Why do you believe in God?

[Nails74]

For those of you who look at the Earth and see evidence of design, remember that most of what you see has come about over millions of years of changing landscape and evolution. Why does the Universe exist? If God was only going to create life on one planet, why make all the other useless stars and planets that will never be capable of supporting life? Think about how alone we are in the Universe, how many billions upon billions of galaxies surround us for millions of light years in every direction but not a trace of life? Why would God create that? Surely it's easier to believe that we came about by astronomically unlikely chance?

Though I cannot answer for God about why He created (it was, in fact, His sovereign good pleasure) I can tell you that your presuppositions about God are causing you to interpret the evidence differently than a Christian.

If we came about by astronomically unlikely chance, then why would you even be asking such questions?

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

So why refer to this ''thing'' as a he? If he wants me to accept and love ''him'' then why do I have so many options? After years of searching I see no proof of an existence of a ''god'' so why should I believe? Surely he should speak to me directly.

I think God is genderless, we refer to him as "he" because that's generally how we refer to things in the human language. Its just a language concept. Referring to God as an "it" depersonalizes him. So you either call him an "it" and depersonalize him or you call him a "he" because of the way our language is structured. Or you can call him a "he/she" but that's simply inconvenient and not natural to the way we speak.

There are also a lot of good metaphors that come about by using the Father/Child descriptors. We could use "Mother/Child" descriptors but the Father/Child is just a cultural and historical trend. I see no problem with it as long as people recognize that men and women should be equal and are equal in God's eyes.

With regards to the OP:

I believe in God because there is something within me that points to something beyond mere materialism and naturalism. There are moments in life which seem to transcend my normally logically- and rationally-oriented brain. There seem to be facets of the human experience which aren't captured well enough by cold, objective analysis. And even if someone were studying my experience objectively in a scientific setting, I still don't think that objective analysis really "gets" the subjective human experience. Even if you give it labels and subject it to rigorous psychological and neurological analysis, the scientific method still doesn't "get it". That is where my most basic notion of God and the supernatural comes from.

But I recognize that that description is quite vague. Moving beyond that, I do think there are some inherent problems with the philosophical basis of atheism.

1) The way math works in such a way that complex phenomena can be generalized into concise, elegant formulas (Rydberg Equation, Newton's Laws of Gravity, E=mc^2, Snell's Law etc, etc). If the universe were produced from some random, unintelligent sequence of events, I don't see how order can come from chaos. It seems that if the universe were a truly random, stochastically-created system, there is no reason why a perfect 5th harmony is in precisely a 3:2 ratio such that it is perceived to sound consonant to the human ears. It is little "perfections" like this in the world around us that point to intelligent design in my opinion.

2) Morality. We all seem to have an intuitive sense of right and wrong from a young age. We also are naturally inclined to believe that the world is imperfect. What the world ought to be is not what it is. This sense of "ought-ness" is something that I don't see coming out of random evolutionary processes. Furthermore, we all have a sense of right and wrong and live as if that moral system is objective. Functionally, morality is objective no matter who you talk to. But even if we have a defined moral outlook, we still fail at complying with that moral code. We lack self-control, we lack commitment, we lack conviction, we lack...something. And I think this is highlighted in the Christian myth of the Fall and it speaks to our inability to commune properly with the divine and live as we "ought" to live.

3) The natural development of life with no outside influence still gets me. I've taken university level biology and my girlfriend (soon to be fiancee ) is in her first year of medical school. The more I learn about the biological systems from her or my own reading the more I am baffled by its complexity. To me, it takes more faith to assume it came about on its own than to assume it was intelligently designed. I often use the analogy of the wrist watch which I'll summarize here:

Lets say we sent astronauts to Mars and there they found a wristwatch or some other complicated non-organic object. I think everyone would assume such a watch was intelligently designed despite it being orders of magnitude less complex than even the most simple bacteria. So, ironically, astronauts would have to find something as complex, or more complex, than organic life on Earth to conclude it was created naturally and yet if they found something orders of magnitude less complex than life they would inevitably conclude that it was intelligently designed. (Perhaps the watch was formed via some natural process and we have not yet figured out such a process, but the process would have to be very complex and life is orders of magnitude more complex...)

Keep in mind I believe in evolution (changing gene frequency within a population) and speciation (when one population can no longer breed with another population) but I don't know if you can ever prove that the process is fully natural. Natural selection is very different than evolution in my opinion. Evolution is an observation, natural selection suggests a cause.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[ephraimanesti]

So why refer to this ''thing'' as a he? If he wants me to accept and love ''him'' then why do I have so many options? After years of searching I see no proof of an existence of a ''god'' so why should I believe? Surely he should speak to me directly.

