Why believe in what cannot be proven?

[ebia]

ebia maybe your right, I am soooo confused and angry right now. Ive heard all these horrible things about hell and such and I know my dad died an atheist and I want to uphold what he taught me. I cant imagine the thought of him suffering forever. I know this isnt part of our talk but it makes me sad and mad to think that he is never going to get relief. He was such a nice and loving father too.

I can't square a loving, just, merciful, God with everylasting torment either. Fortunately the bible is adamant that God is loving, just and merciful, and pretty ambigous about exactly what will happen to those who do not or cannot confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

[Katie7725]

wow matt you feel the same way i do. I was brought up in an atheist home and I cant imagine my deceased family suffering forever. Spoken from the heart bud.

 

[wmc1982]

wow matt you feel the same way i do. I was brought up in an atheist home and I cant imagine my deceased family suffering forever. Spoken from the heart bud.

But do these feelings cause you to be against God, or actually cause proof that He doesn't exist?

 

[Katie7725]

It makes me want to prove his nonexistence because if he doesn't exist than hell doesn't exist

 

[wmc1982]

It makes me want to prove his nonexistence because if he doesn't exist than hell doesn't exist

That is one of the most honest statements I have read in a long time.

I know how you feel. Most of my family aren't Christians.

 

[MLH1986]

I like the Orthodox branch the most they seem like the most authentic and their theology on heaven and hell isnt so black and white and cruel. I am going to seriously join an Orthodox Church because you two have deff stumped me, I cant deny it you won the aurgument with me. Maybe I can find something to give my restless mind peace. I dont know about katie but I am tired and I am putting up the white flag. Oh and the law that I was speaking of was the law of conservation. So I was right about one thing. goodnight guys. Have fun Katie!

 

[Katie7725]

how do cope with it? I want to know the truth but if it means people are suffering I cant handle it, it makes me too sad. My daddy is suffering forever and I cant do anything to help him.

 

[ebia]

I like the Orthodox branch the most they seem like the most authentic and their theology on heaven and hell isnt so black and white and cruel. I am going to seriously join an Orthodox Church because you two have deff stumped me, I cant deny it you won the aurgument with me.

Many of us Anglicans are heavily influenced by Othodox thinking on that stuff. If Orthodox worship doesn't work out, you could do worse than try Anglican (Episcopalian).

goodnight guys.

Take care.

 

[TwilightSol]

Some of they missionarys who follow God with their whole hearat is because hes shown them that they're not alone. How can we explain in words the wonders God has done in our live? One of our missionaries in Brazil came back with quite a story.
see they were preaching in a nearby town and a man with a car with you know the sound system and speaker was drownding out their words and telling lies and telling the people not to listen to the missionaries. well the missionaries(trying not to use names) sat down in a big circle and prayed to God. many people have said the same thing that at that moment a bolt of lightning hit the car. I cannot prove this to you because its not something I put in detail enough because you might think I'm making it up but im not. like it says in the Bible (somewhere i know the book started with a J!!!!!) it says "He will talk about all he has seen and heard but no one will listen to his testimony." or something along that line of writing....

 

[calidog]

Jer 26:3 It may be that they will give ear, and that every man will be turned from his evil way, so that my purpose of sending evil on them because of the evil of their doings may be changed.

 

[DA2007]

Ok, I'll bite.

I believe in religion because of Jesus. He performed tons of miracles in front of hundreds or in some cases thousands of witnesses.

More importantly, He made so much sense. All of His teachings are still 100% applicable today- unlike the scriptures of most other religions, or even the old testament. His parables still make perfect sense even 2000 years after they have been said. He was incredibly wise and pretty consistent with His teachings. Also, unlike other religious leaders who come to be served, Jesus made it clear that he wanted to serve us, and was not above getting down and dirty. He had few posessions, washed people's feet, and eventually suffered and died all for us.

Don't misunderstand me. I don't "blindly follow stories". I believe in learning and figuring out for yourself what is right; I believe in science. I was an agnostic for a while, and researched many of the world's major religions. I was born a Christian, left for a while, then came back with more faith than I had before.

You ask, "Why believe in what cannot be proven?".

Why do you reject something because you haven't had a lot of contact with it? How can you be sure there is no God, when you've only lived in an infinitely small part of existence?

I lived for several years as a christian, and not once did I see, even then, evidence of a miracle that could not be explained some other way. Faith that something is a miracle is not proof. Proof is proof.

 

[bornagain01]

Pastafarian.. God gives us all "free will." If God made his presence an undeniable fact (proof) again our "free will" would be taken away. God wants all of us to come to him because WE want to,while at the same time letting us know that to be his child demands that we stop behaving like beasts and behave like Jesus. God "rewards" our trust in him with enough convincing signs to help us believe without forcing us.

 

[Nienor]

Closed for staff review