridiculing someone who believes something . I suppose it applies to all who believe anything, not just the Christian God. Case in point: satan bless you. I can understand why someone would question a belief system, but to outright ridicule it is somewhat foreign to me :)
I'm simply interested in your thoughts.

Answer 1

I have often wondered this, could it be fear that there actually is something to what we believe, and it is a defense mechanism?

or could it just be little people with small minds, that refuse accept anyone else's thoughts.

are any of us so intelligent that, what we believe can never be disproved?

perhaps they just cannot accept that what is right for them, is not what is right for someone else.

Answer 2

Well, that depends entirely upon how the statement is phrased. For example, if a Christian says "I believe God created the universe" or "I feel that God maintains a presence in my life" then I wouldn't say a thing about it. But if he says "God created the universe and he maintains a presence in everyone's lives", then that's stating a completely unsubstantiated claim as fact and is inviting debate and even derision. Keep in mind that this is a public forum constructed with the sole purpose of soliciting feedback from others. If you put something out here, what you get back isn't guaranteed to always be warm and fuzzy.

Answer 3

The anonymity makes it very easy for some to say things they would never say to another's face. I have come to believe that from email contacts that many give an accurate portrayal of who they are here, and regardless of their beliefs, most are beyond civil, they have been wonderful. You are the real deal, and furthermore, you honor your God by being respectful in your questions and responses. Thumbs down are of little matter to me, but the number of suspended accounts is getting out of hand, and we seem to have no recourse. I think the problem is many people lack the most elementary grasp of civility and it seems that the practice of good manners is a lost art. I have been trying to keep track of suspended accounts of friends and others that I see regularly, and I am seeing Christians, Atheists going about neck to neck on suspensions. Pagans seem to getting a little break, but I think that may be because there may be fewer represented. I cannot speak for others, but as a Christian I will say that many have done damage to the Gospel, and also mistake their calling as prophet or evangelist, when I fail to see that gift. You are an ambassador for Christ, and you serve Him well.

Answer 4

IMO, since you have shown cordiality, it is for this purpose....

Today is the age of reason, which is itself a demonstration that the "Spirit of Truth" has come in the person titled with Baha'u'llah [Glory of God], and "taught all truth".

Now if you don't balk at that notion without reasonable consideration, then you practice your assertion, and are truthful, deserving much credit, even if you don't believe what I assert after investigating.

So now is where validation comes in, and this is where I disagree with those who are quick to judge. I believe anything a person knows they must know for themselves, and can not be given as a matter of direct concourse with another person. The the best another can do is to present a full cognizant argument pertaining to their own evidenced life and speech, and not by claims of others.

If you wish for those arguments then you can email me, or better still investigate the claim for yourself as though it were true, and if it pans out then you have a validation, but if it fails by any sincere measure, then you have made an honest effort, and can rightly say you disagree, but then would be asked to support your own proof.

This as an intimate case study, is the sort of give and take one should expect, and nothing discarded entirely without knowledge, for that is prejudice.

Perhaps you can gather what I intend by this personal example between us...

"Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."

God bless.

Answer 5

This was an excellent question, stars to you!
People don't like to be challenged in their thinking. I have found that the more I am challenged the more I can improve myself. I remember years ago when I was in basic training in the USAF I was laying on my cot reading my pocket Gideon bible and a girl across from me said "Look at Thide (my maiden name) she's over there reading her bible and she's got a mouth like a sewer pipe!" Well she did hurt my feelings but I had to look at the truth of what she was saying---I did have a foul mouth! I didn't know the Lord at the time, I was just reading something that I thought I could get comfort from. I have adopted a few sayings that help me often:
1. Never silence your critics--if you listen to what they say you may see your blind side and be able to work on it and that will improve your life. Don't sulk in the pain of the words spoken, use them to grow stronger.
2. When things are said to you that offend you "Be like a duck and let them roll off your back" never react, but respond by thinking & praying thru every situation.
I have to live this out every day and I do fail and then get up again to work at overcoming every situation. I hope this helps you too.

Answer 6

I'm amazed anyone would care enough to ridicule you just for saying what you're experienced.

No offense, but usually people (especially on here) save ridicule for most important things. Such as the people throwing insults, the ones who are uber-preachy, the ones who only cut/paste scripture, the ones who refuse to show any amount of tolerance for other ways of life or opinions...

So unless you've committed one of those, you should be pretty safe. Sorry if you feel maligned.

Answer 7

Ah Rammie, I know it is difficult to bear the hurt of this, but religious differences have always been; religion is, has, and always will be a subject that people are going to attack each other on. It isn't right and it isn't nice, but it is something everyone has to grow a thick skin over.

As an Atheist, I've been skewered on this forum, and I have a host of people who don't like me and thumbs-down my answers regardless of how polite or thoughtful I am. It just is a commonplace occurrence; at least such attacks don't really hurt me, other than my feelings sometimes.

Rammie, I know that this probably is little comfort, but as a former Christian, I recall that Bible verse that said to count it as a blessing when men persecute you for his namesake. Take that verse and hold it to your heart.

((((Rammie))))

Answer 8

From general observation, and from God's word the bible,(I can't remember exactly where) but it says something like this:" ... the carnal mind cannot accept the things of God... the flesh is in constant struggle with the Spirit, and um... to the sinners the word of God is like a message or incense of death..." I guess that explains it!

Answer 9

Hi Ram :)

[Sometimes when I read your stuff it's almost like I myself could have written them, lol...but, there's enough of your own personality in all of your things that make it distinctly YOU! :) ]

Ram...I imagine they feel the same as I did when I read Jesus's words that everything that HE does, so will we.

"Yeah, right" "Good luck with that" I said with a laugh.

If anyone would have heard me, they would have thought I was a Baaaaad Christian!

I just didn't know any better then.

I do now.

May God Bless you always :)

Answer 10

From a devout PoV, it could be that God is 'hardening thier hearts' as a test of your Faith.

A rationalist might argue, that what you experience - a sense of connectedness to an omnipresent divine - is possibly symptomatic of temporal lobe epilepsy, or some other physiological or pscyhological abnormality.

I think, though, that it's just human nature to ridicule beliefs that are different from your own, as a way of defending your own beliefs - espcially if they rest on shakey foundations or your faith in them is weak.