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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to make myself believe in god?

999 replies

HopHopHopSkip · 25/07/2013 22:55

I have always been very logical and so despite going to a Christian primary school, having a very religious mum(though not in a pushy way) and reading the bible when I was younger(the story version Grin I was a bit of a book worm) I have never really got my head around how god could be possible.

But I really wish I had the extra "something" that some people seem to find by believing in god. I'm probably not making much sense, but I wish I could get myself to feel like there's somebody watching out, that there's something after death, that everything happens for what'd ultimately a good reason/what's meant to be so on.

AIBU to try going to church for a bit even though I don't believe in god? Or am I just being silly, is it something you can't 'make' yourself feel?

OP posts:
headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:24

I'm quite happy with my posting style thank you anyway. I don't break the rules and keep away from threads that are not clearly inviting debate about such things.

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:28

That's because you have not understood the profundity of Jesus' death. To be crucified was the most barbaric and demeaning and dehumanising death of its time. It was reserved for the worst criminals and that Jesus died in this manner is important for you to understand. In order to redeem mankind - and that includes you because God made you and loves you and knows every hair on your head - He had to suffer in the basest of ways. This was the price of the sins of the world. Nothing less would do. This is why you can't compare His death to Racing's example of her teaching forgiveness to her children.

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:30

Look Pram, if you find yourself getting angry about the questions posed then this sort of thread probably isn't going to be much fun for you. You are of course able to ignore me if you so wish. Equally, you're free to ask questions about humanism. It would be quite nice actually Smile

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:33

Racing was the one who used her kids as an example. I merely commented on it. But no, it still doesn't make sense to me.

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:36

God treats people with love and respect? Evidence?

I am sorry but I do not believe you are reading your bible. Haven't you read how Jesus treated the adultress who was about to be stoned? How about when he was so moved by the agony of Lazarus' family he raise him from the dead? The lepers he healed? The woman who had been haemorrhaging for eighteen years? The man 'consumed by demons' (most probably a schizophrenic) who had been tormented all his life and had to be chained in caves on the hillside due to his self-harming? Jesus loved them and healed them; told them to go in peace.

Have you read how he treated his mother? His brothers? His right-hand woman, Mary Magdalene? How about God's abiding and patient love for his special people, the Israelites, who sneered at His love and his miracles and his promises to them, His people. Please read the scriptures again and look and listen. God's word is saturated with His love for the world and His desire that we would turn again to Him.

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:41

I'm not a Christian. How can I take the bible as proof? How about how god shows love and respect to people now so I can see it in action today?

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:41

Oh, I'm not angry in the slightest. I am used to the tedium of atheists whose mission in life seems to be to denigrate God and the scriptures. Humanism and atheism is very, very hip at the moment. Secularism is befitting of the current zeitgeist and it is becoming very difficult to discuss Christianity on these boards without getting hot under the collar. But I've learned to hold my tongue and simply repeat what Jesus teaches. You will find no malice or ego or contradiction from His mouth. Mine, on the other hand....Hmm

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:43

How do you explain all the people that died because of god like the flood and the wars fought by the Israelites? How are we to say god was showing them love and respect?

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:45

I hope you'll excuse me for going to bed, HiH. I hope you find the love and respect you're looking for.

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:46

I'm hip?! Cool

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:47

Very quickly: the OT suffering was a direct result of the Israelite's disobedience. they literally were the masters of their own ruin. Read the whole story of the path to the Promised Land. You will not believe the filth and disrespect and loathing and utter disobedience of that people. And the unstinting patience and love and heartache of their God as He watches their worship of false gods.

springytotty · 29/07/2013 23:52

I suppose you appear to be goading because there is nothing of you in your posts; what appears to be no (evident) humility or honesty. Just post after post, jab jab jab. It doesn't seem to be going anywhere, I don't know why you're doing it. It's 'something you like to do from time to time'?? wtf is that?

I'm more irritated that posters are getting caught in your net! chief offender >> self. Intense, sincere little christians, doing our best getting led by the nose . I'd like to tell you to fuck off, do the work yourself; but maybe that's not gentle Jesus meek and mild

headinhands · 29/07/2013 23:52

I was referring to the other tribes but anyway, what about the babies, children not that it's okay for the adults to get treated that way anyway.

springytotty · 29/07/2013 23:54

Don't bother, pram , she's a wind-up merchant

springytotty · 29/07/2013 23:57

darling, please do not use words like 'filth'

You gotta laff.

PramelaAndherson · 29/07/2013 23:58

What about the babies?
What about the suffering?
What about the wars?

Well? What about them? Why do we do all these things to each other?

I'm really going to bed now. Quite frankly, I find the 'what about the babies' wailing to be completely boring and it's usually the question wheeled out when everyone's going to bed anyway. Do you want a world where absolutely no-one suffers? No death? No illness? Only people above the age of, let's say..eighteen dies? And only quickly and in no pain? Where does this Utopia exist? Does your Humanistic sense of fairness only permit this kind of world?

headinhands · 30/07/2013 00:02

If you don't want to respond to my questions you don't have to, it really is that simple. It's not like I'm standing in your house shouting at you while you're tying to watch Big Brother.

headinhands · 30/07/2013 00:07

This utopia. Isn't that what Christians think earth was supposed to be like, and isn't that where Christians tend to think it will end up?

I was referring to god ordering the Israelites to slaughter ALL of another tribe.

springytotty · 30/07/2013 00:35

Poor OP

I thought this thread had been deleted because it vanished from my 'watching' file.

Realised I'd deleted it. Christians eh? useless

headinhands · 30/07/2013 00:50

I find the 'what about the babies' wailing to be completely boring and it's usually the question wheeled out when everyone's going to bed anyway. Do you want a world where absolutely no-one suffers? No death? No illness?

What i do know is that I don't much like the idea of a world in which it's supposed loving and respectful god orders the wholesale slaughter of small children.

claig · 30/07/2013 06:44

"So what happened to god between old and new. Why the v different attitude to forgiveness?"

What happened was called Christianity

headinhands · 30/07/2013 07:12

So god did change?

claig · 30/07/2013 07:18

Everyone understands these things differently. I don't believe that God goes around punishing people deliberately or that God has favourites etc, so yes I believe that the God represented by Christ is a totally different God - a God of love.

Caster8 · 30/07/2013 07:25

hmm. Personal dilemma.
I realise that headinhands likes to ask question after question, perhaps a bit needlessly.
But I am also aware that headinhands, in the past on a different thread, has said it is all right if I pray for her.So I have been.

Caster8 · 30/07/2013 07:28

I think different people come to God in different ways. And if this is headinhands, or as I suspect, headinhands is absorbing some of this, which I suspect she is, then brilliant. So I personally, am more than happy to continue to answer her questions. I dont go on this board that often, mainly for selfish reasons. I could see myself repeating myself, and I cant stand doing that. In rl, I get bored very quickly of doing the same things. A quirk of mine I know.