Political Crossfire Forums

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

sLiPpY · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 10198

connermt wrote: thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

yes, don't be bashful...please elaborate...because I can 100 percent identify with what you're saying...

Here's a brief synopsis of my own experience.

My mother's family was extremely religious. Her father came from a large family, and most of the family traveled and sang before church groups almost every weekend. My grandmother was more religious than my grandfather, although he attended church and still does...there were some interesting things I learned after my grandmother died. Mom told me that he used to beat my grandmother. After mom died, her brother told me that grandpa had beat grandmother with a broom the day before she died. At the time, she was recently bed ridden...I don't know what the argument was about...doesn't matter now anyway.

My father also grew up in a church. He attended some while we were growing up, but I always got the feeling it was a going through the motions thing. His family also attended churches, and his father was a Mason. The most characteristic item that I can share about dad's family of origin...is that over the years, they've all fought and fought and fought...mostly over money. They all just thought it was normal, in that that set of relatives had always lived close together going back to my great grandfather...and they've always fought over money. So, hopefully this latest generation will finally spend it all and dispurse so they'll be nothing left that they hadn't earned for them to argue about. :lol:

I was pretty religious in my early twenties, and floundered around...wondering why if God is so good....my parents divorsed, my grandmother died at an early age? My mom and my step-dad died within six months of each other? These are all extraneous items, in retrospect.

My step-father was a deacon in his church. Later we found out about the hundreds of thousand dollar tax debt, he'd brought into the marriage without making my mother aware of it. She found out, about a year later when the government froze her personal banking account and other assets. We also discovered the first marriage broke up because he'd cheated on his wife. The marriage lasted about eight years, before the separation...he left having found another woman.

Around the age of 25, I grew weary of all the Sunday morning psycobable and suspected that mode of thinking simply wasn't productive for me. Which is possibly my own fault, granted I had the mentality darn it...I'm trying to be the best person I can be...I must be sinning all the time?

Finally, I said screw it. I stopped interacting with my dad's family, and later I stopped calling or going by to see my dad. Something I'd always thought might violate the "honor your father and mother" clause. I've never told my father I don't want to see or talk with him. It's just that I realized after my parents divorse, he never called or attempted to really come by and see me. Last time I tried to talk with him, was five years ago...I'd left him a message over Christmas and he never returned the call. Normally, I would have just called him again a few weeks later...but the running joke between me and my sister...is that dang it, I'm still waiting for him to return that phone call. We all know he was perfectly aware...there was nothing negative about it at all. Just Merry Christmas, and give me a call when you get back into town.

Pretty much, that's the way I see God. Instead of letting go...and letting God, err...I finally decided to let go of God. My life has taken some interesting new directions, I pulled myself up by the boot straps, and have experienced a higher level of personal and career success, than anybody in this generation of my family. Which numbers about 24 cousins.

Perhaps, it was simply an unhealthy mindset that existed within my own family of origin that I let go of. Whatever it was, it's been ten years or more...these past ten years have been full of peace, happiness, and emotional well being for me. More so than any other ten year period for my entire life. Letting go of God, seems to be what worked for me. :-D

StarCross · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 165

thebreadloaf2003 wrote:
for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

thebreadloaf,

Please elaborate. What is it that you were not able think, say or do while being a believer? An atheist doesn't believe there is a God so how can something that doesn't exist hold you back and stifle your creativity in the first place?

Peace,
StarCross

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

connermt wrote: thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

sorry for not expanding on my entry. when I was younger I was a bonefied, baptised Catholic. I went along with it, attended church, prayed, the whole 9 yards. However when I was in third grade, my parents got a divorce, i did a childish thing and blamed "god" for it.

It actualy wasn't until about two years ago that I began exercising atheism to the fulles extent I could.

Through my own thoughts, research, previous knowledge about religions (prodomanetly christian), a few people on this forum, and officials of religion (priests) I have compiled information and came to a conclusion that there are so many obsticles in religion to a free mind, that continuing my practice in religion would hold me back rather than allow me to excel.
-With religion, people exercise their faith and follow the codes of conduct in order to seek salvation. to do this one must attempt to keep a clean mind and a clean soul free of sin...that's where religion begins to hold me back.

