I just can't believe in god

[Bereaborn]

I have tried so hard over the past ten years to believe in god; specifically the christian god but I just can’t. To believe in something, I need to be able to verify it with at least one of the five senses that god supposedly blessed us with and/or indisputable archeological/historical evidence.

I can’t just believe in something because everybody around me does; I am just not wired that way. I would love to believe and have faith in god but no evidence points in that direction.

I have looked at previous answers here on the boards so please don’t use the “how do you know that you exist?” argument. I guess if blind faith is what it takes to be saved and the christian god exists, I’ll just be outta luck. There, however, is no proof that I have ever seen for the existance of god, satan, heaven, hell, or anything else of that nature.

Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and that is completely lacking in my opinion. I hope not too many people jump all over at once for this post. Take care.

-Curtis

Here’s a good book written by a former professed atheist. It is not a religious book per se, but it comes in the form of rational thought. This book was eye opening and if you read it with an open mind, it will give you some good food-for-thought.

“Case For A Creator” by Lee Strobel

May God bless you and revail Himself to you.

"Our souls are restless until they rest in You"
St Augustine

 

[anon52328184]

lee strobel is a good author. he has written many good “case” books.

i have not read the case for the creator, i think i read the case for Christ, which was also good.

 

[lionandthelamb]

Dear Curtis,
The statement “I just can’t believe in God,” is of itself a statement of belief. How can you not believe in something that isn’t ? The fact that you say you don’t believe in God focuses on the Object of your unbelief, God, and His existence. Think about it.

 

[anon52328184]

in a way i see what you are saying lion, but, he knows that God exists for others. sometimes it is frustrating when you see others who have such a deep faith and it seems so easy for them. whereas, there are others who truly struggle with their faith.

curtis knows that their are two faiths, judaism and christianity, and both believe in God, the creator of the universe, the God introduced to us in Genesis.

i don’t know if i am explaining this very well.

remember when you would sit in math class or science class and a teacher might put an equation on the board and explain how to figure out the answer?
some people would “get it” immediately and have no problem understanding how to figure it out. whereas others, just aren’t able to figure it out at all.
it is like their brains are wired differently.

this might not be a good analogy, and God is definitely more than a mathematical equation or a science problem, but that is as close as i can get.

 

[Lisdogan]

There is only truth in it if it is actually true! There is nothing to lose by simply asking instead of suggesting (assuming), and by doing that you prevent alienating and offending people. There exists a large body of people who have sudied Catholicism, prayed, etc, but Catholicism does not make sense to them - therefore, they can’t believe.

First off, I am sorry to hear about your sick newborn, and wish you strength through this difficult time. I am glad that for you, existence of God is undeniable. It can be a real comfort especially in the face of difficulties you are experiencing now.

But faith is not all about what can be seen/tasted/smelled/touched. It is, to me, about what is logical or not to the person. I don’t see God’s influence in the world; only man’s. Where I’m at right now is the thought that if God exists, it is a very uninvolved God.

Swan - well put.

Hmm, well, for me, there are a lot of things in this world which are astounding, very extraordinary to me. How the human heart works, for example, when one electrical pathway is broken, there are built-in detours, built in fail-safes, to keep things going. That’s pretty astounding to me, and it is true.

Please see my posting at 40.

In Christ,

 

[Lisdogan]

Curtis~
The very fact that you are on this forum tells me that you are on a spiritual journey and that is wonderful. Even our greatest saints had moments of doubt about the existence of God.
" Faith reflection leads one deeper into the sacred space within where answers must find peace with the soul’s reality."

 Someone once said that many people miss heaven by 12 inches - the approximate distance between your head and your heart.  Faith resides in one's heart; not one's intellect.

Perhaps the best prayer we can say is:  Lord, help my unbelief.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Chloe

I have been on a spiritual quest for four years now, and recently joined the Catholic Church.

There are several things I have learned about the Christian faith which might give us some insight:

Yes, there is a 12 inch difference between head and heart, but both the intellect and the heart are important in faith.

We can know *about Jesus *(intellect), and we can know Jesus (faith).