MY FRIEND,

To avoid hypocrisy, you might want to remove that Cross icon--it signifies a Christian.

ephraim

 

[Girder of Loins]

Why are we getting caught up on the gender of God? I don't think God has a gender. "He" is merely a term used to personify God, nothing more. It can be "She" or "It" if it makes you feel better, I just don't know why it would...

Anywho, I believe in God due to my life experiences. I have seen far too many "coincidences" in my time.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

I believe in God because of the experiences I have had with God. He has performed many signs in my life go to Know God Personally to read about them. I have also put one experience here for you to read about.

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice that I believed was God say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was known as the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

 

[Joshua260]

If God was only going to create life on one planet, why make all the other useless stars and planets that will never be capable of supporting life? Think about how alone we are in the Universe, how many billions upon billions of galaxies surround us for millions of light years in every direction but not a trace of life? Why would God create that? Surely it's easier to believe that we came about by astronomically unlikely chance?

This is a common point of confusion for those who choose not to believe in the Christian God. The bible does not ignore this question, but addresses it head on.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalms 8:3-9 (KJV)

Don't be fooled into thinking that we are insignificant in this universe. The bible clearly teaches that we are the "crown" of God's creation!

 

[ViaCrucis]

So why refer to this ''thing'' as a he? If he wants me to accept and love ''him'' then why do I have so many options? After years of searching I see no proof of an existence of a ''god'' so why should I believe? Surely he should speak to me directly.

Masculine pronouns are a matter of tradition and linguistic convenience mostly. The Abrahamic religions were birthed in male-dominant cultures, however Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Bahai all concur that the Deity is genderless. The Bible often uses feminine language in reference to God, likewise Christianity has a long tradition of feminine theological language in reference to God.

In an alternate reality we'd likely be speaking of the Trinity as Mother, Daughter, and Holy Spirit. The Incarnate Logos would have been a woman, we'd be praying the Mater Noster.

The figure of Holy Wisdom mentioned in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament has long been believed by Christian theologians to be in reference to Christ, whom St. Paul calls the "Power and Wisdom of God". Wisdom is consistently spoken of as feminine in Scripture. The ancient church, Hagia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom") is so-named because it is dedicated to Jesus Christ, who is the Holy Wisdom of God: Naos tes Hagias tou Theou Sophias ("Shrine of the Holy Wisdom of God").

-CryptoLutheran

 

[kbee125]

I look at the complexity of the world around me and see the hand of a creator everywhere. To me with the things I interact with everyday made by man, how could something like the universe just happened?

This.

 

[gypsygirl]

Voice of Fate,
I chose to reject agnosticism after many years and believe in a personal creator God because I was simply desperate for help. My misery and emptiness forced me to consider the notion of the Christian God. Ultimately, I chose to embrace full belief and continue in that faith through accepting Christ because, quite frankly, the hopelessness, guilt, and shame got really, really old. Once I started owning up to my sinful behavior and nature before God, then reaping the liberating reward of joy and wholeness, why would I choose the burden of a guilty conscience?

 

[Stephen Kendall]

Why do I believe in God? I need him. When my life was all screwed up and I did things that I deeply regretted, I had no answers or no where to go. I always believed in his existence, but wanted not to be controlled. I wanted to do whatever pleased me. Sin and shamefulness took over me. I had lost my morals and seemed controlled but ungodly lusts and ugliness. When you go off the deep end, because you believed that somehow you could control things and yourself, yet you were infected and damaged goods, something had gone wrong coming up from childhood. When my Ex left me many years later after my initial healing, I found that I wanted Christ more than ever. Is it hurts that brings us closer to Him? God has helped heal me and restore me, so that I am a normal caring human being. I know at 60 year olds that death is close by and that you can not be complacent about life, be on your guard.

I came here to help others in their search of God & Christ. I began to read about everything Christian to know how I believed. I don't want to die and not have tried to help others with their faiths or to develop it. I discovered somethings about myself, when I discovered things about Christianity. I must have asked God a lot of very bold questions. I have formed a belief in things uniquely different than the main bodies of Christians. That is ok. Being different is quite normal for me. I have found persecutions towards me here on Christian Forums because I question Christendom's formation which is the basis of this website. It seems that the rules governing how Christians talk here keep us from questioning what we are suppose to accept period.

