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Do you ever question religion?
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:29 pm
Born and raised Christian and my wife and I have been going to the same church for 8 years.
We joined a Sunday school class a few months back and this past weeks sermon was on "who is God" and "is our God the only God?"
It really got me thinking. I read articles about how earth is 14 billion years old and how humans have been around for thousands of thousands of years
Don't you wonder, why did Jesus just come to earth 2000 years ago and why just then?
Where did humans who lived thousands of years before Jesus go when they died?
Do other religions go to heaven when they die?
Does Jesus or God decide when it's really someone's time to die or is it simply just bad luck? Part of me thinks it's just one big gun with millions of chambers and we are all playing Russian roulette with a few bullets.
Really makes you think. Do we all just cling on to religion to find peace within ourselves because we all WANT to believe in something?
Sorry for the deep conversation, but I've been thinking a lot about it recently
We joined a Sunday school class a few months back and this past weeks sermon was on "who is God" and "is our God the only God?"
It really got me thinking. I read articles about how earth is 14 billion years old and how humans have been around for thousands of thousands of years
Don't you wonder, why did Jesus just come to earth 2000 years ago and why just then?
Where did humans who lived thousands of years before Jesus go when they died?
Do other religions go to heaven when they die?
Does Jesus or God decide when it's really someone's time to die or is it simply just bad luck? Part of me thinks it's just one big gun with millions of chambers and we are all playing Russian roulette with a few bullets.
Really makes you think. Do we all just cling on to religion to find peace within ourselves because we all WANT to believe in something?
Sorry for the deep conversation, but I've been thinking a lot about it recently
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Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:32 pm to dallastiger55
quote:
Do you ever question religion?
Yup that's why I'm Agnostic
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:33 pm to dallastiger55
I feel like Christianity is emasculating, tbh.
I've been going to church lately, but that is the feeling it always gives me. Everybody is so "light-hearted and happy" there and it makes me uncomfortable. Never baptized here, but curious about faith and realize that I believe in God....I think.
But it just strikes me as so weak....
I've been going to church lately, but that is the feeling it always gives me. Everybody is so "light-hearted and happy" there and it makes me uncomfortable. Never baptized here, but curious about faith and realize that I believe in God....I think.
But it just strikes me as so weak....
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:34 pm to dallastiger55
At some point all Christians go through a time where they question their faith. I've gone through that before and it's not easy. Luckily I prayed, read scripture and eventually found my way back. But it's something we all go through. 
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:37 pm to wmr
quote:Personally I think the way a lot of churches do things isn't really in line with what Christ wants us to do. I could be wrong and don't pretend to be all knowing on the subject but I don't think he wants us lying to other people by just acting happy and bottling things up on the inside. I tend to take a more private approach in my relationship with him.
I feel like Christianity is emasculating, tbh.
I've been going to church lately, but that is the feeling it always gives me. Everybody is so "light-hearted and happy" there and it makes me uncomfortable. Never baptized here, but curious about faith and realize that I believe in God....I think.
But it just strikes me as so weak....
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:40 pm to Henry Jones Jr
Well last month we had the conversation of tithing and our Sunday school talked about how important it was to tithe and give 10% to God.
It might make me a bad Christian but that just makes me feel weird. They were quoting verses saying how God says to give to him and all of our money is gods money and we should be lucky he's only asking for 10%
Just doesn't set right with me
It might make me a bad Christian but that just makes me feel weird. They were quoting verses saying how God says to give to him and all of our money is gods money and we should be lucky he's only asking for 10%
Just doesn't set right with me
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:46 pm to dallastiger55
Yes. And I'm a Christian.
Questioning faith is healthy. People will arrive at a myriad of conclusions, and that's fine.
Blindly accepting anything for or against religion is myopic, IMO.
Questioning faith is healthy. People will arrive at a myriad of conclusions, and that's fine.
Blindly accepting anything for or against religion is myopic, IMO.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:48 pm to dallastiger55
The tithe is SUPPOSED to keep the church up and going and go towards spreading the word. These churches that send their youth groups to Colorado or Disney World on Spring Break trips isn't what he intended tithing for. Humans have corrupted it.
This post was edited on 10/23/15 at 2:38 pm
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:59 pm to dallastiger55
A lot of people who are on the fence about religion are scared to tell people they don't believe in God. A lot of it is cultural and the south is very religious.
I stopped believing in it because I started to take on a devils advocate approach to politics, religion, etc. I was able to travel around the world to some really incredible places all before I was in my mid twenties and my once narrow mindset of how things "are and should be" has changed drastically. There are billions of people on this planet and at least hundreds of religions. I don't believe that just one is "the right one".
