Do you ever doubt your religion/faith and God?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Organized religion has a ed up track record. I still don't get how people can fall for their bull time and time again. God on the other hand is a whole different matter. Someone, something started this whole thing and I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know who or what it is. Doubt is the name of the game people! and if you don't have it you're not playing it right.

[holcs50]

When did it become cool to not believe in God? And when did it become so uncool to believe that no one speaks out about their faith? If none of you believe, that's fine..to each their own. But if some of you do believe, but aren't saying it, because you don't want people to make fun of you, shame on you.

HAHA-man I feel ya. I mean all my friends now and even throughout my college years a couple years ago really have taken on the "how BS is religion, religion is the reason for all problems, so we should blame anyone associated with a belief or religion stupid". 1st, yes religion differences have caused a lot of problems, but the people causing these problems are morons and you can't generalize everyone who believes in something as a person who starts these problems. Its power hungry/money hungry individuals who use it as a crutch. 2nd, me and my friends talk sometimes about it and most disagree with me, but that's fine, most people ive met who are christian or another faith don't try to push upon beliefs at all....it's just become the "cool" thing to say, that all people who believe in god or whoever are this exact type of person....how dumb are you guys actually being? Maybe take a look in the mirror? There's people out there that believe in something and take it to an extreme, there's people who don't and take it to another extreme...that doesn't mean you categorize everyone into those extremes.

Im still very conflicted though on the youth thing because it is the cool thing to do to not really associate with a religion or belief-i mean you are in the minority if you do at age 20-30 right now (speaking for socal, and tucson only). And again that's completely fine, its just the people who are so anti-religion have made themselves out to be just exactly like the radical religion people. Its ridiculous on both sides. Eh, im rambling, but you know most of my best friends are "agnostic", and i dont care, i still love them, and i still believe, and all of us can discuss-have great times-etc. because we don't let that divide us and no one is trying to push...respect one another.

[sabar]

I think a person's age has a lot to do with whether or not they believe in God or a higher being. As I've gotten older, I've started to doubt Christianity, Jesus, and God a lot. When I see things like 9/11, The Holocaust, the Sri Lanka tsunami, and hurricane Katrina, it makes me wonder. I'm sure there were many people involved in those events that prayed to God to help them and to save their lives but a lot of their prayers were not answered and they died in those tragedies. If God doesn't answer the prayers of the people on United 93 then how do I know he will answer mine? It just makes me wonder.

I don't think it's any god's agenda to answer prayers on earth. Evil exists as a prerequisite to free will and the supposed reward for going through the evils of life is eternal bliss. If earth were a utopia there wouldn't be such a big deal about an afterlife, and no reason to have faith in anything, making the whole idea of worship and religion pointless.

Genesis clearly states god's will imo in which it is demonstrated that a perfect world with free will leads to evil actions. God didn't create some mindless zombie utopia where you lay down and just feel constant pleasure. How can we make choices without evil? Especially since there are degrees of evil that are tolerated amongst people.

I never bought onto the whole "if god exists, why is there evil?" routine; there are many other reasons to doubt faith/god.

[exstatic]

I'm assuming if Phyzik jumps off a cliff the sheep will follow.

We're not the flock, you are.

[ManuTP9]

i rarley go to church but half of my family does every sunday. i still believe in God though.

[holcs50]

We're not the flock, you are.

haha can u say the word hy-po-crit-e-cal

[JoeChalupa]

I think Bruce was talking about a woman, not a Supreme Being of any sort.

But the meaning is the same. There have been so many religion threads it is ridiculous. I've said my peace so carry on. My faith is as solid as ever and nothing I read in here is ever going to change that.
I really have no desire to know what someone's religious beliefs are and have no desire to question them either.
I believe and let believe.
I don't push my religion on anyone either. 0
A person's religion has no bearing on whether I want to associate with that person at all. That is ridiculous.

[samikeyp]

I believe in God but I have a problem with organized religion. I don't like people telling me how to worship or what my relationship with God has to be and IMO, that is basically what religion does. That being said, while I believe in God, that belief is hanging on by a thread.

