Thread: What do you believe in?

Originally Posted by leadduck

Baptized, raised and educated Catholic. Like eveyone (who has a brain) I questioned my faith in my youth and ultimately came out of it with my faith strengthened. While I don't believe the existence of God can be proven (which is why we call it faith), I do believe that a good argument can be made for it, scientifically. That's all I'll say, since this isn't the place for debate.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness as a debate on any of this was never my intention when starting this thread but I also appreciate your point of view here as it is similar to my own.

Thanks for the kind words. I'll add my voice to those whove expressed surprise and gratitude that the discussion has remained so civil.

This is an interesting thread. It's interesting to see so much diversity and we all gather here and share the same hobby.

I wasn't going to post here, but what the heck.

I too was raised in the Christian faith. Pentecostal/ holiness for the most part. Speaking in tongues, all of that. As I got into my teen years I began to really question the realness of it all. Not debating that here though. In short, I feel it is (when not show) a sort of mental elation, not a devine experience. A self-induced hypnotic trance.

So, in part, I began to question God. I began to question many things I was taught in the Christian church. Everyone I talked to had a differing story than the last. Too many things could not be explained. How can I have a firm foundation into something that has holes and unanswered phenomenon? To me, it took away from the validity of it all.

Then, as I grew, experienced life and met more people from different cultures and belief systems I got more confused.

I thought, everyone can't be wrong! There are way too many religions and variations of each religion to assume one particular one is right.

So, that leads me to really my own beliefs, which I haven't found to fit in anywhere. I do like and follow somewhat the practices and beliefs of Hinduism and the Bahai faith. I did look into Scientology as well. Then Christian Scientist. Then I got the two confused. If I recall the reincarnation thing threw me off with Scientology. I've never cared for dependency on drugs or substances. Thus, those appealed to me when exploring religions. I have a hard time believing in supernatural type things. Virgin births (which isn't exclusive to Jesus Christ), parting of oceans with a rod, instant healings and resurections, raptures and reincarnation for a few examples. I think people have a hard time dealing with the way things are so these stories and beliefs are fabricated for many reasons. Often they are done so to answer questions. For example; how did the Earth get here. The church creates an "answer" and it becomes accepted as truth. I think this is especially evident with the early Catholic church and its teachings. Church and Science have always collided it seems. Now, despite teachings and findings of scientists, Christians are telling their congregations the Earth is a mere 6,000 years old. Interesting.

My beliefs:
- you are in control, there is no one deity controlling it all, but there are "powers" of your thoughts that can bring things to be. (universe). People often say, "the stars lining up in your favor".
- what you put in, you get out
- you die, you die. no eternal anything.
- bad things just happen. life sucks. there's no negative persuasion that makes people do bad, they do it on their own. Too often people pin their inadequacies on a negative force/ devil; when in reality it is them themselves that are evil.
- law of attraction has merit (to a point). Which, to me resembles the Christians' "reap what you sow" and faith/ prayer mentality. Faith and prayer being positive thought.


Yes, I realize the last two contradict in text. I do not think either is 100% for anyone. Children born with illnesses and women abused I do not think was attracted by anyone's thoughts, per law of attraction. I believe in attracting good, not evil.

The last two go in part with my belief in Karma. Which, is reaping what you sow. Yet, Karma is taboo to a number of church-goers I associate with. I just wish karma would hurry and have its toll on my ex-wife.

People have a fear of the unknown and need something to create a positive force into their lives. Hence, religion. Having an everlasting reward gives people something to look forward to versus the alternative of just death. The sadness of it all is this religion has been the culprit of many separations of families, creation of wars and more.

As challenging as it may be at times I try to go about life in a positive manner.

So.....all that said, I guess I need to start my own religion. I would really like to find a religion and church to belong to. I truly would. The reason would be to raise my child in a positive atmosphere and have something positive with community involvement we could all do as a family. It's just hard to when I cannot believe 100% in the teachings. Or, 75% for that matter.

All straight shavers experience heaven during their daily routine.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormons). Yes, we are Christians.

I believe that I am bewildered.

Originally Posted by salazch

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormons). Yes, we are Christians.

Oh noes!! not them mormones!!



(just kidding, I'm a member of the same church)

I am a Nihilist. Or "Other"

As a Christian that has moved from Catholocism to Agnosticism to Atheism back to beign a devout Christian, I can say I have truly learned one thing that makes all of the difference in my perspective of the diversity of this thread.

It is not now, and nor has it ever been the required goal of a Christian to force a conversion to Christianity on anyone. Period. The goal was always to expose people to Christ, and then to provide fertile soil for somebody to choose or reject the belief. God does the rest - not people. People have never ever been in the position to judge the salvation of another human being. It is pretty clear that that job belongs to God (if of course you believe in Him).

The problem is that people move in and out of their faith - look at my path. How can anybody possibly know another person's state?

Because of this, I have learned that we have no choice but to accept others irrespective of their beliefs. That does not mean you have to accept their beliefs, but it does mean that you don't have any right to utter condemnation.

Respectfully,
David

I believe in all of them as I know they exist. I dont follow any to a particular end.

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster