God

[colossians323]

So talking to many who say they believe in a god but don't really know the god they believe in perplexes me.

If you believe in a god, is 'he/she' a god you form in your own image, and you make up your own belief system based on what you believe god to be?

do you believe that a god who created you knows the best way for you to live your life, or do you even believe god created man?

If you believe in the God of the Christian bible, do you pick and choose what you want to believe is wrong and right, i.e. adultery, homosexuality, gluttony?

I want to better understand those who believe in a god, and what they believe.

[pterrell]

I think a vast number of people that believe in some form of higher power and try to fit themselves into a cookie cutter religion and that ends up causing them to not fully have faith or not fully understand their own faith. Just my .02

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[jarhead714]

It's called "The Mystery of Faith" for a reason.

[madsend81]

The bible tells us that God created man and woman in his own image.

Today, however, people seem to create their own god(s) out of their own image.

[drtyhands]

God is said to be all knowing, laid our lives out for us and knows our hearts.
That said I can't figure out why people their way is the only way.
Christ died for our sins. I read the bible and pray to keep myself enveloped in the holy spirit. Yet I always keep in mind the Bible was organized by man 1,500 years ago for the purpose of dealing with issues current at that time.

I bite back hard when a single minded Bible Soldier scoffs at me saying
"Yeah, your god, your way"

Unfortunately many are too stupid(literally) or to self centered so we need bolder lines to keep "Sheep and Soldier" moving in a particular culture's profitable direction. They use structured religion to achieve this.
Without unity things fall apart.

I love many people across many cultural boundaries. I don't think it will happen but I wish the holy spirit could cross all lines.

[Barang]

Some heard the God of the Bible but refuse to get to know Him because they know that if they accepted Him, they have to change their lifestyle.

Some don't accept the supernatural occurences. Thus, not real.

Some pick & choose what the Bible has to say so they created a god to suit their lifestyle.

[Doheny]

God

I believe in God as described in the bible. All sin is wrong, but unfortunately I still sin all too often. We all do.

.

[caliberetta]

So talking to many who say they believe in a god but don't really know the god they believe in perplexes me.

If you believe in a god, is 'he/she' a god you form in your own image...

I don't think so, my image of God is abstract, not human like, and I do realize I could be wrong.

... and you make up your own belief system based on what you believe god to be?

I do make up my own belief system. Although I do my best to keep an open mind, I don't easily accept anyone telling me what he looks like, what he says, what I should do based on "the word of God."

do you believe that a god who created you knows the best way for you to live your life...

Yes, I guess it's something that's balanced between what's good for me and what's good for all living things in general

... or do you even believe god created man?

Yes, through an evolutionary process, which I believe to be the work of God. I am more of a believe in "the Work of God," rather than what is often labeled as "the Word of God."

If you believe in the God of the Christian bible, do you pick and choose what you want to believe is wrong and right, i.e. adultery, homosexuality, gluttony?

I was born and raised Catholic, so are my children. Some important things happened in my life that altered the way I believe in the Christian/Catholic way of life. I still do go to Church, I pray along, I play along and I pay along, as I give plenty of money to my Church every year. However, I definitely pick and choose what is right and wrong based upon on a net understanding between my intellect, my experience and innate (God given) conscience.

I want to better understand those who believe in a god, and what they believe.

My answers to your questions are in blue above. Those answers are not intended to influence anybody into my way of thinking. They just answer some questions I myself am curious about.

Read my responses above before continuing below this.

You said: "... many who say they believe in a god but don't really know the god they believe in perplexes me."

Perhaps it perplexes you because you think everyone should believe what you do, too, and this gives you a sense of security. There is nothing wrong with that, it only becomes wrong, imo, if one were to insist that everyone "should" believe what one believes and not have an open mind to the view point of other people.

Count me in as one of those people "who don't really know the God they believe in." The only reason why I believe in God is to help me cope with what I don't understand. I can be betrayed in many ways, by other people, friends or even my own family. I can feel betrayed by natural events. If you take away everything that gives me a sense of security (community, friends, family, home... my belongings) my belief in God is the only thing that is left.

I don't need to understand God. I only need to know, he is there, and there is a reason, a time and place for everything. And this gives me all the security I need to keep going. It is, in my belief, and in the purest sense of the word, blind faith.

I hope that helps you understand those of us who don't understand
.

[drtyhands]

My answers to your questions are in blue above. Those answers are not intended to influence anybody into my way of thinking. They just answer some questions I myself am curious about.

Read my responses above before continuing below this.

You said: "... many who say they believe in a god but don't really know the god they believe in perplexes me."

Perhaps it perplexes you because you think everyone should believe what you do, too, and this gives you a sense of security. There is nothing wrong with that, it only becomes wrong, imo, if one were to insist that everyone "should" believe what one believes and not have an open mind to the view point of other people.

