Why does God play this game?

[Red Omega]

I have grown up a believer, and still pretty much am, but sometimes its really hard to make sense of things, such as...

Why is it that we should believe in something that never shows its there? The believers will say that god communicates with you in his own way, but anyone could say that, that is just not factual. My biggest question is why should I believe? Some people say they just "feel it", feel what?

Its like God is telling you I want you to believe in me completely but I will never show you that I am there. , how can anyone say this makes sense?

The mind is an incredible thing and you could start believing in a tree if you read enough myths about it.

Those who believe please tell me WHY it is you believe.

 

[Brown_Pride]

I have grown up a believer, and still pretty much am, but sometimes its really hard to make sense of things, such as...

Why is it that we should believe in something that never shows its there? The believers will say that god communicates with you in his own way, but anyone could say that, that is just not factual. My biggest question is why should I believe? Some people say they just "feel it", feel what?

Its like God is telling you I want you to believe in me completely but I will never show you that I am there. , how can anyone say this makes sense?

The mind is an incredible thing and you could start believing in a tree if you read enough myths about it.

Those who believe please tell me WHY it is you believe.

Faith. Their is no proof of God. If you're looking for it you'll not find it. Empirically at least. God can and does speak to your heart, opening your heart though is not always easy, in fact it's hard. But when you do, you can "feel it" as you put it.

unfortunately what you're asking for, this answer to your question, is not one anyone can answer for you. That's between you and God.

I will say this though, pray, do so with an open heart and you'll have an answer, it may not be the one you want, but you will be answered.

 

[Chief]

God

 

[NoMayo15]

You're on the right path, OP. There is no good reason to believe.

 

[HacksawJimThuggin]

because then "faith" would be a pointless concept. Also, I don't believe our minds are capable of really wrapping our heads around the idea of God. He exists outside of our universe, so it's not as if he's a human being who could just pop up on TV one day. I do believe there's signs that he leaves for believers, it's just a matter of opening your heart and being able to see those. Basically, if God were to say "Hi, I'm God and I'm real", life itself would be pointless because that's the whole point of this IMO, it's a test to abstain from wrong and do right on the basis of your belief and FAITH in a higher power.

It's not really a good analogy, but it's kind of the difference between helping out a stranger solely because you're a good person and want to help them, as opposed to a stranger offering you $1,000 to help them with some easy task. Yea, you'd do it, but you wouldn't be helping them for the right reasons and there's no telling whether or not you'd help them had they not offered you that money (which, to me, is the much simplified purpose of our existence)

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

because then "faith" would be a pointless concept. Also, I don't believe our minds are capable of really wrapping our heads around the idea of God. He exists outside of our universe, so it's not as if he's a human being who could just pop up on TV one day. I do believe there's signs that he leaves for believers, it's just a matter of opening your heart and being able to see those. Basically, if God were to say "Hi, I'm God and I'm real", life itself would be pointless because that's the whole point of this IMO, it's a test to abstain from wrong and do right on the basis of your belief and FAITH in a higher power.

It's not really a good analogy, but it's kind of the difference between helping out a stranger solely because you're a good person and want to help them, as opposed to a stranger offering you $1,000 to help them with some easy task. Yea, you'd do it, but you wouldn't be helping them for the right reasons and there's no telling whether or not you'd help them had they not offered you that money (which, to me, is the much simplified purpose of our existence)

it's possible to live a moral life that God would approve of without believing in God....

 

[Red Maverick II]

Sheeps gonna sheep

 

[NoMayo15]

because then "faith" would be a pointless concept. Also, I don't believe our minds are capable of really wrapping our heads around the idea of God. He exists outside of our universe, so it's not as if he's a human being who could just pop up on TV one day. I do believe there's signs that he leaves for believers, it's just a matter of opening your heart and being able to see those. Basically, if God were to say "Hi, I'm God and I'm real", life itself would be pointless because that's the whole point of this IMO, it's a test to abstain from wrong and do right on the basis of your belief and FAITH in a higher power.

It's not really a good analogy, but it's kind of the difference between helping out a stranger solely because you're a good person and want to help them, as opposed to a stranger offering you $1,000 to help them with some easy task. Yea, you'd do it, but you wouldn't be helping them for the right reasons and there's no telling whether or not you'd help them had they not offered you that money (which, to me, is the much simplified purpose of our existence)

One, why does god see faith as a particularly noble thing? I mean, as far as I can tell, faith means to believe something without good evidence that it's true. And, if you are a Christian, then faith is the only thing that can ultimately save you from an eternity of torture. The way you live doesn't really matter if you also lack faith. Someone can be the most moral person, and still go to hell and vice versa.

