I found God...

[daydreamergurl15]

I can tell you right now, when I chose to become a Christian it had nothing to do with feeling good, it had to do with me being convicted of my sins and coming to God and laying down my sins. I try and follow His commandments because I trust and love Him. I don't live a life of being pleased or feeling good, I live a life of contentment in that no matter what happens to me in this life, that God is good. Ever since I became a Christian, there is a peace that I have, that even if a serial killer come into my house today and God sees fit for me to leave this earth, I know that my family is going to be okay and I am going to go home to God.

 

[gaara4158]

I live a life of contentment in that no matter what happens to me in this life, that God is good. Ever since I became a Christian, there is a peace that I have, that even if a serial killer come into my house today and God sees fit for me to leave this earth, I know that my family is going to be okay and I am going to go home to God.

Well, this is what I'm talking about. Everyone wants this tranquility, but not everyone is able to buy into all the supernatural stuff, so they seek something else...

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Well, this is what I'm talking about. Everyone wants this tranquility, but not everyone is able to buy into all the supernatural stuff, so they seek something else...

I don't know what people are seeking, but don't minimize my faith simply by saying that I am self-seeking satisfaction. I got this peace because of the faith I have in God.

 

[gaara4158]

I don't know what people are seeking, but don't minimize my faith simply by saying that I am self-seeking satisfaction. I got this peace because of the faith I have in God.

I'm not minimizing your faith, I'm actually giving it more credit than you are. Whether or not God is really out there, your faith has yielded very real results for you. However, many Christians (not saying all) claim that this peace is only attainable through God, while I argue that there are many plausible paths to this peace.

 

[Legion.As.One]

Were we come from and were we're going - its all the same.
You were, I was, we were all born to die. Its what you do during the "bit inbetween" that matters most.
To me, if someone asks me to think in terms of the existance of a god, I generally think of myself. I don't wnat to sound arrogant, but its not just me. We're all gods.

Arn't we all part of the same singularity that formed the universe? So we're everywhere and everything at once. All knowing? Impossible, how can a being know EVERYTHING? You simply can't. Worship? Ancient Egyptian pharoah's and Mayan kings were worshipped as gods on earth.
My point is made.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

I'm not minimizing your faith, I'm actually giving it more credit than you are. Whether or not God is really out there, your faith has yielded very real results for you. However, many Christians (not saying all) claim that this peace is only attainable through God, while I argue that there are many plausible paths to this peace.

The credit you give Christianity is that you said to those whom found God (and I mean this strictly as being Christians) "it makes us feel good" and you might think that you are giving it more credit, but I assure you, that's not the case. Christianity is not a self, seeking, satisfying religion.

 

[gaara4158]

The credit you give Christianity is that you said to those whom found God (and I mean this strictly as being Christians) "it makes us feel good" and you might think that you are giving it more credit, but I assure you, that's not the case. Christianity is not a self, seeking, satisfying religion.

Self-seeking satisfaction and self-comfort don't have to be the same thing. While every Christian probably believes for their own reasons, you cannot deny that Christianity (and really, religion in general) gives a lot of people the peace they're looking for. Maybe Christianity does something for people that no other worldview can, but it's not exclusive purpose.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Self-seeking satisfaction and self-comfort don't have to be the same thing. While every Christian probably believes for their own reasons, you cannot deny that Christianity (and really, religion in general) gives a lot of people the peace they're looking for. Maybe Christianity does something for people that no other worldview can, but it's not exclusive purpose.

Do me a favor, when you are ever in need to search for God, read the New Testament, and when the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sins and realize that you have sinned before God, tell me if that satisfy you.

The reason why Christians have a sense of peace is that the burdens that we have is exchanged for the peace that is in Christ. That is a promised that is given when we come to Him. And I am not speaking about any other religion, I don't know every religion, I don't know every religions beliefs, and the heart and intent of the person following it but I know mine. You might think you have the reasons why we find God and you might think that you are giving us credit with your philosophies but you are not.

