Atheist seeking guidance

[Damon Smith]

Hello Christians,

I'm an atheist, didn't use to be. I was raised a Christian, but with the influx of information I gathered in high school I adopted a more materialistic world view. God just seemed improbable and didn't fit into my new view of the world. This worked for me for the past years but now I've run into questions.

Where did everything come from, the universe, the earth? Why am I here, what's my purpose? If I die, is there really nothing?
Not knowing these things scares the bejeebus out of me, and I find that atheism offers me no real reassurance, so I'm starting to doubt whether or not my position is the right one for me. So I've been wondering, would (re?)converting to Christianity help ease my mind on these kinds of issues? So when I found out about these forums I figured I might as well seek some guidance. I hope I'm posting in the right forums! Please help me.

Kind regards,

Damon Smith.

 

[Chesterton]

So I've been wondering, would (re?)converting to Christianity help ease my mind on these kinds of issues?

Welcome to CF!

Christianity does offer reasurrance and comfort on such issues, but only if you actually believe what Christianity says about the issues. Obviously, a rational person doesn't just believe something because it feels good. And there are lots of atheists who believe what they do because it makes them feel good, in a different way. I'd suggest learning all you can about what Christ taught, who he claimed to be, and what Christianity teaches about certain questions like yours, and doing so with an open and honest mind and heart.

Personally I found that Christianity is no more improbable than any materialistic world view one can come up with.

 

[MLEN]

Hi,

I believe that God puts it in our hearts to search him out from the day we are born. From very young, kids want to know where stars come from? How was the world created? How does the earth remain up in the air? These and many other questions about creation can be answered in the Bible. As adults we want to know what is our purpose? What is morally right and wrong? How do I deal with pain and suffering? What happens when I die? The Bible has the answers to these questions too.

The Bible states that the words in it were written by holy men who were inspired by God to write them down. Because I am a Christian who has experienced the truth of the Bible in my own life, I believe that the answer to your questions can be found in the Bible. I also believe that if you come to whole heartedly accept the words written therein, you will give your life to Christ. And if you give your life to Christ, he will give you his love and peace that surpasses all understanding that he promises in the Bible in place of your concerns and anxieties on such matters.

 

[BobW188]

Look at it this way. Materialism assumes that there is no God, no supernatural realm; and the overwhelming number of scientists - believers and nonbelievers - acknowledge that the scientific method can neither prove nor disprove His existence.

The fact is, the materialist conclusion that there is no God is as much based on faith as our conclusion that He exists.

There is truth in science. There is truth in materialism. But not the whole Truth. We believe that that whole Truth ... and Way, and Life ... walked the earth in human form in the Roman province of Judea, in the imperia of Augustus and Tiberius Caeser. between about 6BC and 33AD. You can, I submit, come again to believe that without discarding any of the lesser truths you've learned. They only appear to contradict.

 

[Van]

Hi Damon Smith,

Where did everything come from? Science tells us that a long time ago, maybe 15 billion years ago, everything existed in the form of a "singlarity." This thing was much smaller than an atom, or in essence, infinitely small. The Bible says God made everything out of nothing visible. Pretty good agreement. Science has no idea why the "singularity" started to rapidly expand (i.e explode) because according to the laws of physics, it would be impossible for it to get bigger. So something outside of our current knowledge caused the singularity to expand, something if you will, supernatural. If this is what happened, then God might have caused it. Therefore, the Big Bang theory of creation provides for the probability of God.

If I die, is there really nothing? If you put your trust in the historical accuracy of the New Testament, then Christ's empty tomb suggests that there is an afterlife of comfort or punishment. There is pretty strong evidence that the people of the time believed in the miracles of Christ, even from a non-biblical source. First most of the Apostles died for their beliefs, unlikely if it was a hoax, and second the rapid acceptance of a gospel very different from the tradition of the people suggests they either saw some of the miracles or knew an eyewitness that they trusted.

Would repenting and putting your complete trust in Christ ease your mind? Perhaps not initially, but over time, yes I believe it would. We do not start out as a mature Christian, we start out as babes in Christ, with pretty much the same understanding as we had as people of the flesh. But with prayer and mediation, Bible study, and fellowship with more mature Christians, in serving and being served, the Holy Spirit will continue to work in you, and like a headache that is gone, one day you will be at ease.

 

[98cwitr]

as a former Atheist, I don't truly believe you are one for several reasons:

1. Atheists have an understanding that their is no purpose to their lives, or anyone's for that matter, we are just here and life is exactly what we make it when accounting for uncontrollable stimuli of the outside world on our own perception of things.

2. Atheists do not question what happens when they die because they are convinced that you no longer are able to perceive anything at all. The world continues without your perception of it.

Your fear is your doubt in your own religion that you claim. If you need proof, look at your own life, piece by piece...and seek, for you will find. You are looking in the wrong places for guidance, because you won't find it in any living soul other than the Living soul.

 

[childofGod31]

Hello Christians,

I'm an atheist, didn't use to be. I was raised a Christian, but with the influx of information I gathered in high school I adopted a more materialistic world view. God just seemed improbable and didn't fit into my new view of the world. This worked for me for the past years but now I've run into questions.

