How did you know you believed

[tempusfoogit]

I am so interested in finding out how others felt drawn to faith-I am a fence-sitter at the moment, equally drawn to and repulsed by 'Religion'. I feel spiritual feelings, often give gratitude to 'something',have an interest in religious texts and believe there is an energy which goes on after we die, but cannot bring myself to become involved in organised religion. It is a simplistic thing, but the current happenings in Israel/Palestine sicken me to the core and I have all the usual questions of how supposedly religious, empathic, loving believers can carry out such atrocities. I was brought up in an atheist household and would love to hear from anyone who found themselves believing after such a childhood-was it a blinding flash, a gentle realisation or something else? Thank you so much if you have time/inclination to answer

tempusfoogit My challenge was a straightforward "Ok, God, if you exist, show me". Immediately, I saw a golden ball of about 10cm diameter come towards me. It entered my body by my heart and I was filled with warmth. I don't mention it that often, because I feel words can't convey it effectively. My 15 year old self was totally blown away by this, and I have never doubted His existence since, although I've railed against Him, disappointed Him, seemed far away from Him etc etc. I can't deny Him.

I was an atheist who started to believe when my baby was born, as I knew that neither I nor her father had made her.

I know some muslims and I love their philosophy as it makes sense to me.

god makes the rules

So even if god ordered you to do something that went against your morals, you would still do it?

Oh, and which god are we talking about?

cheapskatemum, that is lovely

headinhands. I feel like I am slightly hijacking. So am only going to say that I try and have my morals to be as near to the bible as possible, so I cant see how it could possibly happen really.
The christian New Testament God.

it might be old law loving* but it was your god's law. And your god watched people being stoned because he told them that's what he wanted. I'm aware of the death penalty in some parts of the world. I don't think the US has people who have committed adultery on death row. Why need the shedding of blood? It's interesting that you mention posters on the relationship boards. We take romantic betrayal very badly don't we. We want revenge. We are human. God seems very human too, getting angry when he doesn't have control. Why would he care if we're so hopelessly bad and vile. We'd just be like ants surely? Just please, think logically here, you've got this powerful super being who can make a universe through speech and he's getting his creation to faff about with pigeon blood and what not to keep him happy. It makes no sense. Sadly there's no evidence for a god who cares for humanity so if there is one it's totally hands off and as such there's no point me caring about him either.

The New Testament Christian god? As in the Old Testament Jewish god. They're the same you know. Except he got rebranded as humans evolved more sophisticated morals. OT was way way too harsh and needed to be fluffed up a bit, hence the NT. I'm guessing another New New Testament is due where god is like Russell Brand or something?

The bible has the beginning, Genesis.
The middle - New Testament
And The End

morals to be as near to the bible

Yikes. Do you think it was ever okay for people to be stoned for having sex with another consenting adult?

There is nothing more coming. It is all in there already.

I dont like some bits of the bible.
But I am but a grain of sand or whatever. A bit of clay. I know my place!

You need to start from the top down - God

Not the bottom up - us.

You'd have to at least demonstrate there was any truth to it. Surely you can see that!?

I don't like some bits of the bible
What bits? Why?

Feel like this is a hijack

I am probably quite happy talking about this on another thread, but not on this op's thread, as I dont think what we are talking about is particularly relevant to this op.

OP, my belief was sudden. I did not ask, nor was their anything particularly difficult or amazing going on in my life at the time.

For a long time I did not attend formal acts of worship, but I do now as I have found a church of peace, tolerance and love that inspires me.

Hi OP, I grew up with parents that were fairly open to all sorts of ideas - crystal healing, homeopathy, meditation etc. I've always felt a draw to exploring the spiritual side of life and have tried some things like yoga and meditation, some quite full-on self-help type courses, been to Quaker meetings and so on. But nothing has affected me like going to a Christian church. It's hard to sum it up, but somewhere amongst the singing, praying and reading scripture I do feel like I find God. I feel like there is this awesome presence of love and compassion and amazingness that is so close by. There are days when I really don't enjoy church and sometimes I don't really like the people there! But I can't deny the effect it's had on me and I feel like a better person for it. Hard to put into words, sorry. I think the first time I went to church as an adult, of my own choice I felt such strong emotions. It's taken me a long time to trust God, and sometimes I still don't. As Head is more than adequately pointing out there is a lot of scary stuff in the Bible. I guess I had a choice to either trust God on the basis of my experiences, or turn away from all the good things I experienced because of the scary stuff. At the moment I'm still trying to trust God.

I've never felt anything amazing, calming or spiritual whilst in church and find it impossible to forgive people who do or say bad things.

I guess I'm not a christian then?

Lesleytheg, if you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, who died and was resurrected, then you are a Christian. All the rest is work in progress.

Aw, thanks settingsitting, I thought so too.