I wish I were a believer, but...

quibbler said:

Hello Christians!

I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've never got around to learning Aramaic, but I could reasonably be described as an expert on the Bible, in comparison with most people. I'm also aware that one of the things the Bible teaches is that my scholarly knowledge is nothing to be proud of!

I want to be a Christian. I try to live as a Christian. I pray, sometimes for hours and hours...

But the end result is always that I think: none of it is true, is it?

So I'm joining your forum as a sympathetic and knowledgeable atheist. I hope you don't mind.

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Welcome.

quibbler said:

Hello Christians!

I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've never got around to learning Aramaic, but I could reasonably be described as an expert on the Bible, in comparison with most people. I'm also aware that one of the things the Bible teaches is that my scholarly knowledge is nothing to be proud of!
I want to be a Christian. I try to live as a Christian. I pray, sometimes for hours and hours...

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But the end result is always that I think: none of it is true, is it?

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Been there. . .done that. . .you can't make yourself believe what you do not actually believe.

I learned that only the Holy Spirit can give you to believe it is true. . .and he waited 15 years in my case.

quibbler said:

So I'm joining your forum as a sympathetic and knowledgeable atheist. I hope you don't mind.

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As long as you are sympathetic and knowledgeable.

Hello, quibbler!

You are certainly welcome here. You strike me as an honest seeker. My prayer for you is that you would receive Jesus' gift of faith in Him unto salvation. Just a verse to encourage you that your seeking is good, you are on the right track, and that one day you will delight in the knowledge that He has been seeking you all along, all by His choice and in His power. God bless!

Matthew 7:7-8​

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

quibbler said:

Hello Christians!

I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've never got around to learning Aramaic, but I could reasonably be described as an expert on the Bible, in comparison with most people. I'm also aware that one of the things the Bible teaches is that my scholarly knowledge is nothing to be proud of!

I want to be a Christian. I try to live as a Christian. I pray, sometimes for hours and hours...

But the end result is always that I think: none of it is true, is it?

So I'm joining your forum as a sympathetic and knowledgeable atheist. I hope you don't mind.

Click to expand...

The foundation of belief is based on creation (or not). Our minds can not really comprehend an entity that has the power to create such a complex universe. But then again ... how can we believe such a complex universe evolved by millions perhaps billions of events over millions and billions of years randomly - happen chances? To me the "odds" of that is impossible.

We got here somehow ... and the only two reasonable choices are creation (God) or evolution. The bible says the evidence of creation is in what we see .... evolution claims the same thing and provides numerous theories in an effort to support their view. I find a lot of wisdom in the Word of God .... not so much in mankind.

We also have the more sure word of prophesy.

The bible has and does have the. power to change a persons life .... there are many very good life principles in it .... what does evolution offer in that area? Nothing.

If creation is correct and the bible is correct ... then we have the possibility of eternal life ... evolution provides nothing in that regard.

So ... if one is to error .... which one is the best to eliminate?

Believe God .... or believe man?

I'm sticking with God because in Him there is hope.

Psalm 118:8 ESV
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Romans 15:13 ESV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In God (the creator) there is hope ... in evolution there is no hope. Hope or hopelessness ... take your pick.

One who has no knowledge of any God, nor religion, nor a defined method of this Earth existence, can only live with a moral conscience instilled by the upbringing which acquired all your decision abilities and here you are today. If you cannot see or hear, could you read brail with your hands, if you were born with hands? You will be silent in your voice not to hear a word or see a mouth of instruction to make sense of any of your life if you have any thought to a purpose in your life. Suppose you cannot speak? What does a blind man, deaf and without speech to do? Where would you have any knowledge of your existence? Could that person feel any sadness or even love? Does this person know the word Cold or Hot?
Where does any higher knowledge of anything greater than that person come from when they have not seen, heard or spoke?

Where do we get our reasoning? What age did we believe in something? What point in our life did we start to disagree with another?
Where and why did God and many Gods become a subject. Why are we searching for an understanding to what we don't know?

All one can try to do is reach for a moral compass and follow what feels true to heart. What I believe is within my purpose and why do I push my purpose onto you, but maybe to become your friend. Still, it is my choice to push.

