I'm 15 and I was raised as a Christian and I currently belong to a ministry, but deep down I am not entirely sure whether or not I believe in God. I find myself praying etc., but then I wonder if I'm just doing it in case there is a God. I can't tell what I think anymore. I considered becoming atheist, but it scared me to think "There might be a God and if I'm atheist I'm going straight to Hell." How do I cope with these mixed emotions and thoughts?
2007-11-24 13:11:45 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
At 15 you still have plenty of time to figure out where your heart will lead you. You don't have to make a decision right now. I suggest that you keep studying and wait to see where that takes you.
2007-11-24 13:16:00 · answer #1 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I had a though time figuring this one out for myself. You are not alone in this. If you are praying, it's for a reason. The reason is God. Also if you're scared to become an atheist, obviously there is some belief. When I was younger (about 12-14 years old), it was either cool or not cool to believe in God. Peer pressure is what made my belief confused. Later on things happened, my outcomes in life were always positive. No matter how horrible my life was, it was always resolved. I couldn't understand why this always happened. I figured it was just good luck at the time. Then more and more things began to happen. Every decision I made despite how negative, was ALWAYS resolved with a positive outcome. I am 18 now and I have finally realized that there is someone watching me and protecting me. Basically what I am trying to say is don't give up on Him, He is there. No matter how desperate the times, God will always be there. God is Love. But don't let yourself struggle to find Him.
2007-11-24 21:27:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My philosophy teacher used to tell us "a story" about "believing in God":
-there was a philosopher (not sure who he is) who said: "between not believing in God and doing it..it's better to believe. If he's real, I'll be rewarded. If he's not..the nothingness awaits me anyway.
But if he's real and I don't believe in him..well..that's going to end up in a bad way"
It's cinical..but that's not opposable, is it?
When I was as old as you I started to have my doubts too. I guess it's because when I was around 15 I started developing my "analythic sense".. everything that came before, everything I was told, everything I went through was to be given for granted.
I could say that was the moment where my indipendence started: I started putting everything in doubt, seeking for my own answers, because for an intelligent mind, nothing is as believable as the thing you find yourself.
Well..I might have overdone it, because at the end of the process I found myself unbounded (which means free, but also alone, without any stable support). That's the risk, though.
I won't tell you how I ended up later, and I won't tell you if i believe now God is there for me, because I don't want to give you any answer.
The doubts are destroyers and the answers are constructors, but you have to find them on your own. How do you cope with those 2 mixed feelings? Give it time and think about it..you will find some things in your life you don't like, some things that are there and feel unnatural. Just like you feel about God.
But look around, acquire some experience from many points of view (different from the ones you always grew up with) and then decide if God really exist, or not.
If you end up believing He exist, I'm sure he will forgive you if you had doubts about him, if those doubts just brought you closer to him.
If you end up not believing in God...I'm sure you will forgive everybody who tricked you into believing him ^^
Either of them..is your choice.
2007-11-24 21:37:57 · answer #3 · answered by Dario 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to become an atheist just because the christian teachings you are receiving don't ring true for you. Think for yourself on what seems right & wrong, and expose yourself to the philosophies of other ways of thinking. They might give you some clearer ideas, and then you can make up your own mind. What you learn in church doesn't necessarily have to be the one & only path. Some people spend their lives searching for "the truth". What makes you think you've been handed it all with no effort on your part? Find things out for yourself, then you'll find peace with what you believe.
2007-11-24 21:21:14 · answer #4 · answered by MJF 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How I dealt with it was to follow my heart. To follow what feels right to me. And if praying to God does not feel right then don't. I'm a pagan but don't disregard my word just yet, you have to find your own path and who knows maybe you will end up back to Christianity. You won't go to Hell, you are a bad person I assume. I think they are too many rules to follow to ever be a good person in His eyes. No one is a saint, not even the saints.
2007-11-24 21:17:44 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Aqua Moon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thanks For Your Question :)
Well I think You need to read more, not only in Christianity in other major religions
search for the most belief you feel spiritually connected to, at least in the day of judgment you will tell God " God, I truly searched and I found peace in that religion" but keep in mind if you are gonna do that you MUST truly search till you find the religion you feel connected and satisfied with and I'm sure God will guide you in your journey to the right path :)
if you needed anything feel free to msg me
2007-11-24 21:22:11 · answer #6 · answered by abouterachess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you grew up in a christian home is a wonderful thing, although, that doesn't make you a follower of Jesus Christ. Ask God to show himself real to you, He loves you, and most importantly, he wants you to love Him with your heart. Talking with a pastor helped me to realize the way to Heaven, I was asking questions just like you are, and I got them answered, I recommend this for you. May God Bless you by making Himself real to you.
2007-11-24 21:30:17 · answer #7 · answered by tim v 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldn't be worry about it .. you should start reading and discussing about it ... you are in a good age that you have so much time to spend for this work and you should select some good books and them thinking about all aspects of this matter ... well.. toy should know faith with knowing the God exist is really different .. it means that maybe so many people know the God exist but they don't have a real faith and do sins ... and in continue you should ask from God to help you ... the rational reasons for existing the God is really helpful for you and ensure for you existing of the God but for the entirly faith you should ask from God to help you.. but finally if you need some other information and books I really to help you... you just need contact me with an email:peeshro_sc@yahoo.com
2007-11-24 21:35:55 · answer #8 · answered by peeshro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well think about it like this: is a god that makes you gamble with your soul really a kind god? there's tons of religions let's just say that there's 20 (not really the amount but to simplify things we will use that number) now let's say we had a 20 sided di and only one side would save your soul and the rest will cause you to suffer for eternity. pretty unfair bet isn't it? the christian ideology is so flawed it can't be true. i have so many arguments against christianity i could make a book.
2007-11-24 21:20:57 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. R PhD in Revolution 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Learn, think for yourself, and ask questions. If in the end, the only thing binding you to the religion is fear, what does that say? Also, your choice of phrase, "I currently belong to a ministry", says a lot about mindset. Keep thinking, and come to your own conclusions. Use knowledge, not fear as your guide.
2007-11-24 21:19:40 · answer #10 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