Many of my thoughts were sinful in the sense that I began looking for flaws in religion, and attempting to manipulate the teachings in order to contradict itself, without changing the original meaning, which if I am not mistaken would be a sin.

After a period of time passed, I accepted the fact that religion would not be a choice that would make me feel better about who I am and what I do because I am a logical thinker, and I logicaly think about scenarios. Religion is an emotional state of mind and thinking, and when logical thinking to the extent and style I use it, did not prove to be a positive way of life for myself.

Hopefuly that clead some things up, if not, please do tell what you would like me to expand on once more and I will be glad to explain

sLiPpY · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 10198

thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

sorry for not expanding on my entry. when I was younger I was a bonefied, baptised Catholic. I went along with it, attended church, prayed, the whole 9 yards. However when I was in third grade, my parents got a divorce, i did a childish thing and blamed "god" for it.

It actualy wasn't until about two years ago that I began exercising atheism to the fulles extent I could.

Through my own thoughts, research, previous knowledge about religions (prodomanetly christian), a few people on this forum, and officials of religion (priests) I have compiled information and came to a conclusion that there are so many obsticles in religion to a free mind, that continuing my practice in religion would hold me back rather than allow me to excel.
-With religion, people exercise their faith and follow the codes of conduct in order to seek salvation. to do this one must attempt to keep a clean mind and a clean soul free of sin...that's where religion begins to hold me back.

Many of my thoughts were sinful in the sense that I began looking for flaws in religion, and attempting to manipulate the teachings in order to contradict itself, without changing the original meaning, which if I am not mistaken would be a sin.

After a period of time passed, I accepted the fact that religion would not be a choice that would make me feel better about who I am and what I do because I am a logical thinker, and I logicaly think about scenarios. Religion is an emotional state of mind and thinking, and when logical thinking to the extent and style I use it, did not prove to be a positive way of life for myself.

Hopefuly that clead some things up, if not, please do tell what you would like me to expand on once more and I will be glad to explain

I think we're on the same page. I used to sit around and worry about whether "I am being good enough" in my spare time. The Niaccene Creed comes to mind, "thought, word, and deed." Repeat that a million times over your childhood, through young adulthood. It's almost like self-consious negative programming.

Finally one day, and it took a while to turn off that voice in my head. I didn't really "turn it off." I would just stop long enough to observe that it was there. Didn't fight with it, just noticed it...cycling over and over again...then finally maybe once a year I'll have a moment. Then catch myself.

Christianity is unique to Western Civilization, in that it was the only religion of the period and the Roman world...that required personal transformation. It's my own believe that some of the transformations we require of ourselves, in order to reach some of the communicated goals...simply aren't normal or natural. Hence, we end up...beating up on ourselves for simply breathing.

Just seems like I enjoy life so much more...

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

It's bad information that has messed you guys up.

The transformation cannot happen by something you can do. God must change you. Sincerely ask for repentence and to be filled with the spirit and you might find things can be different.

Nobody can make themselves good enough, only Y'shua can do this.

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

cap'n queasy wrote: It's bad information that has messed you guys up.

The transformation cannot happen by something you can do. God must change you. Sincerely ask for repentence and to be filled with the spirit and you might find things can be different.

