Can disbelievers ever find peace in life?

[Bruno_Schulz]

**When I met atheists, I often asked myself:
Can disbelievers ever find peace in life?

Daily experience shows over and over again a clear NO, undergone in everyday life, where we continuously meet people who do not believe in Jesus Christ; who negate Gods existence, look down at the Holy Bible. They keep worrying about the question “what if it’s true after all” and similar qstions, and simply don’t find peace. Many of them “drown” such worries in loud, hectic or rich way of life, continously tell themselves: Oh no! It can’t be true. I couldn’t care less! Rubbish! Nothing to it.

Hard to understand though, that they all the same, NOT as one would expect; simply don’t bother about the theme and forget it, BUT INSTEAD insist in leading questioning, all of them backed merely by physical backgrounds and relativism. Hardly ever they say a final “I couldn’t care less”. No, instead they kind of fight for their “this can’t be so, because such thing is regardless to all that’s known (by e.g. physics)” most of their lifetime.

In rare cases, we’d meet people who find it hard to believe in divine matters, who’d actually admit (as done so in the thread “What if God Gave Us Proof?”) textual:
“I lose sleep over whether Christianity is true and I will be damned for my disbelief”.

This is a very aware and interested reaction of the “possibility that it might be true after all” and it confirms the word; that there are “hidden agendas” in all doubters who fight against the truth of Jesus Christ.

Their objections to Christianity and existence of God, doesn’t really let them loose, for they never find a satisfying answer that would prove a non-existence of God.
Here we find the truth, that nobody who fights God, ever will find peace.

Now in the mentioned Thread, this reader went on: “I lose sleep over whether Christianity is true and I will be damned for my disbelief; AS YOU DO OVER WHETHER ISLAM IS TRUE AND YOU WILL BE DAMNED FOR YOUR DISBELIEF, WHICH IS TO SAY, NONE AT ALL.”

This peculiar idea of people who could not yet find access to believe and faith in God, is of course completely misled, as no Christian in the world, ever would even think twice about such abstruse argument. Converts from Christianity to Islam, never really had be Christians, for they never found God - that is to say they never received the grace of God to believe.

A Christian who believes in God does own his peace of life in the peace of God, for the very reason, Luke put down in his Gospel 10:20

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.<

When you KNOW, that our name is written in heaven (and we know this by the word of Jesus Christ) – which means you are awaited for in
heaven; you are to be there and live there forever in God’s kingdom, together with God; you really are full joy in having this promise as a Christian. This fills your life, and that’s why a Christian over and over thankfully prays:
DEAR GOD THANKS EVER SUCH A LOT - THAT I KNOW YOU.

People who don’t believe, really are alone, even when amidst hundreds of friends. A lonely Christian never is alone, even in the loneliest place of the world. That is what gives a Christian his peace in life; that peace called out here in Colossians 3:15:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
**

 

[Nepenthe]

Welp, for my part - doing just dandy here!

But thanks for your concern.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

**When I met atheists, I often asked myself:
Can disbelievers ever find peace in life?

Daily experience shows over and over again a clear NO, undergone in everyday life, where we continuously meet people who do not believe in Jesus Christ; who negate Gods existence, look down at the Holy Bible. They keep worrying about the question “what if it’s true after all” and similar qstions, and simply don’t find peace. Many of them “drown” such worries in loud, hectic or rich way of life, continously tell themselves: Oh no! It can’t be true. I couldn’t care less! Rubbish! Nothing to it.

Hard to understand though, that they all the same, NOT as one would expect; simply don’t bother about the theme and forget it, BUT INSTEAD insist in leading questioning, all of them backed merely by physical backgrounds and relativism. Hardly ever they say a final “I couldn’t care less”. No, instead they kind of fight for their “this can’t be so, because such thing is regardless to all that’s known (by e.g. physics)” most of their lifetime.

In rare cases, we’d meet people who find it hard to believe in divine matters, who’d actually admit (as done so in the thread “What if God Gave Us Proof?”) textual:
“I lose sleep over whether Christianity is true and I will be damned for my disbelief”.

