Is the question of God's existence the most important question of your life?

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I would not say that it is the most important question for me, but I do not doubt God’s existence. For others, I think it may be very important indeed.
 
That question for me was settled the day of my conversion. I think anyone who converts has that one personal, almost mystical encounter with God. I may be wrong, since we can also know God by reason alone, or chose to believe in Him by a heroic act of faith. But I simply cannot question His existence anymore than I can question my parent’s existence when I close my eyes 🤷
 
snarflemike said:
Should it be? Why or why not?
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I think this is the most basic question of anyone’s life, even of believers, who, despite what many claim, probably have had and will have moments of doubt. Tackling this question leads to several others, including the question of G-d’s essence or nature, the reason why the universe was created as well as how, and the meaning of one’s own earthly life and one’s destiny. So yes, I think the question of G-d’s existence is most important.
 
In my case, no, it is not. His existence has been very well established for me in the spiritual realm.
 
Once we believe, the question changes, it may be different for different people.
How should we then live?
What should I do to get to heaven?
How can I be a good witness for Christ?
What does God want me to do?
 
I think “is there a purpose to life” is the most important question. Once you are seeking a purpose, the God question is important. Some people do not suffer enough in this life to ask if there is any objective purpose to their existence. However you answer or dodge the first question determines your life’s trajectory.
 
snarflemike said:
Should it be? Why or why not?
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I like the question because it is fun to have some discussions about it.
But for my life, it is totally irrelevant. That is, if somehow I were to become convinced that God existed, it would not chnage my life in the least.
 
belorg said:
I like the question because it is fun to have some discussions about it.
But for my life, it is totally irrelevant. That is, if somehow I were to become convinced that God existed, it would not chnage my life in the least.
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Would that be a rational response to your newfound conviction?
 
snarflemike said:
Should it be? Why or why not?
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It is the most basic question of anyone’s life, of that I am sure. It must be answered and the answer then leads to a myriad of other questions. The word important is, as the other responses indicate, too subjective, in particular based upon time and events, For example for a 17 year old, the question about whether to go to college is very important, but for the 19 year old in his freshman year of college, that question, while very basic/foundational, to what he is now doing, is not that important.
 
snarflemike said:
I don’t have my teeth-pulling equipment with me at the moment, so, OK.
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You don’t have to pull my teeth, just ask an non-suggestive question and I will answer to the best of my ability. But a question like “Would that be a rational response to your newfound conviction?” suggests that you do not think it is a rational response.
So, unless you explain what you mean by this question, “yes” will have to do.
 
belorg said:
You don’t have to pull my teeth, just ask an non-suggestive question and I will answer to the best of my ability. But a question like “Would that be a rational response to your newfound conviction?” suggests that you do not think it is a rational response.
So, unless you explain what you mean by this question, “yes” will have to do.
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As you wish.
 
snarflemike said:
Was it ever the most important question to you? Was it ever important to you at all?
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There was a time when it was important to me. I don’t know whether or not it was ever the most important question to me. Presently it isn’t. Don’t know whether or not this will change in the future or if it will remain unimportant to me.I have interest in the sociology of religion but take an almost apatheistic stance on the question of whether or not there is a specific god in existence.
 
belorg said:
if somehow I were to become convinced that God existed, it would not chnage my life in the least.
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Then this is an index of someone who strives to live a virtuous life.
ThinkingSapien said:
I take an almost apatheistic stance on the question of whether or not there is a specific god in existence.
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belorg said:
But for my life, it is totally irrelevant.
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The issue for most who don’t believe in God is that they resist such belief inasmuch as they know that if there is such a God, then they are accountable to Him for their actions and incur in a duty to help others and to put all selfishness aside. To accept the existence of God would often require a radical change in lifestyle. Thus often they do not truly seek to understand or know if there is a God or not, they simply chose comfort. And it makes sense :o We embrace discomfort and the cross, which the Scripture itself says it is foolishness in the eyes of those who don’t believe - all the while adding that God was pleased to deliver salvation through the foolishness of what was preached.

Most people who claim that they “don’t believe in God” ultimately do believe in God, but they refuse to believe in whatever divinity they have in mind and are calling “God”. This, for us Christians, is a fulfillment of this passage of Scripture:
From my works I shall show you my faith.
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R_C said:
The issue for most who don’t believe in God is that they resist such belief inasmuch as they know that if there is such a God, then they are accountable to Him for their actions and incur in a duty to help others and to put all selfishness aside. To accept the existence of God would often require a radical change in lifestyle.
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Were I convinced that there there is a god, or to be more specific that there is the God that you have in mind (Yahweh) I don’t think it would change my lifestyle very much. Making community contributions is something that’s already a part of my lifestyle. I also don’t think that a few of the other things that you’ve said are applicable to me. But that may be a derailing conversation.

If you feel otherwise, that’s fine. But I wanted to take a brief moment to express that I disagree.
 
ThinkingSapien said:
Were I convinced that there there is a god, or to be more specific that there is the God that you have in mind (Yahweh) I don’t think it would change my lifestyle very much. Making community contributions is something that’s already a part of my lifestyle. I also don’t think that a few of the other things that you’ve said are applicable to me. But that may be a derailing conversation.

If you feel otherwise, that’s fine. But I wanted to take a brief moment to express that I disagree.
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Like I said, this is a hint of a virtuous life which we can all attain. The God I have in mind is the Blessed Trinity, that nobody has ever seen, but that Christ has revealed to us. Christ, our God, is such that we are not just called to contribute out of magnanimity to others, but to literally forget about ourselves and be fully self-giving, loving all of unconditional love, and being ready to forgive all offenses. If you look carefully, I am certain that there are quite a few things that would require some adjustment in order to be a disciple of a God like Christ 😉

But you’re right, it is a derailing conversation, and I just wanted to point something out without pointing my finger at anyone in particular. I am a strong advocate, as I mentioned, of the fact that the handful of people who in the world call themselves “atheist” are in the depth of their hearts believers of the “unknown God” 🙂
 
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