It is important to distinguish between the two, but also to ensure that we know that both exist - and to try to follow both routes.

Our faith causes us to be interested in the story of the rise of Christianity from the time of the God of the Jews, its role in the development of Christian civilisation, and the role of the Church today (all denominations).

Our Bible studies, or discussions with others, or reading books about what has recently been discovered in the areas where Jesus of Nazareth carried out this mission help to strengthen our faith. Both routes complement one another.

We are always strengthened by knowing more about others’ faiths - other Christian denominations, Hindu, Moslem and Shinto ism for example. They highlight what is the same and what is different among faiths - and help us to respect people who are moral in a different way than we are.

In Christ

 

[Lisdogan]

Deborahaz, I spent 30 years with the military, I’ve retired but still work as a civilian for the miltary. I’ve suffered from post traumatic stress from the working condition (never deployed, but provided support from U.S.) Our office coordinates funerals for soldiers killed in action from our state. I grew up catholic, left it for a few decades, re-entered when I had a breakdown a few years ago and have fallen away again. just feel lost.

I had a total physical, mental and emotional breakdown four years ago. I had been working around the globe trying to get governments to take HIV plague seriously given that millions have died and many more millions are infected. I thought if I raced around hard enough, I could save the world.

Crash. It happens. But perhaps it was given: I could undertake the spiritual quest I had wanted to do all my life. That did not mean I was looking for ‘faith’. It meant that as a moral person, baptised in a mainstream protestant denomination when I was younger, I was exploring other faiths and belief systems that I had bumped up against around the world.

I came back to Christianity and continued my research, found excellent mentors and supporters in the Catholic Church) a Bishop, a Monsignor, an astounding Jesuit, and a priest trained in psychology/spirituality. And I could attend church whenever I needed to be still, comforted and healed.

There was not an issue of faith, or being forced into a belief system, or set of dogmas or doctrines. I have moved at my own pace, with loving advice and sustaining power from those who have moved in to make me whole again. Is this the Catholic Church as psychiatrist or psycholgist or therapist? Or was it the Holy Spirit Paraclete? Or was it direct intervention of Christ and/or God?

I do not know, and it does not really matter to me. What I do know is that I am being healed. I have thrown off the anger, frustration and sorrow in which I had almost died. I have been able to find a modicum of peace. I am still finding it hard not to mourn over the deaths of the innocent from poverty, HIV, TV, malaria, starvation. But the habit of going to church, putting my heart and soul into the hands of Jesus of Nazareth (who after all was indeed a historical person, whether or not you believe he was divine), and just being still, has brought huge relief to me.

Two months ago, I was confirmed in the Catholic Church. My faith will grow, but right now it is strong enough to keep me safe in Christ. I am learning to empty myself so that he will have room in me, and to complete His own suffering.

Right now, you are probably what we would call a ‘moral non-Christian’. That’s OK. But there is a support system out there which is ready and able to meet your angst and to feed your soul.

Do not be like my father who fought in WW2, and is now 87, weeping over the memories of his fight through Normandy with the Canadian forces, the memories he has suppressed all his life.

In Christ,

 

[Lisdogan]

Hey curtis,

I just wanted to say thank you for your question and that I know where you’re coming from. Belief in God is a matter of faith, and if anyone tells you it’s not a struggle they are fibbing. Even as a believer I still struggle with it. When I encounter questions such as yours, my first thought was to direct you to the writings of the 1st century Christians and beyond. I’d also invite you to look into the history of the bible’s formation, and check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

There’s nothing wrong at all with wanting to know. God is a God of reason, and wants us to ask questions. It’s how we get to know Him better. One Sunday I was listening to my priest’s homily and he talked about faith and reason. The two are not opposed but go together, and both come from God. He explained that we are born with an intellect. We have a natural desire to question things and explore; we want learn about ourselves and our world. We use our intellect and reasoning skills to accomplish this. It’s where science comes from and theology. He went on to explain too, that there does come a point where our rational minds reach their limit. We are only finite humans and simply do not have the ability to fully comprehend the infinite. There are just some mysteries that will always be mysteries to us until we move on to the next life. This is where our faith comes in. It helps us to accept truths that we may not immediately be able to understand.