This is a very aware and interested reaction of the “possibility that it might be true after all” and it confirms the word; that there are “hidden agendas” in all doubters who fight against the truth of Jesus Christ.

Their objections to Christianity and existence of God, doesn’t really let them loose, for they never find a satisfying answer that would prove a non-existence of God.
Here we find the truth, that nobody who fights God, ever will find peace.

Now in the mentioned Thread, this reader went on: “I lose sleep over whether Christianity is true and I will be damned for my disbelief; AS YOU DO OVER WHETHER ISLAM IS TRUE AND YOU WILL BE DAMNED FOR YOUR DISBELIEF, WHICH IS TO SAY, NONE AT ALL.”

This peculiar idea of people who could not yet find access to believe and faith in God, is of course completely misled, as no Christian in the world, ever would even think twice about such abstruse argument. Converts from Christianity to Islam, never really had be Christians, for they never found God - that is to say they never received the grace of God to believe.

A Christian who believes in God does own his peace of life in the peace of God, for the very reason, Luke put down in his Gospel 10:20

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.<

Not only will you be in God’s Kingdom after you die, but you are living in it right now. Life has meaning!

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**Well - God has begun to erect His kingdom here on earth, with Jesus Christ on Jesus passion, but the world still is widely ruled by hell, and we still must pray
YOUR KINGDOME COME

For the devil is allowed to tempt us as we read e.g. in
Luke 22:31 >Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.<
And too many surrender to hells temptation, and bring this way sorrow upon earth.
**

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**God has begun to erect His kingdom here on earth, with Jesus Christ on Jesus passion,
**

**Couldn’t edit
it must of course be:
God has begun to erect His kingdom here on earth, with Jesus Christ on Jesus passion and resurrection
**

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Peace is a great Gift of God and God can disperse His Gifts wherever and to whomsoever He may for God can do all things. Praying for Peace on earth, in all homes and palaces, situations and countries…and in all hearts without exception. Alleluia Amen.

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**How right you are.
But do you think, an atheist, who does not trust in God; who even is convinced there is no God, and fights God, can or would ever find peace to himself? **​

By the way, I had to look up the word DISPERSE. Look, how many words we have for disperse
woerterbuch.info/?query=disperse&s=dict&l=en

 

[BarbaraTherese]

How right you are.
**But do you think, an atheist, who does not trust in God; who even is convinced there is no God, and fights God, can or would ever find peace to himself? **​

By the way, I had to look up the word DISPERSE. Look, how many words we have for disperse
woerterbuch.info/?query=disperse&s=dict&l=en

Goodness! You do have quite a few words for disperse! I am using disperse in the sense of ‘to spread abroad’ or to ‘hand out/give/gift wherever desired’. I hope that helps.

Other than the above, I would not know re the athiest. However, the athiest remains a beloved child of God like the rest of us. God is the Eternally Faithful, The Constant and Unchanging One, and loves us all equally despite our various faults, failings and foibles. I would not presume to say to whom the Gift of Peace may be granted to and to whom it may not - and Peace is a good in this world and all good either most great or most miniscule has its origin in God and is His to spread aboard/hand out/give/gift wherever and to whomsoever He may Will. Alleluia Amen.
Aside from all that, I know a few athiests who would be outstanding Christians and Catholics, behaviourwise towards others especially. And I know a few Practising Catholics who are not in that category of behaviour towards others for absolutely sure.
“Not all who say Lord! Lord! shall enter into The Kingdom of Heaven” and the Kingdom of Heaven, His Kingdom, is within us, Jesus tells us.

Matthew 7

• 3* Any why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? 4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

*

20

Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
*
**
*

Luke 17

20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you.

Blessings and regards…Barb

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**

However, the athiest remains a beloved child of God like the rest of us. God is the Eternally Faithful, The Constant and Unchanging One, and loves us all equally despite our various faults, failings and foibles.

I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Those who force Children to be soldiers and kill; those who commit child molestation, people like Hitler, Stalin, and other human devils… hw could they been loved by God?! Remember Matthew 18:6
“if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”
and Matthew 10,32/33
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven“
Nor would pure love speak out of those words in Matthew 23:33
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

It seems dangerous to let all the wrongdoers believe – as I heard so often Catholics say: “God is love itself, and He can’t do else but love”.
Oh yes – God can!
Could we tell a mother who’s child was murdered, that God loves this murderer?!

