Losing the faith...

[Elephantitis Man]

Hmm...I don't really know where to begin.

I am a Christian, quickly losing faith in Christianity. Not to say there there isn't a 'deity' (or isn't one), but I'm starting to consider that my religion holds no water.

The more I think about the concept of the Christian God, contradictions of the doctrines, the validity of the Bible, the more I doubt. One can't disagree that there is a very good argument, not just against the Christian religion, but against the concept of 'blind faith' itself (which Christianity is essentially founded upon).

I don't know what to do. I don't know if anyone else here has experienced something like this before, but it almost tears a guy apart in slowly discovering he has misled himself his entire life. Even now, my mind screams "See, you dope. I told you; you can't justify a meaning in the universe because it 'feels good' to do so. Because believing in a God makes you 'feel complete' doesn't necessarily mean one has to exist."

I just...don't know what to believe, what to think anymore.

Does anyone have any advice?

[This message has been edited by Elephantitis Man (edited 03-01-2006).]

[hyroglyphx]

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Hmm...I don't really know where to begin.

I am a Christian, quickly losing faith in Christianity. Not to say there there isn't a 'deity' (or isn't one), but I'm starting to consider that my religion holds no water.

The more I think about the concept of the Christian God, contradictions of the doctrines, the validity of the Bible, the more I doubt. One can't disagree that there is a very good argument, not just against the Christian religion, but against the concept of 'blind faith' itself (which Christianity is essentially founded upon).

I don't know what to do. I don't know if anyone else here has experienced something like this before, but it almost tears a guy apart in slowly discovering he has misled himself his entire life. Even now, my mind screams "See, you dope. I told you; you can't justify a meaning in the universe because it 'feels good' to do so. Because believing in a God makes you 'feel complete' doesn't necessarily mean one has to exist."

I just...don't know what to believe, what to think anymore.

Does anyone have any advice?

Well, I certainly applaude your honesty. That was very forthcoming. I disagree with alot of your reasons for abandoning the faith, but I'm not you. I can say the opposite of myself. I tried to find every conceivable reason not to believe in God. The very notion of it repulsed me. And for me, it was quite the opposite. I said in my heart, "You dope, you've thought of all the reasons to avoid the inevitable... There is a God and no matter how much you try to deny it, will not nullify its timeless truth."

What stumbles you? Perhaps we can start an open dialogue.

[Elephantitis Man]

It's not just one thing that stumbles me, it's many things.

Take the concept of 'God' for example. There's the endless debate of "If God is omnipotent, He cannot be all-knowing. Being all-knowing, He would know the definite future and be unable to change it, therefore not being omnipotent. So God either knows all and is powerless to stop it, or doesn't know all because He has the ability to change what it to come."

To take things a step further, why did God create us?

Supposedly, God is 'perfect'. Would I be correct in assuming a 'perfect' being lacks nothing (anything that lacks something is imperfect)? Therefore, God cannot be lonely. He cannot want companionship, because to want something is admittance that one lacks it.

Furthermore, we argue that "we are so complex, we must have been created." What about God. He is even more complex than us, yet noone created Him. So is God proof that a complex being can exist without being created? Does that mean that...we, being complex beings ourselves, are also capable of existing without a 'creator'?

All logic surrounding God and any explanation of God just goes around in cirlces.

To top it off, believers have a bias for their beliefs. I have even attempted to refute and discard the arguments above. There's the age-old answer "God is beyond our comprehension" and the classic "God works in mysterious ways".

But isn't religion supposed to answer the 'mysteries' surrounding life? All it does is answer mysteries with...more mysteries.

[Snoopy]

Just live a fun life without bothering with the banal questions of the weak minded. People think asking themselves the "when" "how" and "why" questions makes them smart. And people answering the "when "how" and "why" questions think they're even smarter.

It really matters fuck all. The world does not work that way. Let me give you an example. There are worthless weenies who don't do anything but debate on social and political issues. They hold fuck knows how many degrees, and think they're the shit. They've wasted their pathetic lives on their pathetic ideologies. Do they make a difference? No, the fucking don't.

I often meet political figures in classy clubs and high roller strip clubs and the likes. They don't give a fuck about what moms think about video games or what Christians think about abortion. They make up their minds on a whim of alcohol, drugs and high priced hookers.