I have resolved to just live the way that Christ has asked us and simply turn away from what I don't believe in, not to discuss it. There is one thing that is true within Christians and that is there is no freedom of speech. God knows our relationships with him, we don't need to worry about the vast majority's beliefs or the 33,000 and growing denomination's and their also.

I was asked about Trinity, one time on a mission trip by a new convert & his family. I didn't really know or have an answer. When I came home and spending months of research into it, I know what I believe and would have an answer for anyone who asked me. However, I can not speak here or I will again be reprimanded or banned. I now try to tell people the best thing for them to do is follow Jesus and leave it at that. The modern world churches (opposed to the earliest churches) are really not the ones to follow or believe in. You have a personal relationship with Jesus and follow him. You will grow and develop much on your own with the Holy Spirit as your helper and guide. Better get started right away. Let the churches have their four walls including the four that govern here on this website, you will have your personal relationship with your Father and a wonderful full life in actually believing, obeying and following Jesus Christ, His son.

Let's suppose, a new convert were to ask me about Trinity now. A simple answer, to not step on toes (there are many out there to hit), hold on to Jesus and your Father with all that you have and definitely seek to please them. Forget the added burdens on your faith, of Trinity theology or others. It sure seems that I will eventually get banned on Christianforums. And I seem to say so little, but even one word against the idols of Christendom is too much.

I will leave Christianforums for awhile. I don't seem to fit in. There are questions that I asked God and received his answers. I can not share them here, because I am a heretic in this modern day world of faith. Does anyone question things anymore, does anyone have the courage to? The Greeks in the NT questioned everything and God thought well of them? There is harm in the church today, as a stumbling block to believers. They can survive with these stumbling blocks, as the early believers did with theirs, but outsiders get confused and distressed with the faith, so they don't understand or join. I try to bring people to Jesus alone. To be found believing him, obeying him and following him as he is God's son, is to be found faithful & worthy servant of God's. I want people to make it. I want outsiders looking in to see just Jesus, the living son of God. I want the confusion disease to cease. There is enough room in our minds and days to be in awe of God and allow for a few mysteries to remain until we see Him. Be found following his son, not toting around the baggage of blood stained Christendom. The closer you get to Jesus, the closer you get to his Dad and yours.

I might be silenced and will here, but I only dream of a direct unhindered route to God through Jesus, his son. A most wonderful thing indeed. When will people finally return to the awesomeness and mystery of our Father by first and only coming to him by his beloved son, Jesus Christ. When I pray to God, I speak to Jesus' Father and I pray that he is mine own Father as well. I have no trouble in my heart to accept Jesus and our Father in Heaven in the idea of Father and son. I love that idea. I wouldn't want to change a thing. I accept the mysteries and awesomeness of Jesus' words and his closeness to his Dad. Why do people constantly try to silence those who don't accept their coerced dominating beliefs? What terrible sin am I committing to accept just the way it was written and no more (God's warning: add nothing to scripture or be curse!). The Bible warns me not to add anything to scripture. Since when is derived theology from scripture scripture itself. I call a spade a spade. Leave the Bible alone and let people be saved by the scripture (Words of Jesus) and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Since I will most certainly be banned on Christianforums for this post, I might as well be a full heretic here and speak to the few that might glance at this post before it with me are burned at the stake (again). After posting this post, I will politely leave Christianforums for a long time. I may return in the future to see if I was burned at the stake or not.

You don't need to debate things to follow Jesus thus his Father's will. I never intended to. I just see outsiders looking in and realizing that they just don't fit and don't know that they can believe all that they are suppose to (like Trinity, the terrible Christian Histories that the churches possess, huge divides between Christians and down right hatred towards each other). It seems like a paradox to be Christian and to obey and follow Christ. It shouldn't be that way. If I ever help someone today to become a Christian, it would be a real pleasure and quite simple. I know the answers and can lay down the most perfect foundation for them (the Rock, Jesus). I really don't know why Christians hang on to things like man-made summaries (might as well be scared idols for that matter) and why not to be more child like and fixated on Jesus' example and teachings and let there be room to be awed by the workings of God. I don't have any idols (no Crosses, theological sticking points or what have you). I am finding that I really do need to leave Christianforums. Here, I am a heretic and will be and have been silenced. Like I have in the past, I will copy this post to save it, for it will be burned at their stake here, for sure. I am sorry to leave on such grounds, it just seems like I can not help the ones that are seeking Jesus here. What I give to them is always insufficient by Christianforums standards (must have Trinity and etc.; they seem to say that just obeying and following Jesus doesn't save anymore. I differ with them. Ones searching for God must not be confused and must have Jesus alone and all of his etc. period.