I’ve also wondered, too, why doesn’t God just give us THE proof of His existence. It seemed it would put to rest a lot of arguements. I heard an answer from my father that I didn’t expect but made more sense than anything else I’d heard.

He said that if you notice in the bible, it says in many different places that Jesus showed the Apostles things that were not spelled out in scripture. He showed them signs, miracles, and so forth. The Gospel of John says that not everything Jesus did was written down. I can only try to imagine the things they saw. What my father pointed out was that Jesus based His Church on faith. He said that if you think about it, it is THE perfect way. If Jesus would have given the Apostles some rule or doctrine or equation or sign, anything, as the irrefutable proof of God and heaven and the whole sha-bang, then if someone wanted to disprove God, all they’d have to do is disprove whatever key doctrine or sign Jesus gave us and the whole thing would be over. Christianity has been around for 2,000 years. Given that scenario, the Faith would have probably been destroyed a long time ago. This is why God chose faith.

Faith can’t be destroyed or disproven. Faith lies within the heart. And it is through the heart that we understand and know love, which is what God is and why we were created. The only way to kill faith is to kill the person.

His comments answered a lot of things for me, and hopefully they will help you as well. The last thing I’ll leave you with, if you’re wanting something tangible, is to check out the heart and soul of the Church. Take some time and study the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist. It’s why I converted three years ago.

God bless.

Someone on another thread asked if God gives any proof of His existence. I tried to put some of my perceptions on post 40 on this thread. God does not need to, or chooses not to, give evidence of His existence. In fact, the nature of the divine is supranatural - that is the fact of being divine means that a being cannot be known, or else the being would not be divine (I know it sounds nuts). Try reading post 40 and see what you think.

 

[benedictus2]

As I posted earlier in another thread, God is not empirically provable. If God were to be limited by our senses then He would not be God. Still God does communicate to us via our senses but more via our heart.

If proof of God is what you require, then it is essentially a philosophical proof that would answer that (example would be St Thomas’s Uncaused Cause)

Belief in something does not necessarily mean something one can sense with the 5 senses. You know that your mother loves you even if you cannot touch, taste, etc that love. There is something deeper inside that informs us that someone loves us.

As I wrote earlier as well, faith or belief is not something we do by ourselves. Some are born with questioning minds so belief does not come easy.

I would suggest though praying even though you do not believe.

The fact that you so want to believe is a grace in itself. So may be you can pray and say to God, I just don’t believe in you. I want to believe but I just don’t. My rational mind just won’t let me.

But keep praying for the grace to believe. I know of many atheist who have gone down this road and their stories are all different. And most of the time, their coming into faith is a surpise gift when they were least expecting it.

So try it even just for a month. Pray that simple prayer. And if still it does not come, continue praying anyway. It is such a short prayer and won’t impinge on your time at all.

As Saint Agustin says: Faith is believing something you do not see. The gift of faith is seeing what you believe.

As a last note: try googling the conversion story of Elizabeth Fox Genovese.

You will be in my prayers.

 

[Deo_Optimo_Maxi]

Hy Curtis!!!
I think everything happens for a reason, and I also beleive that God is in our heart. We are just born that way, since he created us. You think you dont have faith and you dont beleive, but I think you are on the right path. You are doing what is the most importatnt thing: seek him. All you have to do is try to find Him, he is everywhere. Look around, the best thing is to get away from everything human. Dont think about your problems, work or bills or anything like that. Sometimes I feel closer to Him when I am on my own sitting in a park or walking on the beach. Find the beauty of his creations, of our beautyfull planet, the love for them, and you will find that God is the source of all this. He will come to you if you are willing to take Him in. You are gonna feel Him in your heart.
I beleive that God is trying so hard to save us right now, when there are so many bad things happening around us, just let Him touch you!!!

 

[BRB]

Is this the Catholic Church as psychiatrist or psycholgist or therapist? Or was it the Holy Spirit Paraclete? Or was it direct intervention of Christ and/or God?

