|
Hmm, God?
I'm catholic, I even attended a catholic school [K-2grade] I'm 13 now and I don't really believe in God. Actually I'm not that sure anymore. I would like to believe in him but I just don't. So I was wondering if there is like any proof in God. Like how do people know he did exist. Because right now I'm on the lines of believing in evolution because its the only one they have actual proof on and it makes sense. Also, I'd like to add how none of the stories are actually possibe. Like the story about that guy getting swallowed by the whale its impossibe, which leads me to believe God doesn't exist and he's jus a bunch of stories and myths.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Random Weirdos?
well, i hope this will help a little.
Does evil exist or is it better stated that evil is just the absence of something good?
“Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
“You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."
"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."
"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.
"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."
"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
]
it is okay to feel how you are feeling. I'm 16 and I think i can put myself in your shoes. I was going through the same situation as you are. One thing that you have to start out with is faith. Its believing. You don't need prof to know that he exists. It doesn't matter if you call him God, Heavenly father, anything he is there. Think about it this way. K. I'm not trying to tell you that your mom is not your mom but how do you know that your mom is your mom?.................................you honstely don't know because you could actually be adopted.lol....but how do you know that your mom is your mom?................................well, you honestly don't know if your mom is your mom, but you believe that she is your mom. You can't recall ever coming out of your mom's womb? you were'nt really there when you were born, so you can't say wether or not your mom is your mom. But what you have, is a belief. You believe that your mom is your mom, not because you were there and you saw, but because of PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE TO SEE YOU....because of doctors and family. Its the same thing with God. We believe, because people back in the the day were there. They witnessed him. And recorded it, and they know that he was there. Like when you are gone, your great grand kids are gonna hear stories about you, through their parents, they will believe. But wether or not they believe you, doesn't change the fact that you were there. It the same thing with God. Wether or not we believe that he is there, and through all the prophets and people that were there and saw him there, we believe that he was there. I hope this didn't confuse you too much. And I hope it helped. Goodluck!
]
Though we are continually exploring the subject, currently, there is no direct evidence that links God to anything.
Faith is faith for a reason. Because we can't prove it. We can't show a video where God runs with a blurry outline through some trees.
Now, as far as things like Jonah and the Whale, the entire point of God is omnipotence. I mean, if God made the rules that bind our universe together, then he can break them if he so desires.
If you require direct evidence you probably won't have it. We've been without for 2000 years, I think unless we hit the book of revelation and the anti-christ we will continue without.
]
I'm not catholic, I'm a Christian. but i can tell you being 100% sure that God does really exist from my own experiences. I'm not gonna just tell you about my experiences like some people would in the hopes that it will convince you that he exists because you will still be left in the same position that your in now, " stuck without proof". So here's what you do because your already on the right path wanting to believe in him and that's all God needs to know is that there is someone who seeks him and he will find you as soon as he hears your call. Those who truely seek after God will be found. So Here's what you do..you pray to God in the name of Jesus and tell him that your seeking after him, and you ask him to show you some type of sign that he is real. it can be sign as simple as a dove on your window when you wake up in the morning, or just ask for a sign from him and believe me he will hear you and it will happen for you. you have to look out for it :). you will be so amazed :) i'm happy that your seeking God because he changed my life forever for the better :). God is real =)
]
okay, so basically i've been raised with the lord in my life all my life :] i've come to believe that i am not classified in a religion rather i know who god is and i am comfortable with who he is in my life. i do not believe that if you are not christian, lutheran, baptist or methodist ect. classified (you get what i'm saying) that your going to be damned into hell. i just believe you have to listen to the message in church, if you go, and if it doesn't make sense to you, keep trying. i don't go to church because i don't believe in the way the pastors deliver the message. i do believe in God. whether that be his name or not, i have questions on how he got there,what made him decide to create the world, is there more of him and are we believing in the right one. you kind of have to decide for yourself what you are going to believe in. and anything you choose, is the right way for you and i don't believe that should be a problem. i hope i've helped some, you can contact me if you need me anytime :]
xo bethloveswife
]
look you seem smart so i will lay this out for you,im 13,and well yes things dont seem like they could actually happen,but with out faith we have nothing and people need the assurance of knowing some one is out there looking out for you and me. sure things may not make sense but miracels do happen!