To believe in anything higher than yourself is to surrender to what you don't understand, so you can't believe in confusion of an unknown source.
If you talk of a God to others pointing to your belief, you have given half your belief to another to have a comment. Maybe you need acceptance of your belief or a reason you seek to change your thoughts. It doesn't matter which.

What matters today and, in our lives, is the moral compass we choose to follow. If you know love, then you can give love at your choice. If you know kindness, you can share your kindness. If you believe in goodness, then goodness must exist. If you believe in anything of value, to you this must exist, or you would not be true to yourself.

If God exist to a blind man, let God be his eyes. If God exist to one who cannot hear, let God be the ears of that man. If a man cannot speak, let God be the words of action from that man. If you have no sight, no sound, no speech, let God fill this man's heart with so much light that no one will see or hear or be able to speak the words given to such a man. We don't know the path of God.
If we have a question, don't ask me, ask God the question. Other than God, I'm looking to push a belief I am not sure I hold truly in my heart, so I ask.
If there is a God, and I know there is, this God will be known. Be thankful that you have all your senses to distract you from the truth, but know that you can use your senses to find the truth. Just follow a moral heart that you have grown to believe in. God is not wrong, but we could be.
TGGIL

Welcome to CF.

I was born in China and received atheistic education from birth. In fact, it is difficult for Chinese people to get rid of atheism. My grandfather was a local Islamic leader, although he was very secular. My father had completely embraced atheism, which was his education system after the age of 10. It was also very difficult for me to accept monotheism. I explored the Greek philosophical system and rationally accepted monotheism(philosophy meaning). Christianity and Judaism helped me spiritually enter the monotheistic religion of Abraham.

I hope you have a rich and colorful spiritual exploration journey.

quibbler said:

Hello Christians!

I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've never got around to learning Aramaic, but I could reasonably be described as an expert on the Bible, in comparison with most people. I'm also aware that one of the things the Bible teaches is that my scholarly knowledge is nothing to be proud of!

I want to be a Christian. I try to live as a Christian. I pray, sometimes for hours and hours...

But the end result is always that I think: none of it is true, is it?

So I'm joining your forum as a sympathetic and knowledgeable atheist. I hope you don't mind.

Click to expand...

Hi, I'm atheist too. Welcome to the forum.

Hi @quibbler and welcome to forum

What do you dream about & have you had visions ?

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Last night I prayed & asked God to help me to become a better Christian, as very often I tend to backslide & here I am reading this thread.
I have asked God for many things & never has he once failed me, sometimes it may be months before God answers & other times it can be overnight. But be careful what you ask for as God is not some Genie in a lamp.
God will never give you more than you can handle.

King James Bible
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

My advice to you is to read Genesis 1 but to really read it & understand God's creation.

Last night I prayed & asked God to help me to become a better Christian, as I have a tendency to backslide & this morning I ended up reading this thread.

Apple Sky said:

Last night I prayed & asked God to help me to become a better Christian, as I have a tendency to backslide & this morning I ended up reading this thread.

I wish I were a believer, but...

Hello Christians! I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've...

www.christianforums.com

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Bible study will help.

quibbler said:

Hello Christians!

I read the Bible often, not only in English but also in Greek and sometimes Hebrew. I've recently finished reading Romans with the assistance of commentaries by Cranfield and Bruce, and I'm now reading Paul R House's commentary on the beautiful book of Daniel. So far I've never got around to learning Aramaic, but I could reasonably be described as an expert on the Bible, in comparison with most people. I'm also aware that one of the things the Bible teaches is that my scholarly knowledge is nothing to be proud of!

I want to be a Christian. I try to live as a Christian. I pray, sometimes for hours and hours...

But the end result is always that I think: none of it is true, is it?

So I'm joining your forum as a sympathetic and knowledgeable atheist. I hope you don't mind.

Click to expand...

Welcome.
An atheist don't want to be a Christian.
Not even an agnostic wants to be a Christian.
Only believers in Jesus Christ want to be Christian.

True as John 3:16.
I am quite creative myself. Have a good time.

Welcome to the forum...I must admit, I myself often struggle with thoughts that it might not be real. But in my case that's just the rebelious flesh speaking, rather than my own convictions. I am curious, what specifically is holding you back from believing in Christ? What's your biggest logical objection?