WANTING to Believe in God

by dobby 52 Replies latest jw friends

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    Abaddon:
    Ok, so Mr.Skyman doesn't do it for you.
    How about Mr.Tamborine man?

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    GSX:
    "spirituality and religion are not the same thing. There are some very good ideals within the christian faith; they just sometimes get overshadowed by dogma"
    So very true!
    Good point.
    Give me a right hearted wiccan/pagan any day of the week, over a legalistic "Christian".

  • gumby
    gumby

    U.2K. say's....'Millions are ignorant of the truth, Last days- Final Sign before Armageddon- !!!PEACE & SAFETY!!!< when billions Think it's peace, Then the end cometh'....

    Oh Boy! The end is here again!
    Millions are IGNORANT of truth he say's .....and God is going to kill them all!

    What a loving creator you have....God kills innocent people that do not know any better.

    I'd rather be worm dirt than live under a God like that.

  • Liberty
    Liberty

    Hi Dobby,

    My experience after leaving the Watchtower was different. I retained my belief in God for years while steadily becoming a more "liberal" Christian as I learned more and modified my original JW Fundi beliefs into ever more moderate ones. One of the main reasons I left in the first place was the Society's anti-science stance and Bible literalism which I knew could not be reconciled with the physical evidence. As I studied more on my own, applied some common sense, and then took more University courses I began to see that even maintaining a belief in any part of the Bible was just not possible for me. It became clear that the Bible was not inspired at all even in a symbolic sense so I rejected it as a communication to humanity from God. Soon I realized that if God had not bothered to communicate with His creation then He, at best remains neutral to our plight, or, in all probability, was just a figment of our own imaginations.

    I sleep better not worrying about what God thinks of me or wondering how He can tolerate all the horror and suffering in the world by doing nothing to help. I now like my Universe impersonal and neutral. There is no one to praise or blame and things are just as they appear. We have science and logic to guide us and physical evidence to help solve our problems and mysteries. If there is a God I do not fear His judgements because I have been intellectually honest in not seeing His presence. He knows the poor evidence He has provided and only a crazy God would punish us for not believing. With or without God I am content that my continuing search for truth has been genuine and limited only by the flaws inherent to my being. So being an Atheist for me is not about revenge or bitterness directed at the Watchtower Society but rather it is the culmination of a long spiritual journey of self discovery.

  • Unclepenn1
    Unclepenn1

    >>>However, lately I just want to believe in God and heaven. Maybe it is a backlash from having the "false religion" concept drilled into your brain. But sometimes I just want to believe the simple idea that God is up there, and will reward us with heavenly life if we simply follow the Golden Rule.

    God does desire tfor us to spend eternity with Him, but the Golden Rule is merely an outward expression of a change that has already taken place in those who have faith in Jesus. Works cannot get you to heaven, they never could, but faith in Christ does and then the good works are a result of the inward change. (Read John 15) I sympathise with you greatly, but also realize that there were so many clear warning in the Bible to keep you from groups like the WT. 'Test Everything', 'Do not be deceived" 'Wolves in sheeps clothing' 'False prohpets will arise and deceive many'. I would recommend you take the Bible (A real translation, not the NWT) and read a gospel as if it were written for you alone. Let God speak to you through it and see what He has to say.

    (U2K wrote) Truth hurts... I'm sorry, but Millions needs to understand that there is a Creator Who Created us, and then there is christ... I'm not shock about Millions turning away from the truth, Cause This is the last century- 2 tim chapter 4 verse 3, and the only reason

    Here's a perfect example of what people do when they are ignorant of the scriptures!

    (Luke 21:7-8) "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" 8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' DO NOT FOLLOW THEM' (emphasis mine)

    There you have it. Do not follow those (like the WT) that say 'the end is near'.

    SS Wrote: You could read a few nde (near death) experiences. Many different kinds of people have lived through them. Some claim to have met some spirits/gods.

    Please Don't! Why would you want some subjective experiences from an assortment of people to base your beliefs on? It's a trap! These people never died, so they have no concept of what lies ahead. All of them wrote about it, but since they are alive it proves nothing. Christ died and was DEAD and was raised again, His testimony is trustworthy and true.

    Liberty wrote> It became clear that the Bible was not inspired at all even in a symbolic sense so I rejected it as a communication to humanity from God.

    SO let me ask you, what best explains what happened Easter Sunday 2,000 years ago that would change the face of humanity the way it has?