]
thats exactly like how i am!
i mean im catholic and i was brought up believing in him but the past couple months ive really been thinking logically about like how do we know what he looks like? because there were no cameras back then and if heavens real where is it?? ya know? like i dont believe that one person can be watching all of us...so honestly i think its a state of mind, just like santa claus. like i really wanna believe god is real but then again i have a feeling that i know hes not. and with santa claus i really wish he was real but i know hes not so i have to put it in a state of mind.
if i confused you, im sorry. but yes im still trying to figure that out too.
and hopefully religion will all come to sence to us.
messege me if you have anymore question.
]
It is not uncommon for teenagers to start doubting their religion.
Do note that even if you accept science (such as evolution), you can still believe in God. Many scientists are religious.
Have a look at the Vatican's site. There might be information that you want. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Keep in mind that even if you find proof for God, someone will probably point out reasons why the proof is invalid. The idea is to have faith in God.
Have you asked your pastor about the Bible? Don't be afraid to ask if you haven't already done so. After all, the pastor is likely to be familiar with it.
If the pastor's answer is unsatisfactory, remember that there is a difference between wanting to believe and actually believing. Why do you want to believe? There is nothing wrong with not believing.
]
I feel the same way, it's actually a religion called being agnostic. Personally, I find it so hard to believe because there is no proof. The person below me said there are pictures of Jesus but I have to disagree. A person in a picture is just a person. It doesn't prove that the man is Jesus or that all the stories are true. I mean, really I think it's rather odd that in almost every religion with one or more gods, the stories related to the religion are very very unbelievable. Like the greek gods, for example. It would be physically impossible for Zeus to give birth to Athena from his forehead. Like christianity, many of those stories are just plain impossible. Also, if there was a "God" of some kind, to me he sounds pretty harsh. I mean, if you've ever read the bible, God sentences the entire human civilization to pain and evils and sin just because 2 people no one even knew decided to eat fruit from a tree. Plus, God damns people to hell just for being gay, if you believe in that. I think that is stupid, he created mankind and if he didn't want people to be like that, he could have made us differently. Everything just sounds like a big story to me. I'm not sure what I believe, but I do know that I don't want to waste my life away trying my best to resist temptations and do everything right just to find out that God doesn't exist. I've also thought before, what if there is a god, but we're not worshipping the right one? Then we'd all be damned just because we didn't know any better. According to the bible, that's how it is for a lot of people. Some of those poor starving people from Africa will go to hell just because they'd never heard of God. It's like getting an F on a quiz because the teacher never taught you the material. Personally, I don't believe there is proof and I think christianity came to be as a result of boredom and imagination waay back when life was dull. Hope I helped!
-Jessica 14/f
]
Hmm...well do you believe in Jesus? B/c there is pictures of him and stories??
Okay about God, I am Catholic too, I did go to Catholic school K-8th Grade. I do believe in God. I know I can't see Him, and yeah there may be no "proof", but thats what makes it so amazing. You cannot have faith with your eyes, thats what is impossible. What you believe in totally is your choice, but he does exist, I promise, I have people ask me all the time how I know hes there. I can't pull out an old photo and show you, but my proof is the proof in my heart. I mean I can talk to him and be so happy. I truly know in my heart that he does exist. And I also believe b/c I know whatever kind of day I am having I know He will pull me from my hurt and depression. ANd I know that with everything that exists in the world there must be a stronger power that put it all here. You can read this and call me a total whackjob, but I will still wake up tommorrow believeing and praising HIm, and that my friend is faith. The ability to put all our trust in something even though we cannot see it, the ability to love so deeply with our hearts that nothing can change the feeling within your soul.
I hope I made some sense to you, but I love talking about faith, so if you would like to talk to me more bout God, please feel free too.
~Jeannie :)
]
More Questions: |