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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask your opinions on God?

999 replies

Violetduck · 04/12/2020 21:31

Do you beleive there is a God? I would like to, but how can he exist alongside modern science?

Aibu to believe in something more?

OP posts:
chomalungma · 05/12/2020 21:34

Jesus is a reasonably credible historical figure. God not so much

It appears there were quite a few people at the time like Jesus who were preaching stuff about how people should live their lives.

Jesus 'got lucky' in terms of Christianity coming out of his death. Obviously his crucifixion was not lucky for him.

But his preachings took off and people wanted to believe in him and in what he was saying. He had appeal.

EileenGC · 05/12/2020 21:37

@LynetteScavo

I can feel God, which is how I know God exists. No one else can feel what I personally experience, so I can't prove it to anyone else. But I guess if you understand the concept of God and can't feel it, God doesn't exist for you.
This. I know God exists because I have been able to form a relationship with Him. Because I can feel His presence in my life, I ask Him for advice and can talk to Him when I need. Because I see His influence in this world. There is a lot of suffering and I have at times struggled to come to terms with it all. But I know He is real, and can also see how most people believe the contrary, because they've never experienced otherwise. I also truly believe God and modern science don't contradict each other - they're actually both needed to explain how some things work and were created.
SionnachRua · 05/12/2020 21:38

[quote 80sForever]@sionnachRua this is not about some fake Santa.....God was a human that walked on the earth..he is in the history books[/quote]
Eh, no mate. There's historical evidence for Jesus, just as there's historical evidence for St Nicholas. Not a shred of evidence to say God walked on the earth.

80sForever · 05/12/2020 21:41

Jesus is part of the trinity i.e. God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit so they are three personalities and one person so yes God walked the earth

SionnachRua · 05/12/2020 21:43

If you believe in God that's perfectly logical. However, if you don't it's just another piece of folklore. Don't try to force others into your beliefs.

zaphodbeeble · 05/12/2020 21:43

Do you know about the Trimurti in Hinduism ?

chomalungma · 05/12/2020 21:43

@80sForever

Jesus is part of the trinity i.e. God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit so they are three personalities and one person so yes God walked the earth
Which God?
EileenGC · 05/12/2020 21:45

@notafanoftheman

See, this is why I lose respect for people when I find out they’re believers. Ready to believe any old nonsense.
Please explain to me why you'd lose respect for someone who just thinks differently than you do? Unless their beliefs are hurting people or having a negative effect on you, why do I, as someone who believes in God, deserve less respect than someone who doesn't?

I am genuinely interested in the answer to this. Also, there is a difference between radical religious organisations, and normal people who live a normal life without actually causing any problems. And as a believer, I also despise the former. Religion and believing in God are two VERY different things.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/12/2020 21:46

I know God exists because I have been able to form a relationship with Him. Because I can feel His presence in my life, I ask Him for advice and can talk to Him when I need. Because I see His influence in this world. There is a lot of suffering and I have at times struggled to come to terms with it all. But I know He is real, and can also see how most people believe the contrary, because they've never experienced otherwise. I also truly believe God and modern science don't contradict each other - they're actually both needed to explain how some things work and were created.

Except... many of us used to believe that, feel that, experience that. And now ... don't.
I can't think of anything which requires god, or any supernatural force, to explain how it works or was created.

Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 21:49

I'd go as far as to say I've had experiences of Jesus. Tangible experiences.

I'm about as credible as they come, worldly wise. I'm not cookoo. Far from it.

once you've had an experience of Jesus. You know. He's the beginning and the end. Life's never the same.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/12/2020 21:51

@80sForever

Jesus is part of the trinity i.e. God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit so they are three personalities and one person so yes God walked the earth
The doctrine of the Trinity wasn't fully established until a few centuries AD.
Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 21:51

Not looking for a fight however.

Genuinely just stating my position.

It's as relevant as any on this thread I hope 🤞

Parker231 · 05/12/2020 21:52

Jesus may have existed. Just a normal person, no magical powers.

chomalungma · 05/12/2020 21:53

Why do people have an experience with Jesus?