It's the way our world turns around. The difference is, while you assholes are sitting here "debating" good from bad, and right from wrong, I'm rolling on the dance train and the Champagne in the VIP is free cause some rich political weenie or some celebrity doesn't know what to do with their money.

So, when you're in your teens, you'll do stupid shit like ask yourself questions like "why". Before you know it, you're a full blown emo cunt. However, you'll grow out of that, get a job, a fine ass bitch and live it up. Some people however, don't grow out of it, and waste their lives being worthless sacks of shit.

[jsaxton14]

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Does anyone have any advice?

Perform an independent search for truth. Don't accept values simply because someone/some book says so.

Regarding the Bible, this link should shatter whatever faith you still have: http://www.americanhumanist.org/humanism/thebible.html

[Mellow_Fellow]

Life is much more complicated and strange than either you or me can understand...

a book that can be read and understood by intelligent 7 year olds does not contain the mysteries of the universe.

But christianity ensured my existence, and probably made me who i am now, so i am very grateful that the world is not a "perfect" place!

[SurahAhriman]

quote:Originally posted by jsaxton14:

Perform an independent search for truth. Don't accept values simply because someone/some book says so.

Regarding the Bible, this link should shatter whatever faith you still have: http://www .americanh umanist.org/humanism/thebible.html

Good link.

[xtreem5150ahm]

quote:Originally posted by jsaxton14:

Perform an independent search for truth. Don't accept values simply because someone/some book says so.

Regarding the Bible, this link should shatter whatever faith you still have: http://www .americanh umanist.org/humanism/thebible.html

Interesting...

First, you give the advice not to except values from a "book" or what other people say...

But then turn around and again give advice to follow a link to give advice from someone else!?

[xtreem5150ahm]

quote:Originally posted by Snoopy:

There are worthless weenies who don't do anything but debate on social and political issues.

And what is your definintion of 'worth'?

quote:They've wasted their pathetic lives on their pathetic ideologies.

While your at it, what have you wasted your "pathetic life" on?

Just remember, one man's treasure is another's junk.

quote:I often meet political figures in classy clubs and high roller strip clubs and the likes.

That statement screams, "bullshit".

Bullshit on so many levels.. first and foremost, i find it hard to believe that you find your way outta TOTSE-land.

and ummm, not saying that "high roller strip clubs" dont exist, but i've been to a few strip clubs in my younger years, and i've seen only one that was "classy", but it was far from "high roller"... (dont know if it still exists.. that was about 21 years ago, but it was the Lollipop Lounge in Waikiki, Oahu.)

Lastly, i know it is not impossible that you may have met a political figure or two... and maybe even in a club, but i'm highly skeptical that it was anyone higher than local level... you know, bodyguards "and the like".

quote:So, when you're in your teens, you'll do stupid shit like ask yourself questions like "why".

and you've been out of your teens for what, 2 years, or is it 3. Wow, such life experience.

quote:waste their lives being worthless sacks of shit.

Again, your idea of 'waste' and 'worth'?

[ohhi]

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Hmm...I don't really know where to begin.

I am a Christian, quickly losing faith in Christianity. Not to say there there isn't a 'deity' (or isn't one), but I'm starting to consider that my religion holds no water.

The more I think about the concept of the Christian God, contradictions of the doctrines, the validity of the Bible, the more I doubt. One can't disagree that there is a very good argument, not just against the Christian religion, but against the concept of 'blind faith' itself (which Christianity is essentially founded upon).

I don't know what to do. I don't know if anyone else here has experienced something like this before, but it almost tears a guy apart in slowly discovering he has misled himself his entire life. Even now, my mind screams "See, you dope. I told you; you can't justify a meaning in the universe because it 'feels good' to do so. Because believing in a God makes you 'feel complete' doesn't necessarily mean one has to exist."

I just...don't know what to believe, what to think anymore.

Does anyone have any advice?

I say fuck religion man. It is causing so much pain in my life right now that I would honnestly would rather go to "hell". According to statistics people who do not believe or who are not retarded about it have a much better life as opposed to believers. I guess it is something you have to decide for yourself and not follow anyone. For me - I think it's better without religion.