What I do know is that I am being healed. I have thrown off the anger, frustration and sorrow in which I had almost died. I have been able to find a modicum of peace. But the habit of going to church, putting my heart and soul into the hands of Jesus of Nazareth (who after all was indeed a historical person, whether or not you believe he was divine), and just being still, has brought huge relief to me.

I am learning to empty myself so that he will have room in me, and to complete His own suffering.

,

Lisdogan …

The more we allow the message to our Heads to go to our Hearts … the more we ‘experience’ Christ in personal ways. Suffering/service to fellowman is essential to allowing that 12-15 inch distance between the two to get bridged by the Word of Life/Love.

Christ washed feet of disciples … to emphasize what is important to him, and essential for us to understand about life.

 

[jerryb1020]

I can’t just believe in something because everybody around me does; I am just not wired that way. -Curtis

Curtis:

I know the feeling. I once thought I didnn’t have any faith at all … but driving down a two-lane highway at 60 mph and passing on-comming traffic going 60 mph and potential death less than four feet away made me realize that I had faith that they (or I) would not cross the white or yellow line in the middle of the road.

Now, as I read your post and some of the responses, I realize that I do not have enough faith to be an athiest.

To be one I would have to believe that the entire universe (did you ever look at the sky on a clear, moonless night away from any man made lights at all?) came from nothing. There is enough scientific evidence to prove that stars (suns actually, just like ours) are born and die … therefore the universe must have had a starting point, even though how long ago is difficult to comprehend.

I would have to believe that all the order of the universe … the big stuff like galaxies by the jillions, and the small stuff like atoms and DNA, and the in-between stuff (like our brains and ability to think, analyze, and talk), ‘just happened’ and there is no causitive factor.

Henry J.M. Nouwen, a Catholic priest, had a Jewish friend, a skeptic, Challenged by the friend, Nouwen wrote a book called “Life of the Beloved – Spiritual living in a Secular World”. You may find some answers to your quest.

Stay focused: your search is worthwhile and your posts and the many responses are helping a lot more people than you may think.

Best
JerryB

 

[Deo_Optimo_Maxi]

Hey Jerry
You are 110 percent right, your reply is very similar to what I usually say when someone asks me about God. This world is just too beautyfull and amazing to be a coincidence or the perfect mixture of chemicals. Like in the bible, everything Jesus sad and done i it is just too perfect to be written by human.
Nothing man creates can ever be as perfect as His creation.
God bless

 

[benedictus2]

I don’t have the fight left in me and it’s obvious that I need to reach out to the Lord for help. But what do you do if you held on because you knew it was the only way to get through life, and then you slowly slip away. I stopped going to church in July. Made a new habit of staying away. There’s things inside me I know I have to do, but I just don’t want to do them anymore. I’m tired of trying to figure this out.

Hi JustArmy,

Just saw your post today.

I am 48 and for the past 2 years have been rather depressed.I have alternated between defeatest resignation and pummelling God’s breast to please grant my peitition.

To compound the problem, the devil usually uses these trying times to really get at you.

Then the other day I had a thought: But what if this is where and how He wants me to be at this moment? What if sad and depressed is what I have to be at this particular point in my life?

Then I thought about Christ’s temptation in the dessert and the abandoment He felt on the Cross. So I thought, If Christ went through it all, why should I be spared the anguish. So I prayed to the Father that if this is where and how He wants me to be then I accept it. And this knowledge deep in my heart came: that I am not bearing this on my own.

Somehow my whole perspective changed and a little hesitant joy slowly sprung.

There is so much emphasis these days on having fun and being happy that you get treated like a pariah should (heaven forbid) you say you are depressed. And come to think of it, much of the fun we’re supposed to have is all rather shallow,anyway.

I think the healing comes from embracing rather than fighting it. It is after all a cross and can be quite a heavy one. I don’t know how one unites one’s suffering with Christ’s, but I do know that for this moment in my life, God’s grace will be enough.

I have found too that the depression deepens the more I think about the future. So I have stopped trying to think too much about tomorrow and the days after. But there is a certain compulsion to worry about the morrow so I continually ask for the grace to concentrate on the present moment. I take one day at a time for God’s grace is only sufficient for the day. The bread is a daily bread. I pray for the grace to embrace each day.

