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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 · 31/07/2013 10:56

You have to look at the context of the times and how rape victims would have had no life whatsoever had their attacker not been made to honour them in marriage

Why couldn't god teach them about things like the human propensity for victim blaming instead of expounding the sexist, misogynistic ideals of that time? He's god, he was happy enough to spend time making up rules about clothing and hair styles, why not make up rules about treating everyone equally and not further traumatising a rape victim by making her marry her attacker. Similar to Jesus driving demons out whereas nowadays most Christians see those stories metaphorically and don't assume demons are the cause of mental illness. Why would Jesus further entrench such bigoted views. He could have said "these people are unwell and need your love and understanding" that would have been infinitely better than shoring up the false belief that if you're unwell=you're possessed.

PramelaAndherson · 31/07/2013 10:58

You would snatch a freebie luxury holiday to Dubai and would advocate the murder of 21 week-old babies in the womb, therefore I have to deduce you are not horrified by the stoning of adulterers or the murder of innocents as you profess. This make your insistence that God is immoral and barbaric absurd and goady.

I won't be discussing this any further with you.

HTH

headinhands · 31/07/2013 11:00

All the evidence (and lack thereof) leads me to assume he isnt cheating on me. If I am presented with some new evidence I will alter my assumptions in accordance with the new information.

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:01

Keeping an open mind to the idea that it is possible and could happen...that's different from assuming or believing that one's partner is having an affair.

Most marriages (in our culture, at least) are intended to be monogamous. So if one has absolutely no reason to suspect their partner to be having an affair, I think it's pretty normal to assume they aren't, unless suspicions suggest otherwise.

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:02

Wouldn't go to Dubai if you paid me.

PramelaAndherson · 31/07/2013 11:03

Your last post is crap and your whining is irritating so this is my last post. Yeah, why didn't God give them all televisions and microwaves? Why have we had to wait 2000 years for all this great stuff? Why did he allow ancient folks to think the world was flat? Why didn't God give Moses the formula for penicillin when he was up Mount Sinai?

headinhands · 31/07/2013 11:04

You can't speak of God and morals as if He has to operate within the parameters of your perception of Him.

I can only work within my human parameters and my understanding of what moral and just is. But god would know this? A god that claims to be superior and perfect and who behaves like a flawed, power hungry human is pissing on his own cornflakes.

PramelaAndherson · 31/07/2013 11:04

Would you go to France, water, where the burkha has been banned?

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:06

I would and do go to France, yes. I'm not sure why their banning of the burkha is relevant. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I don't consider it barbaric.

PramelaAndherson · 31/07/2013 11:09

57% of men admit to committing infidelity within marriage. If you tell me your husband is not cheating on you I will ask for proof. You won't be able to give me any. If you ask me to prove God's existence I won't be able to give you any. Both our sets of beliefs rely on faith and faith alone.

PramelaAndherson · 31/07/2013 11:11

I would go to France, too, but I don't really have a hang-up about women's rights. Those of you who do would surely condemn Sarkozy's ruling as barbaric to a worshiping muslim woman? They must be in spiritual and emotional agony, no?

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:13

I see no evidence that my OH is being unfaithful. I see no evidence that a deity exists. Unless I see, hear or experience something that offers some evidence to the contrary, my beliefs are unlikely to change.

2much2young · 31/07/2013 11:13

"Headinhands, have you thought any more about the murder of babies in our society and why that does not horrify you as much as the Old Testament? Clue: it doesn't really horrify you but it's a great excuse for atheists to denigrate God and ignore His love"

Are you fucking serious? I'm out of this discussion.

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:14

I don't call that barbaric, no.

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:19

Pram What's the source for your 57% of men stat?

Caster8 · 31/07/2013 11:19

hih
You believed. Now you say you dont believe. But you are still all very worked up about it, and are trying to prove to yourself that He doesnt exist.
But I think deep down you believe He does, and you are trying your hardest to prove otherwise. But it just isnt working for you, is it?
You are trying to run away from God, but cant. No matter how hard you try.
Jonah springs to mind.
You cant escape.
Time to give in.

headinhands · 31/07/2013 11:22

57% of men admit to committing infidelity within marriage. If you tell me your husband is not cheating on you I will ask for proof. You won't be able to give me any. If you ask me to prove God's existence I won't be able to give you any. Both our sets of beliefs rely on faith and faith alone.

I wouldn't tell you that my husband isn't cheating on me. But what I can tell you is that I have no evidence to suggest he is cheating. I can't say that there is no god but what I can say is that there is no evidence to suggest there is.

headinhands · 31/07/2013 11:25

hih
You believed. Now you say you dont believe. But you are still all very worked up about it, and are trying to prove to yourself that He doesnt exist.
But I think deep down you believe He does, and you are trying your hardest to prove otherwise. But it just isnt working for you, is it?
You are trying to run away from God, but cant. No matter how hard you try.
Jonah springs to mind.
You cant escape.
Time to give in.

Ha! Caster you're very sweet but you've got me wrong. I just love a good debate and I was just the same when a Christian. :)

waterlego6064 · 31/07/2013 11:26

You cant escape.
Time to give in.

God sounds a bit scary Shock

Caster8 · 31/07/2013 11:28

So who are you working for headinhands?

Caster8 · 31/07/2013 11:34

What God can do is scary.
Am I fearful of Him? A little bit.

worldgonecrazy · 31/07/2013 11:47

I'm guessing that Pramela"'s point about husbands would make more sense if HeadinHands had never actually seen her husband. Belief in God is about trust in the actual existence* of God, not the existence of trust.

headinhands · 31/07/2013 11:49

Caster, I'm on holiday at the moment but I work for the local council.

Caster8 · 31/07/2013 11:58

Thank you for answering that.
But I meant are you working for God, for yourself or for the D person.
Sorry, I thought my post was clear, but obviously it was not. Blush [Didnt mean to out you at all]

headinhands · 31/07/2013 12:09

how do i work that out? Give me working example of what each person behaves like.

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