To atheists--was there a time that you DID believe?

[Cinette]

Hello all!

I have been trying to make this post and have had countless interruptions!

This is what I have to say. I have read all the posts and would like to suggest that those of you who really do not believe try reading the book of Job. Read it slowly, carefully and prayerfully.

Suffering is a good thing and does wonders for faith and formation. I have had a certain amount of suffering - been through a revolution, lost everything, moved, started again, a first husband who treated me badly and went to jail leaving me with two children at the age of 21. We built up an incredible business and then another revolution affected it badly and then a partner put paid to it and we lost everything at an age when we were ready for retirement, and, and, and, AND… I had been away from the CC for 27 years and like some of you didn’t think I needed God. My second husband and his family were athiests and you couldn’t wish to be associated with better people. My Father-in-law died not believing.

Let me tell you this, I never tried to influence my husband once I came back to the CC. I just prayed for him. He witnessed some pretty amazing things - my prayers being answered. This made him take a closer look and he read and read and read and then began to attend Mass with me for 11 years and three years ago converted.

We now go to daily Mass and even if I am ill and cant go he still goes. Despite all our misfortunes we have learned to forgive and we have such grateful hearts. We have never been happier.

We have 5 children and 10 grandchildren and another on the way. We are crazy about each other. Things keep getting better.

And so my friends I urge you to keep looking. Even if you do no believe just give God the benefit of the doubt. And when you do believe one day you will find peace, and joy and a feeling of immense gratitude.

Life with God and without Hope and without the certainty of a life hereafter is bland, dull, hopeless, sad, depressing.

I have seen many miracles - miracles of love and joy.

God Bless you. Just give God the benefit of the doubt and read the book of Job.

God love you
:byzsoc: :bowdown2:

 

[Laurent_LUG]

Well Cinette ,
If it really does exist why do disable persons exist ??

What I’ve seen in Cinette’s post is ,
can you accept other people’s life ??
You are trying people to leave their life ,
in other words , maybe not intended ,
but you are trying to convert people !!

If one of my friends (would) try to convert me ,
well … , friendship over & out !!
If you do not accept each other ,
you will never be learning to accept each other ,
and you will not allowed peace in your life !!
Even , what’s the value of life ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 24, 2008

 

[Cinette]

Well Cinette ,
If it really does exist why do disable persons exist ??

What I’ve seen in Cinette’s post is ,
can you accept other people’s life ??
You are trying people to leave their life ,
in other words , maybe not intended ,
but you are trying to convert people !!

If one of my friends (would) try to convert me ,
well … , friendship over & out !!
If you do not accept each other ,
you will never be learning to accept each other ,
and you will not allowed peace in your life !!
Even , what’s the value of life ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 24, 2008

Hello Laurent

My Mother’s name was Laurencine - hence the name Cinette!

Having been married to an Athiest for many years and then witnessed his conversion I just want to pass it on. It is beautiful.

So you believe that when we die we are dead and all life is extinguished? You know when I look at nature I believe!! When I hear music, I believe, When I experience love and friendship, I believe, When I observe science, I believe.

Can you not see that we are more than flesh and blood? I have a very dear friend who is an Athiest. I believe Athiest’s also go to heaven because some of them have implicit faith.

Au revoir Laurent

:extrahappy: :yup:

 

[Emmanuel111]

GOD is always with us we are just blinded of what we see!

 

[iaskquestions]

Namely, they were not in any way more trustworthy, reliable, more honest, more loving, or anything else in my personal experience. Let alone really believing everything they claimed to, knowing it properly, or practicing it as they said it ought to be.

I can easily sympathize with you. It’s a very valid point you’ve made. I think Christians (that includes me as well) need to go back to Christ’s words, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.** By this all men will know **that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

We do need to practice what we preach. I just hope and pray “notsmart” that you will find some Christians who are really practising their faith.

 

[iaskquestions]

Its been about 13 years now since the start of all that, and its been only recently that I’m starting to have some peace with all of this.

Well, just make sure you take another shot at God if you ever lose your peace! Maybe he may just be what you’re looking for. Remember my words!

 

[whatevergirl]

Well, just make sure you take another shot at God if you ever lose your peace! Maybe he may just be what you’re looking for. Remember my words!

The beautiful thing is that when we walk away from God, He remains waiting for us to come back. I pray for all who have decided to stop believing, that somehow…some way…you change your minds, and give God another change to make a difference in your lives.

 

[Cinette]

The beautiful thing is that when we walk away from God, He remains waiting for us to come back. I pray for all who have decided to stop believing, that somehow…some way…you change your minds, and give God another change to make a difference in your lives.

