Zone1 Why is it so tough to believe in God?

[BreezeWood]

Nothing wrong with being a servant of G-d.

all in the heavens are equal.

for living beings, they choose self determination ...

- a&e refused servitude, the heavens granted them the goal to chose their destiny by the triumph of good vs evil as the means for judgement and admission to the everlasting.

 

[alang1216]

You got it bass-ackwards. G-d never chooses Hell, it is US who choose to REJECT His only provision for Salvation.

Really? What about a child that grows up as a Muslim in a Muslim country and never learns of Jesus. Has he rejected his salvation?

 

[BULLDOG]

Jesus was speaking of faith and prayer when he said to ask and it shall be given. If you are asking for evidence, then are asking the wrong being, and are also avoiding asking for what it is he recommends/views as worth asking God for.

In seeking God, are you clear about what you are looking to find? I was very little when I began my quest and all I wanted was to run into God exactly as he was. As I've grown older, it seems people I talk with who are searching for God, have a reason or a hope behind that seeking of what God will do for them. As a little kid, I had no such expectation, I simply wanted to meet God. That is why the Commandment of, "Do not put God to the test" resounds strongly with me. There is no test that contain God or works with God. The best I can explain is that God is self-contained and no test encompasses Him. It's like, that when it comes to God, tests may as well be non-existent.

I suspect those who want nothing from God are the ones who are closest to seeking and finding. It's not easy to want nothing.

To answer your question of, "What now?" I recommend you searching within yourself for the answer to this question: Do you want faith? If you sincerely want faith, then your prayer life begins.

So pray harder? That's not a unique answer.

 

[Meriweather]

Do I want a magical answer to my problems?

Why would anyone, including you, was a magical answer?

 

[Meriweather]

So pray harder? That's not a unique answer.

How do you pray harder and why would you want/need to? (Seriously...this puzzles me.)

Did you ever favor/prefer one kind of prayer over another?

 

[GMCGeneral]

Really? What about a child that grows up as a Muslim in a Muslim country and never learns of Jesus. Has he rejected his salvation?

A child that has not reached the age of accountability will escape Hell. But Islam is still a false religion and an affront to G-d Himself. John 14:6 as alluded to states: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man can come to the Father, except by Me'". Jesus made it clear that He, not Muhammed, Buddah, saints, Mary, etc. is the ONLY way to G-d because He (Jesus) IS G-d Himself.

 

[Quantrill]

Significance are almost only of Jesus trusty.

I know some.

Ok.

Quantrill

 

[Quantrill]

Faith through fear

(Pro. 1:7) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Quantrill

 

[Quantrill]

If the only reason you're a follower is because you're afraid, then you're not a true follower.

If the only way you'll do good in this life is because you're afraid of what an Old man in the sky thinks, you still aren't a good person. But if you do good and don't believe you're being judged, or don't care that you are, then you are better than the person who did so through fear.

Not true. It is right to fear the LORD. And, it is right to fear Jesus Christ. Because all power and authority from God is given to Him. (Matt. 28:18).

You don't do good to get saved. You believe on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Which is the result of fearing God and coming to His salvation.

Lot's of do gooders will be in the Lake of Fire. Hope it makes them feel better.

Quantrill

 

[Quantrill]

That is slavery. Do you think slavery is good?

Slavery is the natural condition of all mankind. We who are Christians are bought and paid for. Slaves of God. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

All of mankind are either slaves of God or slaves of Satan. Whether they believe it or not.

Quantrill

 

[Quantrill]

"They are slaves, and they are glad of their chains." - C Hitchens

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Quantrill

 

[Quantrill]

Really? What about a child that grows up as a Muslim in a Muslim country and never learns of Jesus. Has he rejected his salvation?

What about the millions in a Muslim country who do learn of Jesus. How did they know?

Quantrill

 

[forkup]

Here we differ. I believe the Commandments, the Beatitudes, and many teachings are not only testable, but are meant to be tested. Blessed are the peacemakers... is one. Putting God first is another.

Ok I'll bite.

I'm curious how do you select which of the things that are said are testable and which are not since you said, "many teachings" and not all. What teachings can you dismiss in your worldview?

let's test.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

This one is about God being jealous of other religions. It's the bases for religious strife.

2.You shall not make for yourself a carved image.​

This one is because the particular religion that was practiced by the Israelites had idol worship. It was the cause for the reformation and one of the most destructive wars in history.

3.You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.​

This one shows again how petty God is. He's the almighty but somehow insulted by little old me. Also, a free speech issue.

