Stopped believing in God

[Fauken]

it’s absolutely absurd. Christianity wrote itself into a corner with this god is both omnipotent and perfectly good line of thinking.

Because forcing someone to love you and spend literally eternity with you is not abusive?

If you didn’t respect Zeus, he might turn into a goose and seduce your wife.

Zeus seduced basically anything with a skirt, regardless of how much that woman’s husband “respected” him.

which, in my opinion, makes their view a lot more consistent with the world around us than the christian god

Why does God have to be like the world?

 

[Latin]

Catholic Encyclopedia Divine Providence says.
His wisdom He so orders all events within the universe that the end for which it was created may be realized.

He directs all, even evil and sin itself, to the final end for which the universe was created.

.
The Mystery of Predestination by John Salza, Page 119.

A sufficient grace has an operating effect only (empowering the will to act),

whereas an efficacious grace has both an operating and cooperating effect (applying the will to act).

.
When God wills a person to perform a salutary act (e.g., prayer, good works), He grants him the means (an efficacious grace) that infallibly produces the end (the act willed by God).

If God wills to permit a person to resist His grace, He grants him a sufficient, and not an efficacious, grace.

.
The Mystery of Predestination by John Salza, Page 113.

However, the Church teaches that God infused Adam with sufficient grace to resist temptation and to perform his duties with charity.

God, however, willed to permit Adam to reject His grace and to sin. End quote.

.
God designed, decreed and directed the event of the “fall,” for the benefit of the entire human race.

God also designed the event of our corruption down to the minutest degree, He decreed our corruption from all eternity and He himself corrupted us for the reason to convert our sins into good and to make us saints. – Please keep in mind, God designed/ planned and directs EVERY EVENT in the universe to the final end for which the universe was created.
.
When God wills to permit us an act of sin He gives us a sufficient grace (we always reject sufficient grace) to resist sin for the reason for to convert our sins into good and to make us saints.

In the case, when God wills not to permit us an act of sin He provides us an efficacious grace and we every time infallible resist the temptation of sin.

As we see above, with the provisions of sufficient and efficacious graces God perfectly Governs/ controls the entire human race.
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The Divine will is cause of all things that happens, as Augustine says (De Trin. iii, 1 seqq.). Therefore all things are subject to fate. – Which is God’s Universal Salvific Will.
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As we see above; God designed/ planned, predestined and orders every event in the universe includes evil and sins (includes the “fall” and our corruption for the reason to convert our sins into good – this is a process God makes us saints NOT hell inmates) to the final end for which the universe was created.

.
Catholic Encyclopedia Divine Providence says;
The end is that all creatures should manifest the glory of God, and in particular that man should glorify Him, recognizing in nature the work of His hand, serving Him in obedience and love, and thereby attaining to the full development of his nature and to eternal happiness in God.
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God bless

 

[MountCarmel]

Lucy - Your Catholic formation appears to have been very shaky, your decisions largely controlled by emotions, rather than study, research, prayer and reflection. As one or two have mentioned, God is always there for you, even if you reject His reality. Facts are facts, independent of what we may think. You are in my prayers that one day the ‘light of life’ will turn on in your mind, and that God may have your consent to work His wonders in your mind and soul. As much as He loves YOU, He cannot and will not force Himself on you - as a human being, you are imbued with freedom to accept Him or reject Him - the consequences of rejecting God/your loving Creator, are mostly dire. As I have said, you are in my prayers, that you will have your ‘Road to Damascus’ moment.

 

[Cjbhoward]

For me personally, I really don’t care whether someone is baptized or not, or whether they pray five times a day or not. And I really can’t believe that a loving God would care about such things either. For me the lessen of Christ boils down to two simple things…giving…and forgiving. And if you can do those two things, if you can give of your strengths, while forgiving others of their weaknesses, then you are a Christian. Not in name perhaps, but in character. And that’s what I think God cares about. I know that that’s what I care about.

So you can hold to your dogma if you think that that’s what God wants, but I don’t believe that that was the intent of Christ’s life at all. I think the intent was to demonstrate the lengths to which a loving God would go, to give, and to forgive. And for me, any person who does the same, be they atheist, Muslim, or Jew, is a Christian, with all the honor, glory, and salvation inherent therein. If this means that I must spend eternity in hell, then so be it. I shall go there willingly, and without regrets. Knowing that in my heart, I’m a Christian.

I think you’re close. What you’ve posted in this thread reminds me of the rich guy who asked Jesus what he must do to enter the Kingdom.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect,367 go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 

[ServusDei1]

Look, I’ll be frank with you. What you feel to be unfair, could be metaphysically necessary in the eyes of God. What I’m about to say may seem harsh, but your feelings have no bearing on any reality whatsoever. The fact of the matter is, these people have chosen to reject the teleology of God’s designs in nature, and have chosen to reject his grace as a result. We cannot take ourselves to beatitude, for it would be ontologically impossible for a lower creature in a hierarchical series to give what he does not have, namely grace. Think in an objective manner. Read Aquinas if you have to.