For 27 years I didn’t give God a thought and when I came back to the Church I realised that without prayer I would never have survived and then I realised that my Mother’s brother who was a priest must have been praying for the family always.

In fact I am SURE of it.

 

[Laurence_of_PA]

Long story short, I grew up devout Catholic. A series of life events and inter-faith studies led me to delve into Catholicism for the purpose of strengthening my faith. During this period, I realized I had major conflicts with basic tenants of Catholicism. These included validity of the Bible, issues with omnimax God’s “intervention”, and faith + good works = heaven, as I don’t regard faith as a choice, no matter how much one may want it or do the correct things to get it (retreats, adoration, etc), also structural similarities of religions in general. Eventually I realized that continuing to call myself Catholic would be a lie, as agnostic/weak atheist is more correct.

Its been an agonizing journey to lose my faith, but I have to follow what I think is the truth. All I can do is be the best person I can. Its been about 13 years now since the start of all that, and its been only recently that I’m starting to have some peace with all of this.

My road away from the road to Damascus was very similar, but with some important exceptions. To start off, I 'm sure you’re a lot older than me (unless of course it all began 13 years ago when you were 3 (which would take some serious guts!)). Also, you say you’re only starting to have some peace now – I’m a little different…

Now, I know I haven’t been agnostic for even a year yet, but I had a very troubling time afterwards anyway, and it threatened everything from my schoolwork to my very motivation to get out of bed in the morning.

Luckily though, I had a little road to Damascus experience with Apathy – and she’s very comforting. Or in other words, to find peace (though I’m not always at peace, mind you), I just started listening to tons of classic rock.

Now, there’s plenty of other things I pursue that make life worth living – from friends to career ambitions to camping fifty miles outside of civilization, but whenever I have that down time when spiritual questions usually seep in – and threaten to depress the heck out of me – I depress them.

Find a good tune that touches you and BAM!!! I consider lack-of-peace a chemical issue in the brain, and if it’s just a bunch of unhappy neurons, the right combination of focused sound-waves usually does the trick!

 

[Cinette]

My road away from the road to Damascus was very similar, but with some important exceptions. To start off, I 'm sure you’re a lot older than me (unless of course it all began 13 years ago when you were 3 (which would take some serious guts!)). Also, you say you’re only starting to have some peace now – I’m a little different…

Now, I know I haven’t been agnostic for even a year yet, but I had a very troubling time afterwards anyway, and it threatened everything from my schoolwork to my very motivation to get out of bed in the morning.

Luckily though, I had a little road to Damascus experience with Apathy – and she’s very comforting. Or in other words, to find peace (though I’m not always at peace, mind you), I just started listening to tons of classic rock.

Now, there’s plenty of other things I pursue that make life worth living – from friends to career ambitions to camping fifty miles outside of civilization, but whenever I have that down time when spiritual questions usually seep in – and threaten to depress the heck out of me – I depress them.

Find a good tune that touches you and BAM!!! I consider lack-of-peace a chemical issue in the brain, and if it’s just a bunch of unhappy neurons, the right combination of focused sound-waves usually does the trick!

Hello there! Sorry to hear your story but I can tell you that nothing beats God. The very worst happened to my husband and I some 5 years ago and I can tell you that the Lord helped us a lot. It might sound corny but it is true.

In fact, I get the feeling that you are a spiritual person and will find your way.

Will pray for you

:tiphat:

 

[Laurent_LUG]

Hello Laurent

My Mother’s name was Laurencine - hence the name Cinette!

Merci beaucoup pour l’information

Having been married to an Athiest for many years and then witnessed his conversion I just want to pass it on. It is beautiful.

Suppose it was the other way ,
you’ve been back converted to atheism ??

Or what in case your husband didn’t want to ,
or even wasn’t interested in conversion ??

So you believe that when we die we are dead and all life is extinguished? You know when I look at nature I believe!! When I hear music, I believe, When I experience love and friendship, I believe, When I observe science, I believe.

(Only Joking) I believe I can fly

Back Serious:

About life & death ,
you don’t what’s coming after life , even after death !!
But I know one thing (is) for sure , untill now ,
nobody came back from the death !!
If so , I’d really wanna know what it is , or what it feels like !!
(Curiousity kills the cat)

Believe in:
I do not believe in religion !!
I do believe in myself ,
I do believe in my parents ,
I do believe people can lie ,
I do believe I will survive ,
I do believe in mankind ,
I do believe in frienship ,
I do believe in love ,
I do believe in science (But some things are rubbish)
I do believe in nature ,
I do believe in life on other planets ,
I do believe in life in general !!

