I am a Christian with some Questions.

[curiosityandthecat]

Ann Druyan said about her late husband Carl Sagan, "He didn't want to believe. He wanted to know."

Tip for arguing with theists: belief is their territory. They have the home-field advantage.

[Improbable]

Ann Druyan said about her late husband Carl Sagan, "He didn't want to believe. He wanted to know."

Tip for arguing with theists: belief is their territory. They have the home-field advantage.

I too don't want to believe. I'd like to know but I don't think we ever can know anything. So I want to understand.
    I strongly agree with Carl Sagan when he said: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

[Frostitute]

I'm an Agnostic, I have questions for you also. What makes you so sure there is a God? Because miracles happen? Hindus say the same things. What makes your religion right from all the others? Each religion says the other is incorrect and you will burn in hell.

[Kyuuketsuki]

I'm an Agnostic, I have questions for you also. What makes you so sure there is a God? Because miracles happen? Hindus say the same things. What makes your religion right from all the others? Each religion says the other is incorrect and you will burn in hell.

Yeah ... that kinda reflects on that dumb "atheists in foxholes" (link to a great soldiers site here) argument! I mean yeah, when I was young (11 or 12 I guess ... Jesus! That was 40 years ago!) I did the "god help me bit" (it was hardly a real crisis, just the fact that I hadn't done my homework ... again and knew I was in trouble) and I was already thinking along the lines of bargaining ("if you help me god I'll be really good ... honest!") but not only have many comne forward to say they have been both literally and philosophically in those foxholes and haven't turned to to a god but there are so many (gods), which one would you choose?

Kyu

[Frostitute]

I'm an Agnostic, I have questions for you also. What makes you so sure there is a God? Because miracles happen? Hindus say the same things. What makes your religion right from all the others? Each religion says the other is incorrect and you will burn in hell.

Yeah ... that kinda reflects on that dumb "atheists in foxholes" (link to a great soldiers site here) argument! I mean yeah, when I was young (11 or 12 I guess ... Jesus! That was 40 years ago!) I did the "god help me bit" (it was hardly a real crisis, just the fact that I hadn't done my homework ... again and knew I was in trouble) and I was already thinking along the lines of bargaining ("if you help me god I'll be really good ... honest!") but not only have many comne forward to say they have been both literally and philosophically in those foxholes and haven't turned to to a god but there are so many (gods), which one would you choose?

Kyu

You're asking if I was in a crisis, who would I turn to? It depends on the crisis. If its a dyer, then I'll turn to God, just in case there is one.

[Kyuuketsuki]

You're asking if I was in a crisis, who would I turn to? It depends on the crisis. If its a dyer, then I'll turn to God, just in case there is one.

Which one?

Kyu

[Frostitute]

You're asking if I was in a crisis, who would I turn to? It depends on the crisis. If its a dyer, then I'll turn to God, just in case there is one.

Which one?

Kyu

Ah, that's exactly my problem. Theres to many God's out there, thats why I'm Agnostic, there's a Hindu God, Christian God, Allah, etc.

[Asmodean]

there's a Hindu God

 

[Whitney]

Ah, that's exactly my problem. Theres to many God's out there, thats why I'm Agnostic, there's a Hindu God, Christian God, Allah, etc.

The bolded part has a lot to do with why I first decided all religions are very likely wrong in a critical manner.  I think that if there were an involved god it would work a little bit harder to make sure its creation were at least on the same page concerning god's nature.

[Improbable]

I personally think the whole "God" thing and supernatural thing is absurd. Its so unscientific
    But I do accept that there is an extremely remote possibility of God, miracles or anything else supernatural.

[Titan]

I was trying to think of a way to counteract what you said but your second line really solidified your opinion in my book. I just don't know if approaching even science with the "absurd vs. logical" idea is smart anymore given quantum physics and all that stuff.

[Improbable]

You're asking if I was in a crisis, who would I turn to? It depends on the crisis. If its a dyer, then I'll turn to God, just in case there is one.

Which one?

Kyu

Ah, that's exactly my problem. Theres to many God's out there, thats why I'm Agnostic, there's a Hindu God, Christian God, Allah, etc.

However there's no evidence for any of them. There's no evidence for anything supernatural. All there is evidence for is the material.

[kintexas]

Hello...I am new to this site... I also am a curious Christian...  I do understand how one can be agnostic or atheist..... so much hypocrisy in the world and so many different religions...  I truly understand how one can just think its all a bunch of balony...  I know some agnostic people who are good people...  I know some atheist who are decent folk as well...  but one thing I can say I have never seen an agnostic or atheist have a glow about them as I have seen in some holy men...  it is truly awesome to see this in true holy men... not all men of the cloth are holy..  but some are...  you can see a gleem in their eyes...  and a true happiness that runs deep...  they are always pleasant and kind...  and their faith is strong... you can feel their spirituality.... i can sense chills up my spine when I feel I am in the presence of the holy spirit... on a basis of human experience alone, this is the true difference to me...   as I proceed to grow in my Christianity, I find the peaceful moments the most rewarding...  life is full of hate and anger and misery... so many people hate, are angry and are miserable...  this is not the option I want in my life...   God is peace!  whichever God, there is only one...but I believe different religions just worship Him in different ways...   so much confusion, so hard to understand...  I truly can see how one who has no true guidance can be agnostic or atheist in this world...   maybe one day God will reveal Himself ..  the best example I can give as to my belief in God is to simply ask anyone who has a loved one..... do you love that person?  and when you say yes of course, ask yourself...why? and how do we really know??   what is that feeling and where does it come from??  the second best example is when you experience the birth of a child...and hold those tiny little hands... incredible!!    peace out!!

[Whitney]

Hi Kintexas,

Although I'm sure you are sincere about the glowing and the feelings of love being seen by yourself as a sign of god.  I honestly don't know what you mean by glowing, people who have good personalities seem to 'glow' to me and I know they aren't all theists.  As for love, as special as it seems to us, it can be explained with science.

When it boils down to it, belief requires pure faith and there isn't anything to point to in this world that truly indicates a god.  There are just some things that might seem to hint at a god if you don't know why those things happen or stop short of looking for secular answers.

It's fine if you want to have your faith...just don't feel too bad when you aren't able to convince those who don't see the validity of faith that something intangible is real.

Anyway, I'm glad you aren't one of those theists who thinks everyone who believes differently is evil...if all religious people were so open to others, I think this world would be better off.

[Tom62]

Hi kintexas,

I don't know what you mean by glowing either. Maybe you mean that they "beam out" a kind of positive charisma? That is not really uncommon and you can find that in all layers of society. But I am very wary about people with strong charisma's, especially when it concerns people that have much influence over other people, like in politics and religion. People can get so absolved by their "shining" that they loose all critical thinking and follow these persons blindly. History has shown us that this can lead to very bad things, like f.i. with Jim Jones, David Koresh, Adolph Hitler, Mao Zedong, Ayatollah Khomeini etc. etc. I'm also not convinced that the Abrahamic God stands for love and peace. Especially when I read the old testament, I can see many examples of cruel, unjust and immoral behavior that shows that this God is not really a lovable creature who deserves our worships.