Do you believe in God/a higher power?

[CuriousAboutWhatYouThink]

Not religion. I have no time for organised religion and the associated man made rules.

But do you believe in 'something'?

For context, my grandad was a CofE vicar but my parent rebelled against it and we were brought up broadly l in the religion (eg we celebrated main religious festivals like Easter and Christmas) but not as practising Christians and without a particular belief in God.

As an adult, I have friends of different faiths and none and it's something we have discussed from time to time. It's also something I used to discuss with my grandma who had a very strong belief in God but also believed the Bible until she became older when she still had a strong faith but admitted she thought the Bible was largely nonsense!

I suppose I've always felt that there is 'something' but I refer to it as the universe. I don't know, I always feel that there has been 'something' looking out for me.

That doesn't mean bad things have never happened because they have and religion/belief doesn't protect anyone from that. And it doesn't mean my life is anywhere near perfect because it's not. But the universe has always seemed to 'step in' when needed.

I don't know. I'm going through a tough time at the moment but I have a feeling everything will turn out to be OK because it always does.

Of which you have zero, so there we go

All I know, is that at pretty important times in my life when I’ve been faced with some awful, life changing situations, I have said a little prayer or two. At the same time, I have felt an immediate sense of calm and things have worked themselves out (eventually).
Being super anxious, the peace I experienced undoubtedly saved me from breaking down. That’s call I can say.

Oh no, whatever shall I do without being told I'm a sinner who's going to burn in hell?

My evening is ruined 🙄

Then as a non believer you will not get one.

Neither will anyone - heaven and hell don’t exist - they are threats in place to try and force people to behave a certain way. Worship me or else!

That can only be a good thing if Percy types are already there 😂

Nope

I have Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology and taught religion at a Christian school for 35 years. Go away

Nah, I'm quite happy here thanks.

For someone who was leaving and not responding to me, you don't appear to be doing a very good job at it, btw.

Also, I thought you said that earthly qualifications don't mean anything in the afterlife

@Percy1948- this is a serious question - if, as you believe, after you die you are in heaven, in the presence of the Lord your God, do you really think that will be some sort of perfected version of this life with your cats? I don’t ever remember reading anything in the Bible which really supported this idea.

But it can’t follow someone round a room and not drip anywhere else at all 🤷‍♀️

Yes, animals also have souls and await us in heaven. They are like my family and look forward to seeing them again

Water doesn’t follow a person around a room - it finds any source. You will only have noticed it when it dripped on you.

They don't

Yes.

So why bring them up?

Anyway, I thought you weren't talking to me 😂

I couldn’t understand it either and still don’t totally. But it does refer in Acts and Hebrews in the Bible to ‘miracles, wonders and signs’, which led to lots of people believing. All I can say is that for me personally I can never doubt God’s existence after that.

There weren’t any water drops anywhere else in the room, and I was drenched! I called the vicar round cos I was pretty shaken up, and she saw it too.

No. I might like to,but I can't.

because you said I didn't have any and I'm not talking, I'm typing.

Nope. I’ve tried really hard but in my most desperate times I’ve prayed and prayed and it’s made no difference. I don’t believe everything happens for a reason either. It’s sad because I’d like to believe there was someone out there protecting me and especially my family, but there isn’t.

It’s also very convenient that when something good happens it’s “the amazing power of god” and when something bad happens “it’s not god’s fault”. I’ve literally sat in a funeral of someone who died too young and in horribly of MND and the vicar said, “it’s not god’s fault” verbatim. I’ve also heard a very religious colleague say, “isn’t god great?” When something mildly good happened while her best friend’s (and equally religious) mother in law, who was a vicar’s wife was dying of cancer in her 50s. So no, if there is a god, he is not great at all.

But why do you think God would do that? What would be the point of it?

This ^

God no.

I’d like to believe there’s something, I don’t think many humans would make the grade.

You don't. Anyone can go to school, doesn't make them spiritually intelligent.

Going on about how people are going to burn in hell, are sinners etc. isn't very Christian behaviour. Tsk tsk.