    Penn

  • borgfree
    borgfree

    Hi Dobby,

    I have had the discussion before on this forum about God vs no God, I cannot win the discussion, and I haven’t seen anyone who can. There just does not seem to be any way to prove one way or the other. I have a couple of facts I use, for my own evidence, of God. Nothing I have to say is new to anyone here.

    I “see” creation, or if you prefer, I see what exists, it is here, and we cannot deny that. To me, evolution just does not do it. Personally, I find evolution almost ridiculous. The argument has been, well if God exists, then where did HE come from; HE had to come from nothing.

    I think we can all agree that “something” has always existed, that there was never a time when there was “nothing”. So, that being the case, why is it such a stretch for that something, that has always existed, to be God?

    I also believe, (some here will definitely disagree) that Jesus, the Christ, did exist. Jesus showed us the perfect way to live. Humans have not, and cannot, be perfect at this time, but believers “try” to put into practice the teachings of Jesus, sometimes we fail, sometimes miserably.

    I started a practice a few years ago, to read the bible all the way through, using the Daily Bread. I have some serious difficulties in what I read. I am being completely honest here. I will use the example of David for an illustration. David is said to be “a man after God’s own heart” David killed people seemingly without mercy. He had a man put to death so he could take that mans wife, he broke the rules repeatedly, but still God continued to show “him” mercy, sometimes punishing other people for the sins of David.

    I read the songs, etc. of David where he continually pleads with God to save “him” and to punish, put to death, “his” enemies. I wonder, what kind of man was this? I know for certain, I am glad I did not live under his rule.

    That is just one example of something in the bible I have trouble with. Still, I believe in the God of the bible. I believe the bible is the written word of God.

    After I left the WT org., I did, accept Jesus into my life and heart, I have definitely seen a change in my own life, in my own attitudes, and have a real desire to be the kind of person that my Lord Jesus was. I don’t think that has ever really been my nature. I fail at times, but inside I have the “feeling” that I have done something wrong, and I need to learn from it, and not do the wrong again.

    I guess I see the evidence of God in creation, and, working within me. I do believe in Him. As I said before, there is no way I can explain some of the things in the bible that just do not seem to be right, but, I also know, that if the God of the bible is real, then of course I cannot understand Him fully and no one ever will.

    This argument is sometimes used, if the bible is false, then how am I hurt? If I live a good life, as Jesus Christ told us to do, then it will be better for myself and for others as well. But, if the bible is true, and we do not do what it tells us to do, then we are in deep …..trouble.

    With or without that argument, I feel that God is working in me, to make me into the “vessel” that He wants me to be. I want that.

    Borgfree

    "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." -Ziggy
  • Double Edge
    Double Edge
    There are many logical reasons not to believe in the Bible or Jesus.

    And there are many logical reasons TO believe in the Bible or Jesus. It's like to old saying about success...if you want to be successful, hang around successful people. If you're trying to find out about the reality of GOD, seek out people with strong, abiding faith...ones that have positive attitudes, a sense of worth and self, ones who can explain why they believe such and such and what it's done for them. It doesn't guarantee anything, but I think it puts you on the right path if there's something to be found (which I believe there is). IMHO

  • gsx1138
    gsx1138

    If the Bible is the word of God there would not be so many inconsistancies. Why do so many feel the need to base their entire belief system on a book written by men. You don't have to believe the bible to get some good out of it but there is also allot of bad as well. It seems to me that many christians want to elevate the Bible to the status of God. When you take an all or nothing attitude you set yourself up for failure.
    I don't believe the Bible is the word of God because allot of the stories are directly taken from earlier Pagan religions. The story of Noah, the Last supper, the resurrection of Jesus are just a few stories that were around hundreds of years before they were applied to christianity. I believe the bible is a book written by men who were trying to explain God as best they could at the time and were driven by their own interests as well. An atheist comes here and posts their views and all the christians have to jump him. It's as if any view that opposes yours makes yours invalid.

    Dear Lord, please save me from your followers.

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    It's a false dichotomy that limits us to believing in the OT God or none at all. Acknowledging that there is a metaphysical reality leads to further implications that we are naturally curious about and "want to believe". You are in good company as many folk have gone through the process of shedding the Judeo-Christian god and taken up something more in keeping with contemporary reality.

    Wishing you well in your search. Those who patiently seek, find.

    carmel

  • borgfree
    borgfree

    gsx1138, You said:

    An atheist comes here and posts their views and all the christians have to jump him.
    You have not been around here very long.

    Borgfree

    "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." -Ziggy

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