Why can't i believe in a superior being without religion?

[ReformedChapin]

I'll tell you why I'm a Christian. Lucky you have a diest world view atleast it seems like it so I don't have to talk about the existence of God. But Christianity is the best philosophically and scientifically supported religion. No other religion has been proven more accurate by archeology than Christianity. And if you want to know more about Christian intellectuals I suggest you pick up books of William Lane Craig, Francis Shaeffer, CS LEWIS and JP Moreland.

 

[heron]

Well, actually there are many reports of Muslims seeing Jesus in their dreams these days! And throughout history, there have been visions and angel visitations in remote tribes, shortly before missionaries arrived, letting the people know that it was safe to listen to them.

Keep looking for stories... you will find them.

If you can imagine a supreme being out there, think about why s/he would refuse to connect with people... why people would be unable to sense his presence.

I know some very devoted believers who do not feel and hear God like others describe. They have a quiet trust. I think that since we are all different, and our brains and senses operate differently, we can't expect a homogenous experience with God.

When you see psychics operate, do you think they are complete hoaxes, or that they are getting information from a source? When you think of people performing magic, do you think they are doing it all under their control, or get power from invisible entities?

I know it's weird to think about, but the supernatural realm is a lot more recognized than we automatically remember. People all over the world connect with spiritual forces...destructive and benevolent.

 

[Jmichael]

Lets just say christianity is the right religion i still can't be christian because i disagree with a lot of things about this religion i don't like the fact that your expected to stop living a worldly life and be christian is it even possible to stop living a worldly life? and i resent the fact that im supposedly going to hell because i disagree with this religion. And back when i wanted to be christian i can remember i felt like god didn't understand that all of us are just imperfect and that just made me angry and thats just one of the reasons why i was driven away from christianity

 

[Lisa0315]

Lets just say christianity is the right religion i still can't be christian because i disagree with a lot of things about this religion i don't like the fact that your expected to stop living a worldly life and be christian is it even possible to stop living a worldly life? and i resent the fact that im supposedly going to hell because i disagree with this religion. And back when i wanted to be christian i can remember i felt like god didn't understand that all of us are just imperfect and that just made me angry and thats just one of the reasons why i was driven away from christianity

God does understand that we are all imperfect. That is WHY He sent Christ. That is the whole reason in a nutshell. He made salvation EASY.

Tell me where you got your concept of Christianity. It sounds as if you attended church but heard an imperfect message.

Please understand. I do get where you are coming from, but that voice that is telling you that it is impossible to live a Christian life is the same voice that told me exactly the same thing. I am here as a witness and a testimony that the most vile people on earth can change and can live a life pleasing to God through Christ Jesus.

Salvation is freedom. It is not bondage. You are in bondage right now and your keeper is telling you all the reasons why you cannot be free, but it is a lie.

Lisa

 

[cutie76]

"Why not just drop christianity and conisder the fact that there is a god we just dont know him?"

That is your question, right?


As for me, that will not happen.

Philippians 1:21
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."


This is Christ:

John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

When one knows Christ, they know God. If one does not know Christ, how can one know God?

I know Christ and therefore I know God. To deny that fact is a lie.

 

[childofGod31]

Jmichael,

Christianity is not a "religion" per say. It's simply - a Creator of this earth, A God, a Higher Power, revealing Himself to humans and communicating with them.

(Of course, New Age followers also communicate with a higher power, except that power is called a Satan. But they don't know it, because Satan masquerades as an angel of light)

I can feel that you are angry at God for not revealling himself to you even though you tried to get in touch with Him.

I've been angry at God too sometimes, so I can almost tell what you are feeling (but not quite).

I have a feeling that you are saying that God isn't there (not because you REALLY REALLY don't believe it) but because you can't find Him. I've done something like this too before. I told myself I didn't believe something because I didn't want to dissapoint myself...

Imagine, God is a parent, and you are a child, throwing a tantrum and stomping your feet and telling God that he is unfair (like most children tell their parents) That's how I felt sometimes, like I was throwing a tantrum because I didn't have enough humility and patience to wait for God to answer my prayer. I found out that it hurt only me. I had to bite the bullet and then my relationship was restored and all was well again.

Unfortunately, you can't just make a decision to become a Christian (whenever you want to.) God has to touch your heart FIRST. THEN, you will understand it all. So I hope you will not harden your heart, but humble yourself before the Lord (or before the Higher Power as you call it) and wait. Sometimes it takes many years before God reveals himself to a seeker. I don't know why. But He is Creator. He must have a reason.

(And don't bother telling me that you don't care. I won't believe it.)

 

[MethodMan]

I use to want to be christian but after a lot of hard thinking i relised christianity aint for me. I already know the christian god does not exist but i do believe there is a superior being.

What makes you believe that?

Christians believe their relgion is the right one but they don't support their relgion with intellect and insight.

That is a false statement. A close freind of mine was a top NASA Scientist and I am an engineer. Some might not be good at articulating a thought, but on the other hand, the people they are talking to have just as much trouble with the truth.

I can ask an average christian why they believe and they will say nothing more then "because i can feel it in my heart" thats a lame excuse.

Are you certain you didn't misunderstand what they were saying?

The truth is christians don't know for sure if their religion is the right one and their to scared to admit it.

That is not really the truth at all. All Christians know that Christ is the Way, The Truth and The Light.

Why not just drop christianity and conisder the fact that there is a god we just dont know him?

Why don't you drop your so-called supreme being?

See, 2 can play that game.

If you want to know why the God that I know, love and trust is the only God, I would be happy to share that with you.

 

[Deren]

I use to want to be christian but after a lot of hard thinking i relised christianity aint for me.