Count me in as one of those people "who don't really know the God they believe in." The only reason why I believe in God is to help me cope with what I don't understand. I can be betrayed in many ways, by other people, friends or even my own family. I can feel betrayed by natural events. If you take away everything that gives me a sense of security (community, friends, family, home... my belongings) my belief in God is the only thing that is left.

I don't need to understand God. I only need to know, he is there, and there is a reason, a time and place for everything. And this gives me all the security I need to keep going. It is, in my belief, and in the purest sense of the word, blind faith.

I hope that helps you understand those of us who don't understand
.

And the lords people said.... "AMEN"

[colossians323]

You said: "... many who say they believe in a god but don't really know the god they believe in perplexes me."

Perhaps it perplexes you because you think everyone should believe what you do, too, and this gives you a sense of security. There is nothing wrong with that, it only becomes wrong, imo, if one were to insist that everyone "should" believe what one believes and not have an open mind to the view point of other people.

Actually it perplexes me, because most people who call themselves this faith or that faith don't know what they believe or why they believe it. many believe just because their parents did, many follow what their friends do, many follow what they 'think' they should do, but it seems like most don't know what and why they believe.

Count me in as one of those people "who don't really know the God they believe in." The only reason why I believe in God is to help me cope with what I don't understand. I can be betrayed in many ways, by other people, friends or even my own family. I can feel betrayed by natural events. If you take away everything that gives me a sense of security (community, friends, family, home... my belongings) my belief in God is the only thing that is left.

I don't need to understand God. I only need to know, he is there, and there is a reason, a time and place for everything. And this gives me all the security I need to keep going. It is, in my belief, and in the purest sense of the word, blind faith.

I hope that helps you understand those of us who don't understand
.

there is much that is a mystery, and I think none of us that believe know the thoughts of God, but we should know what and why we believe. Where is the conviction of your faith? (not you personally, this is meant as a general question) Look at the moslems that blow themselves up. That is their conviction. I often wonder how they get talked into blowing themselves up, or if they really are that convicted?

[Jefferey13]

I have a very specific understanding of God and the attributes that describe him. I also don't believe in any type of pick and choose situations.

The thing I find most perplexing is people who say they believe in God, but not in certain biblical teachings (homosexuality is the biggest one I see). I would imagine almost all Christians today derive their belief in God from the Bible whether they realize it or not. So if everything you know about God came from a book, how can you then throw out some portions of said book? Seems crazy to trust a book about the existence of this all knowing, all mighty, all encompassing being; and then to not trust the book on how that God wants you to live your life.

[Sonic Boom]

Student: What is the first principle?
Teacher: If I tell you it becomes the second principle.

Don't remember where I heard or read this, or who but it always made sense to me.

[funnybookz]

I'd rather not answer. I'll just say… I believe that there is some sort of force out there greater than us that we do not and may not ever understand. Science has explained a LOT and we are learning more every day. There is the possibility of a "creator" out there, it may not be what we think it to be, but to also discredit our scientific findings is naive. If there is a superior being, a creator, we haven't seen it which tells me that it either doesn't want us to, wants us to forge our own paths (hence free will), or that maybe its there, but not in the way we think.

[drtyhands]

Actually it perplexes me, because most people who call themselves this faith or that faith don't know what they believe or why they believe it. many believe just because their parents did, many follow what their friends do, many follow what they 'think' they should do, but it seems like most don't know what and why they believe.


there is much that is a mystery, and I think none of us that believe know the thoughts of God, but we should know what and why we believe. Where is the conviction of your faith? (not you personally, this is meant as a general question) Look at the moslems that blow themselves up. That is their conviction. I often wonder how they get talked into blowing themselves up, or if they really are that convicted?

I see a lot of what you speak. People wandering around repeating what they just heard their church preacher, congregation just get done saying.
One day homosexuality is not accepted, inflicts a lot of pain on others. Short time later everyone is bragging how they are enjoying the relationship with their Christian homosexual friend. Church changes it's spiel when patrons have had enough.

That's the nice thing about independent study and prayer. I'll touchdown and spend a little time with my brethren at an occasional gathering, but not put on the blinders and start looking forward to breaking down others beliefs.

By the way, the rhetoric has changed in the Christian circles. I see different Christian faiths working together more than ever, in my opinion.

If I upset anyone, Sorry I still won't spend energy on debate. Everyone is welcome to believe as they wish. If you chose to follow David Koresh, Jim Jones or even Bo & Peep then that is who you are. These are the extreme yet I'm trying to say that a LOT of humans are easily led. I don't like what leaders do with this.

[Barang]

We see building and we know there is a builder.
We see painting and we know there is a painter.
We see Creation and we know there is a Creator.
We don't have to see them do it but we know as evidence of workmanship.

Our Creator gave us "Manual Book" so to speak for our guidance. He gave us history, warnings and what will happen in the future at the end of the system of things. Then He will show Himself to us when that appointed time arrives. He has timetable and schedule that He sets.