Christians, Why do you believe?

Question

Skipping your belief in the Bible and quoting scriptures. I am looking for people's other experiences for believing. I am an athiest but I promise I will not laugh at the answers from your heart or call you schizophrenic. I often will say to Christians, "If you were born in India you would likely be Hindi." I look for those things that really lead you to your beliefs rather than simply being taught and in the culture where it is dominant.

Huum? Maybe having god save you from death or disaster or a loved one? That sort of thing would be good. But I am really wanting that sort of thing regarding the type personal relationship. Without seeming absurd, like even Moses being spoken to. I'm serious. If you prefer, you can answer in private. The first two answers are inspired mainly from upbringing and culture. Fine in the statements given but I am looking for belief through something more like inspiration.

ShahabIt: You are right on track for what sort of thing I am looking for. Someone who came to believing not having being raised in it, tearing the belief apart, yet ending up believing in it. Let's just say I have been 50 years at tearing it apart and have yet to get beyond that. I am really happy to see a person that has arrived and believing that way. With knowledge of te rest of the world. Great! More like this one Please!

Everyone is right on track with answers such as I was looking for. I may be an athiest but not completely ignorant of Christian beliefs. And I know this sort of expression is REALLY a testament of your faith and beliefs, not simply indoctrination. For anyone that thought I was trying to entrap Christians for their beliefs, I hope this convinces otherwise. Others too please. You'll do more good answering this one than criticizing other religions and non-believers. Ironic that an athiest might actually be trying to help you influence others by your faith?

Answer 1

because believing is a personal matter

Answer 2

Belief being in the tangible things that we can see....Here's a simple but true example of something that happened just 3 months ago. My husband and I separated in June of 2005. I retained the Dodge Van. After several months, it became painfully obvious that I was not going to be able to make the payments on it. As I have 2 children, (my second go around), I needed transportation for the obvious reasons. I prayed to God that I didn't know if it were meant for me to keep this Van or not, but if not, He (God) knew that I had need of some type of transportation. I also told Him that I couldn't handle this on my own, and therefore was going to turn the situation over to Him. 2 weeks later, He placed someone in my path that had a Ford Escort they were looking to sell. Before I even had the chance to tell this person that there was no way I could afford to pay for it, he told me that God had been working on him all night and that he was led to give me the car, lock, stock and barell free of charge. While you're probably thinking this guy was looking to score in another way, after handing me the keys and title, he said goodbye and I haven't seen hide nor hair from him since.

Oh, by the way....mention of my 2 rugrats. I have a 24 year old as well. After he was born, I knew I wanted more children. I tried and tried to no avail. It became almost an obsession. Again I prayed to God. It took him a little longer on this one, (I'm finding out He does have a sense of humor), 16 and a half years to be exact, but I do have 2 beautiful boys.

Answer 3

I grew up in a family of atheists (4th generation). My dad is a scientist and I was taught evolution. During high school I joined wicca and then studied native american religions because my friends were into them. When I left home I was searching for answers to the questions: what is my purpose? who am I? Through many years, many books, many people, I came to believe in Jesus, God, literal Bible and creation, etc. I spent 7 years believing in God and searching for which church to belong to. I had a lot of questions about how I should behave and why I wasn't successful in my marriage. I searched for happy Christians who's lives showed evidence that they were close to the creator of the universe who loved them personally. I read my Bible a lot, cover to cover, and thought I knew how great Jesus was but nagged with bitterness and anger. I wanted to know why most people who said they were Christians didn't have any more victory in life than everyone else. Here is where I found the answer. This article is titled: Learning from Atheists. Please let me know what you think. http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/topics/general-view/archive/2007/april/27/learning-from-the-atheists/
For the past 2.5 years I have lived a miracle life with my miracle husband (the one I was bitter and angry against) and would love to share the rest of the story another time.

Answer 4

I believe in Jesus Christ as my "bridge" to God. Why? Life in Christ gives me a purpose, hope, forgiveness and real inner peace. I long to know the truth of God's Word because knowing God's mind about circumstances in life brings wisdom that is so far beyond what I could ever fathom.

Listen, I know that this world is not perfect because of personal experiences. I know full well that I'm not OK and nobody around me is OK.... we all fall short of what it would take to try to be good enough for each other, let alone for God in Heaven. When I gave my life to Christ, He gave me His "right"ness. I am made right before God because of what Jesus did for me when he died on the cross to forgive my sin.

When I was a teenager, I began to ask the big questions in life--about the meaning of life and death--,and in the search for answers I began to read the New Testament. And I discovered in the person of Jesus a figure that just arrested and captivated me. His words had the ring truth about them. And after a period of about six months of the most intense soul-searching--to make a long story short--, I just gave my life to God, and I experienced a sort of inner rebirth. God became an immediate living reality in my life, a reality that has never left me.

My relationship with God through Jesus and in the power of God's Spirit...I'm able to find such a full reality of living. It is truly awesome!