Where did everything come from, the universe, the earth? Why am I here, what's my purpose? If I die, is there really nothing?
Not knowing these things scares the bejeebus out of me, and I find that atheism offers me no real reassurance, so I'm starting to doubt whether or not my position is the right one for me. So I've been wondering, would (re?)converting to Christianity help ease my mind on these kinds of issues? So when I found out about these forums I figured I might as well seek some guidance. I hope I'm posting in the right forums! Please help me.

Kind regards,

Damon Smith.

Yes, having faith in God certainly offers assurance and peace of mind. I would recommend you start seeking God. Don't join Christianity or any other religion. Just seek God Himself. Start reading the Bible with the book of John, then other Gospels, then epistles.

The Word of God is living. It penetrates the soul. God is active and is working on each soul. This must be the time He is calling you to come home. He is your God and your Father and your Creator. He knows you inside and out. He loves you. He accepts you as no other. Only in Him can you find fulfillment for your soul.

It's about love. God is love. He wants to love. So He created us so that He could love us. And when we love Him, we feel His love. And - we get the greatest gift of all - a loving relationship.

For what is better than "love" on this earth? Can material things satisfy as much as love or being in love can?

And this is the gift God gives us: love relationship (with Himself.)

We were created for Him. We were created to love Him. And nothing short of that will satisfy us fully.

So do yourself a huge favor and start learning about God from the Bible. Don't follow rules or regulations, just learn about God. Just you and God. He can hear you. Feel free to talk to Him. He hears your thoughts.

(He actually talks back to me. So for me it's not even a matter of believing only, I know He is there because He talks back to me.)

If you want to know more, feel free to PM me anytime.

Maybe read this to help you see the big picture:

Bible 101 • View topic - What does "draw close to God" mean?

Bible 101 • View topic - How to Draw Close to God/How to feel God's Love

 

[andreha]

Hello Christians,

I'm an atheist, didn't use to be. I was raised a Christian, but with the influx of information I gathered in high school I adopted a more materialistic world view. God just seemed improbable and didn't fit into my new view of the world. This worked for me for the past years but now I've run into questions.

Where did everything come from, the universe, the earth? Why am I here, what's my purpose? If I die, is there really nothing?
Not knowing these things scares the bejeebus out of me, and I find that atheism offers me no real reassurance, so I'm starting to doubt whether or not my position is the right one for me. So I've been wondering, would (re?)converting to Christianity help ease my mind on these kinds of issues? So when I found out about these forums I figured I might as well seek some guidance. I hope I'm posting in the right forums! Please help me.

Kind regards,

Damon Smith.

Hi Damon

If you like, I have a lifetime of testimonies to share, all of which point to the reality of what we believe in. I have experienced things from the spiritual realm, accross the spectrum, and wouldn't mind sharing, if you like.

 

[zaksmummy]

God is not into converting people - he is into discipling people.

The first step to becoming a disciple is recognising that you have sinned, and then repent. After that the relationship with God through Jesus begins, and yes assurance will come.

Consider these verses spoken by Jesus

John 14 v “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You
know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14 v6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John7 v 37 On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Matthew 11 v 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden
is light.”

Yoke means teaching, if we take upon ourselves Jesus' teaching we can achieve spiritual freedom, not just an assurance of everlasting life, but of freedom now on earth, the discipleship of Jesus is well worth it.

If this is what you want all you have to do is ask, God will hear you.

Luke 11 v 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened. 11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

 

[salida]

Its ashame that some of our public schools are teaching these gleaming falsehoods. There really is a God and He is seeking those to worship him in spirit and in truth. Our purpose is to be light and salt to fallen mankind. The bible is true because it has overwhelming evidence that supports it. www.TheBibleProofBook.com Also, you may want to visit: Are you a good person? The Good Test

Darwinism is a farce because it makes such claims and life came from nothing. Did you car come from thin air? The human body cell is at least 1000 times more complicated and yet darwinism says it came from non life or a one celled organism. Nature doesn't even do this. Plus, the survival of the fittest-they fittest arn't the ones who always survive. A lion goes after what is convenient and closer-not the fittest animal. Genes don't improve within time-they stay the same or get worse(mutations). Those that believe in socialism-try to get God out of the picture-they want everything man made no matter what the evidence is. After prayer got took out of public schools-it all went downhill from there.

Some macroevolution is true and all microevolution-but darwin evolution is based on no God and its a philosophy of athiests and agnostics-not true science.

A good book to start is: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Athiest by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek.

 

[freeport]

Hello Christians,

I'm an atheist, didn't use to be. I was raised a Christian, but with the influx of information I gathered in high school I adopted a more materialistic world view. God just seemed improbable and didn't fit into my new view of the world. This worked for me for the past years but now I've run into questions.

Where did everything come from, the universe, the earth? Why am I here, what's my purpose? If I die, is there really nothing?
Not knowing these things scares the bejeebus out of me, and I find that atheism offers me no real reassurance, so I'm starting to doubt whether or not my position is the right one for me. So I've been wondering, would (re?)converting to Christianity help ease my mind on these kinds of issues? So when I found out about these forums I figured I might as well seek some guidance. I hope I'm posting in the right forums! Please help me.

Kind regards,

Damon Smith.

Influx of disinformation

I don't know fear, that is strange to try and grasp.

True faith in God is not a religion, it is a state of being.