I do have faith in myself !!
I even have faith in you !!
I do trust people , but not everyone !!

About music(K)/life , you have to feel it ,
that’s the way to experience (it)
If it ain’t gonna touch you , what’s the use to continu ??
He he , I’m not talking about suicide ,
'cause that’s not me , I love to live !!!
Life is (so much) fun , I really enjoy

Suppose , football , I REALLY don’t like it , I’d rather throw
my tv straight through the closed window ,
than even wasting 1 moment of my life !! (Extreme)
My brother in law , he’s crazy about this game !!
Anyway , this isn’t a reason to fight eachother !!
We are good friends & family !!

I was once visiting a game with a girlfriend ,
but right away she did noticed it wasn’t my game !!
Even I did stay , she never ask me again for another game ,
but still we are good friends !!
As you can see , this isn’t a reason to fight eachother !!

Can you not see that we are more than flesh and blood? I have a very dear friend who is an Athiest. I believe Athiest’s also go to heaven because some of them have implicit faith.

For me , it doesn’t matter how friends looks like ,
or if they are religious , atheist , nihilist ,
aliens , fat , blind , tall , small or whatever !!

(Confession ??)
One fact is for sure & undeniable ,
we do live , but how it all started ,
until now , nobody knows !!

Cinette (an off-topic question):
A priest who leave his job for a woman
he feld in love with (and) to get marry her , is this bad ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 25, 2008

 

[Cinette]

Merci beaucoup pour l’information

Suppose it was the other way ,
you’ve been back converted to atheism ??

Or what in case your husband didn’t want to ,
or even wasn’t interested in conversion ??

You will grow up some day and you will believe in God. This is just a phase!

Cheers

 

[Laurent_LUG]

Well , how you know that for sure ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 25, 2008

 

[Kaninchen]

I do believe in myself ,
I do believe in my parents ,
I do believe people can lie ,
I do believe I will survive ,
I do believe in mankind ,
I do believe in frienship ,
I do believe in love ,
I do believe in science (But some things are rubbish)
I do believe in nature ,
I do believe in life on other planets ,
I do believe in life in general !!

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

Hm, a non-believer?

 

[Cinette]

Well , how you know that for sure ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 25, 2008

Because you cannot live in this world and ignore the love of God and the beauty of His creation.

Who do you think you are in any case? You believe in yourself? Good - what is your power? God created you, He loves you and everything you are and have comes from Him.

Je t’assure cherie!! C’est la verite.

How OLD are you? 15, 16, 17?? Dit moi!

:bowdown2:

 

[Laurent_LUG]

Hm, a non-believer?

OK , you got me

I’m a NON-religion-believer !!

Because you cannot live in this world and ignore the love of God and the beauty of His creation.

Who do you think you are in any case? You believe in yourself? Good - what is your power? God created you, He loves you and everything you are and have comes from Him.

Je t’assure cherie!! C’est la verite.

How OLD are you? 15, 16, 17?? Dit moi!

:bowdown2:

My age is not important , but what I see is that
you can’t accept people who are not religious !!
My question , Why ??

But what drives me to live , well , it’s what I want !!
I wanna live !!

Anyway , I’ll be back later on

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 25, 2008

 

[Cinette]

OK , you got me

I’m a NON-religion-believer !!

My age is not important , but what I see is that
you can’t accept people who are not religious !!
My question , Why ??

But what drives me to live , well , it’s what I want !!
I wanna live !!

Anyway , I’ll be back later on

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 25, 2008

You are wrong. I do accept non-religious people. The people I love most are not religious - except for my husband and he was not religious for years and I didn’t abandon him!!!

OK Kiddo I must be off to work

Cheers

 

[Kaninchen]

OK , you got me

I’m a NON-religion-believer !!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

 

[Laurent_LUG]

Kaninchen , I’m always in for a good smile
Life is such a nice thing
Love To live makes life sunny

Cinette , I’m not out for a fight or whatever of such kind ,
that would be completely useless & against the rules (logic) !!

Look , I really don’t mind what your religion is !!
You didn’t left your husband , you obviously love him !!
You don’t marry someone to divorce later on , of course !!

But suppose your husband didn’t want to become catholic ??
Or your husband is catholic , and suddenly tells you ,
he wants to become an atheist , protestant , jew
or something else , what would you do in such case ??

Or , suppose you would say to your husband , you’ve changed
and wanna become an atheist (to) or protestant , orthodox ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), august 26, 2008