I don't think I'm very good at explaining things, but sometimes it's fun to chat about without the want of an argument. My boyfriend is Agnostic and a very logical person and always tries to find out why I believe what I believe as a Christian. He's told me a few times that he doesn't find my beliefs logical, but he says that my reason to believe is and is quite proud of me. If that makes any sense...

Told you I was bad at explaining things XD

I suppose I understand. I totally admire the amount of willpower it takes to believe in something with all your heart!

I just don't agree with the thing you believe in, sadly. :c I think there's much more you could choose to put your heart into that would make you happier, fulfill you more, and open your mind.

But I also know that Christianity tells you to resist those very things. x) It defies logic, intelligence, and observation. So it's hard for me to respect it as a belief system.

I don't believe every thing in the Bible is completely relevant or makes sense these days. If I do wrong, sorry but I don't have a sheep to give my neighbour. I have a dog and a rabbit and they are staying with me. I'll bake my neighbour cookies or something.

For the most part, I think being a Christian has made me a better person. I question whether I am doing something right and helpful, or wrong and hurtful, to myself and others. To me, God isn't some big scary guy in the sky that I need to obey the rules of or I go to hell. He is my 'father' in the sense that he loves me for me, he tries to teach me right from wrong, and if I mess up, he's not going to smite me or anything, he'll just be disappointed, which makes me feel like I need to fix things. He's there when I need help or comfort. I always had the thought that if I didn't have God in my life, I'd be really lonely. In a way, he's the cause of most of my happiness.

Which must sound crazy to an atheist! It's hard to imaging living life without believing, so I'm sure it's hard to imagine life as a Christian. I put my heart into loving God, and that makes me very happy, I feel fulfilled when I do something to make God proud of me. But that doesn't mean I'm trapped. I love my family, my friends, my boyfriend, and I try to make them proud of me, too. I'm a drummer/singer in a worship band and I am using my musical talents to make myself happy, because I really enjoy it, but I also make my family proud of me, and I make God proud of me because my music helps others to worship in Church. Otherwise, the services would be really boring. And trust me, our band really rock out!

Just because I believe in a higher power doesn't mean I don't believe in what's in front of my face. I believe in science, the big bang, evolution, what-have-you. And I'm probably about to make a lot of people hate me, but I'm also pro-choice. I try to keep n open mind. I constantly question my beliefs, and there was a time where I fell away form them, but I feel that the more I question, the stronger I believe. And other religions fascinate me so I love to learn about them as well.

In short, I believe in God because it makes me happy and encourages me to be a better person. I don't think there is anything else I can put my heart into to give me the same feeling of happiness, but that doesn't mean I'm shoving every other thing aside. I have loads of things in my life that make me happy, that I put my heart and energy into, and that I work hard at. My beliefs are just one of them.

Oops... I wrote too much.

Thank you! I was reading your comments, too, and I completely agree! I love the phrase you used "Religion only limits your mind as much as you let it." So true!

I'm gonna take this paragraph by paragraph. :)

I don't believe every thing in the Bible is completely relevant or makes sense these days. If I do wrong, sorry but I don't have a sheep to give my neighbour. I have a dog and a rabbit and they are staying with me. I'll bake my neighbour cookies or something.


The Bible itself states that it is 100% truth and 100% relevant. God is unchanging, he says so himself...so how can the Bible be incorrect or irrelevant in one part but be truth the rest of the time? :v That doesn't make sense - it defies itself. That's enough proof for me right there.

For the most part, I think being a Christian has made me a better person. I question whether I am doing something right and helpful, or wrong and hurtful, to myself and others. To me, God isn't some big scary guy in the sky that I need to obey the rules of or I go to hell. He is my 'father' in the sense that he loves me for me, he tries to teach me right from wrong, and if I mess up, he's not going to smite me or anything, he'll just be disappointed, which makes me feel like I need to fix things. He's there when I need help or comfort. I always had the thought that if I didn't have God in my life, I'd be really lonely. In a way, he's the cause of most of my happiness.

The thought process of "no god = no morality" is really offensive to me. Christians will outright say that people without God in their hearts will happily go on murdering, raping, and other immoral things because God is the only reason not to do those things. I think that's bullshit and frankly it hurts my feelings. I'm a good person - I enjoy helping people, I check my tongue when people are rude to me, I am madly in love with a man who makes me happy and I don't need to talk to some imaginary voice in my head to know the difference between right and wrong.

Which must sound crazy to an atheist! It's hard to imaging living life without believing, so I'm sure it's hard to imagine life as a Christian. I put my heart into loving God, and that makes me very happy, I feel fulfilled when I do something to make God proud of me. But that doesn't mean I'm trapped. I love my family, my friends, my boyfriend, and I try to make them proud of me, too. I'm a drummer/singer in a worship band and I am using my musical talents to make myself happy, because I really enjoy it, but I also make my family proud of me, and I make God proud of me because my music helps others to worship in Church. Otherwise, the services would be really boring. And trust me, our band really rock out!

