Brought up atheist but feel a pull to something bigger

[saltnvinegarpringles]

Just that really. I was brought up an extremely staunch atheist but always felt there was something bigger. I feel very drawn to churches and I often say a quiet prayer to God, but I don't know who or what God is. I don't feel a connection to organised religion. I would like to explore faith but I don't really know where to start. Anyone else out there like me?

The fact is that some of us have studied the times in which the gospels were written, have gone to the lands where the events took place, have looked at the relevant documents and the context and history they were written in and have come to one conclusion about the central fact on which Christianity rests - the historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day!

I’m sure you have found “evidence” to corroborate your beliefs, the universe tends to provide what you look for. If you can prove beyond all reasonable doubt about Jesus, Gods only begotten son rising from the dead after 3 days in a peer reviewed study surely you would have made this as widely known as possible? To do gods work, spreading his word? Can you prove that any purported evidence was not allegorical, can you prove it cannot be psychologically explained? Grief, mass hysteria, justifying themselves believing in something which had literally died a death?

I’ve been to the holy land, studied Hebrew, studied Gematria, I’ve studied the area both pre and post Christianity/ I’ve never come across any evidence which actually proves this. I’ve also been to many other areas of the world with different belief systems, it’s the same thing.

You’re perfectly entitled you your beliefs but there are many other equally valid paths (who could probably find similar corroborating evidence if they looked for it.

Absolutely I believe that the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead after three days is provable beyond reasonable doubt. In fact I have heard distinguished lawyers giving extremely compelling evidence in its favour. Of course when he comes to ‘proof’ you cannot ‘prove’ absolutely outside of the realm of mathematics (and even then there will be some who would dispute that) but she looked at with a dispassionate gaze the evidence for the resurrection stands up as well as any other historical evidence. Don’t worry examined all the grief and Mass Hysteria stuff and they do not make sense. Mass Hysteria from 12 hardened fisherman? Give me a break! 😀

@OMG12 If I had absolute, irrefutable proof of the resurrection I wouldn't be sitting here writing to you on mumsnet, that's for sure! 😁It's a matter of faith and I understand other people have different perspectives (which includes most of my friends and family). Having said that, I have a general rule of thumb when it comes to which version of Christianity I believe is the 'correct' one. Generally speaking, it will allign with these core truths:

That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who 'took on flesh', died and rose again, as a perfect sacrifice for humanity's sin.

Jesus is 'the way the truth and the life' and there is no other path to God except through Him.

Belief in the Holy Trinity

That salvation is only possible through faith, not personal good works, behaviour or physical ritual. But also the importance of trying to live in a Christ like way, not as a sort of get out of jail free card.

The Bible as the true 'Word of God' and any teaching must align with the scriptures.

So it’s not a fact then is it? But you’re entitled to believe what you want to believe., but “12 hardened fishermen”? I really do suggest you go back and read the Bible. I’m not trying to dissuade you from your belief, but stop using words such as facts. Lawyers can make cases for anything. It is literally their job.

Sorry but I really haven't seen any evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. I don't believe in hell either if I'm honest. I do believe in some sort of higher power, I feel a connection with God, but I don't believe he/she sits on high and judges humans. I don't know where you go after you die but I do believe there is something else.

I could certainly understand the view that the resurrection is more of a metaphor, rather than a man literlly rising from the dead.

You and me both lol! We would be rich women. I’m not really sure if faith is consistent with proof or fact.

Most people (well post council of Nicea and Luther) would hold your view of what Christianity is, indeed not doing so has resulted in death and torture (including genocide in what is now France when the pope issued a Crusade against the Christian Cathars).

it’s a view that has provided a lot of help to many people also, nothing is ever entirely good or bad. Everything has s ray of light and a ray of darkness.