I have enjoyed posting here over the years. I know that God has used me to help others, but Christianforums is not a person, it is just a thing. I know why we have so many church problems & denominations. I had asked God these and many other questions. With his help, I believe that I have found my answers. Dare to ask him questions and be sincere, he will help you to know the answers and the truth about things. You will also get to be a heretic like me. Remember, Jesus and many disciples were thought of as blasphemers (heretics).

Don't accept unity at any price. Seek the truth as the Greeks did and you will be found seeking Jesus Christ.

Well, I will keep my own personal copy of this will be silenced post. Maybe, I should start a website, a collection of silenced posts. Have a good lifetime, I hope praying, listening to, and obeying our Lord and savior alone, Lord Jesus Christ. May our Father in Heaven bless and keep you always.

PS The reason that things like Trinity should be abandoned isn't just the blood stained history that it has, but that it has burdened the Gospel of Christ by allowing for divisions, causing confusion for just about everyone (inside and outside of the church), contaminated Christianity with its idolatry like influences and steps out of line to our calling and the teachings from Christ. We were meant to be followers of Christ alone and to discern and check everything out. That isn't allowed here in Christianforums. At least now, I can help spread the Gospel only as it was written, nothing of man's way or thinking.

Sorry to get a little loud at times. I never meant to hurt people. I am not really welcomed here or am I accepted as brethren, just because my faith rest not in man, but in a very personal relationship with our Father and in Jesus Christ, his son and my Lord.

You would be surprised at how many people are turned off by our man-made summaries (theologies) and blood stain past (Christian's hatred for one another). To not follow Christ, by accepting something outside of his Gospel (added to) only burdens the Church. Nothing trumps the Word, especially man's theologies. Have a good day.

 

[Nails74]

Now that was a rant!
Too bad he won't stick around to answer any objections.

 

[TheVoiceOfFate]

What you all seem to be saying is that you didn't believe in God, until you reached a low point in your life and then you had to 'turn to him'. Have you ever wondered that maybe we created the idea of a deity and afterlife because we were afraid of there simply being nothing, and no one to help us when we are at such a point in our lives?

 

[elman]

What you all seem to be saying is that you didn't believe in God, until you reached a low point in your life and then you had to 'turn to him'. Have you ever wondered that maybe we created the idea of a deity and afterlife because we were afraid of there simply being nothing, and no one to help us when we are at such a point in our lives?

I have thought of that. I do not find it reasonable to assume that.

 

[gypsygirl]

What you all seem to be saying is that you didn't believe in God, until you reached a low point in your life and then you had to 'turn to him'. Have you ever wondered that maybe we created the idea of a deity and afterlife because we were afraid of there simply being nothing, and no one to help us when we are at such a point in our lives?

My take is that often it takes desperation for a hardened and stubborn person to be broken of enough of their pride to consider the notion that they cannot justify themselves before a holy Creator. Let's face it - the Gospel message is an offense and often we run away from God for years until we're forced to admit that we're accountable to Him, and that we can't continue to excuse ourselves (I know this was true for me). Unless you're broken, why would you read passages in the Bible such as "the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Not exactly a feel good message but a true statement, nonetheless.

 

[Nails74]

We believe in God because we cannot escape reality, which is all around us...deep down, everyone knows that God exists.

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. [Romans 1:18-23]

 

[food4thought]

What you all seem to be saying is that you didn't believe in God, until you reached a low point in your life and then you had to 'turn to him'. Have you ever wondered that maybe we created the idea of a deity and afterlife because we were afraid of there simply being nothing, and no one to help us when we are at such a point in our lives?

I know my imagination, what it is capable of and not capable of, pretty well. What I have experienced since accepting Jesus is simply beyond me. I can understand how you might think that way, as I was an agnostic for most of my life; but the simple fact is that once you accept God as a reality and Jesus as your Savior, given a little time and some faithfulness by you, you will experience things that you will KNOW came from someOne beyond you, beyond the natural world.

I was lucky, I didn't read all the arguments against faith before I became a believer, so I didn't have all that stuff standing in the way of that first step of faith... I have since heard of or read many of the reasons people disbelieve, and admit that some of them would be very compelling... except for the fact that I have experienced God for myself and no longer have the capacity to disbelieve. I may doubt His goodness or His faithfulness in weak moments, I may even have passing thoughts about His nonexistence, but for me it would take an even greater FAITH to not believe in Him than it took me to actually believe in Him to begin with.