Not sure if I believe in God. Makes me feel so uneasy

[doyouknowhim]

Not being sure either way

I have questions I've never got an answer to

Such as that I get this life is temporary, if you believe in God, Christ, etc. As you'll have everlasting life if granted it

I asked this and was given an answer along the lines with 'the person with cancer will suffer now. That's true. Some people will meet horrific ends. But, it's like looking back at something awful and thinking 'I thought at the time I'd never get through it'. And there you are, in eternal heaven. So I get that... if I leave out the bit where surely you wouldn't want your creation to suffer at all if you love them and had the power to stop it, since you do because you're a benevolent God

But anyway, I also struggle to think that someone good can go to hell. There's a woman I know with a disabled child. She has terminal cancer and will die. She's been given an awful hand as it's not just the cancer, it's the devastating impact on her disabled child's life. It's all horrific when she explains who isn't there for him, the care system, etc etc

Why does someone so lovely deserve HELL? I get Jesus is wonderful and the saviour, but why not forgive these people for their lack of belief? Surely if you loved them as much as you're suppose to, they can come into heaven because you can't stand to know an innocent person like that is damned to hell?

I just don't get those parts. And that's before being gay is immoral. I don't understand it probably because I see no issue with it, you can't switch off being gay

So, what are you suppose to do then? Just live a lie? Have awful self hatred because of it? Sounds unhealthy to me

I'd appreciate any responses from non believes and believers

The only reason I am on the fence is because I FEEL in my heart that Jesus is real. I can't think about his face and deny him. So this makes it all the more harder

Which then leads me to think I'm brainwashed

I just don't KNOW

I think a load of people believe a load of things that put them ‘above’ others, if you like. They’ve developed a belief system that reassures them they are ok.

I’m a Christian. Like you I feel the belief in God and Jesus. I don’t use that to judge others, to decide who will go to hell etc.

Most people’s belief systems- whatever they are - are based on misunderstandings of the bible, things they’ve been told by believers and atheists alike.

You can be a Christian and agree with everything you said in your post.

Yes in the nicest possible way, you have been brainwashed and it is a powerful thing to fight against.

God didn't exist, at least not the Christian/ Muslim/ Jewish God that most religious people believe in, for all the reasons you mentioned.

It frustrates me when people tell me I’m a homophobe, a misogynist etc because I’m Christian. They judge what they think I believe instead of finding out what I actually believe. Then accuse me of cherrypicking!

I’ve actually done a lot of study, a lot of reading, a lot of reflection, and worked out a belief system that’s congruent with the bible and my ethics and experience.

I find it difficult to follow any organised religion as such but part of me does believe in something just don't know what. I personally think what happens after death is something that our brain powers are not able to, and not meant, to be able to comprehend.

Well if you read the bible he's not just a benevolent god. He's an angry, jealous, vengeful god too. I'm not a believer btw, but I do like a good story 😉

It's OK not to believe. It's healthy to question your faith.

People of all religions suffer horrible life events, so it can't be because they're punished for not believing.

You might find some helpful reflections on how/why God allows suffering to happen on the Philosophy and Religion boards.

Well I think a lot of Christians would say that it's up to people to choose. Effectively god is asking everyone 'do you want to have a relationship with me?' Those people who do are called Christians and the relationship starts now and continues after death, in 'heaven'. Those people who don't want a relationship with God, well he accepts that. After death that doesn't change. Wouldn't it be weird if god said 'i know you didn't want a relationship with me while you were alive on earth, but I just decided to overrule you and force you to come to heaven anyway. I know you didn't want it but tough luck'?

Hell is a place without god, that's all. That's what people who are not Christians have chosen, surely? If they want to go to god's place when they die, they need to choose to live with god whilst on earth. If they don't want to live with god now, why would they suddenly want to after death?

I hope that helps make a bit more sense of it. I'm not very good at talking about these things online rather than in person!

I used to have a loose faith but that faded when my 4 year old niece died a horrible death from a brain tumour. I struggled to understand how any higher being could allow such suffering to a small child who had just started out in life, I still struggle with that 12 years on. She had done absolutely nothing to deserve that.
As much as I truly want to believe there is something other than this meaningless nothingness I do think religion was something invented to control the masses and nothing more but that does sadden me as the thought of heaven and meeting all those I’ve lost would be blissful.

It is a lot to take in!

Fwiw, I'm a Christian and I don't believe the lady you speak of will go to hell. Some people in the world will not have chance to hear about or get to know Jesus and they will not be penalised for it. She is obviously having a really tough time and our church would be supporting her however possible

I also believe God loves all people - including LGBTQ+
I don't think any sexual orientation is immoral (although I know some extreme churches who do, the vast majority of Christians I know do not)
When our church had to vote to enable us to apply for our same-sex marriage license, only 1 person out of the whole congregation said no, everyone else was for it. We have a married gay minister in our circuit.

Maybe start off by reading one of the gospels that talk about Jesus' life. Try Mark or Luke
And remember the bible isn't one book written by God; it's a collection of poems, historical accounts, songs, sayings, letters etc. written by human beings, spanning a couple of millennia

You could try daily devotions via the YouVersion app

Or sit in a quiet space and ask God to make himself know

If you are brave enough, most churches would be very happy for you to attend - whether or not you are sure you believe

Keep being curious - Jesus loves that!

