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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:
springytoto · 26/07/2013 14:52

Normal could you stop ordering people about, lovely? It's tiresome.
re 'you should' 'stop doing it' etc.

Are you God? [did you see that joke Grin ]

ANormalOne · 26/07/2013 15:00

springetoto

Please do qualify that that is your opinion

ODFOD.

headinhands · 26/07/2013 15:05

quoting passages from the Bible is no different to spouting research papers to somehow strengthen an argument - it doesn't further the topic one iota.

When you say research papers do you mean scientific findings via scientific research methods? And you're equating the two and putting them on the same level??

ZingWidge · 26/07/2013 15:10

abnormal

oh well, I don't care much for your insults.
especially when they are based on the very thing you accuse me of doing.

ZingWidge · 26/07/2013 15:11

anormal

sorry, typo

ANormalOne · 26/07/2013 15:17

especially when they are based on the very thing you accuse me of doing.

Right, because I did that where exactly?

springytoto · 26/07/2013 15:26

I assume the FO bit is fuck off normal ? It isn't in the acronym list and I'm not making much headway.

Alright then - could you stop ordering people around, normal? It's tiresome in my opinion.

here's the thing: some people really hate God. I mean, really hate God. You'd think there was something in it the way they hate God so much. Or why would they hate so much something they don't believe in?

I can understand hating religion. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I loathe religion, have a passionate hatred for it. So in that sense I understand the contempt because religion can get my nostrils flaring with hatred. My reason is that it is supposed to represent God but the majority of the time it doesn't; and it crushes people, judges people; is harsh and devoid of love, compassion; accuses, abuses. Etc (many etcs).

If people get God and that steaming pile of shit - religion - mixed up, then I can quite understand people loathing God. Or 'God'.

Beastofburden · 26/07/2013 15:29

daisy, I hope you dont mean that I was excessively dogmatic? because I did try quite hard not to be.

springytoto · 26/07/2013 15:31

Actually, I think the commandment 'Do not take the Lord's name in vain' means proporting to represent God but not representing God one bit eg religious terrorism.

ANormalOne · 26/07/2013 15:42

Zing posts a blanket statement insulting non-Christians and then tries to justify it, that's perfectly fine and we ignore that, but someone hold the fucking presses, ANormalOne told someone NOT to that, what a bounder, what a cad, how tiresome to tell someone not to make prejudiced statements.

No, I won't stop telling people NOT to make blanket statements that insult entire groups of people, thank you, and if you don't like it, deal with it. Not my problem.

supergreenuk · 26/07/2013 15:47

I'm also a Christian and have spent many years not feeling it.

Best advise I can give is sign yourself up onto an Alpha course. It will educate you on who Jesus was and documentation and proof he existed (even if he wasn't who he said he was) amongst other topics of discussion. Then go to church.

Eventually what I knew became a faith and belief and then a feeling. When you come to realise that Jesus died to save YOU it is an amazing feeling.

Caster8 · 26/07/2013 16:06

Seek and ye shall find.
If you carry on seeking, you will find.

Caster8 · 26/07/2013 16:08

That was to the op.

HopHopHopSkip. Do you know if your mother is praying for you? She probably is.

daisychain01 · 26/07/2013 16:11

headinhands

Just to recap on the context so I can give you a reasonable answer to your valid question ...

What I said:- " ... quoting passages from the Bible is no different to spouting research papers to somehow strengthen an argument - it doesn't further the topic one iota".

Your Question: " ... When you say research papers do you mean scientific findings via scientific research methods? And you're equating the two and putting them on the same level??"

As a PhD student, I know all about scientific research, believe me! I also know that quoting, even from a robustly executed research study, it doesn't mean there isn't something else out there that gives the counterview. I am not saying The Bible = Scientific Research, that is faulty logic, please take the intent of my message, not the words!

The motive of my point is to illustrate how easy it is to lapse into a habit of quoting from the Bible/quoting from Research, as a technique to increase robustness ... "because I am quoting from [the Bible / Research], it strengthens my argument". One can always find some quote to substantiate a point. Quoting from the Bible in an unhelpful inflexible way "this is what it says here, LOOK! it is the only truth!" is fine if that's what you believe - not helpful if a person is taking some tentative steps into exploring the landscape.

beastofburden I promise my statement was not aimed at anyone personally and had no mal-intent. The thread started with some very encouraging, balanced and supportive comments. Then I gradually started to notice other rather dogmatic posts, that were to an extent hi-jacking the flow of helping OP to start on a journey of discovery and I was disappointed. I have no negative reaction to those posts, just want them to be more moderate! But that is only my opinion!

phantomnamechanger · 26/07/2013 16:17

Hop Skip - do go along to a church and try, nothing at all to lose and a lot to gain.
best of luck!

Caster8 · 26/07/2013 16:24

Actually "Seek and ye shall find" is to everyone.

Oblomov, springey is correct in that the timing of when we ultimately becomes a Christian is up to God.
But God does prompt everyone as far as I know at points in their lives.
fwiw, you probably did make some progress towards becoming a Christian back when you went to church for several weeks. I wouldnt be overly concerned if I were you[I am a Christian btw].

If you want to get there, you will get there, at some point.

AKAK81 · 26/07/2013 16:32

If one person has an imaginary friend they call it a mental illness, if many people have that imaginary friend they call it a religion.

ZingWidge · 26/07/2013 16:52

Akak Grin

God is not imaginery though

to explain it another way - you exist, but I haven't seen you either.
I don't need to actually see you to believe you exist.
communication and acts will do.

BombayBadonkadonks · 26/07/2013 17:00

Methodists are good for a very relaxed service and they don't mind / notice if you do something wrong!

Caster8 · 26/07/2013 17:12

Personally I dont have a problem with whatever ANormalOne chooses to say.
So many churches are quite empty, because people are not engaging with Christians. I would far rather someone engages, even in not the best manner, than not engage at all.

ChestyNut · 26/07/2013 17:12

A group of us were talking about religion the other day.
Between us we had Buddhism, Muslim, catholic, Hinduism and an atheist.
How can they all be the truth?

I attended RC school and was confirmed and bits have stuck with me but my logical scientific side tells me it's not true.

I envy people who have faith and are able to accept that God exists.

expatinscotland · 26/07/2013 17:14

It's a nice thought, very comforting, but if you don't feel it you just don't.

LittleSporksBigSpork · 26/07/2013 17:38

OP, I would really recommend listening to , which discusses a lot about what you're talking - searching, seeking, feeling something missing, dealing with how to deal with having felt something and finding things weren't as they seemed and eventually coming to a place of comfort. It gave me great peace in my journey which was quite similar.

"Seeking" and searching has sent me away from revelation faiths rather than towards, and any one is just only one in an ocean of answers and ideals.

Caster8 · 26/07/2013 17:52

Luke 11 v 10
For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. And verse 13 says ."how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him".

You will get there eventually, LittleSporksBigSpork.

claig · 26/07/2013 18:15

"Best advise I can give is sign yourself up onto an Alpha course. It will educate you on who Jesus was and documentation and proof he existed (even if he wasn't who he said he was) amongst other topics of discussion."

supergreenuk, am intrigued by the part "even if he wasn't who he said he was". Are you saying that this is part of the Alpha Course?