Why don't people believe in God?

Just out of curiosity, why don’t people believe in God? I’m interested in your personal experiences or just events that prevents your belief.

The reason I’m asking is because why wouldn’t people want to have a relationship with a loving God. If you respond with “because how can there be a loving God in an evil world”. It’s not God that makes it evil, it’s us. He gave each human free will, which means that we each have the ability to do what we please. Some choose to use their free will to murder, which affects others, mostly innocents. Others choose their free will for corruption or taking advantage of others.

However, even if this does occur, don’t you think that eternal punishment in hell for those who harm the innocent bad enough? Think about it, eternal means forever and ever and ever and ever, it’s never-ending, 24/7. If you’ve ever sat near a huge campfire, you’d know that as it burns bigger, you sit further away. Think about it, you’re not even in the fire, and you can already feel your skin hurt. Hell is a lot worse. You’re actually in it.

Then if you say, why would a God allow people to burn in the first place. I’ll just ask you, would you allow just anyone to live in your house? Heaven is where God dwells. Home is where you dwell. Would you let a murderer, who doesn’t repent of his wrongdoings, to live with your family?
(God did not make people murder, it’s their free will, they have a conscience. Jeffrey Dahmer a serial killer drank a lot of alcohol before killing his victims and sometimes cannibalizing them. Also, not all children abused or with terrible childhoods at a young age become serial killers. )
Would you let a corrupt person who takes advantage of others to live with you eternally? I know I wouldn’t. It’s the same with God, why would you expect him to do the same?
And then you might say, why would a God let terrible events happen. Why doesn’t he just show himself? And this is just probably one reason out of the many. But it’s like, God wants us to choose to love him (again, free will) because don’t you think love is truly tested if you love what you can’t see? If you believe, your reward is eternal life in Heaven. Riches in heaven are far better than earth’s temporary riches. Earthly riches are like temporary satisfaction. Rich people want to get richer, to fulfill something missing. But God can fulfill what’s missing. Think about it this way people are born, and people die. They bring nothing to this earth, and they leave with nothing. When you die, future generations will just live their lives, never even giving you a moments though (unless you contributed in some way, like Albert Einstein or George Washington, but then it’s like periodic thoughts). However, if you choose to accept God, and just pray that he’ll come into your life, and just build a relationship with him like you would with another human. He already knows your sins, your struggles, your secrets, and he can help you through it. Just pray for it.

I’ve struggled with these thoughts before. I even though God was cruel to let bad events happen, I even thought that I couldn’t follow a God who would allow negativity in the world. Sometimes, I still unconsciously do when I read the news. But then I just have to remind myself that God has everything under control. We know how the world is going to end (Antichrist), and we just need to have faith.

Haha, that’s just my take on it. Also, in a way, God already does show his miracles. Look at the clouds, look up cuttlefish, look at the exotic animals like those giant fish and turtles, look at the The Wave in Arizona/Utah, Look at the national parks, in short, just look at nature, and just think, there’s a God that made it all. And everything you see will become more incredible.

Which god?

Well, for me there’s only one- God/Jesus Christ/Holy Spirit - The Trinity.
Honestly, I’m still till trying to comprehend how that works, haha, but I’m learning. I’m not going to say that I know everything about God and the Christian faith.

Why would I, or any thinking being, choose to believe in something for which there is absolutely no evidence? Of course, if you have any that would pass 21st century scrutiny, please do share.

Hey, if you’re going to believe in something that is one-hundred percent a matter of faith, it becomes completely arbitrary just what you believe in. You can have faith in anything, you can believe in anything. So, I ask: why should I have faith in an arbitrary construct?

Just a question on your post, no hijack intended. I thought the way to avoid hell was to accept Jesus as your savior and ask forgiviness for your sins. Nothing about not sinning.

Which sect do you belong to?

Because why should they.

I’m a deist, so while I believe in something I call God, it probably isn’t even recognizable to you as such a thing (I’m also a Unitarian Universalist - in both the go to church sense and in the general meaning of those terms - all things we call god are aspects of the same spiritual force (unitarianism) and if people do get saved, everyone will (universalism). So for me, there really isn’t a reason to believe in a Christian God.

I’m married to an atheist. He wasn’t raised to believe in god, doesn’t see a reason to believe in god, and finds it sort of a quaint superstition.

I believe in God but not what you are talking about. not a Christian.

so, why? because it makes no sense to me: does not “ring true”.

Yeah, haha, sorry should have made it clear Rsat3acr
If you believe that Jesus as your savior and is the son of God then you will be saved.
We all sin, and it’s practically impossible not to. But, Jesus died on the cross to forgive us.
So basically, even if you believe in God, you will still sin. However, if you do truly love God, you will try to avoid sinning as best as possible, although you won’t eradicate your sin, you will try your best to.

You’re putting the cart before the horse. It only makes sense to want to have a relationship with God if you believe He exists in the first place. Believing in Him is a reason to want a relationship; wanting a relationship is not a reason to believe.

Oh, and what’s this business about being saved due to belief? The Bible does say some very positive things about faith, but faith and belief are two different things, and it’s possible to have either one without the other.

JackieLikesVariaty

I think the “Christianity” is a word to categorize people from another. You can be a Christian and still be just as bad as people who don’t believe. It’s kind of called wolf in sheep clothing. Matthew 7:15 - "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. You don’t have to call yourself a Christian to love or believe in God.

You do realize, of course, that we have heard this message many, many times before, both on this message board and in real life. What do you say to those of us that read the Bible, heard your message, and just don’t believe in your(or any) god?

Czarcasm
I’m nondenominational

Czarcasm

I’d ask if you are truly willing to take that risk? What’s the downfall of having a relationship with a loving God who wants to have a relationship with you?

The “Christianity” label pretty much goes with the “Trinity” and “Christ died for your sins” beliefs.

Why should I allow that same God to tell me how to raise my kids, who had to drown His own?—Robert Ingersoll

NM, irrelevant

What god? Yours? Why should I risk following your god, if it’s just going to piss off some other deity?

But do you have any proof to disprove God?