Where does belief in God come from?

[TooBusyByHalf]

I want to believe in God but I just don't. Can't make it make sense. Am vaguely thinking of returning to the church anyway, without faith, cos I like the singing and smells and all that but I think that would be dishonest.
Atheists, I know, ok? No need to explain why not to believe. Thank you.
Believers, why? Where does your faith come from?

I am not saying you can't criticise it Big. You do. It is possible. The OP asked you not to, explained he already knew the criticisms, though.

This has happened before. All I am doing is responding to the criticism. Defending my own position, explaining how I derive at it.

" Christians are still reading it, rereading it, discussing it, thinking about it, finding out about how, when and where it was written and what others think and have thought about it..."

Non Christians do that too! What I find difficult to understand, more so after this thread, is what bits, if any, Christians think are divinely inspired. Is any of it actually a sort of manual to being a Christian?

My question concerning whether there is anything you disagree with me on, over what is moral and good is making the point that your opinions on my, as you see it, individual 'construct', are irrelevant if the result of my thinking is agreeable to you. It's like marking The correct answer to a maths question wrong because the methodology is not your favourite.

Big I cannot answer for how others believe when they don't believe as I do.

I asked apart from my understanding of God, BigD.

Hak

Christians follow Christ. Our understanding of Him, who He is and what He has done develops over time. The Bible cannot be treated like a Haines manual.

i don't follow any religion, although i was born catholic.
i think all religious doctrines are just made up twaddle and that there is no truth behind them.
but that's just my humble opinion.

Capsicum- so the bible is not divinely inspired? At all?

But you don't believe scripture is fact, do you?

No, but it's what a Christian told me up thread

(Good post just now Beaufort. I'm guessing it's difficult to share some of that, but I'm glad you did because I think it added to understanding on this thread).

bigD universal provision, optional uptake does not force Christianity onto children.

Hak I believe the Bible is divinely inspired. Our interpretation and appreciation of it differs though.

I have said before BigD, I am agreeable to everybody choosing an option, Christian or otherwise. I remember from multiple past threads am not the only one who holds a similar position on this issue. But yes, I agree it has been debated endlessly.

caps I haven't witnessed the MN discussions on compulsory worship in schools. I hope to see the next one.

Is it just christian worship you want provided?

I have stated this, that I am agreeable to everyone making a choice, of Christian worship or otherwise, on at least one thread BigD. Do you claim to know me better than myself? Suffice to say it is a position I stand by.

Viv there are lots of subject areas I would like provision to be made for, within education, but that really is a whole other thread.

Just by way of explanation BigD and because I don't like being thought of as a liar, here is an example of what I have said before,

"Add message | Report | Message poster capsium Tue 22-Jul-14 17:21:21
OneEgg

The suggestions as to how opting out could be better handled leave every school having to reinvent the wheel, and some will do it better than others.

In one way believe every school should reinvent the wheel so to speak. School communities are organic, ever changing. I believe education should change to cater for their changing needs, it should be responsive.

However I also value collective worship and I feel that schools should beheld legally accountable for providing this - otherwise it is squeezed out, as everything else is that they are not legally obliged to provide.

The way for opting in or out not to be discriminatory is for everyone to choose for their child, with no stigma attached and appropriate provision be made. This would allow the choice to be made much more freely and schools would have to get used to making provision for a more diverse range of needs."