I think the human race has evolved to question and fear death, and formulate myths and stories, some that were passed down thousands of years, that will comfort their fears (living forever, praying to be healed etc). It's perfectly human.
I stopped believing in it because I started to take on a devils advocate approach to politics, religion, etc. I was able to travel around the world to some really incredible places all before I was in my mid twenties and my once narrow mindset of how things "are and should be" has changed drastically. There are billions of people on this planet and at least hundreds of religions. I don't believe that just one is "the right one".
I think the human race has evolved to question and fear death, and formulate myths and stories, some that were passed down thousands of years, that will comfort their fears (living forever, praying to be healed etc). It's perfectly human.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 9:59 pm to dallastiger55
I absolutely believe in God. I've seen too many instances in my life where God involved. (YMMV)
However, I also believe that "religion" is the attempt of man to deal with and explain the awesomeness of that which is not explainable. God.
Hence, all the different attempts to do the same thing. I personally was raised Catholic but am more independent minded.
However, I also believe that "religion" is the attempt of man to deal with and explain the awesomeness of that which is not explainable. God.
Hence, all the different attempts to do the same thing. I personally was raised Catholic but am more independent minded.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 10:00 pm to dallastiger55
There is a difference between spirituality and religion
Also God can have many names
And don't forget about nature
Also God can have many names
And don't forget about nature
Posted on 10/22/15 at 11:52 pm to dallastiger55
When you feel like that, you need to take a step back. Remember what God said to Job when he questioned this?
Praise God everyday, live a good life (to the best of your ability) ask forgiveness for transgressions and you will make the cut. The secret is to make it about God and not about you.You're supposed to be walking together.(In life.)Hope this helps.
Praise God everyday, live a good life (to the best of your ability) ask forgiveness for transgressions and you will make the cut. The secret is to make it about God and not about you.You're supposed to be walking together.(In life.)Hope this helps.
Posted on 10/23/15 at 1:59 am to Mullet Flap
quote:
I stopped believing in it because I started to take on a devils advocate approach
I kept believing because I took a devil's advocate approach to devil's advocates.
It is always humorous to me that some people think that everyone who is religious is a product of their environment and yet somehow they themselves aren't products of their environment.
Posted on 10/23/15 at 2:08 am to dallastiger55
Here is my theory about the age of the earth. When God created the heavens and the universe he spent seven days. He never specified 24 hours. He could have worked for billions of years fixing such a complex structure.... He says he is coming soon for the rapture but who knows what "soon" means. There is no night in heaven and a day time could be equivalent to 1000 years. It's all hard to grasp but it's called faith for a reason
This post was edited on 10/23/15 at 2:12 am
Posted on 10/23/15 at 2:41 am to the808bass
quote:
It is always humorous to me that some people think that everyone who is religious is a product of their environment and yet somehow they themselves aren't products of their environment.
Look, I never said that I wasn't. I simply described how I was, how I came to question religion, and where I am today.
Not sure what part of what I said struck a nerve
Posted on 10/23/15 at 6:45 am to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
Questioning faith is healthy
This maybe "splitting hairs" but questioning faith IMO isn't healthy but asking questions is healthy (you may or may not have meant this).
quote:
Blindly accepting anything for or against religion is myopic, IMO.
Agree
Tithing (which means tenth) IAW the Bible is all about being a disciplined Christian and whoever said people have corrupted it is spot on. If anyone thinks their church is misspending money, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO CALL THEM OUT ON IT!!!
Also the whole 10% rule is really an Old Testament requirement. The New Testament says give it all. FTR I follow the 10% rule but will give more when situations call for it.
Posted on 10/23/15 at 7:28 am to dallastiger55
(no message)
This post was edited on 10/23/15 at 8:01 am
Posted on 10/23/15 at 7:46 am to dallastiger55
I was a strong christian until I was 23. I had about an 18 month deconversion process started oddly enough by a desire to strengthen the arguments for my belief and now no longer believe.
It was scary at first, but now it just seems like second nature.
It was scary at first, but now it just seems like second nature.
Posted on 10/23/15 at 7:52 am to the808bass
quote:
It is always humorous to me that some people think that everyone who is religious is a product of their environment and yet somehow they themselves aren't products of their environment.
SOME atheists are products of the environment just as some religious people are products of their environment.
The difference is that the majority of atheists were religious or spiritual at one time whereas the majority of religious people choose the religion of their family/culture. Most atheists/agnostics in the world has to overcome their environment. Only a small minority of religious people can say the same.
This post was edited on 10/23/15 at 7:55 am
Posted on 10/23/15 at 8:01 am to Roger Klarvin
quote:
Most atheists/agnostics in the world has to overcome their environment. Only a small minority of religious people can say the same.
That's simply not true.
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