Answer 5

I was brought up in a Christian family.Attended Sunday School, Bible classes and all the rest of it but I never really got the Christian feeling which I have now,even with all that Christian teaching.
On one occasion a few years ago,I stupidly placed myself in a very dangerous position,one which could have rendered me not being alive the next morning.It was so bad,I broke out in a cold sweat and in desperation(I was not praying) I shouted out 'God, if ever I needed your help it's now'.
After about 5 minutes a Priest turned up,in the middle of nowhere and he took control of the situation and me out of that place.
You may think that this is nothing,but the chances of finding a priest there at that time of the morning was almost zero.It was 1.30 in the morning my car had broken down in a very active terrorist area.It turned out that before he was a priest he was a fully trained mechanic.Still in his priestly robes he got under the bonnet of my car and fixed it.
The chances of getting a priest there at that time was very small and equally the same for a mechanic but for a Priest to turn up who was also a machanic was zero.
Since then,I have no doubt that there is something almighty watching over all of us.The only way I can describe it is that it is within you.

Answer 6

I grew up Baptist but back in the early 1990's I was living on my parents farm. When I wasnt' helping my parents I roamed around in the woods alot . I was into the wilderness survival thing and learning all I could about Native Americans... Anyway , late one night I was way off in the woods. I was too lazy to build a shelter . I just slept on the cold ground . Somtime later in the night a voice far away called my name. I sat up under that ceiling of stars and listened. HE didnt' say anything more to me . But I somehow knew GOD loved me and had a plan 4 my life....hope this story helps you !

Answer 7

I believe God because of the intelligent design and know God created everything seen and unseen. Everything is in the right balance here for us to survive on planet earth and even the gravity is right. Change it and it will not be able to sustain life on earth. How great is God and also look at God's chosen people the Jews and they are the most hated of all people and yet God punishes them and still loves them. He has promised so much and everything will come to be.

Answer 8

The real question is why would you not believe? Why do YOU not believe? Whats wrong with believing in something greater and far more powerful than yourself?

There is someone more powerful than us. I believe because I know there something that will love me, take care of me, and most importantly forgive me no matter what I do. And tell you the truth, I do not care if you make fun of my answer, and I do not know why any one should. Its your own belief. Whats a life with out having a purpose, mine is to love my God with my body, mind, and soul.

Theres gotta be a reason that most of the world has a belief of someone greater. Why do you choose not to believe? GOD bless.

Answer 9

Hello.. :)

I was raised an Atheist..I did not turn to God until I was 28 years old..

My life was in total turmoil..I was a drug addict, child abuser.. my heart was filled with hatred and anger toward everyone that believed in religion..

It was my brother which asked me to go to church..It really screwed up my plans though..you see I was going to kill myself that day.. :(

I was mean and rude, I even swore at the Pastor..But all he and everyone else said to me, was that they ~Loved~ me..

Yeh right..they just wanted to brainwash me and to take my money..

The following Sunday I went back to do more of the same..but before I could say anything, the Pastor asked who would like to be baptized..my hand went up in the air..so I was baptized that very afternoon, in back of the little church where many years before, I made fun of all the little goody too shoes, that went to that Church..

The Pastor asked me why I wanted to be baptized..I said to be a better Mom, to my 10 year old little girl..

He than asked me if I believed that Jesus died for my sins..I said No..but I want to believe He did..

Nothing changed that day..I even smoked a joint on the way home..But the next morning when I awoke, I was Praising the Lord and quoting the Bible (I had never read it before)..

It was just as if I had been born, into a totally different body..I was filled with so much Joy, Peace, ~Love~, Kindness, Gentleness..

My body was cleansed from all anger, hatred and anything that may cause pain to others..

I no longer was swearing..I no longer wanted or needed drugs..and my precious 10 year old daughter (which I could never love) came to see what was going on..

Her sweet face and big green eyes touched my heart and I told her I Loved her (For the First time in her young life, I felt it deep within my heart)..we hugged one another and cried together.. :)

How could I not be thank-ful..the Lord gave me ~Love~ for my child that had yearned for, for so many years.. :)

I must be honest..I did leave the Lord for a couple of years..but I am back where I belong..In the Loving Arms of my Lord.. :)


In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With ~Love~ your "Friend" In Christ.. :)

Answer 10

I felt the presence of God before I ever opened a bible. It began when I was a child. Most of all, in nature. I knew the presence was God, but I really didn't know anything else about Him. I was taken to church as a child and learned about Jesus, and I believed Jesus died on a cross and was God's son, but again...that was the limit of my understanding.

It wasn't until I was in my 40's, and someone brought me to a good bible teaching church, that what I knew in my heart and experience took on a "frame" so to speak. That is where I learned who it was I had experienced in my life so many years ago. I recognized Jesus Christ, as I read the bible, as the one I had known since I was just a little kid.

Answer 11

It is true that ppl born in America are far more likely to become Christian. But that is by providence, not accident. America is the land of milk and honey for God's Christians. Anyone born here is incredibly blessed in so many regards.