Do christians acknowledge the possibility that their god does not exist?

[xoise]

it does to me as well. Some of us are blessed withh faith enough to honestly not have doubts. There is a God, end of story. But for others, it’s harder to feel God. Look at Mother Theresa. I have no doubt she believe in God with every last cell of her body, but for many years she did not feel him.

any times people equate faith with feelings. It’s not always so. I have faith there is a God. But my feelings pry at my doubts. I’m new to being devoutly Catholic, and I’m still learning, and trying to make my faith of trust one of heart as well.

And see I can relate to that so much easier. I’m always going to be open to new experiences and seeing things differently.

It’s the closed mindedness that I just don’t understand.

 

[shondrea]

I don’t think I’d call it so much close-mindedness. To those blessed with the strongest faith, they know God is as real as you or I. And it wouldn’t be close-minded to say that you or I exist. That’s what their mindset is.

I’m not agnostic. I believe there is a God. But my OCD mind often stabs at my brain, either making me think, what if there IS no god? Or, what if the Catholic faith is false? What if we all came from the Egyptian Gods, or Shinto gods?

So when I am troubled the most, faith and beliefe in God, OUR God, is a duty rather than a joy. I think it’s hard to explain; I believe in God and the Catholic church, but every once in a while, there’s that 'what if"

 

[CMatt25]

I don’t think I’d call it so much close-mindedness. To those blessed with the strongest faith, they know God is as real as you or I. And it wouldn’t be close-minded to say that you or I exist. That’s what their mindset is.

I’m not agnostic. I believe there is a God. But my OCD mind often stabs at my brain, either making me think, what if there IS no god? Or, what if the Catholic faith is false? What if we all came from the Egyptian Gods, or Shinto gods?

So when I am troubled the most, faith and beliefe in God, OUR God, is a duty rather than a joy. I think it’s hard to explain; I believe in God and the Catholic church, but every once in a while, there’s that 'what if"

Shondrea, an “every once in awhile what if’” only makes you human.

 

[Wildgraywolf]

So you can honestly say you don’t have the slightest doubt that your god doesn’t exist? I just don’t understand how that is even possible.

Yup. I have no doubts. I wonder; do you think it’s impossible for God to exist?

 

[Moscati]

How could it be intangible? You’ve never seen, heard, or physically touched god, have you?

I haven’t touched Him yet. I’ll make my first Communion on Saturday. But we, as Catholics, do believe we can see and touch God in the Eucharist (just for the record).

I’m not sure I’ve ever thought to myself, “what if God doesn’t exist?”. I have wondered what God is like, and how best to find Him, and whether it’s even possible to do so, but I’ve always had a sort of inborn certainty that He’s there, in some way, shape, or form.

P.S. Why purposefully not use a capital letter? It feels like a bit of jab, to me.

 

[Holly3278]

No because I know for a fact that such a possibility does not exist.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

For me it is quite easy to believe that Chirst was who he said he was. And being that that God is real. We today have the benefit of knowing that the Apostles, the people that lived every day with him, all but one were tortured and killed because they would not say that Chirst had not Raised from the Dead. People do not allow themselves to be killed for something they know to be a lie. That is all the evidence I need that Chirst was the Son of God and Raised from the dead.

 

[CWBetts]

Beliefs aside, do you acknowledge that religion, when it comes down to it, is faith? I’m not saying faith is a bad thing - in fact, I encourage it, because I do feel that the right dose of religion can instill good morals and many believers are indeed very good people. I’d like to believe there’s a god, but to me it seems silly to not acknowledge that there’s no true way for ANYONE to know. Otherwise, why would people debate day in and day out on this issue?

So, do you?

The existence of God, and His qualities, can be known by reason alone. Salvation requires faith, but the mere mental assent that God exists does not.