Nobody can make themselves good enough, only Y'shua can do this.

i dont believe that bad information messed me up, It was more of me messing me up. I interpret the bible and its cheatings, i mean teachings in a way that is other than what was intended, case in point, i think about the teachings in a more broadn state rather than what they were specified for.

for example this excerpt Quote: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." from the book of the romans. What it is saying is that people who are strong in mind, conscience, and spirit do not need to manipulate themselves (i.e. masturbation)

now when I interpret it, I see that and then the thought broadens. There are other acts that a human can do that can achieve the same feeling as an orgasm if your mind is in the correct state of concentration and thought. for instance, there is a meditation technique practiced by buhdists where when they achieve the right mindset, they can acheive what we call mind over body to where the mind can make the body feel what the mind wants it to feel. So if a buhdist uses this in order to feel the pleasure of sexual stimulation while meditating, then the excerpt above shows that christians are supposed to believe that meditation can be and is sinful.

from that, the cristian is not practicing the acceptance of others beleifs.

so its not necessarily that i got bad information, its that i have a bad interpretation of the teachings which has driven me away from it and influenced me to strive to be a free thinker with no religious boundries.

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Quote: Quote:
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
from the book of the romans. What it is saying is that people who are strong in mind, conscience, and spirit do not need to manipulate themselves (i.e. masturbation)

Whew! You really did mess yourself up. Read the context, friend. That has nothing to do with what you think it does.

Not everyone can perservere in times of adversity, there is no need to look down on those who cannot bear oppression and break. But there is a need for the strong to hold up the weak in order to prevent their loss.

Don't broaden your mind too much, it might get even shallower.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

sLiPpY wrote: connermt wrote: thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

yes, don't be bashful...please elaborate...because I can 100 percent identify with what you're saying...

Here's a brief synopsis of my own experience.

My mother's family was extremely religious. Her father came from a large family, and most of the family traveled and sang before church groups almost every weekend. My grandmother was more religious than my grandfather, although he attended church and still does...there were some interesting things I learned after my grandmother died. Mom told me that he used to beat my grandmother. After mom died, her brother told me that grandpa had beat grandmother with a broom the day before she died. At the time, she was recently bed ridden...I don't know what the argument was about...doesn't matter now anyway.

My father also grew up in a church. He attended some while we were growing up, but I always got the feeling it was a going through the motions thing. His family also attended churches, and his father was a Mason. The most characteristic item that I can share about dad's family of origin...is that over the years, they've all fought and fought and fought...mostly over money. They all just thought it was normal, in that that set of relatives had always lived close together going back to my great grandfather...and they've always fought over money. So, hopefully this latest generation will finally spend it all and dispurse so they'll be nothing left that they hadn't earned for them to argue about. :lol:

I was pretty religious in my early twenties, and floundered around...wondering why if God is so good....my parents divorsed, my grandmother died at an early age? My mom and my step-dad died within six months of each other? These are all extraneous items, in retrospect.

My step-father was a deacon in his church. Later we found out about the hundreds of thousand dollar tax debt, he'd brought into the marriage without making my mother aware of it. She found out, about a year later when the government froze her personal banking account and other assets. We also discovered the first marriage broke up because he'd cheated on his wife. The marriage lasted about eight years, before the separation...he left having found another woman.

Around the age of 25, I grew weary of all the Sunday morning psycobable and suspected that mode of thinking simply wasn't productive for me. Which is possibly my own fault, granted I had the mentality darn it...I'm trying to be the best person I can be...I must be sinning all the time?

Finally, I said screw it. I stopped interacting with my dad's family, and later I stopped calling or going by to see my dad. Something I'd always thought might violate the "honor your father and mother" clause. I've never told my father I don't want to see or talk with him. It's just that I realized after my parents divorse, he never called or attempted to really come by and see me. Last time I tried to talk with him, was five years ago...I'd left him a message over Christmas and he never returned the call. Normally, I would have just called him again a few weeks later...but the running joke between me and my sister...is that dang it, I'm still waiting for him to return that phone call. We all know he was perfectly aware...there was nothing negative about it at all. Just Merry Christmas, and give me a call when you get back into town.

Pretty much, that's the way I see God. Instead of letting go...and letting God, err...I finally decided to let go of God. My life has taken some interesting new directions, I pulled myself up by the boot straps, and have experienced a higher level of personal and career success, than anybody in this generation of my family. Which numbers about 24 cousins.