I think that is what many believe. One of the greatest things about the biblical stories is that they can be read on many levels. Many would view the 3days (note the importance and religion of the number 3 across many religions, eg Isis. Osiris and Horus, the trinity Jesus dying at 33 etc etc) as a process of change, sacrifice/destruction reaching a low point to rise again in glory. Alchemical change, moving from the lower to the higher, sacrificing the mundane. The number of wounds reflecting the number of man - 5 senses etc - lots of interpretations

The word ‘resurrection’ as used in the New Testament means Jesus literally rose from the dead. As St Paul said to King Agrippa ‘Why do you think it incredible that God should raise the dead?’ Actually if Jesus has not been raised from the dead, according to Paul, Christianity collapses anyway. There is absolutely no point in anybody being a Christian if Jesus has not been raised.

I'm not a Christian, Mari.

I realise that. I’m just telling the facts of what the New Testament says.

But they’re not facts. They are just words. The New Testament has as much authority as any other religious texts (of which there have been many) I suppose.

But if it helps your faith to have facts good on you

Do you conceive of “something more” as a power? A concept? An energy? Something entirely separate from you? Do you feel it’s something you want to worship or intergrate as part of you? Do you want a community or just to have a private practice?

its usually good to meditate on questions like this. The western way of meditation is “discursive meditation” basically sit in a chair with your feet flat in the floor and effectively brain storm. Just hold the thought “ what is the something more?” See what comes up, do this every day. There’s no right or wrong answers, don’t try and answer it with ideas that you already have. See what comes up. Discursive meditation is a very useful skill to hone in any case.

once you get some key pointers look for a path that fits these criteria, you’re not stuck with it for life, many people move between different paths as they learn and grow. There is online group esp on Facebook for almost every type of spirituality going where you can just watch and listen and ask questions

When I took part in RCIA, the course you follow before you enter the Catholic Church, I was amazed at how many former atheists came along.

The New Testament is a historical text written by eye witnesses

I'd she's not a Christian, why would she care?

It’s a selection out of a number of gospels written at the earliest decades after the date Christ was supposed to have died (if we are talking the synoptic gospels plus John). Possibly based on stories surrounding a real man who may or may not have been the son of God. Possibly as a reaction to Roman rule (obviously, it’s pretty much beyond doubt this is the meaning behind Revelations of John the Divine). It’s a stretch to say this makes the words historical fact.

But you’re perfectly entitled to believe whatever you like.

So you believe history is not facts?

Historical facts are important to me

Well are you saying then it’s a stretch to say Tacitus is not facts?

OP is not asking for a history lesson.

@MariEllie I think you're referring to this account by Tacitus, about the great fire of Rome, which Nero blamed on Christians:

'...But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the
report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.'

While it's very good evidence there was someone called Christ who was executed in Judea by Pilate, it doesn't say anything about his divine nature, which I think OMG12 is getting at.

It’s a stretch to say Tacitus’s brief mention of Jesus when giving the background to the Christian’s who were persecuted by Nero proves everything in the bible written about Jesus.

Surely if there was historical proof (some 100 years after his death) Of everything in the Gospels Tacitus would have been all over the dead rising from the grave )I mean that’s historically monumental and surely Tacitus should have been writing book after book about Jesus ) women and shepherds being visited by angels rather than a brief mention in passing of a man put to death who these Christian’s worshipped all in the context of talking about Nero (the Christian’s being a bit of a side show- actually quite literally in the relevant account in the annals).

At the most the historical “evidence” suggests “Jesus” or actually Joshua was a preacher who caused some unrest with some followers. History is full of this type of thing. This one happened to take off through historical accident.

I really don’t know what else to say! You’re obviously intent on twisting “evidence”. I’m not sure why you are so intent on telling the OP that Christianity is backed up by facts. Who are you trying to convince the OP or yourself? This conversation is pointless, I’m done. Wish you all the best on your journey

Yes exactly, thanks for the quote. Sorry cross posted.

I think it’s down to faith what people believe Jesus was/is. And if they believe one thing, good for them, this faith has helped many people.

But trying to say there is evidence proving the resurrection is fact is at best disingenuous, and I think actually takes away from Christianity, it’s based on faith (ie doesn’t need to be proved, unless by personal experience). And faith is a beautiful thing for those who have it.