 

[Delusioned]

I think you’re close. What you’ve posted in this thread reminds me of the rich guy who asked Jesus what he must do to enter the Kingdom.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. ”

I’ve already done that. But not out of any wish to store up treasure in heaven, I have no desire for such things. I give, because my life, here and now, would seem empty if I didn’t.

"Then come, follow me.”

That has always been my goal. Whether I have succeeded or not, is not for me to say. But I have succeeded in doing what my heart beseeched me to do, and for me, that is enough.

 

[Cjbhoward]

I’ve already done that

I was suggesting a deeper meaning. You’re still holding on to a lot of stuff. Your idea of God is not the loving father he’s revealed himself to be.

But you’re a smart guy. The important thing, imo, is to never stop seeking. We’ll never fully understand God, especially if we think we have him figured out.

 

[Latin]

I agree with you ServusDei1, we cannot give what we don’t have.
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We have nothing what God did not given to us, as God’s creations, we are the way God created us.
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Yet a lot of blame game goes around that what a grace rejecting terrible sinners we are.

Yes, at this moment of time by the will of God, we are terrible grace rejecting sinners, God created us to be grace rejecting sinners for good reason and the reason is, to convert our sins into good and by this process God to make us saints.

.
If God would willed He could created this world where are no pains, no sufferings, no human creation commit even a single act of sin. – Would be no blame game out of sheer ignorance that we are terrible grace rejecting sinners and “by free will” we choosing hell and we deserve everlasting sufferings in the pains of hell.

Yes, by free will we choose to commit acts of sins (NOT HELL) when God wills it for the reason to convert our sins into good, the good is in the process God makes us saints.

.
IT IS TIME TO LEARN

Phil.2:13; “For it is God who works in you BOTH to WILL and to ACT for His good pleasure.”

St. Thomas teaches that all movements of will and choice must be traced to the divine will: and not to any other cause, because Gad alone is the cause of our willing and choosing. CG, 3.91.

.
For Augustine says (De Civ. Dei v, 1) that the Divine will or power is called fate.

But the Divine will or power is not in creatures, but in God.
Therefore fate is not in creatures but in God.
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The Divine will is cause of all things that happens, as Augustine says (De Trin. iii, 1 seqq.). Therefore all things are subject to fate.

.
Catholic Encyclopedia Divine providence says;

The universe is a system of real beings created by God and directed by Him to this supreme end, the concurrence of God being necessary for all natural operations, whether of things animate or inanimate, and still more so for operations of the supernatural order.

He directs all, even evil and sin itself, to the final end for which the universe was created.
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God preserves the universe in being; He acts in and with every creature in each and all its activities.
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Hence Providence is at once universal, immediate, efficacious, yet all alike postulate Divine concurrence and receive their powers of operation from Him (I, Q. xxii, a. 3; Q. ciii, a. 6); efficacious, in that all things minister to God’s final purpose, a purpose which cannot be frustrated (Contra Gent., III, xciv);

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As we see above, we cannot even do a smallest act of sin or good without God’s will, His permission and His cooperation by providing the powers of operation for us to commit an act of sin or an act of good.
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God bless

 

[ServusDei1]

You are absolutely right. To say otherwise would be heresy. All our choices are aided by his grace.

 

[njlisa]

@Lucysweeny

You are going through a tough time with your beliefs. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, considered one of the greatest saints of modern times, fought against the sin of despair during her agonizing death from tuberculosis. She wrote: “While I do not have the joy of faith, I am trying to carry out its works at least. I believe that I have made more acts of faith in this past year than all through my whole life.”

Take a look St. Thérèse’s autobiography “Story of a Soul.” It’s helped me a lot. I recommend the unexpurgated John Clarke translation.

 

[He_is_greater_than_i]

This is quite an impressive wondering into who God is. Wow! A few thoughts on your few thoughts:

• You’re 16. This is where you should be. Asking questions. Good job!
• The teen years are there to become an individual, to ask the questions “Who am I, what do I think, what do I believe?” What makes you different than family, friends, others.
• Having a mom who cares is a gift.
• Honestly I agree with you. I learned about hell when I was in my teen years. I got mad at the idea. Since I knew very little about my faith, I slammed the door to God in anger. Who wants to go to hell? That wasn’t exactly motivating for me to do right or good.
• I encourage you to go on a journey of learning to find out The truth about life, death, heaven and hell.
• God gave man free will. We are truly free to choose what we want in this life. But within free will and life, comes great responsibility too. Freedom isn’t free. Just as we have laws on earth, God also created the law of Love. The Ten Commandments.
  They can be summed up into two main commandments:

1. Love God with all your heart, mind and soul
2. Love your neighbor as yourself
   ~~

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

• I encourage you to focus on what you do want out out of this life. This is very helpful.
• Ask Good questions.
• Love is greater than fear. Love, Faith and Understanding cast out fear.
• Why do we need faith? Why do we need God?
• If you look for the answers to this you will find them.
• We can communicate best with God through faith, dialogue & prayer.
• If you ask for the gift of faith, God will give it to you.
  ~~

I encourage you:

Do’s and Dont’s

Do go on a journey of truth and understanding.
Don’t stop searching until you find the answers!
Do listen to good teachers, mentors and those who help you find the truth.
Do find out for yourself what you believe in.
Don’t let anyone or anything tell you what your thoughts or beliefs are especially if it takes you away from God and the truth.
Do - test everything, discern on everything to determine if it is good or bad.
Do - make good choices.
Do stand up for what you believe.
Do become a person of strong faith.
Do - choose truth, goodness, righteousness.
Do - become the best version of who you are in this life
Do - seek excellence in all you do.
Do - live the best life you can possible live - here and now!
Do read the bible to find out about who God is.
Do spend time with God when you are ready.
Do go on the journey & make it the adventure of a lifetime!