And you used to be a son of your parents until after a lot of hard think, you decided that wasn't for you either, right? The point is, being born of God is not a matter of "hard thinking;" it's a matter of God moving in your life to make you what He wants you to be, not what you "realize" for yourself, simply because it's not for you.

I already know the christian god does not exist but i do believe there is a superior being.

And you just happen to be that "superior being," right? For in order to reject the reality of God requires that you know more about reality, infinitely, omnipotently, omnisciently, omnidimensionally and omnipresently than even God would. If that's what you're saying, that's might haughty of you, and you might want to look into getting serious psychological help. If that's not what you're saying, then how can you sit there being so sure of yourself that God doesn't exist? Could it be that your concept of God is so teenie, tiny that the only way you could be sure anything is if you have him tucked away in a shoebox somewhere, thereby once again, making yourself a god?

Christians believe their relgion is the right one but they don't support their relgion with intellect and insight.

Well, hopefully you'll have the "intellect and insight" to answer my questions above. Because if you don't, then what were you saying about support?

I can ask an average christian why they believe and they will say nothing more then "because i can feel it in my heart" thats a lame excuse.

I can assure you, I'm not your average Christian, and I don't believe that Christianity is true for simply subjective and emotively driven reasons.

The truth is christians don't know for sure if their religion is the right one and their to scared to admit it.

Quite to the contrary. I know it's the only way to God for a whole host of reasons, and I'm not afraid whatsoever to let you know about them. We can start with the above line of questioning, since you seem to have set yourself up as this "superior being" that you've allude to.

Why not just drop christianity and conisder the fact that there is a god we just dont know him?

Because that's the coward's way out, which is what you're alluding to above. And you wouldn't want to be a hypocrite about all of this, would you?

The fact is, there is a God, He has made Himself known in a variety of ways, and only those who are haughty in mind and "intellect" refuse to acknowledge it. If you disagree, then once again, answer my supposedly non-intellectual, touchy-feely questions above, and we'll go from there.

 

[Jmichael]

Christians insist that everything had to have a first cause, and that cause was God. Well if everything had to have a first cause, then where did God come from? If the universe needed a cause, why doesn't God need a cause? Christians claim that God is eternal and didn't need a creator. It's just as easy to say that the universe is eternal and didn't need a creator.

 

[MelissaShae]

It's just as easy to say that the universe is eternal and didn't need a creator.

Where is the proof to back up this statement?

The bible provides the proof we have for knowing that God is everything and created everything so we don't have to prove his existance, it is a matter of having faith in Him to show you that existance.

 

[Jmichael]

I can even find some flaws in the judeo god. How can god be perfect and flawless if many of the things he created are imperfect. How can perfection create imperfection. If god made man to be perfect then how did we ever succumb to sin? Also when babies are born with birth defects(siamese twins for example) man will step into to repair the damage as best as they can.

 

[ReformedChapin]

I can even find some flaws in the judeo god. How can god be perfect and flawless if many of the things he created are imperfect. How can perfection create imperfection. If god made man to be perfect then how did we ever succumb to sin? Also when babies are born with birth defects(siamese twins for example) man will step into to repair the damage as best as they can.

Can you please explain the logical flaw. I don't see how a perfect being in the essence of perfect meaning his will is defined as perfection he creates something with will that goes out of perfection (out of his will). You must DEFINE perfection first.

And babies being flawed is a byproduct of sin. You must critically think about your arguments first before you present your thesis.

 

[heron]

Babies being flawed can also be a result of environmental chemicals and drugs we put up with until something bad happens. The wake-up call is upsetting, but people still don't change what they are able to change.

 

[ReformedChapin]

Babies being flawed can also be a result of environmental chemicals and drugs we put up with until something bad happens. The wake-up call is upsetting, but people still don't change what they are able to change.

Which occurs because sin entered the world. If we were in the state of perfection before the fall we might still have chemicals and drugs but they would not affect us in the same way. Or we might have no use for them whats so ever.

 

[Deren]

Christians insist that everything had to have a first cause, and that cause was God. Well if everything had to have a first cause, then where did God come from?

Your question is flawed from the start, for it assumes that just because there is a first cause for everything, that God must have a first cause as well. Well, if God is the first cause, then there cannot be another first cause before him. Hence, God is not caused at all, but exists in and of himself without cause.

If the universe needed a cause, why doesn't God need a cause?

Again, because he is self-existent in himself and needs nothing to exist apart from himself.

Christians claim that God is eternal and didn't need a creator. It's just as easy to say that the universe is eternal and didn't need a creator.

Incorrect. For even secular science has come to the conclusion with the discovery of things like red shifts that the universe had a beginning. And if it had a beginning, then it cannot be eternal. And if it is not eternal, then it was either caused, or not caused. And given the observable design in the universe, it is extremely implausible to suggest that there was no designer. Then it becomes a theological/philosophical question of just who the Designer was. So, while you may think that it is just as easy or simply to postulate an eternal universe, when thought is given to recent discoveries, coupled with the implausibility of an eternal universe, the ease at postulating almost immediately crumbles into nonsensical denial.

 

[Deren]

I can even find some flaws in the judeo god. How can god be perfect and flawless if many of the things he created are imperfect. How can perfection create imperfection.

But, your argument fails to include what that creation did to make itself imperfect, and instead shifts the blame to God who initially created all things "very good." Why the failure?

If god made man to be perfect then how did we ever succumb to sin?

Man was only as "perfect" as his will would allow him to be. For as soon as he exercised his will to rebel against God, his temporary perfection went by the wayside.

Also when babies are born with birth defects(siamese twins for example) man will step into to repair the damage as best as they can.

So? That has nothing to do with your initial argument, which accuses God of some kind of flaw. Birth defects are a direct result of the curse of sin that was brought on when Adam decided to rebel against God.