I found God...
...but not in the way you think. I've been doing a lot of thinking about religion and psychology lately, and here's what I've come up with.
There is probably no God, in the sense of an all-knowing, all-powerful being that created the universe. However, God is very much alive in the minds of believers, almost like a placebo god. People pray to God for guidance, for courage, for hope, for forgiveness, for success... for anything they want. Many of the things prayed for are attainable emotional states, and when they pray to achieve these states, they expect to, and when they expect to, they do. In this way, God is very real to them, but really it's their belief in God that's working in their lives, not the actual God, which doesn't exist. It is a manifestation of something we all have within us, believers and nonbelievers alike; the fulfillment of our need for hope, significance, a grand scheme of things. We hate to think that we're practically alone in this universe, that everything we do will fade into nothingness in the face of eternity, and that there's no guarantee that tomorrow a serial killer won't break in and end it all for us and our families. So we all have our ways of dispelling these fears, and a god-belief is just one of them. Don't nonbelievers have something similar? We delve into our studies, our hobbies, or our jobs and try to forget how vastly insignificant we are; we tell ourselves there's nothing we can do but kick back and enjoy life while we can, so we think pleasant thoughts and do whatever feels good. But aren't we all "worshiping" something? The purpose of life, it seems, is to escape the natural sense of despair that comes with such a mundane reality by occupying your mind with something else, which for many people is organized religion. For others, like I said earlier, it's a hobby, the rat race, self-improvement... anything you set your mind to.
In other words, the purpose of life is to find a purpose.

Yes? No? Thoughts?​

Maybe in your mind you felt like you were giving credit to the religious and non religious community. But in your very first post, you made it all about the person and for whom try to live a life that Christ have taught through Christianity, it is about God, even though you assume He doesn't exist.

 

[gaara4158]

Do me a favor, when you are ever in need to search for God, read the New Testament, and when the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sins and realize that you have sinned before God, tell me if that satisfy you.

The reason why Christians have a sense of peace is that the burdens that we have is exchanged for the peace that is in Christ. That is a promised that is given when we come to Him. And I am not speaking about any other religion, I don't know every religion, I don't know every religions beliefs, and the heart and intent of the person following it but I know mine. You might think you have the reasons why we find God and you might think that you are giving us credit with your philosophies but you are not.

You're missing the larger picture; virtually all religions follow a certain pattern.

1. Before encountering the religion, you're lost and confused. You have questions that you don't know how to answer, and maybe you have some guilt that you can't get rid of.
2. The religion answers these questions and gives you closure for the guilt through step 3.
ex: Goddidit, Qetzalcoatl did it, Scientology did it, the stars are doing it, destiny is doing it
3. The religion tells you that you have to do something to attain an "ultimate reward"
ex: eightfold path, ritual suicide, ritual sacrifice, membership fee, tithes, confession, repentance, adherence to guidelines
4. You satisfy the requirements, "earn" the reward, and are completely satisifed. If not, go back to step 1.
ex: heaven, karma, enlightenment, 40 virgins, release from cycle of life

So no, religions aren't simple, blatant vices like drugs or a hobby, but they're vices just the same. Ever head "it gets worse before it gets better, but it does get better"? They're constructed with several steps instead of just one because it's easier to believe a complicated, self-incriminating lie than a simple, convenient one (like skipping straight from step 1 to 4).

I'm not saying religions aren't useful, as other atheists might. I'm just saying that just because they're useful, doesn't mean they're true.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

You're missing the larger picture; virtually all religions follow a certain pattern.

1. Before encountering the religion, you're lost and confused. You have questions that you don't know how to answer, and maybe you have some guilt that you can't get rid of.
2. The religion answers these questions and gives you closure for the guilt through step 3.
ex: Goddidit, Qetzalcoatl did it, Scientology did it, the stars are doing it, destiny is doing it
3. The religion tells you that you have to do something to attain an "ultimate reward"
ex: eightfold path, ritual suicide, ritual sacrifice, membership fee, tithes, confession, repentance, adherence to guidelines
4. You satisfy the requirements, "earn" the reward, and are completely satisifed. If not, go back to step 1.
ex: heaven, karma, enlightenment, 40 virgins, release from cycle of life

So, the religious faith is summed up in 4 easy steps, right?

1. Before encountering the religion, you're lost and confused. You have questions that you don't know how to answer, and maybe you have some guilt that you can't get rid of.​

Interesting, I wasn't looking for God, nor was I lost or confused when my friend brought me into the church. Picking up the bible and studying it got me to stick around.