 

[cheese_sdc]

Beliefs aside, do you acknowledge that religion, when it comes down to it, is faith? I’m not saying faith is a bad thing - in fact, I encourage it, because I do feel that the right dose of religion can instill good morals and many believers are indeed very good people. I’d like to believe there’s a god, but to me it seems silly to not acknowledge that there’s no true way for ANYONE to know. Otherwise, why would people debate day in and day out on this issue?

So, do you?

I’m not a Christian, but I acknowledge the fact that my chosen Divinity may not exist. To do anything else would be dishonest.

 

[Student09]

Life isn’t in binary. There’s more than just on or off.

God either exists or He doesn’t. That seems pretty clear, going by the rules of logic. Do you have some secret system of logic the rest of us don’t know about?

 

[AmateurPianist]

Beliefs aside, do you acknowledge that religion, when it comes down to it, is faith? I’m not saying faith is a bad thing - in fact, I encourage it, because I do feel that the right dose of religion can instill good morals and many believers are indeed very good people. I’d like to believe there’s a god, but to me it seems silly to not acknowledge that there’s no true way for ANYONE to know. Otherwise, why would people debate day in and day out on this issue?

So, do you?

I would be dishonest if I would not admit that from time-to-time thoughts such as this cross my mind.

But in order for me to seriously pursue these thoughts I would need a credible alternative to the questions “Who was Jesus Christ” other than “He was what He claimed to be”.

 

[Swan]

I’m not a Christian, but I acknowledge the fact that my chosen Divinity may not exist. To do anything else would be dishonest.

Ditto. I was Christian most of my life and for years I would have said to you “I KNOW what I believe is real!”. So I can relate to folks who really, really believe. But I know the opposite side of that now and to do that you have to be brutally honest with yourself. In my case, several powerful things happened to me and proved to be catalysts of sorts that led to other investigations/considerations that resulted in my ultimate realization that I simply no longer believed it. Part of that realization was the fact that I don’t feel I can truly be certain of anything in this human state - so even though I have other beliefs now I am fully aware that they may, too, be wrong. The thing is, this doesn’t really bother me - I adjust my beliefs based on incoming evidence as needed. Not to do so would lead to cognitive dissonance too strong to rationalize - at least for me.

 

[xoise]

Yup. I have no doubts. I wonder; do you think it’s impossible for God to exist?

Of course I don’t think it’s impossible! I entirely think it’s possible, and for the sake of us all, I hope it is.

I haven’t touched Him yet. I’ll make my first Communion on Saturday. But we, as Catholics, do believe we can see and touch God in the Eucharist (just for the record).

I’m not sure I’ve ever thought to myself, “what if God doesn’t exist?”. I have wondered what God is like, and how best to find Him, and whether it’s even possible to do so, but I’ve always had a sort of inborn certainty that He’s there, in some way, shape, or form.

P.S. Why purposefully not use a capital letter? It feels like a bit of jab, to me.

Not intentional. I wrote this after traveling and being awake on very little sleep.

No because I know for a fact that such a possibility does not exist.

You’re obviously not using the word “fact” in a scientific sense.

For me it is quite easy to believe that Chirst was who he said he was. And being that that God is real. We today have the benefit of knowing that the Apostles, the people that lived every day with him, all but one were tortured and killed because they would not say that Chirst had not Raised from the Dead. People do not allow themselves to be killed for something they know to be a lie. That is all the evidence I need that Chirst was the Son of God and Raised from the dead.

I’m not challenging that he is who he says he is. My question is simply whether or not you accept that there is the slightest possibility he doesn’t exist.

God either exists or He doesn’t. That seems pretty clear, going by the rules of logic. Do you have some secret system of logic the rest of us don’t know about?

Yes, I guess I do. I’m not saying he exists, nor am I saying he doesn’t exist. I’m simply saying there’s no way for me to know, and it seems ignorant not to accept that fact.

