Why do you believe?

[iitb]

I think everyone has doubts from time to time. My reoccurring doubt; Do I believe in G-d simply because the thought of death being the end of my existence scares me to no end? Most of the time I'm sure there's much more to my belief than that, but occasionally...

Anyway, I'm curious as to why you all believe. In addition, what nagging doubts do you have?

 

[Henaynei]

Man, threaten this fellow with marriage and he takes a dive into the DEEP end!!!

 

[simchat_torah]

Roflol!!!!

 

[iitb]

I see the serious tone of my thread didn't make it past the OP.

 

[Talmidah]

I see the serious tone of my thread didn't make it past the OP.

Actually, I had a response all typed up. But, thinking it over, I realized that it didn't belong in this forum so I closed it. (After all, I don't want to get myself banned )

 

[simchat_torah]

I too have tried to answer about 6 times....

 

[Talmidah]

I too have tried to answer about 6 times....

I don't think there is any cut-and-dried way to answer this question.

 

[Henaynei]

I know today, and I pretty much knew "then" - that if I did not choose G-d's way that I would soon be dead, and perhaps my son too..... it is not that He threatened or coersed me in any way.... no more than the man in the lifeboat throwing me a rescue ring in high seas - it was that I began to see clearly what the paths were and where my choices were leading me..... in THIS life, never mind the next!

 

[The Thadman]

It's not really a matter of -why- I believe with me. It's more of a problem of that I'd need a reason -not- to.

God works through my life every day, and I can sense him, hear him, and feel him in everything I do. He's always humbling me, and showing me that everything happens for a reason (sometimes making it subtle, but most of the time making it so freakin' obvious that he bonks me over the head with it).

In short: He's there

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[visionary]

It's not really a matter of -why- I believe with me. It's more of a problem of that I'd need a reason -not- to.

God works through my life every day, and I can sense him, hear him, and feel him in everything I do. He's always humbling me, and showing me that everything happens for a reason (sometimes making it subtle, but most of the time making it so freakin' obvious that he bonks me over the head with it).

In short: He's there

Peace!
-Steve-o

He must use the same shepherd's rod on you as he does me.***bonk*** I know the feeling. Duhhhhh!!!! Ohhh , yah right. The Lord does have a sense of humor. Even when he thumbs you, he slugs you on the shoulder as if to say, "no hard feelings, I still love you."

 

[visionary]

I think everyone has doubts from time to time. My reoccurring doubt; Do I believe in G-d simply because the thought of death being the end of my existence scares me to no end? Most of the time I'm sure there's much more to my belief than that, but occasionally...

Anyway, I'm curious as to why you all believe. In addition, what nagging doubts do you have?

Pray that the Lord will draw closer to you than you have ever experienced before, and keep praying until all doubts are cast out. May you have the type of closeness that Daniel had.....

Daniel 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

Keep praying until the Lord blesses you with the blessed assurance, the reality in the truth as found in Yeshua that will cast out any theology, theory and knowledge that this world has to offer which would lead you to be a doubting Thomas.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting



Visionary

 

[Flavius]

I believe cause a few years ago i got tired of my conscience and I tried to proove there wasn't a G-d and I would be free to do what I wanted.

 

[Flavius]

I too have tried to answer about 6 times....

There goes that number 6 again,I'll have to keep my one good eye on S.T now.

 

[visionary]

I believe cause a few years ago i got tired of my conscience and I tried to proove there wasn't a G-d and I would be free to do what I wanted.

That is soooo good. I love it....And people say that God does not have a sense of humor....No wonder I love the Lord so much....I like the way that He operates.

Flavius, you are such a reluctant believer.....God must have fun with you....He probably shakes His head and wonders what He will have to do next in bringing you even closer to Him. Good thing He loves you.

Visionary

 

[rooster]

This question comes at me every couple of days i think and nowaydays doubts come mainly in the form of " what if religion is just the subconcious outworkings of the creative mind to the extend that this creation which takes place inwards helped by input of religious traditions had orientated my mind , imagination and emotions to be "religious""
Over the last few months i had worked out a couple of things. My personal faith is certainly not worked out in credos and dogmas. I also realised that the subjective emotional experiance one has during a modern "worship" service is extremely shallow and often misleading. Sometimes it is real praise and worship, but sometimes it is a neat trick of pythagorean musical arithmatic. I realised the experiance of attending a worship service and going to a rock concert is very similiar(of course the fruits are different) and this emotive response can even be found in sports whether playing or watching.
So basically i start a process of eliminating the things which i consider not an anchor of my faith and many things start to fall away, even things like physical healing i had recieved, "holy" laughter and so on.
Thus what remains i realised are the "impossible teachings of Jesus". Impossible because without believing in his death and resurrection, and without the infilling of the Ruach, the teachings of Jesus(i know most here prefer Yeshua but i have known him personally as Jesus and its a little difficult to change, anyway i'm sure he is multilingual) would seem ludicrous. Yet now everytime i read those little red words, they seem alive, almost dancing calling me to his feet, to love and fear God, and to obediance.
There is such great perfection and beauty in the Word, it not only begs for comtemplation but prompts one to action.

yep

 

[Flavius]

I cound't have said it better rooster.You can actually feel alot of emotions from diffrerent sources.When I'm ridin the back forty listening to Johnny Cash
It's almost a religion to me,I'm just glad Johnny never offered me coolaid.

 

[WildCelt]

I believe I guess because it makes the most sense. I see the world around me, and know that it was not by chance. I read the Word of HaShem and see how it fits in with daily living. When I obey and follow, life seems to just...click.

 

[Sephania]

He exists, therefore I believe, and no one could ever convince me otherwise.

 

[muffler dragon]

Brief summary:

Grew up in a Christian home.
Went to college.
Dated an athiest/agnostic (she didn't even know)
Plummeted to the bowels of (O&*(Y
Relationship ended; however, I remember her always saying, "You only believe, because it was how you were raised."
Therefore, I set out to see if she was right. I dropped as much of the knowledge that I could (much like I'm doing now in seeing things through Jewish eyes). I studied different books that would help me break down my former structure to a foundation. The foundation became solid when I truly realized the TRUTH of the Bible. No book is like it. I believe absolutely everything in it. I completely believe the Author and everything that He is.

So I believe, because G-d showed Himself to me when I asked if He was there.

 

[ShirChadash]

There goes that number 6 again,I'll have to keep my one good eye on S.T now.

Okay, I've tried to answer this a number of times too...

I would have to say that the reason I believe is because I can do nothing less. I am so convinced... I have witnessed in so many ways, so many times, His loving, guiding, chastening, drawing, covering, comforting, blessing, teaching, husbanding in my life...

I have had a few life/death experiences and the very sweet, heavy (in a gentle, good way) almost surrounding presence of (I believe) Yeshua specifically, next to me, comforting me in those moments, when I was utterly alone, lonely, empty and weak... was so tangible I can feel it now just thinking of it.

I can "ditto" Thadman's reply as well.