Perhaps, it was simply an unhealthy mindset that existed within my own family of origin that I let go of. Whatever it was, it's been ten years or more...these past ten years have been full of peace, happiness, and emotional well being for me. More so than any other ten year period for my entire life. Letting go of God, seems to be what worked for me. :-D

Wow - that sounds rough. I am a christian, but I am not going to lecture you on GOd & what not - that is your decision & I respect your decision. I am glad that things have started to look up for you. I hope that, maybe sometime in the future, you might look up God again, but your choice. I wish you well

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: thebreadloaf2003 wrote: connermt wrote: Have you any stories to share about something that happened to you (or family member) that strengthened your faith?
Conversley, anything happen that did the exact opposite that you would like to share?
PLEASE do no judge anyone's story or question their faith. Let this be a sounding board for those of us who are seeking to learn more about God & the things He has done in your life.

EDIT: I changed the title of this because it appeared, after I read it, to be a very 'leading' & confrontational & I wanted it to be more neutral

for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind. I am now gladly atheist and have been for the past few years

"for me and what i seek for and struggle to obtain in my life, he has done nothing but hold me back and stifle my creativity and ablility to expand my own mind." <-- would you care to elaborate?

sorry for not expanding on my entry. when I was younger I was a bonefied, baptised Catholic. I went along with it, attended church, prayed, the whole 9 yards. However when I was in third grade, my parents got a divorce, i did a childish thing and blamed "god" for it.

It actualy wasn't until about two years ago that I began exercising atheism to the fulles extent I could.

Through my own thoughts, research, previous knowledge about religions (prodomanetly christian), a few people on this forum, and officials of religion (priests) I have compiled information and came to a conclusion that there are so many obsticles in religion to a free mind, that continuing my practice in religion would hold me back rather than allow me to excel.
-With religion, people exercise their faith and follow the codes of conduct in order to seek salvation. to do this one must attempt to keep a clean mind and a clean soul free of sin...that's where religion begins to hold me back.

Many of my thoughts were sinful in the sense that I began looking for flaws in religion, and attempting to manipulate the teachings in order to contradict itself, without changing the original meaning, which if I am not mistaken would be a sin.

After a period of time passed, I accepted the fact that religion would not be a choice that would make me feel better about who I am and what I do because I am a logical thinker, and I logicaly think about scenarios. Religion is an emotional state of mind and thinking, and when logical thinking to the extent and style I use it, did not prove to be a positive way of life for myself.

Hopefuly that clead some things up, if not, please do tell what you would like me to expand on once more and I will be glad to explain

Thanks for elaborating more. What's an "baptised Catholic"? I have never heard of such a thing
:?
"Many of my thoughts were sinful in the sense that I began looking for flaws in religion..."<-- WHy did you consider that a sin? I think it is nothing more than trying to learn.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

cap'n queasy wrote: Quote: Quote:
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
from the book of the romans. What it is saying is that people who are strong in mind, conscience, and spirit do not need to manipulate themselves (i.e. masturbation)

Whew! You really did mess yourself up. Read the context, friend. That has nothing to do with what you think it does.

Not everyone can perservere in times of adversity, there is no need to look down on those who cannot bear oppression and break. But there is a need for the strong to hold up the weak in order to prevent their loss.

Don't broaden your mind too much, it might get even shallower.

"Don't broaden your mind too much, it might get even shallower."<-- You can't be serious, can you? Did I read too much into this statement?
"Read the context, friend. That has nothing to do with what you think it does."<-- So elighten us all, what do YOU interpert it to mean?
I didn't read the whole passage since it was given in one shot, but this passage:"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." means somethign totally different to me than what it meant to thebreadloaf2003.

This is where many people (including Christians) run into issues with the Bible. The meanings vary to each person, thier situation & how their mind works. For someone to say "This is what it mean PERIOD" - that is wrong of them to say that. One passage or verse or story may mean one thing to a person at one time & then something totally different to the same person at a later time. That is what is 'cool' about the Bible; different people get different meanigs fromt he same thing.