I know that this will not last, so I remind myself that He is the Lord of time and that in His time not mine, all will be well.

Much of my depression I found came from fear. So my prayers centre mostly on asking God to lay His hand on me and banish my fears.

Most of all, the Eucharist, I know has seen me through all these.

A little story about St Augustine which might help you (if you are Catholic).

When St Augustine was having a problem with the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, he heard a voice say to him: “I am the bread of the strong. Eat me. But you will not transform me and make me part of you, rather I will transform you and make you part of me.”

So please go back to Church even if you don’t feel like it.

You don’t have to think or pray. Just spend time before Him in the Blessed Sacrament and just gaze at him. Just be in His presence.

Better still, go back to receiving Him in communion. He is the bread of the strong.

Oh and yes, some month’s back I asked Him to please grant me the grace to hope.

I think, that sometimes we pray much for material things but rarely ask (if ever) for an increase in faith, hope and charity.
And yet these are what will see us through during our earthly pilgrimage.

I will keep you in my prayers.

 

[fibromite]

You & I are Kindred spirits man, I am so lonely & feel so broken too,Yrs ago I did have friends, but yrs passed & I lost touch some because I wanted to, My self esteem was so Low & still pretty much is I didnt want to be around people, I do manage to get to church weekly sometimes twice a week, its my little bit of heaven here on earth. Life is tough at times & we just have to figure out how to deal with it, which can be very hard for us.sometime we have to seek help, which I have struggled against for yrs. I never wanted to give in & have someone tell me how I should live my life.
You wanna know something guy, there are so many people like us who are hurting & their heart is ripped apart too, but to look at them U would never know it.So we are not alone.Yes Life can be very tough even for tough guys, I do Hope U find a Happy Medium!
Your to young to quit man to young, I am sure U have a lot to offer others, gotta find out where U fit! I understand perfectly.

This is my first post. To you, Methodi, and to JustArmy, and to the many others I can relate fully to what you are saying. My own life started out difficult, had a few really good periods, and many more very difficult ones. I have gone from becoming an Agnostic at the age of 10 (figuring that if there was a God he did not care at all about his children otherwise he would not allow little kids like me to suffer) to seeking to know God beginning in my forties to finally choosing to join the Catholic Church a couple of years ago at age 61.

I am disabled, on SSDI, and my husband, the one great blessing of my life, is battling Cancer for the second time. We have had three periods of hubby losing job and depleting savings as he looked for a new one. Life has overall been more difficult than easy for us.

There are really two related issues here running through my own life and I think through the lives of some who are posting on this topic.

The first is the issue of Depression. Depression is an illness caused by a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. I often say depression is my best thing, I have been so good at it for so many years. Because God gave us these neurotransmitters, we have to accept that they are there and when they are out of whack there are real effects. One can rarely will one’s way out of depression. The imbalance can be caused by many things, including a genetic predisposition, long periods of stress that will literally change a person’s chemical makeup, and sometimes another illness.

But God has also given some people a special gift that allows them to study, research and understand how the chemicals in our bodies work and interact and this has led in our time to the development of many drugs that aid in restoring a more normal chemical balance. We are very blessed to be living in such a time, for it was not always so. I urge anyone whose depression is not being treated with such therapy to find a good doctor and be honest about your situation. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right drug or combination of drugs for a particular person, so patience is necessary. But the result is worth it. It’s not that you will suddenly become a throughly happy, undepressed person. But you will discover what it is like to feel more “normal”, and you will be better able to better cope with life’s traumas. And with life’s Big Questions. Please, get the help that is there.

As for faith, I know three things: God is there, with the birth of his Son, Jesus, He proves that He loves me, and He has promised that if I live my life as He desires me to, I will some day upon my death be in a much better place than this valley of tears. God has given me the Life of Jesus, the Words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit,and the writings and Sacraments of His Church to help me to live the type of life he wants me to live, and that is how I will find that elusive thing called “happiness”.