2. The religion answers these questions and gives you closure for the guilt through step 3.
ex: Goddidit, Qetzalcoatl did it, Scientology did it, the stars are doing it, destiny is doing it​

I didn't have any questions I was thinking of at the time and so it didn't answer any of my lost and confused questions. Oh, but it did make me think and make me take a hard look at my life.

3. The religion tells you that you have to do something to attain an "ultimate reward"
ex: eightfold path, ritual suicide, ritual sacrifice, membership fee, tithes, confession, repentance, adherence to guidelines​

The world taught me that if I want to attain something, I must first do. If I want to be a CEO, I must work my way up. If I clean my room, my mother give me a reward. If I do great in school, I get a good grade, so why would I be surprised that God tells me that if I am baptized in Christ and follow His commandments, I will receive a crown of life? But more importantly, He promises me that He will always meet my needs, and you know what, He always have and He always will. But don't get it wrong about Christianity, they only thing we done for salvation is accept it, the one who did the work died on the Cross.

4. You satisfy the requirements, "earn" the reward, and are completely satisifed. If not, go back to step 1.
ex: heaven, karma, enlightenment, 40 virgins, release from cycle of life

My "requirement" is to follow God's commandments until I die. So, if I'm wrong there is no step 1 for me (unless Buddhism is true then I come back and try it all over again and figure out the truth).

I'm not saying religions aren't useful, as other atheists might. I'm just saying that just because they're useful, doesn't mean they're true.

One thing we will learn in this life time is that truth is truth regardless if we don't accept it. It doesn't stop being true because our beliefs are not that powerful. And I know what you are going to say, "it also means that if it os true that God doesn't exist then it will continue to be true even if you oppose it." I understand that. But the funny thing about God is, He is very good at showing Himself to those whom truly seek Him with their heart and soul.

 

[R3quiem]

You're missing the larger picture; virtually all religions follow a certain pattern.

1. Before encountering the religion, you're lost and confused. You have questions that you don't know how to answer, and maybe you have some guilt that you can't get rid of.
2. The religion answers these questions and gives you closure for the guilt through step 3.
ex: Goddidit, Qetzalcoatl did it, Scientology did it, the stars are doing it, destiny is doing it
3. The religion tells you that you have to do something to attain an "ultimate reward"
ex: eightfold path, ritual suicide, ritual sacrifice, membership fee, tithes, confession, repentance, adherence to guidelines
4. You satisfy the requirements, "earn" the reward, and are completely satisifed. If not, go back to step 1.
ex: heaven, karma, enlightenment, 40 virgins, release from cycle of life

So no, religions aren't simple, blatant vices like drugs or a hobby, but they're vices just the same. Ever head "it gets worse before it gets better, but it does get better"? They're constructed with several steps instead of just one because it's easier to believe a complicated, self-incriminating lie than a simple, convenient one (like skipping straight from step 1 to 4).

I'm not saying religions aren't useful, as other atheists might. I'm just saying that just because they're useful, doesn't mean they're true.

I think that model sums up Christianity well, but I don't think it is very applicable to other religions. Guilt is a large factor in Christianity because of original sin and the suffering of Jesus, but not in other religions as I am aware.

 

[gaara4158]

I think that model sums up Christianity well, but I don't think it is very applicable to other religions. Guilt is a large factor in Christianity because of original sin and the suffering of Jesus, but not in other religions as I am aware.

Well, I did only say "maybe" about the guilt, but my examples came from buddhism, hinduism, and others as well as Christianity. Guilt isn't really as big a factor in the other religions, but fulfilling requirements to achieve the ultimate reward is a pretty consistent theme.

 

[Infernalfist]

i think religions can be good for alot of people, but i feel that they are a bandaid fix. the vast majority of people will not continue to improve themselves if there appears to be a set standard. they will always get to where they feel that they are comfortable and stay there, never improving beyond that point. religion brought me to a great place in my mind, but even in my active involvement in the church, knew that i and everyone around me could achieve much more. the neverending persuit of knowledge and happyness can't be solved with several books that claim to have all the answers. even if they did, it would still continue to lead to the path of lazyness just because of the fact that if people were given all the answers there would be no need to pursue them.