Disbelief in God does not mean a disbelief in everything. I believe in a ton of things. Things that I can prove, that I can see and feel and experience. I do not believe in fairies, Santa Claus, leprachauns, ManBearPig, or that Al Gore created the internet. Similarly, I do not believe in God. However, I have an amazing group of friends who make me very happy (guess what? All atheists :P), a great family who I love and support (despite how conflicted and argumentative they are based on their religious issues), and an incredible boyfriend who I love with all my heart and believe firmly in for his love, passion, and how honest and truthful he is with me. The only thing I've experienced with Christianity is a constant disappointment when I put my faith in it, and I am let down. I'm happy making myself and the people I love and respect proud of me. That's enough reason for me to believe :)

Just because I believe in a higher power doesn't mean I don't believe in what's in front of my face. I believe in science, the big bang, evolution, what-have-you. And I'm probably about to make a lot of people hate me, but I'm also pro-choice. I try to keep n open mind. I constantly question my beliefs, and there was a time where I fell away form them, but I feel that the more I question, the stronger I believe. And other religions fascinate me so I love to learn about them as well.

If you keep an open mind, then you cannot fit into the Christian demographic. Christianity is anti-choice, anti homosexuality, and most of all anti questioning! If you truly believe those things that you are halfway out of the Christian demographic. You can't straddle the fence.

In short, I believe in God because it makes me happy and encourages me to be a better person. I don't think there is anything else I can put my heart into to give me the same feeling of happiness, but that doesn't mean I'm shoving every other thing aside. I have loads of things in my life that make me happy, that I put my heart and energy into, and that I work hard at. My beliefs are just one of them.

Believing in something that makes you happy and makes you feel like a better person is great. I believe in volunteering, in donating to charities, in supporting people who need support in times of fear and pain when they have nobody else to turn to. Those things make me feel like a better person and encourage me to do good every single day, purely to make the world a little better. Believe me when I say that God is not the end all be all of happiness and fulfillment - you may be happy now, but the feeling of overwhelming joy that you can feel when you open yourself up to all the wonders and beauties and possibilities out there is much more exquisite, and far more real, than anything Christianity ever can or will give you.

Thanks so much for your post. <3

Sorry, I write a lot when I get into things XD

The Bible is a book of teaching. It contains many truths and many stories. As times have changed, the teachings remain the same, as do the morals, but the ways in which it uses examples to teach become to distant to today's times.

Yes, believing in God makes me a better person, but that definitely doesn't mean that not believing in God doesn't make you a good person. You can be an incredible atheist. You said you volunteer and donate to charities and help people in need. That's fantastic! But to me personally, I need a good kick in the right direction, and God helps me with that. I could probably do it of my own accord, but I tend to need strong encouragement with things. Like getting work done. Believing in God makes me happy. That doesn't mean that all those that don't believe in God are unhappy. For some people, travelling the world makes them happy. For me, it doesn't. I'd rather stay at home. For me, having faith makes me happy. For others, it doesn't. But we can still both be happy believing in different things.

Christians can be very open minded. We don't have to believe in anti-choice or anti-homosexuality (Not only am I pro-choice, I support gay marriage). That's one of the biggest misconceptions out there. God tells us to love thy neighbour as ourselves. I'm straight, but I love my gay friends as much as my straight ones.

I don't think that because I have faith I'm missing out on what our world has to offer. Faith has little to do with missing out on experiences. I am happy now, and I think I'll be happy in the future, because I continue to educate myself on my own beliefs, and other people's as well. I like to experience things, and God can walk beside me as I experience them. Christians believe that God is real. That's faith. I can believe in something I cannot physically see, but that doesn't stop me from touching the physical objects of this world. I am happy with who I am and what I believe. I've experienced disbelief, and for me, I prefer to believe. It makes me feel better. But it doesn't make everyone feel better. Which is why I don't shove my believes into other people's faces. It's not for everyone, but it is for me.

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this without the typical arguments =) Like Arlesey, I'm going to bed (It's almost 2am for me), but I just loved this so much that I couldn't sign out XD

because i want to beleave that when i die theres more for me then nothing.

Why?

IMHO, if you're living your life with your focus on what happens after you die, you're doing it wrong. :P Seems like a miserable existence to me.

My calling in life is have as much fun n do what you wanna do till you fall 6ft under

That doesn't sound very Christian!

Im not christian im me

If you don't mind discussing it, send me a message on Steam or Skype.

Christanity is one of if not THE biggest fanclub on the planet its a book people have read n felt moved by it like readers of any book they like they join a fanclub it dosent mean to say whats in the book exists like Twilight ooor harry potter!

Difference is, this book is 2000 years old and in our culture, age is somehow a qualifying factor for truth xD It's pretty lulzy but whatcha gonna do? Can't convince Twitards their books are shit, either.

True but we can always try brainwashing them with cake

I can understand and agree to that. I totally support belief in things - belief in love, in hope, in the good of human nature, in saving the planet, in learning and exploring and tons of things. I don't think religious belief falls under that spectrum, though, the same way I don't think cults do. It's not a way of thinking or living, it's a doctrine and society. Morals don't need to be tied to religious doctrine.