Do I still struggle? Absolutely! But I also will not lose track of those things that I know are true. And I have become more accepting of who I am, of how God made me. I don’t think I will ever be a person of great, intense spirituality – each of us has different. My faith depends heavily on the mind as well as the heart. The mind actually saves us from acting on distorted feelings sometimes.

I am a John Paul II, EWTN, Father Richard John Neuhaus Catholic. I discovered early on in my quest the magazine Father Neuhaus edited, called “First Things” and it was instrumental in the development of my faith and my decision to become a Catholic.

I am currently reading “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts” by Father Jonathan Morris. Father Jonathan writes very logically, very honestly, and with a simple eloquence. I recommend it to all who struggle. It sometimes often helps me to get back to the basics, C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and “God in the Dock” are essential.

I will keep all of you in my prayers.

 

[BRB]

I am a John Paul II, EWTN, Father Richard John Neuhaus Catholic. I discovered early on in my quest the magazine Father Neuhaus edited, called “First Things” and it was instrumental in the development of my faith and my decision to become a Catholic.

I am currently reading “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts” by Father Jonathan Morris. Father Jonathan writes very logically, very honestly, and with a simple eloquence. I recommend it to all who struggle. It sometimes often helps me to get back to the basics, C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and “God in the Dock” are essential.

I will keep all of you in my prayers.

Its amazing how someones ‘plea for help’ thread … brings out the most touching personal stories from CAF members.

Its always among the injuried, the ill, the depressed … that God works his physical/spiritual miracles. Upon the DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL … come the healing graces that mankind will finally accept, when there is no one else to turn to.

In our desparation … we find Hope in the WORD, that transforms our lives.

 

[Lisdogan]

This is my first post. To you, Methodi, and to JustArmy, and to the many others I can relate fully to what you are saying. My own life started out difficult, had a few really good periods, and many more very difficult ones. I have gone from becoming an Agnostic at the age of 10 (figuring that if there was a God he did not care at all about his children otherwise he would not allow little kids like me to suffer) to seeking to know God beginning in my forties to finally choosing to join the Catholic Church a couple of years ago at age 61.

I am disabled, on SSDI, and my husband, the one great blessing of my life, is battling Cancer for the second time. We have had three periods of hubby losing job and depleting savings as he looked for a new one. Life has overall been more difficult than easy for us.

There are really two related issues here running through my own life and I think through the lives of some who are posting on this topic.

The first is the issue of Depression. Depression is an illness caused by a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. I often say depression is my best thing, I have been so good at it for so many years. Because God gave us these neurotransmitters, we have to accept that they are there and when they are out of whack there are real effects. One can rarely will one’s way out of depression. The imbalance can be caused by many things, including a genetic predisposition, long periods of stress that will literally change a person’s chemical makeup, and sometimes another illness.

But God has also given some people a special gift that allows them to study, research and understand how the chemicals in our bodies work and interact and this has led in our time to the development of many drugs that aid in restoring a more normal chemical balance. We are very blessed to be living in such a time, for it was not always so. I urge anyone whose depression is not being treated with such therapy to find a good doctor and be honest about your situation. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right drug or combination of drugs for a particular person, so patience is necessary. But the result is worth it. It’s not that you will suddenly become a throughly happy, undepressed person. But you will discover what it is like to feel more “normal”, and you will be better able to better cope with life’s traumas. And with life’s Big Questions. Please, get the help that is there.

As for faith, I know three things: God is there, with the birth of his Son, Jesus, He proves that He loves me, and He has promised that if I live my life as He desires me to, I will some day upon my death be in a much better place than this valley of tears. God has given me the Life of Jesus, the Words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit,and the writings and Sacraments of His Church to help me to live the type of life he wants me to live, and that is how I will find that elusive thing called “happiness”.

Do I still struggle? Absolutely! But I also will not lose track of those things that I know are true. And I have become more accepting of who I am, of how God made me. I don’t think I will ever be a person of great, intense spirituality – each of us has different. My faith depends heavily on the mind as well as the heart. The mind actually saves us from acting on distorted feelings sometimes.

I am a John Paul II, EWTN, Father Richard John Neuhaus Catholic. I discovered early on in my quest the magazine Father Neuhaus edited, called “First Things” and it was instrumental in the development of my faith and my decision to become a Catholic.

