Why is it that sometimes I have to doubt the existence of God?

Question

Don't give me all that "May God be with you" crap. Just a straight, unbiased reason.

Answer 1

Because the idea of God is just plain silly.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian, but the difference in our religions is not so great: we both encounter this same set of questions. I find it helpful to distinguish between the reality of God and the ideas about God that inhabit my own imagination. If we assume God is real, then God must be such that my mind--any human mind--is inadequate to fully understand that reality. The God I imagine is, at best, a poor imitation of the real God. In that sense, the God I imagine does not exist. But that doesn't mean that the real God does not exist. It just means I accept my limits. The real God (assuming that God exists) is beyond human capacity to fully understand. So much the better! That is necessary, if there be a God at all. Certainly, we cannot prove God exists. We cannot prove God does not exist. In both case, the problem is our own limits. Logic can do nothing without premises, and premises are derived from observation, abstraction, generalization, and classification. These activities, with respect to God, are subjective. About the only proof we can manage is this: we can logically prove that logical proof is inadequate to deal with the question of God's existence. So it seems we have a choice: believe in God, or don't believe. Pray to God, or don't pray. But it is a free choice, and it is, ultimately, the choice of who we decide we will be, because whatever the reality beyond our grasp, our beliefs will decide what we do, and our acts will determine who we are. We can believe, and we can pray, not because we are placing bets on God's existence, but because we are choosing to be people who believe and pray, people who do not consider these things a waste of our time. Others here often ask: What if you turn out to have been wrong? I answer that I am certain I will turn out to have been, at least, a little bit wrong. My mind is too limited to encompass all truth. But being right or wrong is not our choice: we can only choose to be who we want to be, and where and with whom we want to stand. Faith is not an absence of doubt. Faith is not being certain we have the right answers to all the questions. Faith is holding to a commitment in a relationship, and living with the idea that doubts can be sorted out later. From what (very little) I know of Sikhism, I have the impression that sort of constancy is highly valued. The founder of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth whom we call "Christ," valued it too. I know this is very much a foreign view to you, but I hope it might help.

Answer 3

This is a "normal" experience during this age. Human logic is like static to spiritual perception, and so there are many times doubt tries to come in for a landing. Often times, we let doubt and fear in, and at length, pay the price. From the very beginning, human thought has been feeding the roots of doubt, and this belief in doubt hides spiritual power that man possesses, and so therefore the darkness seems to go on without any intervention on our part. So before doubt completely disappears, we need to grow spiritually and have unshaken faith in God and His completeness. (and so on)

Answer 4

...this is very understandable...the bible itself says ...now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen....to doubt is simply a human response to a question of faith, do not worry if you doubt ...even if all your prayers are answered this can still be the case....if the proof of God was so solid, there would be no need for faith...I mean, honestly, faith is simply believing that something you can't prove is real to you...just try to work through it, read up on your ideas of religion like you would anything else you wanted to understand, and with education comes understanding...not just in religion but in everything....take the time to find what you are looking for...I am sure you will be happy with the answers...

Answer 5

Read the Bible where it describes the earth. In the Bible the earth is flat, held up by pillars (like a giant oceanic oil-rig) and the sun revolves around the earth. The sky is a mirrored dome with the sun, moon and stars affixed to the underside. The moon creates it’s own light. Above the dome, God sits on a throne in heaven. God, who’s as strong as a unicorn, rides cherubs and came to earth to show his “back parts” to one man and wrestle with another. The Bible tells of unicorns, cockatrices, and satyrs. Snakes, trees and donkeys talk. Does this sound like reality to you?

Why would God make Noah save Mosquitoes, parasitic wasps and komodo dragons while watching innocent human babies drown?

Read Eccl. 3:18-20: That Men “might see that they themselves are beasts. …Yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

Read the parts where God condones and even rewards slavery, murder, infanticide, rape, mutilation, etc.

You need to understand that the Bible is describing the God you would worship if you were Christian.

The idea of a "sky daddy" who will protect you on earth and give you a life after you die is a very powerful one. However, it is not reality, as you have already discovered.

Just remember, anyone can promise you anything, But can they back it up?

Answer 6

I am having the same problem, I think its because we're using common sense and thats what is making us doubt his existence. When you really think about it, how is it possible there is a superior being that is all powerful, we can't see him, we can't feel him, we can't hear him, and often when help is needed help isn't really received, now really when you think about it this way you could really start doubting his existence. But I'm trying hard to get the doubt outta my mind and leave common sense behind when it comes to this. I mean this really could determine what will happen to me in the future (death/ afterlife), and who knows if that future is near or far.

Answer 7

Because life is not usually simple or ideal. Barring mental illness, most people rebel at the ideas of death, loss, pain, and cruelty. For some or many individuals, it is difficult to reconcile the idea of a loving Creator with realities of daily life. Perhaps, on some internal level you are aware that the world is not as it should be. That's what I would refer to as a "seeker"--- one who is seeking answers. Straight enough?

Answer 8

The doubt is also a part of Christian living. In time we grow to trust God's promises and we experience Him in personal level

Answer 9

Because the capabilities of your five senses make u think that theres no God or anything like that who exists, but in reality, there is a world beyonnnd our five senses, which an average human cant get to that level.

Answer 10

It's a hard concept to grasp. If you doubt God then that's your choice. But i think that the closest thing to "proof" of God's existance is the Golden Ratio. Think about it, ALL things in nature correspond to a single mathematical proportion....Like a plan.... *twilight zone theme*

Answer 11

Because you're a human being with free will and a brain. Doubt is the other side of the coin from faith.