Let not all these who abuse children, disregard Gods commands of “love each other”, destroy life’s and so many souls, thinks God would not punish them for what they did, because God is love and can’t else but love.

“Not all who say Lord! Lord! shall enter into The Kingdom of Heaven”

Here we have another word of the many warnings Jesus gave us, that proves, that – as on many places of the gospel is pointed out – a minority only will enter into The Kingdom of Heaven “through this narow door”. So one might well doubt, if God loves those who commit offences against Gods commandment of love. He does not, as Jesus warned so often.

Deep inside, those who do wrong against God and humanity, know that. That’s why they can’t find peace.

**

 

[Realcatholicgk]

**

I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Those who force Children to be soldiers and kill; those who commit child molestation, people like Hitler, Stalin, and other human devils… hw could they been loved by God?! Remember Matthew 18:6
“if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”
and Matthew 10,32/33
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven“
Nor would pure love speak out of those words in Matthew 23:33
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

It seems dangerous to let all the wrongdoers believe – as I heard so often Catholics say: “God is love itself, and He can’t do else but love”.
Oh yes – God can!
Could we tell a mother who’s child was murdered, that God loves this murderer?!

Let not all these who abuse children, disregard Gods commands of “love each other”, destroy life’s and so many souls, thinks God would not punish them for what they did, because God is love and can’t else but love.

Here we have another word of the many warnings Jesus gave us, that proves, that – as on many places of the gospel is pointed out – a minority only will enter into The Kingdom of Heaven “through this narow door”. So one might well doubt, if God loves those who commit offences against Gods commandment of love. He does not, as Jesus warned so often.

Deep inside, those who do wrong against God and humanity, know that. That’s why they can’t find peace.

**

**Hi Bruno,
You are 100% correct, in what you say.
However God hates the sin not the sinner! Even a murder, who did other ghastly things is still a child of God. There is salvation for everyone. Jesus’ death paid the price for every sin ever committed. However, as we all should realize there is also a toll to be paid, even for forgiven sins.

I agree that a mother might not be able to understand how God could love a child’s murderer. I would never attempt to tell a woman that God loved that kind of animal. Some have been able to tell their child’s killer that they “forgave” them. How much greater is the father’s Love?

Remember the Blessed Mother’s son was “murdered”, even if it was “lawful”, it was unjust! But, it was alsonecessary for our salvation. From every evil come some good. That has been proved since the beginning of time.

Mathhews 7:1-5 shows that no man has any right to define what is right and wrong - ONLY God!
However, those who reject God’s laws and judgments and trust in their own judgments are the ones guilty of judging in the worst sense of the word.
For example, the person that says premarital sex is okay is judging just as much as the person who says it is sin.
What right do we have to judge another human being? (It works both ways.)

We know that God is the ultimate Judge, andwe will submit unto His judgments. The Psalmist said, "With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. " Psalm 119:13

What are God’s judgments? Here are some…

*IDOLATERS (those who love self, anyone, wealth, or anything more than their God) are headed for the lake of fire

*THOSE WHO TAKE GOD’S NAME IN VAIN and THOSE WHO CURSE THEIR NEIGHBORS will be cursed by God

*THOSE WHO DISHONOR THEIR PARENTS will be damned forever

*THOSE WHO INDULGE IN PREMARITAL SEX or EXTRAMARITAL SEX will suffer the eternal torments of fire and brimstone

*HOMOSEXUALS will bear the fierce vengeance of their HOLY CREATOR on the Day of Woe and Doom

*FILTHY PORN-ADDICTS will suffer everlasting punishments

*DRUNKARDS will sup the cup of the wrath of Almighty God

*THOSE WHO MURDER (esp. PRO-CHOICERS who murder innocent babies) will experience the terrible second death

*WITCHES AND SORCERERS will bow to Jesus and confess He is Lord before being bound hand and foot and cast into hell

*LIARS will be condemned by their own words

*THIEVES will pay for their crimes in the courtroom of eternal justice

*THOSE WHO DO NOT SUBMIT TO JESUS will be judged “Guilty” by Him on JUDGMENT DAY, and be cast into eternal hellfire.