~~
It only took me 29 years. I encourage you to take less time than that. The answers are awesome.
This is the best life ever. Why not enjoy every minute of every day as if it were the only time you have is right here, right now, this moment.
Cast fear aside and open the door to faith & courage. Be fearless in life & enjoy it.
Its the only one we have. Make it count!
Seek God in all things & you will find Him in all things.

You are off to a great start! Wow!
Good luck and God bless on your journey.

He is greater than i.

 

[kainosktisis]

This is such a complicated topic with no simple answers. Usually when I hear people talk about how they disapprove of hell & the suffering that people endure there, it demonstrates to me that hell goes against their sense of justice.

The Scriptures tell us that God is love, that He’s merciful, holy, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, & just. People just don’t like God’s idea of justice.

You’d asked:

“Can u be taken out of hell If u beg for forgiveness in hell”

The Scriptures indicate that hell is for all eternity.

“What if I die and I have been a bad person but I don’t want to be apart from god will I be sent to hell against my own will?”

I have some questions of my own to ask regarding your questions (You posed the questions in a very interesting manner)…

1. Do you knowingly commit bad acts? Is there any coercion involved in your committing bad acts, or do you do them freely?
2. If you freely & knowingly commit bad acts, how is that not making a choice to separate yourself from God in this life - & the next?
3. Do you commit evil knowing that such acts make us unclean/impure/sinful/fallen before God & break communion with Him - in effect separating us from Him?
4. Isn’t that rather like saying to God, “My will be done - not Yours” & then wanting to continue that again in the afterlife after sinning - if unrepentant?
5. When we come before God in such a state, isn’t that rather like stating to God that we want to come before Him on our own terms - not His? Isn’t this in effect telling God that we are our own god?
6. Do you know that nothing impure/unclean/sinful/fallen can enter heaven (That, too, is Scriptural)?emphasized text
7. When in love with someone, wouldn’t you want for them to love you back as much as you love them - freely - not coerced? How do you think God would prefer His creation to love Him?
8. When we act in an evil way, isn’t that in effect telling God that not only do we not love Him, but we don’t love others as ourselves either?

Understanding Mortal Sin (from The Beginning Catholic Website):

Understanding Mortal Sin | beginningCatholic.com

Understanding mortal sin is essential for living a Christian life. But what is mortal sin? And why is it so important?

www.beginningcatholic.com

 

[adamhovey1988]

Those are good points. I think we need to get this idea out of our head that God sends people to Hell, God does no such thing, if a person is in Hell, they made a conscious decision to reject God. I want to tell people this, so they understand. One of my friend’s, who had a younger child, so he was a father. He was found in the woods by some hunters, with a bullet hole in the back of his head so, needless to say he was dead. There were two people, they were charged with his murder, I haven’t heard much else about it so I don’t know if they were found guilty or even if they went to trial. Anyway, if those people, know that they did something wrong, and they do not repent, they won’t go to Heaven when they die, that’s not God making that decision, that’s them. I honestly do hope they repent, if they are guilty of that crime, remember I said I don’t even know if they’ve gone to trial yet and I don’t want to be hasty in my judgment. I don’t know who killed him, but the people involved, not only took a life, they took a father too, and having lost my father at a young age (from medical malpractice), I want to see Justice. Not vengeance, Justice. Again, I want these people to go to Heaven, but whomever it is that actually did kill him, there’s a chance that they might not. I think, and I’ve said this before that Hell exist, because God is just. Some people will not be punished in this life, and I think such people, (and I’m not judging anyone’s soul I don’t have the ability to do that) who have committed gravley manifest sin, and have no inclination to repentance, are those that will be in Hell.

 

[kainosktisis]

There are bits of Scripture that come to mind with all of this…

John 3 NABRE - USCCB:

14 And just as Moses lifted up* the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,j

15 * so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.k

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn* the world, but that the world might be saved through him.l

18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.m

19 * And this is the verdict,n that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.o

21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.p

2 Peter 3 NABRE - USCCB:

2 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB

This whole chapter is important, but this verse stands out:

9The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.h

Believing is trusting in God - knowing that He loves us as no one ever can nor will, that He has our best in sight, cooperating with Him in our mission here on earth…

 

[WojciechKosek]

Mat 12:32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Do you understand? Why Jesus could say “either in this age or in the age to come”? My answer: because there is possibility to be forgiven “in the age to come” (but not for those who speaks against the holy Spirit). Purgatory is this “age to come” where it is possibility to be forgiven.