Do you believe in 'Jesus' as in the Son of God who died for our sins or do you believe in the idea of a creator and the one you've been exposed to is the Christian God?

I was raised Catholic and I still feel a connection to a sort of 'God' in my heart, but I don't believe in the that God anymore. My school priest told me that my dad would be going to hell because he wasn't a Catholic and I hated that priest as a result. He basically started my dislike of Catholicism.

In my heart I believe in love and goodness. I don't think good people will be punished for not believing. I don't believe people will be punished for being gay or having kids outside of marriage or not being baptised etc. If those are the requirements for Heaven then it isn't somewhere I'd want to be anyways.

I was brought up as a Catholic but went through phases of believing and not believing. My thoughts now are that Whether God exists or not doesn't really matter (as long as you are not going around murdering people for their alternative beliefs, but IMO, people doing that are killing for territory, wrapped up in religion, and if there wasn't religion, they would do the same thing, just be more honest about it) Religion has been invented over and over again by humans to meet a human need. Maybe it is to help us to cope with life. Or to cope with death.
I worked with some people years ago and was talking to them about the NHS pillars of wellbeing and good mental health, which IIRC are- being a part of a community, doing things for others, having periods of reflection and having someone to talk to. All of those things are part of belonging to an organised religion.
I believe ancient people instinctively knew that they needed these things to get through life, and invented religion to cope with that. People when they don't have religion try to replicate the above in other things.
Anyway, going back to your post, Jesus' teachings are that if you love one another as you would love yourself then you will go to Heaven. Its only organised religion and churches who have made up extra rules to keep their followers scared and following them. Ultimately, if there is a Heaven, I believe that if you have been a decent person, then you will go there. Man has made up all the other things like Gay people are bad/ non believers are bad.

Relax, OP. Religion is a man-made belief constructed of pre-scientific attempts to explain the universe, wish-fulfilment and fear of death, and promoted as a form of self-policing and behaviour modifier in times where the rule of law was weak. You should feel free to conduct your life without engaging in the type of mental gymnastics necessary to believe in an omniscient, omnipotent deity who appears to have a strong interest in humans sexual behaviour and requires a lot of praise and worship despite being remarkably non-interventionist.

There is no higher being making decisions on who should suffer and who should prosper. Awful things happen to good people while terrible people get away scot free. There's no rhyme or reason to it so trying to ascribe random events to the actions of an omnipresent God will only tie you up in pointless knots.

You can believe in Jesus as an activist and an inspiraton without subscribing to a belief in God.

That’s an excellent way of putting it.

@Eggless

That's the thing,

You say 🤔 a lot of Christians would say its up to decide,

It should be,

in reality it's not allways the case,
It can foisted onto you cause of family belief system if you don't their way its the high way
made to feel you are inferior or social pariah

To be honest i think 🤔 Christianity is a emotional crutch to help in life cause life can be real shit at times,
No wonder some people feel a need for emotional blanket to help them in life ,
If it was me i would just pick and mix what is beneficial from this faith to suit me

that's it,

You don't have to believe in everything about it,

And why on earth does God have to be male 🙄 too,
in the sky heaven,

Why on earth can't it be a mass of energy and gender less

Actually i don't believe in God

But that makes no sense because humans can't comprehend the magnificence of eternal life and how serene that is. Of course theyd want him to take them to heaven even though they didn't seek a relationship with him in life. They didn't believe it was real but will have to when they're dead

But above all else, as a non believer who thought God didn't exist before dying, it's not as simple as living in a place without God. It's hell, which is suppose to be more horrific than man can comprehend

It's a bit like a toddler not wanting to take a coat. You take one anyway because you'll know they will want it when reality hits

Of course it’s not real

The Bible says that he would love gay people for example just like he does straight, I know that much

But can I ask how you have a faith leader who's openly gay? Is that not living in constant sin that's different to other sin as it's one of the bigger ones? For example we're all sinners but surely you cannot just agree with people being gay? Because it's clear in the bible that it isn't right

I am interested to know your answer. You sounds very realistic and a genuinely lovely Christian

Unfortunately I have seen so many awful, judgemental and hypocritical Christian's that it is sometimes difficult to see it as the right way

I also really really struggle with prayer

I don't know any churches or Christian's that don't thank God when a prayer is answered

But someone can have an identical issue and their prayer isn't answered?

For example my baby left NICU and was the sickest, yet another baby who's arguably had more chance didn't and died.

Did I pray more? I don't think so. That seems cruel - not to grant people things, because they didn't pray

I asked a Christian friend once why God allowed horrific things to happen. She said these things were the work of the Devil!

I find it very hard to believe in god.

I think the sense of community that many people get from organised religion can be welcoming.

but if there was a God who could influence outcomes and judge us on our own actions, then he or she is very cruel and far from benevolent.

too many people - good people - go through hell, and criminal or otherwise unlikeable people sail through life.

therefore, for me, there is no god.

Once you discard religion, you can stop wasting time on this kind of hair-splitting.

I’d describe myself as culturally Anglican. I like churches, Christmas, carols etc etc.
Do I believe in God? Nope, but I suspect many CofE clergy don’t either.

My understanding is that I thank God all the time regardless. There’s a bit of liturgy- God is good/ all the time. All the time/God is good. It’s an active choice to believe rather than an observation.

Prayer isn’t about asking for outcomes. It’s about communicating with God. I find when I spend time in prayer I become a’better’ person.