All these things can happen. However, through the mercy of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, they don’t have to happen! Isn’t God wonderful?

Praise Jesus!**

 

[roanoker]

In regards to Bruno’s original question, the answer is no. They will never find real peace, because the only real peace is Jesus Christ…

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**If there was salvation for everyone, Jesus would not have warned us of hell.

Beware of the idea, devils like the mentioned still are Child of God. Remember; God created originally Satan too (as an angel).

Hell is the reality Jesus taught us, just the same reality as heaven.

Let’s not dare to think Jesus told us a fairy tale when He spoke about hell.
**

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Salvation is offered to everyone through Jesus Christ. Its up to use to accept it or not.

Jim

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**Could it be, that we get out of topic?
The question was: Can disbelievers ever find peace in life?

An interesting thread about Hell is here
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=286941&highlight=Hell

Yes, salvation had been accomplished through Jesus Christ to those, who accept it through believe in God. I don’t think to everyone, for those who sin without regret, are lost, as Christ told us in MT 7,14: But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Unbelievers find this “officially” laughable funny and stupid, but still they can’t prove the contrary. This is what deep inside, subliminally worries them continuously. This is, because all of them have a soul that originates in God and is longing for God.

Not to hear this voice, they live loudly, seek applause and happenings, money and more. Yes – indeed a kind of refund for the real live they miss, and for the peace they miss.

How about allowing themselves a quiet and peaceful time in which they really try to seek hat’s behind all this Christianity? It is God - who has been for eternities and will be in all eternity. God whom they too originate from and whom they too will see again when God will judge them according to Jesus word: in Mt 10,32/33: Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge Him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
**

 

[bonharps]

Can disbelivers ever find peace in life? in my opinion YES!!! I have many friends that are disbelivers and they have peace. just because someone doesn’t believe in a religion doesn’t mean that they are lonely! how awful and narrow minded i think some of you are and in my opinion not very Cartholic like. I’m catholic, and I would consider myself a very open minded Catholic young lady, i’m 17 years old and I believe that everybody has there own journey, and that everyone finds peace and love in different ways. disbelivers infact do believe in something in that life should be by her or his own choice on how they live. just because there beliefs are different does not mean that they are lonely and unpeaceful but in fact just as peaceful as anyone else. Peace is everlasting happiness, and love for yourselves and all souls, you don’t need a religion to have peace just love.

 

[Ceil-1]

As a hospice nurse, I have attended maybe hundreds of dying individuals. It intrigues me and my colleagues to observe those last few weeks/moments and compare different experiences with the person’s belief system and outlook on life.

There seems to be a correlation between a peaceful time versus a difficult time based on the person’s attitude during life. I can’t say that the belief system per say, that is, the religion, is what determines the amount of angst, but the individual themselves.

For instance, a person with a sunny disposition and/or an acceptance of their fate tends to slip away more quietly, than, say, someone who was stubborn, abusive or mean. People who are control freaks in life tend to have a harder time of it. People with a reputation for being very bad in life, even after repentance, tend to always suffer a lot. That is just an observation I and my colleagues have made.

It is interesting to note that people who have “odd” beliefs that include the occult have very difficult times. Oh, the stories I could tell.

This does not apply in every case, but the majority. Plus, it is impossible to know what a person is really like. I do believe the truth comes out in those last moments. Believe this: something or someone is there. Not everyone likes what they see.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Can disbelivers ever find peace in life? in my opinion YES!!! I have many friends that are disbelivers and they have peace. just because someone doesn’t believe in a religion doesn’t mean that they are lonely! how awful and narrow minded i think some of you are and in my opinion not very Cartholic like. I’m catholic, and I would consider myself a very open minded Catholic young lady, i’m 17 years old and I believe that everybody has there own journey, and that everyone finds peace and love in different ways. disbelivers infact do believe in something in that life should be by her or his own choice on how they live. just because there beliefs are different does not mean that they are lonely and unpeaceful but in fact just as peaceful as anyone else. Peace is everlasting happiness, and love for yourselves and all souls, you don’t need a religion to have peace just love.

