I'd like to start with something personal.

[Livingstone Smith]

Why do I believe in God? Well, because He's made Himself real to me. I fellowship with Him every day. Also, there is an excellent body of historical, philosophical and even scientific evidence upon which to further rest my belief in God.

Why do you ask?

Peace.

What is this scientific evidence you speak of?

 

[aiki]

What is this scientific evidence you speak of?

The same scientific evidence you might speak of -- just interpreted with a different set of presuppositions.

Peace.

 

[Livingstone Smith]

The same scientific evidence you might speak of -- just interpreted with a different set of presuppositions.

Peace.

Such as?

 

[Standing Up]

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Read the bible.

So it only comes from reading the bible?

No. Peter first preached Christ crucifed and Jews began beleiving. Peter then preached Christ crucified and Gentiles began believing.

So, I can tell you about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and you'll either believe or argue. I'd guess the latter. Forgive me if I'm wrong. Otherwise, read the bible.

 

[aiki]

Such as?

It is unclear to me to what you are referring here...

Peace.

 

[98cwitr]

see sig

 

[brinny]

Livingstone Smith, please respond to post #13.

Thank you.

 

[seashale76]

There was something missing in my life and I was desperately hoping it wasn't the Christian God because I was through with all of that, in my mind. I attempted to look into various belief systems to see if I could find 'the truth' and only found it when I walked into an Orthodox Church for Divine Liturgy one Sunday.

How does one explain to someone else about experiencing the presence of God? All I knew was that it wasn't simply my own emotions wreaking havoc with me- some things come from outside of ourselves- and people who know themselves well can discern this difference. (I was raised Pentecostal and I am rather immune to situations designed to manipulate emotions.) It was like being confronted with all of the answers to my questions after my long search. I knew I had to convert. God was there. Christ is in the Eucharist- which is something I had difficulty accepting as I was raised to accept a very different thing as being the truth- but have certainly experienced beyond a doubt since my Chrismation. Can I prove this to you? No. Were our personal experiences enough to prove it to me and my husband? Yes.

I came and saw and became a believer. I personally need the Church. I can't go it alone. I need the liturgy, I need the Eucharist, I need the prayers of the Church, and I especially need all of the sacraments of Christ's Holy Church . I need to go the hospital for what ails me; the ark of our salvation. I need the medicine of immortality.

IF you wish to save your soul and win eternal life, arise from your lethargy, make the sign of the Cross and say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Faith comes not through pondering but through action. Not words and speculation but experience teaches us what God is. To let in fresh air we have to open a window; to get tanned we must go out into the sunshine. Achieving faith is no different; we never reach a goal by just sitting in comfort and waiting, say the holy Fathers. Let the Prodigal Son be our example. He arose and came (Luke 15:20). ~Tito Colliander~ The Way of the Ascetics