[exstatic]

But the meaning is the same. There have been so many religion threads it is ridiculous. I've said my peace so carry on. My faith is as solid as ever and nothing I read in here is ever going to change that.
I really have no desire to know what someone's religious beliefs are and have no desire to question them either.
I believe and let believe.
I don't push my religion on anyone either. 0
A person's religion has no bearing on whether I want to associate with that person at all. That is ridiculous.

So, you're better than Jesus? Because that's what it sounds like you're saying. Even He doubted and despaired.

[Shastafarian]

That doesn't matter...they were. I believe..period

What I *think* he was trying to get as was what about Bob Smith over there who also has a father with ALS and a mother with Breast Cancer. Only both his parents died. Why does God only care about saving your parents? It gets back to the whole "why do good people die young?"

[Supreme_Being]

That doesnt mean a supreme being doesnt exist, it just means WE created HIM to suit our needs for order.

Amen, I say to you, I exist.

[Spursfan092120]

What I *think* he was trying to get as was what about Bob Smith over there who also has a father with ALS and a mother with Breast Cancer. Only both his parents died. Why does God only care about saving your parents? It gets back to the whole "why do good people die young?"

And I'm saying I don't know. I'm not God..and I'm not a doctor. I just know that I believe, and just because other people don't isn't going to change my opinion, or my right to say that I do believe.

[Spursfan092120]

We're not the flock, you are.

If you truly believe you are not a flock as well, then you need to wake up. Not believing has somehow become the "cool" thing to do. If you don't believe, that's fine...but when everyone gets on and bashes people who do believe, it's just as bad as what you're saying the religious freaks are. I am Lutheran. Unfortunately, I haven't been to church in a long time, as I work Sunday mornings. I am not a religious freak, or a bible thumper, but I pray every day, and I believe that God is listening. If you don't, like I said before, that's your prerogative, and I won't insult you for it...just don't insult me for mine.

[Shastafarian]

And I'm saying I don't know. I'm not God..and I'm not a doctor. I just know that I believe, and just because other people don't isn't going to change my opinion, or my right to say that I do believe.

So you just believe that God helped your parents but not ______'s parents for some godly reason?

[Jacob1983]

You won't really know for sure if there is a God or higher being until you die or have a near death experience.

[Shastafarian]

You won't really know for sure if there is a God or higher being until you die.

fify

[Darrin]

You won't really know for sure if there is a God or higher being until you die or have a near death experience.

To die, to sleep,
To sleep perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1.

[exstatic]

If you truly believe you are not a flock as well, then you need to wake up. Not believing has somehow become the "cool" thing to do. If you don't believe, that's fine...but when everyone gets on and bashes people who do believe, it's just as bad as what you're saying the religious freaks are. I am Lutheran. Unfortunately, I haven't been to church in a long time, as I work Sunday mornings. I am not a religious freak, or a bible thumper, but I pray every day, and I believe that God is listening. If you don't, like I said before, that's your prerogative, and I won't insult you for it...just don't insult me for mine.

Posting a picture of us "sheep" going over the cliff isn't insulting?

[ploto]

I don't ask God to change my life or the world, but instead to help me work to change me.

[Supreme_Being]

All of you! I command you! Stop this useless banter and get laid!

[Spursfan092120]

So you just believe that God helped your parents but not ______'s parents for some godly reason?

I don't ask questions....I believe. I've had what I would consider miracles happen to me in my life...it's a miracle that I'm alive, that my father is alive, and that my mother is alive. That's enough for me.

[Spursfan092120]

Posting a picture of us "sheep" going over the cliff isn't insulting?

just portraying a statement...calling someone a blind sheep is the same thing...eye for an eye...it's in the bible.

[exstatic]

just portraying a statement...calling someone a blind sheep is the same thing...eye for an eye...it's in the bible.

Actually, I just said I wasn't part of the flock, but that you were. I was quoting someone who said he was your shepherd. Ironic that you called US sheep, isn't it?

Even if I were insulting you (and I wasn't), don't you have another cheek you should be turning?

[Shastafarian]

I don't ask questions

Why not?

....I believe. I've had what I would consider miracles happen to me in my life...it's a miracle that I'm alive, that my father is alive, and that my mother is alive. That's enough for me.

What happened to you that you're lucky to be alive?

[Muser]

I haven't read the bible or anything, never paid attention in Religion classes, but I was thinking;

If God truly did create everything, did he also create and Satan?