I wonder if peace is the right word for what believers have that non-believers don’t. Believers have to struggle with sin, whereas moste non-believers don’t really believe in sin. However, believers have a refuge in God, whereas non-believers must take their refuge in nature or other people.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

All good comes from God and only God…hence no matter what kind of Peace one may experience, it is from God and His Gift to disperse however He may and to whomsoever He may. I dont think we can limit God who is unlimited…in generosity or in Mercy or in any other quality nor in the dispersion of His gifts. “My Ways are not your ways, nor my thoughts, your thoughts”.
I am sure when we get to Heaven we will find people there that will truly surprise us…and even perhaps wonder where on earth other people can be. But I hope not. I hope that salvation will come to all without exception…that is my hope. What is the actuality is another matter I cannot know.

St. Teresa of Avila’s spiritual concepts are not for religious and nuns, priests only…they are universal in application - though because she was a foundress and superior she addressed her comments to the nuns in her charge. We all should take note I think:
Interior Castle:
ccel.org/ccel/teresa/castle2.v.ii.html?highlight=honour#highlight

At the same time, may be she never notices her own shortcomings because of her great zeal about other people’s religious observance, while perhaps her sisters, not seeing her intention but only knowing of the watch she keeps on them, do not take her behaviour in good part.
20. The devil’s chief aim here is

to cool the charity and lessen the mutual affection

of the nuns, which would injure them seriously. Be sure, my daughters,

that true perfection consists in the love of God and our neighbour

, and the better we keep both these commandments, the more perfect we shall be.

1. Indiscreet zeal about others must not be indulged in; it may do us much harm; let each one look to herself.

However, as I have spoken fully 57on this subject elsewhere, I will not enlarge on it here, and will only beg you to remember the necessity of this mutual affection.

Barb

 

[CHRISTINE77]

As a hospice nurse, I have attended maybe hundreds of dying individuals. It intrigues me and my colleagues to observe those last few weeks/moments and compare different experiences with the person’s belief system and outlook on life.

There seems to be a correlation between a peaceful time versus a difficult time based on the person’s attitude during life. I can’t say that the belief system per say, that is, the religion, is what determines the amount of angst, but the individual themselves.

For instance, a person with a sunny disposition and/or an acceptance of their fate tends to slip away more quietly, than, say, someone who was stubborn, abusive or mean. People who are control freaks in life tend to have a harder time of it. People with a reputation for being very bad in life, even after repentance, tend to always suffer a lot. That is just an observation I and my colleagues have made.

It is interesting to note that people who have “odd” beliefs that include the occult have very difficult times. Oh, the stories I could tell.

This does not apply in every case, but the majority. Plus, it is impossible to know what a person is really like. I do believe the truth comes out in those last moments. Believe this: something or someone is there. Not everyone likes what they see.

Wow this is really interesting!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Originally Posted by Ceil-1 forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cab/viewpost.gif
As a hospice nurse, I have attended maybe hundreds of dying individuals. It intrigues me and my colleagues to observe those last few weeks/moments and compare different experiences with the person’s belief system and outlook on life.

*There seems to be a correlation between a peaceful time versus a difficult time based on the person’s attitude during life.

I can’t say that the belief system per say, that is, the religion, is what determines the amount of angst, but the individual themselves.

*For instance, a person with a sunny disposition and/or an acceptance of their fate tends to slip away more quietly, than, say, someone who was stubborn, abusive or mean. People who are control freaks in life tend to have a harder time of it. People with a reputation for being very bad in life, even after repentance, tend to always suffer a lot. That is just an observation I and my colleagues have made. *

It is interesting to note that people who have “odd” beliefs that include the occult have very difficult times. Oh, the stories I could tell.

This does not apply in every case, but the majority. Plus, it is impossible to know what a person is really like. I do believe the truth comes out in those last moments. Believe this: something or someone is there. Not everyone likes what they see.

Wow this is really interesting!

Amen to that, Christine! And from someone who is coming from sound and solid experience and thus reliable as a source of information.

Thank you very much, Ceil. …a post worth keeping in the files.
Barb
.