To thebreadloaf2003: You can be a 'free thinker' & still have a Biblical base to it all. It takes a strong willed person for sure, but it can be done. I encourage you not to throw away the biblical teachings so fast. Continue to look for a greater understanding with everything, that's the only way we learn.
Good luck with it!

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

Wow - I am honestly surprised that more people haven't chimed in with stories about how their faith has helped them.
Surprising indeed............

John · Joined: 02 Jun 2004 Posts: 24707

Here's some people sharing thier experience...

http://everystudent.com/videoroom.php

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4206 Location: Florida

To me accepting that there was no God took a large burden off my life...I was now free to explore my life in any direction I wanted to go...I have learned so much about life that I would of missed if I wasn't so open minded...In my world of family and friends I'm the only Atheist..Yet I live with very little stress, I'm very happy, been faithfully married for 15 years...While they pray for their god to help them in their lives all they have gotten in return are stress pills ,depression, divorce...I'm glad I'm Atheist... Screw tomorrow..Live each day like its your last....Thats my motto..

VBach37 · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 2056 Location: New Hampshire

I am perplexed as to why so many people seem to think that belief in God somehow limits a person in any way. I have always found just the opposite to be true. A human being, any human being, can only do so much, go so far. But when you look outside yourself to the Divine, limits can evaporate. Take for example the true story behind the movie Chariots of Fire. Two characters are followed. One seeks to win in the Olympics to glorify himself. The other seeks to win to glorify God. Who ends up winning? You guessed it, the 2nd guy. It's a true story. I have often found there is much to be gained by aproaching life with a similar attitude. Something to keep in mind for those who talk about "God not helping when asked"-- You don't need to ask for God's help, he's already giving it. All you need to do is accept and understand this. Feel free to ask questions if you desire clarification! :-)

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

Quote: Thanks for elaborating more. What's an "baptised Catholic"? I have never heard of such a thing

i was baptised and through my mothers decisions, went to catholic church and catholic preschool.

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

cap'n queasy wrote: Quote: Quote:
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
from the book of the romans. What it is saying is that people who are strong in mind, conscience, and spirit do not need to manipulate themselves (i.e. masturbation)

Whew! You really did mess yourself up. Read the context, friend. That has nothing to do with what you think it does.

Not everyone can perservere in times of adversity, there is no need to look down on those who cannot bear oppression and break. But there is a need for the strong to hold up the weak in order to prevent their loss.

Don't broaden your mind too much, it might get even shallower.

if you reffer to what I said before the excerpt
Quote: I interpret the bible and its cheatings, i mean teachings in a way that is other than what was intended, case in point, i think about the teachings in a more broadn state rather than what they were specified for.

thats what i got out of it. Now what it really means might be totaly different, which is another reason why i chose to be atheist, because the teachings can be interpretted in different ways by different people. If somehting that is written for people that range in intellectual scale from mentally challenged to genious, and then it is either so simple, so complicated, or so vague that it needs a specified group of people to devote their entire lives to teaching the true meaning of the words to everyone, then in my mind, theres no reason or justification for it to be true or believable

mgwisni · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 73

I grew up in a family that wasn't religious as (it seems) opposed to everyone else thus far. I didn't hear about God till I was an 8th grader and at that point I had no idea what anyone was talking about. During high school I joined a youth group because a bunch of my friends were in it, and ended up learning a lot about Jesus, God, and the world. I accepted Christ somewhere around my Freshman year or so, not completely sure. I've changed 100 percent since then. I can feel God working through me everyday and pushing me to better myself for him. Without God I know I wouldn't be a quarter of the person I am today.

It seems silly to me to want to be "good" or to have "peace" while perhaps denying that there is an underlying good to the Universe. For me accepting Christ wasn't a logical decision I had to make. Eventually I had to question my faith and think about whether God truly existed or not. I believe in a mind above body. I believe in causation, and that if God didn't exist, the Universe couldn't have started. I'm a biochemistry major and everyday I learn about new things that I just can't imagine evolving by complete random.

So I got a little off track. God has changed my life permanently. Without him, life would be no fun.