Two, are you suggesting that the lives of Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, and essentially EVERY character in the Bible, who audibly heard and spoke to God, was worthless?

Lastly, I reject your analogy because the stranger in this case is undetectable with our five senses, and demands things that seem arbitrary and/or in some cases flat out immoral. And if there wasn't a promise of eternal bliss, I doubt most people would cling on to these beliefs. So are theists really believing for the "right" reasons?

 

[the cac mamba]

wasnt the bible written 400 years after the fact? and THOSE were the times that god was exposing himself, being vengeful, etc :belip:

the whole thing is a fukkin sham. its a nice thought to think that youre gonna float around with your family at gods afterparty, but no one knows if this is true or not. to claim that you do is laughable

people who claim that god speaks to them are suspect at best

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

One, why does god see faith as a particularly noble thing? I mean, as far as I can tell, faith means to believe something without good evidence that it's true. And, if you are a Christian, then faith is the only thing that can ultimately save you from an eternity of torture. The way you live doesn't really matter if you also lack faith. Someone can be the most moral person, and still go to hell and vice versa.

Two, are you suggesting that the lives of Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, and essentially EVERY character in the Bible, who audibly heard and spoke to God, was worthless?

Lastly, I reject your analogy because the stranger in this case is undetectable with our five senses, and demands things that seem arbitrary and/or in some cases flat out immoral. And if there wasn't a promise of eternal bliss, I doubt most people would cling on to these beliefs. So are theists really believing for the "right" reasons?

@ the bolded:

i do believe in some higher power that is beyond my understanding, however i do not behave in such way to please it so i can have a happy after life.

i behave the way i do because i believe it is good to treat others kindly.
it makes the world a better place.

 

[NoMayo15]

@ the bolded:

i do believe in some higher power that is beyond my understanding, however i do not behave in such way to please it so i can have a happy after life.

i behave the way i do because i believe it is good to treat others kindly.
it makes the world a better place.

Very well. And I agree that a deistic view of a god is much more reasonable than one of the major Abrahamic religions, or their derivatives.

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

Very well. And I agree that a deistic view of a god is much more reasonable than one of the major Abrahamic religions, or their derivatives.

organized religion and the dogmatic practices that are pushed on people are terrible.

just be good to each other and take time to be amazed by existence itself.

 

[Slaimon Khan Shah]

THIS WHOLE LIFE IS A TEST FROM THE CREATOR.
I BELIEVE AFTER SEEING MANY OF MY PRAYERS TO THE CREATOR BE ANSWERED.
I BELIEVE AFTER SEEING HOW I AM ATTACKED BY THE DEVIL, THEN I DO AN ISLAMIC RECITATION AND FEEL HOW I AM PROTECTED FROM THE DEVIL.
I BELIEVE AFTER SEEING HOW WHEN I CHASE AFTER SINFULL THINGS EVERYTHING IS SCATTERED, BUT WHEN I GO FOR GOOD DEEDS, THINGS COME MY WAY.
I JUST HAVE A FEELING THAT THE CREATOR IS ALL SEEING, ALL KNOWING, ALL HEARING, AND IS THE MOST MERCIFUL, AND THE CREATOR.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

I have grown up a believer, and still pretty much am, but sometimes its really hard to make sense of things, such as...

Why is it that we should believe in something that never shows its there? The believers will say that god communicates with you in his own way, but anyone could say that, that is just not factual. My biggest question is why should I believe? Some people say they just "feel it", feel what?

Its like God is telling you I want you to believe in me completely but I will never show you that I am there. , how can anyone say this makes sense?

The mind is an incredible thing and you could start believing in a tree if you read enough myths about it.

Those who believe please tell me WHY it is you believe.

This guy used to ride hard for Christianity on the old site. I love it when a religious person starts to open their eyes and question that bullshyt.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

Faith. Their is no proof of God. If you're looking for it you'll not find it. Empirically at least. God can and does speak to your heart, opening your heart though is not always easy, in fact it's hard. But when you do, you can "feel it" as you put it.

unfortunately what you're asking for, this answer to your question, is not one anyone can answer for you. That's between you and God.

I will say this though, pray, do so with an open heart and you'll have an answer, it may not be the one you want, but you will be answered.