 

[xoise]

Ditto. I was Christian most of my life and for years I would have said to you “I KNOW what I believe is real!”. So I can relate to folks who really, really believe. But I know the opposite side of that now and to do that you have to be brutally honest with yourself. In my case, several powerful things happened to me and proved to be catalysts of sorts that led to other investigations/considerations that resulted in my ultimate realization that I simply no longer believed it. Part of that realization was the fact that I don’t feel I can truly be certain of anything in this human state - so even though I have other beliefs now I am fully aware that they may, too, be wrong. The thing is, this doesn’t really bother me - I adjust my beliefs based on incoming evidence as needed. Not to do so would lead to cognitive dissonance too strong to rationalize - at least for me.

Right. It’s not like if you accept the possibility that it’s not real, you’re suddenly going to be damned to hell. If a god does exist, it seems like he would understand!

 

[CatholicGuy22]

The only way to get to know God is to have faith in him first. He is not going to knock on your door and say " Hi, I exist believe in me". He does not work that way. You must put your pride to the side and come to him like a child and ask him to be with you. To feel God you must have faith in him first. It ok to ask questions but we dont believe in God because we claim to have physical evidence of Him but we follow him because we all came to him in faith and has made a big impact on our life.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I’m not challenging that he is who he says he is. My question is simply whether or not you accept that there is the slightest possibility he doesn’t exist.

WELL NO. If you accept that Christ is who he said he was, and he said he was the Son of God. Then all possibility of Gods non existance is removed.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

There IS only one slice of certitude I have in my life apart from the certain love my wife, children, and I share, is the Christ Jesus is the Risen Lord, God exists, and there are no ifs, ands or buts. I’m certain. I haven’t given it a second’s worth of time to meditate on the possibility of God not being out there. He is.

 

[Southerncross]

Going to a small city in France would make me not want to ask questions anymore?

If you experience God`s grace first hand it will be life changing . You have to make an effort though - What do you have to lose ?
[SIGN]Pax et Bonum[/SIGN]

 

[Volodymyr]

Beliefs aside, do you acknowledge that religion, when it comes down to it, is faith? I’m not saying faith is a bad thing - in fact, I encourage it, because I do feel that the right dose of religion can instill good morals and many believers are indeed very good people. I’d like to believe there’s a god, but to me it seems silly to not acknowledge that there’s no true way for ANYONE to know. Otherwise, why would people debate day in and day out on this issue?

So, do you?

Is it also possible that LOVE, PATRIOTISM, BEAUTY, EVIL GOOD,do not exist? How is anyone to know?? Perhaps you will admit they might not exist? And then… what is the point??

 

[SpiritusSanctus]

Beliefs aside, do you acknowledge that religion, when it comes down to it, is faith? I’m not saying faith is a bad thing - in fact, I encourage it, because I do feel that the right dose of religion can instill good morals and many believers are indeed very good people. I’d like to believe there’s a god, but to me it seems silly to not acknowledge that there’s no true way for ANYONE to know. Otherwise, why would people debate day in and day out on this issue?

So, do you?

1.- xoise, you must always capatalize the G in the word “God” when referring to God The Father Almighty. He does exist, so saying His name in lower-case is dis-respectful.

2.- No, I don’t ever doubt God’s existance. If a terrible thought like that should ever enter my mind, I know it is the Devil putting that thought in there.

3.- Since you apparently seem to doubt God’s existance, I’m going to guess you also don’t believe that the Devil exists, right? It’s a very dangerous thing not to believe that the Devil exists, as doubting that he or Hell exists can lead to people going out and thinking they can do what they please in life without suffering punishment for it. And not believing that God exists is an even more dangerous thing. Afterall, He is The Creator, so doubting His existance would mean major consequences for the souls that do not believe in Him when judgement day arrives.

4.-You say that just because we can’t see God, or touch Him, or directly speak with Him means we don’t know for sure that He exists. You ask how we can prove His existance without any real proof. However, there is proof. The Bible, His Church, the miracles that He has performed, etc. Just because you can’t see or touch Him does not mean he doesn’t exist. You can’t always look at things both ways by thinking “Well, He might exist, but there’s a chance He might not exist,so I don’t know”.