I want to be like Thomas… I am unable to believe without sufficient evidence so it seems I won’t be blessed.
My relatives all believe. My sisters are fundamentalist Pentecostals. My sisters think I’ll become a Christian again.
BTW a few months ago I told people I’d believe in God if we got a particular house to rent. We got it and I believed in a non-Christian God for a while then was convinced that it was just a big coincidence by some people on the Internet. My wife was annoyed and said that I was making excuses.
The next time I’d believe in God - the Christian God - it would require evidence that would be extremely compelling - something that isn’t just a coincidence, etc.
Though I’ve got schizo-affective disorder I’ve never hallucinated - other than maybe seeing the sky get brighter and maybe some sound of thunder. I’ve had delusions many times though…
Anyway I was thinking of praying to the Christian God… I might record the audio or at least write down the prayer. I think it would mention Jesus’s disciple Thomas who Jesus listened to even though Jesus said “do no put the Lord to the test” when tempted by Satan in the desert.
BTW there is more to this than just knowing the “Truth” (if Christianity is real). It is a matter of suffering for an eternity or worshiping God for an eternity (which is not as bad as being tortured in the lake of fire/hell)
I want to see Jesus - or better yet meet and talk to him. I know someone who believes they met and talked to Jesus for several minutes as a child. Since I seem to be incapable of hallucinations I will know it is real or at least believe it is real. Anyway if I believe then I would escape hell - which may exist. (Though I currently have no belief in it but apparently it doesn’t matter - I’d be going there anyway)
Why?
I am certain that God knows you don’t believe in Him the way the rest of your family does, and I am equally certain that this is okay. If He wanted you to be a fundamentalist, you would be one. You cannot avoid doing His will (as I believe even Satan’s actions will work out according to God’s plan in the long run), so why worry about the details of man-made ceremonies and traditions.
But Satan and his angels apparently suffer ETERNALLY…
As far as it being ok with God - he doesn’t seem concerned with many people dying and suffering (especially in the Old Testament or with Hell) - but it isn’t ok with me to suffer for an eternity.
I’m sure many strong Christians would have a counter-argument for that… e.g. God didn’t want to create robots since he wanted people’s love for him to involve free-will. That led to the fall and the world became cursed. In the future there will be a restoration and a new Heaven and a new Earth. I think most Christians believe that babies go to Heaven (or limbo for Catholics). Their eternal destiny is much more important than what happens on Earth.
Any Christians are welcome (by me) to respond to this as well…
Another way of looking at this is that God made everything so therefore he can do what he wants. Also he is Holy and what he does is good. Some things he does can’t be fully understood by fallen and limited human minds.
Jesus said something about the kingdom of God belonging to children with a child-like faith… my Mum says that to me sometimes. I think it is possible that there is a God that rewards faith more than it rewards acts of goodness in those who lack belief. It isn’t really fair but I don’t think it is a requirement of a God to be fair to exist. The Bible claims that God is good and wise, etc. Maybe it isn’t accurate and it is biased but the existence of that God may be a fact. Maybe it is very unlikely but I still think there is a possibility. After all there are some people with very high IQ’s and great knowledge of science that believe in Christianity.
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”
Maybe the minority have faith while others just rely on reason - which is foolishness when God is involved.
Yes, I know. I am one of them. Of course, I do not believe that your family would accept the church I attend as being “Christian” enough for them.
Oh, and if I were you I would not worry about whether you are a fundamentalist. Your responses show that you are a member of that branch in good standing.
There are many people who have tried what you are about to do. And whatever the reason, nobody has ever received any kind of evidence for god’s existence.
Which is why the christian faith so praises blind belief.
There are a thousand-and-one little excuses that have been invented to explain why such a powerful and benevolent being would play hide-and-seek, none of which ever rang true to me.
I think the most important thing is to be a decent human being.
Why are you worthy of the honor of having God speak to you directly? If he did speak to you what would you want to talk to him about? After the conversation what effect do you think the experience would have on your life and how you relate to those around you?
The last question really is the main question. For centuries, even before Jesus was alive, theologians argued the finer points of their beliefs. The arguments can span from practical to the esoteric such as “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”. A child cares nothing of those debates, rather they cut right to the chase, love one another. What Jesus was saying is that the theology is secondary to the action. Be kind, be charitable, serve the community around you.
If you have it in you to love and to serve then love and serve. Do it not because you think there’s some eternal reward in the end that will pay you back for your service. Do it because you think it’s right. Is the only reason you want to talk to God to know if he exists so you’ll actually do the things he commands? If the only reason that you want to love and serve is because you think it will keep you from going to hell then you really weren’t loving were you?
It’s hubris to assume that you are the reason God created the world. You’re merely a part of the creation. God isn’t going to alter the laws of physics just to appease John Clay’s doubts.
Then the minority worship in houses built by fools, eat food grown by fools, and wear clothes created by fools. It is reason that gave them the opportunity to be “wise”