Is God real?

[pattygreen 5]

I hang about on various atheist forums and there you can find interesting discussions as to why former believers would opt to disbelieve. As for myself, I was raised by atheists, belief was not an option. I cannot believe anymore than I can believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

I see you are in your 50's, so you're not being raised by athiests anymore, so why can't you believe?

[alabubba 0]

This has been a great thread, 7 pages and it hasn't broken down into name calling.

Just a quick background, I do believe in God.

I was raised Lutheran. My mother attended church almost every Sunday of her life. I would watch the good God-fearing people of my town sin all week and then go to church and ask for forgiveness knowing full well that they would be back at it as soon as church was let out.

When I was a teenager I started attending a youth orientated church but again was confronted by the gross hypocrisy.

I have attended services from many religions in my years always looking for the answers.

I have found that most people who claim to be christian would be appealed if they had to follow the rules and laws of their religion.

Do you remember how freaked out people got when they realized that G.W. Bush ACTUALLY believed in GOD! All politicians say they believe, I don't think a non-christian could get elected in the U.S.

I now list myself as a Buddhist/Christian. I live my life according to the teachings of the Buddha, But I still cant get it out of my mind that there has to be something, someone, somewhere that had a hand in all of it.

As for the Bible, I think it is a flawed book but that doesn't mean I don't find comfort or truth in it. I just keep in mind that it is a work of men.

[pattygreen 5]

i believe he is real and i imagine he'd be REALLY pissed to see others doing his judging for him ...

Who is doing his judging for him?

[sexylips 1]

yes most defenetly god is real.........

[pattygreen 5]

This has been a great thread, 7 pages and it hasn't broken down into name calling.

It hasn't? Well, maybe they don't come right out and call names, but they have their way of being hurtful.

[green 6]

I see you are in your 50's, so you're not being raised by athiests anymore, so why can't you believe?

For the same reasons that I cannot believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.

[luluc 6]

But I still cant get it out of my mind that there has to be something, someone, somewhere that had a hand in all of it..

i think along the same lines.

[pattygreen 5]

I hoped to get away from all of those who didn't want to talk about God on other threads, by starting a thread that was specifically about God. This way, those who didn't want to talk about God didn't have to participate. To my surprise, he's a hot topic. Even to some of the Atheists who don't even believe he exists. That's like starting a thread to talk about the tooth fairy. Why are you atheists here? You don't believe in him. So, I don't understand your interest.

[green 6]

Atheists, it seems, are like pigs; they enjoy mud wrestling. I know that I certainly do.

[gone 4 ever 6]

I hoped to get away from all of those who didn't want to talk about God on other threads, by starting a thread that was specifically about God. This way, those who didn't want to talk about God didn't have to participate. To my surprise, he's a hot topic. Even to some of the Atheists who don't even believe he exists. That's like starting a thread to talk about the tooth fairy. Why are you atheists here? You don't believe in him. So, I don't understand your interest.

The title alone invites everyone in...Is God real? This sounds like a discussion of ones beliefs. Weather they believe or not, this is what and why I believe type thread.

Personally I believe. It took years to fully believe. Had a strange upbringing about church and God. Grandpa was a Southern Baptist preacher. But was prejudice. The only time daddy took us to church was when things was bad. Soon as things started turning to the better we went right back to the way we were. Not going at all. So I had a lot of mixed messages growing up. I can understand why some have a hard time believing. Some will never believe, others may take longer.

But anyway I digress. Like I said the title invites discussions. Which I think is good. It might help someone come on over. Something said might click with them. So Patty be happy with this Thread you started. Just don't be upset because people don't agree with you. That is between them and God. Even if they don't believe in Him.

[green 6]

Who is doing his judging for him?

YOU are, it would appear......

[pattygreen 5]

The title alone invites everyone in...Is God real? This sounds like a discussion of ones beliefs. Weather they believe or not, this is what and why I believe type thread.

Personally I believe. It took years to fully believe. Had a strange upbringing about church and God. Grandpa was a Southern Baptist preacher. But was prejudice. The only time daddy took us to church was when things was bad. Soon as things started turning to the better we went right back to the way we were. Not going at all. So I had a lot of mixed messages growing up. I can understand why some have a hard time believing. Some will never believe, others may take longer.

But anyway I digress. Like I said the title invites discussions. Which I think is good. It might help someone come on over. Something said might click with them. So Patty be happy with this Thread you started. Just don't be upset because people don't agree with you. That is between them and God. Even if they don't believe in Him.

Please forgive me, gone 4ever. This is a thread to discuss beliefs, and all are definitely invited. I was not upset that people don't agree with me. I know and expect differing views, it's just that some here, that I have a history with on other threads, have gotten angry with me and asked me not to bring God into all my conversations elsewhere. Now they are here and still have animosity towards me. This is what I guess upset me. Anything I said was not directed towards you. sorry.

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I think that if people would not look at what others in their differing christian faiths or denominations are doing and how they are living, and their wrongs and hypocritical actions, and what this priest or pastor or authority figure did, or how their parents raised them, or how this or that church operates and just concentrated on building their own relationship with God, there would be no problem. I think they should just go to God for themselves and not use what other christians do or don't do as their excuse for not seeking after him.

[pattygreen 5]

Also, I'm happy that you didn't allow your fathers swaying to and from God and church to keep you from having a relationship with him.

[MacMadame 81]

I made this thread so I could speak freely about God without people like you (who supposedly don't want to talk about him,( yeah, right!:cursing:) ) getting upset about it.

Actually, you made a thread with a question... it invites people who would answer NO to comment just as much as people who would answer YES.

If you wanted a thread for people to talk about how great God is, then you should have started one in the Lounge with that title. To start a thread in the debate section that invites debate and then be shocked when you get that debate seems a bit disingenuous to me.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Actually, you made a thread with a question... it invites people who would answer NO to comment just as much as people who would answer YES.

If you wanted a thread for people to talk about how great God is, then you should have started one in the Lounge with that title. To start a thread in the debate section that invites debate and then be shocked when you get that debate seems a bit disingenuous to me.

M...

You are my hero.