Do you ever doubt the things that you believe about God and the afterlife? Do you have days when you think, "You know, this is pretty far-fetched. Do I REALLY believe this? "

 

Along the same lines, are you willing to admit that you might possibly be wrong about what you believe? Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Heaven's Gater, Agnostic, or whatever, would you admit that your belief may be wrong?

 

I tend to think that we all have deep-seated doubts about what we believe. We may not always let it show, but it's always there. I think that's why many people shy away from talking about religion and the afterlife. Those doubts are always there and they cause us some angst and make us uncomfortable.

 

We all would like to believe in a happy ending and many of us choose to "believe" because we want to be in Heaven with our family and friends and we don't want to take the chance of being left behind just in case it happens to be true. I know my father falls into this category. He has serious doubts about much of what the Bible says but he doesn't want to be left out of Heaven IF it turns out there is a Heaven. I think many fall into this category.

 

Are there times when you question, or even doubt, your beliefs about God? Are you willing to say, "Yes, I could have it all wrong" ?

All the time!

I'm not a fan that thinks one religion is better than the other, but I believe everyone should have a faith they follow.

Yes, but not for the "this is far-fetched" type reasons you mentioned in your first paragraph.

 

I wondered when September 11th happened. I wondered when Sady Hook happened. I questioned when my dad died.

 

But then I realize that during the Bible times, terrible things happened. The Bible makes it clear that we live in a nasty world.

The very definition of faith almost demands there be doubt at times. If faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, that means not every I is dotted nor every T crossed. So doubt, as I see it, is natural.

 

The Bible's most iconic characters experienced doubt, from Job to Jeremiah to John the Baptist to Jesus himself. So I feel okay when doubt occasionally creeps in.

 

At the same time, I don't believe doubt would ever be so strong within me that I think "I could have it all wrong."

No, I have never doubted my belief in God. I don’t have total certainty about all the details of theology. But what I know, I really know. I have a handful of convictions that cannot be shaken. I would include in that short list these truths: God is good, Jesus is Lord, the Bible is true, life on earth is short, love is important, every day is a gift, people matter more than things, this world is not my home, and even tough times are meant for my benefit. And at the core of my faith is an unshakable belief in the sovereignty of God. He’s God and I’m not. He is sovereign over all the details of my life, and I can trust him completely.

 

I respect those who have different beliefs (or no belief) than I do. The way I look at it God gave all of us free will so who am I to judge.

I'll also add that as I have gotten older (I'm a depressed 36 year old now) I am more along the line of @kygirl . When I was younger and a little more rebellious, I was prone to doubt and questioning.

Absolutely.

 

When I see terrible tragedies like the Vegas shooting or the TX church shooting, doubts creep in. When I see little kids struggling, battling, and succumbing to cancer and other life-threatening diseases, I doubt. Heck, anymore just watching the evil that pops up on the local evening news causes hints of doubt on an almost daily basis.

 

The doubt doesn't last long, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't creep up quite frequently.

Religion gives the masses a comfort with death. Crazy stuff that can’t be explained happens and people started saying it was caused from an invisible

Being in the sky. Believe what you want no matter your religion but in my opinion if there was a physical/spiritual being we would all be under the same umbrella

I started having doubts and questions as far back as when my mother took me and the rest of my siblings to the local Baptist Church when I was a small lad, probably 10 or 11. At that time I was more confused than anything and didn't say anything to mom. Then after high school I entered EKU and some of my professors, especially science but at least one in literature and another in anthropology, were lecturing about their subjects with a little religion discussion occasionally in the mix. That's when I started becoming more of a free thinker and looking at the world and life through more of a reason viewpoint.

I started having doubts and questions as far back as when my mother took me and the rest of my siblings to the local Baptist Church when I was a small lad, probably 10 or 11. At that time I was more confused than anything and didn't say anything to mom. Then after high school I entered EKU and some of my professors, especially science but at least one in literature and another in anthropology, were lecturing about their subjects with a little religion discussion occasionally in the mix. That's when I started becoming more of a free thinker and looking at the world and life through more of a reason viewpoint.

 

Do you think religion hampers or confuses people's reasoning and makes them less able(or less willing) to think more freely?

Do you think religion hampers or confuses people's reasoning and makes them less able(or less willing) to think more freely?

Probably both, hampers and confuses.

 

I have a lot of thoughts and questions in these topics but I don’t always elaborate because I’ve been a member of BGP since January 2004 and this board and it’s members feel like family and friends to me. I remember a few years ago I made a comment on a religion discussion and got a reply that I was “condescending”. So I’ve been somewhat reluctant to say much. I have asked questions a few times in some threads, though, about free will or who created God type topics but as soon as I post them I’m saying to myself, “Prof, why did you post that??” Lol

Probably both, hampers and confuses.

 

I have a lot of thoughts and questions in these topics but I don’t always elaborate because I’ve been a member of BGP since January 2004 and this board and it’s members feel like family and friends to me. I remember a few years ago I made a comment on a religion discussion and got a reply that I was “condescending”. So I’ve been somewhat reluctant to say much. I have asked questions a few times in some threads, though, about free will or who created God type topics but as soon as I post them I’m saying to myself, “Prof, why did you post that??” Lol

 

I consider a lot of these folks my friends as well, and I hope they consider me the same. However, I am gonna ask the tough questions and I am going to try to best represent how I'm thinking at the time. I want folks to know that it is never, ever personal. I respect others' opinions, including those that I strongly disagree with. And I, like most all of you, am on a journey to discover answers--- answers about God, the universe, myself... the meaning of it all. I hope you will join me in these discussions.

However, I am gonna ask the tough questions

 

I don't participate in all of them, but I have enjoyed your threads of late where some of those tough questions are asked. :thumb:

I don't participate in all of them, but I have enjoyed your threads of late where some of those tough questions are asked. :thumb:

 

 

Thank you so much , Randy. I really appreciate that. I used to love this forum until it all but died. Back then my style was a bit different, but my goal was the same-- to get folks to think deeply about religious and philosophical questions. I think it is really interesting and I have no fear tackling these questions. Just getting started. There are just so many questions... and so little time to get them all in.

There are just so many questions... and so little time to get them all in.

 

Indeed.