Why do some people find it hard to believe in God?

[MosEisley]

I believe in God.

However, I am attending an adult confirmation class and we have been asked to consider why some people do not believe in God. DH and I came up with:

• there is no absolute proof of God's existence
• they are rebelling against a strict organised religion that they can't accept as literallly true

If you know someone who doesn't believe in God, why don't they?

What about gay people? Will they pass muster? The bible says they probably shouldn't, although the Salvation Army are quite generous about them and say it's ok as long as they don't have sex (yea right!). And as far as most churches are concerned women who have abortions are sinning big time. And contraception and sex outside marriage isn't good if you're catholic especially. Having more than one sexual partner isn't good, divorce, not good, lying and coveting, not good (who's not guilty of having transgressed those now and again?)

And please, don't apologise for other people, you're not responsible for them

See I have a good friend who was brought up a Catholic. Although she isn't a practising Catholic now by any means (and is happy to have us as her friends even though we aren't believers) she believes deep in her heart that my child is Going To Hell because she isn't baptised. The fact that she thinks this way does my head in a bit if I'm honest.

My father in law struggled so much with his belief that his beloved grandchildren would go to hell because they weren't baptised and their parents weren't married. It made him very sad indeed. Thanks for that,God!

No need to thank God for that seeker. Thank the man made traditions and ill formed doctrine that in no way reflects Jesus or his teachings.

Bobbin - it would do my head in as well.

There is no passing muster. No certain form of sexuality. God is just, I believe. I used to want black and white answers to all this stuff. But life is in shades of grey. I think God is far bigger than the church has traditionally made God out to be. Gay people have been treated atrociously and the church should feel ashamed of treating any of God's children in this way - much as in racism and sexism. Jesus' teaching clearly showed a radical way of treating people which was based on ... well, love. And justice. And inclusivity. And all that :)

Oohing is ever god's fault, is it?

So everything that's good about religion = God did it. Everything that is prejudiced, contradictory or just plain nasty = A Man Did It. That about right?

Nothing, that should say.

That's the trouble, isn't it. By definition, god is perfect. Just a pity he chose mankind to do his will and spread his word.

But if man is so obviously rubbish at carrying out gods will, it surely makes sense to give a big old to anyone who claims that is what they are doing.

It's interesting how much god moves the goalposts. For 1500 years or so, he was allowed to be homophobic, hate women etc - now we are PC, he's mysteriously moved with the zeitgeist? Intriguing.

And if man is by definition a bit rubbish at carrying out god's will, how can you believe anything they ever wrote about god and Jesus?

I do believe GOD is DOG spelt backwards.

or ODG if you rearrange the letters

Actually, do DOGs believe in god? if not, why not?

Does God believe in dogs? I do, I see them everyday.

How does god move with the zeitgeist?

Is god german?

Why does he never update his book? bit lazy if you ask me. or perhaps he died and nobody noticed :(

One of many lurkers on this thread checking in to say how much I am enjoying it.

He doesn't update the book but some Christians - not fundamentalists - he does 'continuing revelation'. Which is a handy way for scientific discoveries such as the age of the earth and evolution to be accepted in place of what appeared to be said in the book. OK folks that bit was myth or metaphor, God has revealed to us that the earth is more than 6000 years old.

Same thing applies when ideas of social justice and morality evolve to more compassionate humanistic norms.

Morning

Can't think of anything earth-shattering to say, but checking in nonetheless :)

God most definitely believes in dogs. Not Jack Russells though

Morning oh fluffy one

I'd like to know how you're so certain about god's new found own heart for homosexuals and unmarried parents etc? It's in direct contradiction to the bible so how do you know?

Isn't it just that the only ideas anyone has to base this faith on are via the bible, and it's merely indicative of the time it was written so entirely useless today?

Open heart, not own heart, bloody iPhone.

Will be back later to talk about this Rational - the paretns have just arrived

Why is it a 'new found open heart?'

Homosexuality in the bible - meh. The passages were mainly talking about the abuse of young boys by older men - this includes the NT passages. If God is saying that is abhorrent, then I take no issue with that :) It's very interesting looking into original meanings. And Jesus had nada to say on the subject. He was far more interested in how we look after widows and orphans and how our lives reflect goodness and love.

Unmarried mothers? Mary was the original one And Jesus was rather nice to women, including so called 'fallen' women.

I can't see any way in which what I have said contradicts the bible, but may contradict many comprehensions and ideas about the bible. God is loving and inclusive of all.

God does ask those who follow God to have standards of holiness etc. And that's only right. There may be grace but that doesn't give us the excuse to be rubbish at justice and reconciliation etc. Christians are called to certain standards of living, but I have no time for Christians who impose such on others or make it the be all and end all, or even worse use them to judge people.

Lot, a "good man" (indeed, the only good man left in the area) was prepared to hand over his underage virgin daughters to save angels from being buggered. Sounds like a fairly strong condemnation of homosexuality to me.

Madhair - over the last two millennia of Christianity, do you think your views on homosexuality were the norm? You read those passages with 21st century sensibilities.

Its what I said - the church (parts of it) play catch-up as societal norms evolve.

Yep Grimma. The church should always be moving with the times whilst retaining integrity and central tenets.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always. But we try :)

OldLady - hmm, not sure how the Sodom and Gomorrah narratives have any connection whatsoever with what we know as committed gay relationships. Much the same as a lot of OT stuff we need to read the context and more importantly look at the bigger picture in the light of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.