4.Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.​

Let's forget for a second that there's disagreement among the Abrahamic religions about what day the Sabbath is but it's a bit silly in my opinion.

5.Honor your father and your mother.​

In my personal experience respect is earned not given. This includes parents who can run the gamut from good all the way to cruel. Honoring people who harm you is not good advice.

6.You shall not murder.​

Finally, one I sort of agree with. Although I will say I don't think it's wrong to defend myself but in general good advice.

7.You shall not commit adultery.​

Love and lust are universal but can also be fleeting and in general. Staying with someone just because is dumb. This also is the basis for a bunch of laws that to this day create suffering especially among woman across the globe.

8.You shall not steal.​

Unequivocally agree. Finally, good advice.

9.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.​

Again agree.

10.You shall not covet.

Well I guess, god is a Socialist. Because this is the basis of Capitalism. I don't have a serious issue with the principle, but just interesting to note.

So, I did what you asked and tested the 10 commandments. Their usefulness varies from good advice, trough petty, to sometimes useful, trough terrible advice.

The Beatitudes are a bit better, in general more harmless but one is objectively wrong.

3.Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.​

Human history shows that being meek doesn't get you to inherit the earth, instead it causes you to be exploited, conquered and enslaved.

So again, when the test is run it's shown that the objective evidence shows mixed results.

Your own suggested framework speaks against religion when applied to objective truth as often as not. What does that tell you?

​

 

[SaxonJackson]

Is it because:

• Lack of belief we are lovable
• Lack of belief we are cared for
• Lack of belief God is an active agent in our lives
• Lack of belief we have a reason for being

What blocks people from believing in God? Why is it so hard to believe?

1) Public Schools.
2) False doctrine taught in churches.
3) Not all are God's "sheep" since His sheep know His voice.
4) People blaming God for bad things that happened in their lives.
5) The love of money or the various pleasures of habitual sin.

 

[pal]

god is a Socialist.

god is very likely a right-wing.

 

[forkup]

god is very likely a right-wing.

Coveting goods is the basis of Capitalism is it not?

 

[forkup]

I was born and raised Catholic as well, as were my many brothers and sisters. They were totally mystified by the concept of seeking God--a couple because they accepted without question that God is everywhere, therefore so no need to seek.

So you’re implying the reason I don’t find God is either because I haven’t looked hard enough or because I refuse to accept Him without question. But I’m 45, I’ve studied history, I’ve listened to arguments across religions, and I’m here giving you a chance to convince me.

Why should anyone accept something without question? That’s dangerous advice. If I say to you sniff this powder, would you do it because I said so. I certainly hope not.

So tell me, what’s the threshold? When do you think someone has searched ‘enough’? And how do you measure that without moving the goalposts?

 

[Slyhunter]

Not true. It is right to fear the LORD. And, it is right to fear Jesus Christ. Because all power and authority from God is given to Him. (Matt. 28:18).

You don't do good to get saved. You believe on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Which is the result of fearing God and coming to His salvation.

Lot's of do gooders will be in the Lake of Fire. Hope it makes them feel better.

Quantrill

Then your God is evil.

 

[pal]

Coveting goods is the basis of Capitalism is it not?

A small letter means god is right-wing. A wide letter means God is capitalist.

Question. Jesus is capitalist and communist?

 

[forkup]

I am merely pointing out that what is presented here is not physical/object evidence, but subjective. Just as you and I can look at the same picture and one of us thinks "beautiful" and the other one thinks "mediocre at best" both opinions are subjective, not objective.

I present my experiences, testimony. Your own opinions may well be at odds with mine. That, too, is subjective. We're both being honest.

You offered objective evidence. Testable claims and I performed the tests. Your religion failed them.

The fact that it doesn't convince you because there's "subjective evidence" that you find more compelling simply says to me that you simply don't care if its true or not. You just want to believe. That's your position.

I'm not saying that out of frustration or rancor. It's just an observation from the objective evidence presented in this conversation.

My position is that I don't believe because the objective evidence doesn't lead me to believe your or for that matter any god is likely to exist. And I don't accept subjective evidence whatever that is, (it sounds and seemed to be used in this conversation) like just another word for opinion to me.

That's why it's so tough to believe in God for me. To directly answer your OP again. My philosophical framework doesn't allow me to simply take things on faith and faith alone. And faith or "subjective evidence" is the only thing you offer, and it's directly contradicted by the objective evidence.

Is that something you can understand?