I am currently reading “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts” by Father Jonathan Morris. Father Jonathan writes very logically, very honestly, and with a simple eloquence. I recommend it to all who struggle. It sometimes often helps me to get back to the basics, C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and “God in the Dock” are essential.

I will keep all of you in my prayers.

Bless you for your story. Remember that as St Paul says, our suffering completes the suffering of Christ and in that sense is sacred beyond measure.

Know that you are held in the strong safe arms of Our Lord, that you are in the Presence of His Son Jesus the Christ, that He is with you, in you and works through you.

You can be sure too that all with whom you have shared your suffering will keep you in their prayers.

In Christ,

 

[Schnitz]

curtishouse29:

I have tried so hard over the past ten years to believe in god; specifically the christian god but I just can’t. To believe in something, I need to be able to verify it with at least one of the five senses that god supposedly blessed us with and/or indisputable archeological/historical evidence.

I can’t just believe in something because everybody around me does; I am just not wired that way. I would love to believe and have faith in god but no evidence points in that direction.

I have looked at previous answers here on the boards so please don’t use the “how do you know that you exist?” argument. I guess if blind faith is what it takes to be saved and the christian god exists, I’ll just be outta luck. There, however, is no proof that I have ever seen for the existance of god, satan, heaven, hell, or anything else of that nature.

Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and that is completely lacking in my opinion. I hope not too many people jump all over at once for this post. Take care.

-Curtis

I also have had many difficulties with my faith (even to the point of despair). But I have pulled through the tough times, and I don’t take my faith for granted. Let me tell you what: you are looking at faith the wrong way. Faith isn’t blind. It is also not something that you can get by reasoning. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t reasons for faith, but rather that one doesn’t attain faith through reasoning. With that being said, faith never contradicts reason or logic.

Now you said that you can’t believe something just because everyone else around you does. That’s good! It means you can’t be spoon-fed your beliefs. But what you can do is to trust those around you who have faith. They have had difficulties with their faith too. You aren’t the only one who has thought this whole “God thing” over. For that reason alone you could believe what they believe. Simply believe because you trust them. Then, after a lot of time and perseverance, your faith will become something that is personal. It won’t happen immediately. It will still be difficult, and it will take lots of perseverance. But if you commit yourself to it completely, you can do it. With the help of Jesus Christ, you can do it.

Yours in Christ, Schnitz

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Curtis,
Just keep praying to God that if He is there, to please show you that He’s there. Don’t expect immediate results, but keep praying for it every day. Don’t have high expectations for an immediate answer, just keep asking every day. If there is a God, it’s worth asking Him every day even if it takes the rest of your life to get to know Him.
Neil

I have tried so hard over the past ten years to believe in god; specifically the christian god but I just can’t. To believe in something, I need to be able to verify it with at least one of the five senses that god supposedly blessed us with and/or indisputable archeological/historical evidence.

I can’t just believe in something because everybody around me does; I am just not wired that way. I would love to believe and have faith in god but no evidence points in that direction.

I have looked at previous answers here on the boards so please don’t use the “how do you know that you exist?” argument. I guess if blind faith is what it takes to be saved and the christian god exists, I’ll just be outta luck. There, however, is no proof that I have ever seen for the existance of god, satan, heaven, hell, or anything else of that nature.

Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and that is completely lacking in my opinion. I hope not too many people jump all over at once for this post. Take care.

-Curtis

 

[Schnitz]

Neil_Anthony:

Curtis,
Just keep praying to God that if He is there, to please show you that He’s there. Don’t expect immediate results, but keep praying for it every day. Don’t have high expectations for an immediate answer, just keep asking every day. If there is a God, it’s worth asking Him every day even if it takes the rest of your life to get to know Him.
Neil

Perseverance Curtis. Neil’s right.

Also, might I suggest the book “Because God is Real” by Peter J. Kreeft. It is elementary (written for those who are just beginning to scratch the surface of their faith) for sure, but I think that you would like it. I know that it has helped me, and it is a pretty easy read. It is a question/answer type set up, and it would be very beneficial for you.