I firmly believe there is something out there more powerful than myself, and I believe there exist a thousand possibilities. But I will not limit myself by placing my beliefs in one of those possibilities and assert it as truth, cuz I feel like that's more limiting than choosing to believe in nothing at all.

Hopefully learning about paleontology proves to you that the Earth is much older than the Bible says it is, and cracks that wonderful sugar glaze that is Christian faith. xD Those "weird rocks" didn't just get hastily thrown in when God noticed people started digging. :P Good luck!

The Bible should make it sure for you, right? And it sure tries to! Christianity has always kept that stuff up for debate :P That way nobody ever really knows. Science, however, can give you an exact list of dates and prove to you where those dates came from rather than just pulling 'em out of thin air.

One of those dates is when the Bible was created...by a group of men who picked and chose from a MUCH larger pool of writing which they paraphrased, deleted from, and added to in order to create a workable tool with which they'd be able to control a huge group of people for many centuries yet.

We can DATE that. We can prove things and see where they happened with no doubt as to how, why, and where, let alone when.

When the Bible can provide that kind of rock-hard proof, let me know. :P

"I was raised Christian, and I can guarantee you that I would not be nearly as patient, kind, and tolerant as I am now if my parents hadn't shown me that part of religion. I know I can't say I am who I am solely because of myself or my parents, religion has given me some goal to work towards to better myself."

This part makes me sad. :c Religion is definitely not the birthplace of morality, in my opinion. I've known dozens of people who were raised by atheists, agnostics, Wiccans, and even Satanists (among others which I'm sure I haven't even known) who have turned out to be sweet, patient, kind, tolerant people without the addition of a Christian God in their lives. Morals are not something that Christianity deserves credit for - they were around long before it existed, and they will be around long after, hopefully!

As for the rest of your post, while I understand the simple joy in being comfortable in where you are, I believe life is too short to stay stagnant just cuz you're nervous about moving forward. There isn't any need to rush, of course, it's always good to move at your own pace - and if you don't feel mentally stable enough to be ready to move on to the next phase in psychology/theology/whatever, then don't! It sounds like that's the track you're on, with researching different beliefs and religions. But what you really should start doing is researching facts, and cultures, and seeing the beginning and the end in those religions might clear up some of those underlying questions you may have in the current popular religion.

I recommend looking up the Jesus myth and where it comes from, for a start c: "Jesus" the character has a story which far predates where he would have lived, back to dozens of different religions. It's kind of a cliche mary-sue story that easily controls people, honestly. That alone is enough proof for me to break the Bible's all-truth facade.

As long as you're happy. :)

Wouldn't mind discussing it, but not in an open forum.

Note me broski

I admire your search for knowledge on the subject rather than brazen insults like a lot of people do these days.

I'll do my best to listen and not argue or back out, if that is what you'd like.

Sad day when I would like to express my opinions, but wish to keep my religious beliefs off of FA x3.

I love you so goddamn much.

I love you too <33333.

One a phone so might have mistakes, lol

To me, it really comes down to a matter of how you believe in faith and fate. I was raised sounthern baptist, so God had been a big part off my younger days. Then my mind sout out other explainations, and i becane a Pagan. Recently I fell into a dark place, questioning myself, my choices, my faith. Now, I refound Christianity in the morman faith. And to me, I realized its a matter of what makes sense to me. I believe in a higher power, i feel in my heart that god and Jesus exist, and i believe in the modern day prophets, and that our goal in life is to go back ro Him and live with His family. I alo, unlike some Christians, dont agree with shoving my religion down your throat and saying woe unto you if you dont believe. Thats part of why i feel being a morman is right for me. We believe that if you die and didnt become saved and Baptised, you rest in a limbo of sorts, then are reborn on this world again. I brlieve that everyone needs to come to God on their own terms, not because someone is forcing them to. I have faith tht it will happen, and that is good enough for me.

I dont really know what else to say XD.

*Mormon

I'll respond to you tomorrow morning, but omg I couldn't handle that spelling error. xD

That was why i added the note about typing on a phone, lol autocorrect strikes!

I guess my main concern with this is the fact that you don't seem to need any proof or reassurance that your beliefs are sturdy enough to stand on. I can't comprehend just accepting something as a truth without seeing a steady foundation or formula that makes it real and irrefutable. :c

i guess it all boils down to the kind of person you are really. some don't feel the need to question fully. I'm one of those. I believe that they exist, and that they created us and everything like it. no don't get me wrong. I am actually one who take the book of genesis with a grain of salt myself. I think the seven days aren't really days by our standards. I call my creation belief Creative Evolution, that the universe and everything were created and then evolved over time.

And who knows, we might all be wrong, and that nothing is how it seems. I'm prepared for that too XD

I just find it sad that some people need to be threatened in order to be kind, generous, or otherwise 'good'.

I personally think life is just too short to waste time with religion of any kind. You do what you think is right, and don't worry about any sort of afterlife until you're there.

I do find it amusing, however, that it is incredibly easy to portray the Bible's big bad as more or less the patron of all Mankind. Also amusing is that I'm certain there are people who are outraged that the very idea exists, that what they believe is false.