And not with Thor?

EileenGC · 05/12/2020 21:53

@ErrolTheDragon

I know God exists because I have been able to form a relationship with Him. Because I can feel His presence in my life, I ask Him for advice and can talk to Him when I need. Because I see His influence in this world. There is a lot of suffering and I have at times struggled to come to terms with it all. But I know He is real, and can also see how most people believe the contrary, because they've never experienced otherwise. I also truly believe God and modern science don't contradict each other - they're actually both needed to explain how some things work and were created.

Except... many of us used to believe that, feel that, experience that. And now ... don't.
I can't think of anything which requires god, or any supernatural force, to explain how it works or was created.

And that's perfectly fine! Because at the end it comes to faith for both of us. There is only so much our human minds and scientific discoveries can explain, so it gets to a point when one chooses what to believe in (or not). Both valid options and neither party is more right or wrong than the other... as we can't prove everything unfortunately.
Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 21:53

As believe me. No one was more surprised to become a Christian than me.

A life defining moment.

I've never turned back, despite churches being shit and Christians being shits.

Jesus, he's worth following.

Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 21:55

My faith keeps me bouyant through troubled waters.

A silent anchor.

I'm alive because of him.

That's enough for me.

Parker231 · 05/12/2020 21:55

@Iwonder777 - why is Jesus worth following? Why do you need to follow anyone? You have control of what you do and don’t do with your life - only you.

chomalungma · 05/12/2020 21:56

[quote Parker231]@Iwonder777 - why is Jesus worth following? Why do you need to follow anyone? You have control of what you do and don’t do with your life - only you.[/quote]
You're all individuals.....

"I'm not"

TheNinny · 05/12/2020 21:57

I believe in God (Christian). I also believe in science (and evolution). The bible wasn't written as a science textbook so theories, laws of physics, dinosaurs etc, were not addressed as people didnt know about them yet. It was written by primitive people in ways that made sense to them at the time (divinly inspired or not). I view The 'divenly inspired' aspect that gets picked apart by 'whattabouts' within the context of the time period written and the limited by the human capabilities of that time. I wont go into the specifics on what I believe, but what i always come back to is that ultimately the universe began somehow. Whether God turns out to be a law of physics we don't know about yet who knows.

Wildswim · 05/12/2020 21:58

I believe in God.

And I also believe in science.

The two are not mutually exclusive. Lots of scientists believe in God.

Teenageromance · 05/12/2020 21:59

I’m at the stage in my life (late 50s) and see that belief in god has been a delusion and actually harmed me in many ways. I’ve sat with two people now as they died and that’s it - we just pass away and nothing left. This life is all there is.
For those who cling to God I would say how many prayers have gone unanswered? It’s because there is no one there

Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 22:00

I didn't know he was truth.

But he made himself known to me.

Because I was seeking. I guess.

I've always thought there was a god. His name? I didn't know.

As real as my husband and children are, is Jesus.

I'm a sensible, professional woman. I only know what I know however, and that involves a knowledge of Christ.

I. Can't apologise for it, it's my truth. Until I die, I hope.

I don't proclaim him however. I see this world as a venue I'm passing through.

Iwonder777 · 05/12/2020 22:02

I hope I won't be jumped upon upon this thread. I'm being honest. In answer to the OP.

EileenGC · 05/12/2020 22:09

@Teenageromance

I’m at the stage in my life (late 50s) and see that belief in god has been a delusion and actually harmed me in many ways. I’ve sat with two people now as they died and that’s it - we just pass away and nothing left. This life is all there is. For those who cling to God I would say how many prayers have gone unanswered? It’s because there is no one there
Many. I am mature enough to understand God is not the fairy godmother who gives you everything you ask for. Some of the silences have been (and still are) bloody painful. I don't know why sometimes there is a silence or an unexpected answer. I do know He provides the strength I need to get through it. And that sometimes I couldn't see the why to his plan, and it was only years later that I understood why my life had taken the turns it took...