Deconversion?

[gratefulgrace]

I must admit I have had times of questioning and feelings of distance from God but i have never not believed there was a God. Most of the time I feel that way when i am confused about what it is I am going through or feel I am not getting the answer I need to my problem. It is never clear sailing and I do question like a 4 year old Why why why to the Lord. I don't think He minds and sometimes I even get an answer to my question. Actually many times but sometimes no. I remember what Paul said in one of his letters about seeing in a foggy mirror ('a glass darkly') in this life and so far I have been able to put the question on hold till the day I can ask God face to face. gg

 

[Criada]

I had a lot of questions, but always accepted that I couldn't expect to understad God with a human mind.
Now... it isn't questions, simply an empty void

 

[gratefulgrace]

Yes I get that difference Criada and my heart goes out to you. gg

 

[Secundulus]

I had a lot of questions, but always accepted that I couldn't expect to understad God with a human mind.
Now... it isn't questions, simply an empty void

This has been described best by St. John of the Cross in his book, Dark Night of the Soul. Google those words and you will find that many have experienced exactly what you feel.

If you read up on it you will find that this can be a time of spiritual preparation for something greater than before.

 

[JesusFreak4L]

Criada,

still praying for you and your situation! You ARE LOVED by all of us sister! God bless you I know you will pull through!

 

[Jo1]

I had a lot of questions, but always accepted that I couldn't expect to understad God with a human mind.
Now... it isn't questions, simply an empty void

(((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) God is there, with u, ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) hold on dear friend praying for u. It will b ok* u know wot u say to me too u know when u experienced gods love that time at church? that was Him sis. He loves u. Joxxx

 

[Tishri1]

((((((((((((((((((((I love you, and this comes from Jesus too))))))))))))))))))))))

 

[newbeliever02072005]

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[Chaplain David]

You know I care about you Criada. Don't give up the Ship.

YBIC,

 

[peaceful soul]

originally posted by Pwnzerfaust

One thing I'm curious about is why people take faith to be a positive thing.

Because it normally points to something positive, or at least, favorable to them without intending to harm others, which is considered positive.

When you put your faith in something, don't you think of it being positive? If not, then what planet do you live on?

Faith is belief in something for which there is no evidence.

No. That is conjecture or something else. Faith is based upon some kind of evidence. You can argue that some people lack evidence, but you shouldn't assume that they don't believe that they have some evidence at the foundation of their belief. It would be irrational if they believed without any attempt to form a basis for their belief, which include some kind of evidence to support the proposition(s) they hold. For those of us who exercise faith, there is some evidence, but is not all rooted in a physical and material universe. That is normally the error made by those who make such statement. Christians believe in a spiritual/supernatural universe in addition to the physical/material one. There are other dimensions of the reality above what we can normally detect with our senses.

I have difficulty comprehending why such irrationality is held in a positive light.

There is nothing irrational in believing in something that is beyond the senses but has some grounds for acceptance.

 

[Chaplain David]

originally posted by Pwnzerfaust



Because it normally points to something positive, or at least, favorable to them without intending to harm others, which is considered positive.

When you put your faith in something, don't you think of it being positive? If not, then what planet do you live on?




No. That is conjecture or something else. Faith is based upon some kind of evidence. You can argue that some people lack evidence, but you shouldn't assume that they don't believe that they have some evidence at the foundation of their belief. It would be irrational if they believed without any attempt to form a basis for their belief, which include some kind of evidence to support the proposition(s) they hold. For those of us who exercise faith, there is some evidence, but is not all rooted in a physical and material universe. That is normally the error made by those who make such statement. Christians believe in a spiritual/supernatural universe in addition to the physical/material one. There are other dimensions of the reality above what we can normally detect with our senses.



There is nothing irrational in believing in something that is beyond the senses but has some grounds for acceptance.

QFT!!!

 

[gratefulgrace]

What does QFT stand for?

 

[Secundulus]

What does QFT stand for?

"Quoted for Truth". I think.

 

[Eudaimonist]

"Quoted for Truth". I think.

It is precisely that.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Criada]

Thanks all for your input and concern.
I'm still confused, and at the moment, the advice to pray, read scripture, trust God etc is very hard to deal with. I am still trying to pray, but it feels very hypocritical in the circumstances. I am reading the bible, but it is just words, really. And I wish I could trust God, but... it's a bit like an instruction to trust Santa Claus at the moment.
And yet something in me won't let go completely.
Can one be an agnostic Christian, I wonder?

 

[Tinker Grey]

There's actually a book from the 60s with that very title, The Agnostic Christian.

In debates about what a real atheist is, we often distinguish between a gnostic atheist (god emphatically does not exist), an agnostic atheist (I lack evidence of god's existence), a gnostic Christian (not in the classical sense of gnostic, but rather God emphatically does exist), and an agnostic Christian (I think God exists and live as if he does though I'm not sure it can be known.)

It may be an appropriate compromise while you work through this.

 

[Jo1]

Thanks all for your input and concern.
I'm still confused, and at the moment, the advice to pray, read scripture, trust God etc is very hard to deal with. I am still trying to pray, but it feels very hypocritical in the circumstances. I am reading the bible, but it is just words, really. And I wish I could trust God, but... it's a bit like an instruction to trust Santa Claus at the moment.
And yet something in me won't let go completely.
Can one be an agnostic Christian, I wonder?

((((((((((((hUGS)))))))) love u, try not to work it out too much eh sis? try to listen to wots in your heart. Praying ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))) its will b ok* love u Joxxx

 

[Nilla]

Thanks all for your input and concern.
I'm still confused, and at the moment, the advice to pray, read scripture, trust God etc is very hard to deal with. I am still trying to pray, but it feels very hypocritical in the circumstances. I am reading the bible, but it is just words, really. And I wish I could trust God, but... it's a bit like an instruction to trust Santa Claus at the moment.
And yet something in me won't let go completely.
Can one be an agnostic Christian, I wonder?

I've been there myself, sometimes there's weeks between my prayers.

What's helped me is to think back, think about times He has brought me through. Rough times, times of sadness and mourning. I can seriously say I wouldn't be alive today if God hasn't been there for me. That's what keeps me going.

Since it's very personal I won't go into details in the thread, but if you want to know more I'm just a PM away.

In my thoughts, my prayers (when I do pray) and my heart. Love you girl!

 

[Hentenza]

I love you Jesus.

 

[Criada]

There's actually a book from the 60s with that very title, The Agnostic Christian.

In debates about what a real atheist is, we often distinguish between a gnostic atheist (god emphatically does not exist), an agnostic atheist (I lack evidence of god's existence), a gnostic Christian (not in the classical sense of gnostic, but rather God emphatically does exist), and an agnostic Christian (I think God exists and live as if he does though I'm not sure it can be known.)

It may be an appropriate compromise while you work through this.

Thank you.. I will see if I can get hold of that.

((((((((((((hUGS)))))))) love u, try not to work it out too much eh sis? try to listen to wots in your heart. Praying ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))) its will b ok* love u Joxxx

I've been there myself, sometimes there's weeks between my prayers.

What's helped me is to think back, think about times He has brought me through. Rough times, times of sadness and mourning. I can seriously say I wouldn't be alive today if God hasn't been there for me. That's what keeps me going.

Since it's very personal I won't go into details in the thread, but if you want to know more I'm just a PM away.

In my thoughts, my prayers (when I do pray) and my heart. Love you girl!

Thank you

I love you Jesus.

Er.. wrong thread?