Any agnostics here find "God"?

[crs7568]

I am an agnostic and wish that I could have the comfort that other people derive from their faith. I am too skeptical, so I don't see that happening any time soon. I have children and they are both baptized. (I may be a skeptic but I am not one to avoid an opportunity to hedge my bets; particularly when the souls of my children may be at risk ) Every time I step foot in a church, I am afraid that there will be an "outing" of me like in the final scene of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

 

[Maleficent13]

Believing, "just in case", interesting.

Someone I used to know did exactly this. I never quite understood it. I (and this is JMHO) wouldn't think that was exactly what the almighty one was looking for as far as faithful followers. No offense intended to those who may feel this way, but it does seem odd to me.

To answer the OP, no, haven't found God yet, but then again, I haven't checked under the cushions in the couch. I'll let ya know.

Seriously, though...no. Although I do find the many of the rituals of the church to be beautiful, I just can't quite make the leap from beauty to belief.

 

[WDWHound]

Without getting into the details (I don't want to turn this thread into the Hound's revival thread), I had once all but given up on my faith and yes, I did have a watershed moment that brought me back wherein which I had a very real experience of the reality of Christ.

 

[Chicago526]

Any agnostics here find "God"?

I didn't know he was missing...



Sorry, that was the first thing that popped into my head when I read the title of the thread. Please, continue!

 

[ncgolfer]

I'd say that I have at times lost my relationship with my church, but never with God. I don't think I could make it thru the day sometimes without my faith.

 

[njchris]

I can throw my 2 cents in...

I was raised Catholic. However, I stopped believing in the church when I was around 13-14. I remember being taught that God is all-loving and all-forgiving. Then I remember being told if you think something bad or think about a sin, you have commited it and will go to Hell if you do not go to confession. I was probably just 13 then. It didn't feel right in my gut. I believed in an all-loving/forgiving God, but how could he then condemn you to hell for thinking something? How could he be all loving and forgiving and then turn around and mark you as hell-bound for being human?

I believe in God, but not the one that was taught to me as someone sitting up there with a checklist on everyone, demanding worship. It just sounds silly to me now.

Anyway.... I don't think you "FIND" religion or faith. I think you might change your mind or your beliefs, but I don't think normally it's a sudden change. Probably gradual, IMHO.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I glanced at the screen very briefy and combined 2 thread titiles in my haed.
"Can you fin G-d in your birthday suit"

 

[chadfromdallas]

"Can you find God in your birthday suit"

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm not quite sure if that mean G-d is in his birtday suit or you are in your birthday suit

 

[minniepumpernickel]

What being agnostic means to me is that I do not rule out the possibility of a life form greater than myself, or perhaps an energy force. I feel the closest to the possibility when I am out in nature. The vastness of the universe is certainly inspiring.

Will I ever become a devout follower of any organized religion? I highly doubt it.

 

[Linxzy]

I was also "raised" catholic, but went to a christian (menonite) school. So everthing considered catholic I only know because of mom, since I never really liked going to catholic churches... they are creepy with all those Saints looking at me.
I mostly believed what I learned in school, but not all of it.

Like another person here mentioned, I have lost my relationship with the church, not with God.

 

[LisaR]

Finally in 2002 several things led me to Judaism.,A religion that I had always been drawn too..I realized that the reason I never agreed with the Christian religions I looked at was because I was looking in the wrong place.
From the day I was born and maybe even before that,I was destined to be Jewish. The first time I went to a Synagogue,I know I was where I was destined to be..It's a great feeling when you really do find your place

Okay, my stupidity is going to show here, but I always assumed one must be Jewish to follow Judaism. Am I wrong in this assumption? Thanks.

Lisa

 

[JennyMominRI]

Okay, my stupidity is going to show here, but I always assumed one must be Jewish to follow Judaism. Am I wrong in this assumption? Thanks.

Lisa

If one converts to Judaism,one becomes Jewish..A Jew is anyone who is born to a Jewish mother or anyone who converts in accordance with Jewish law

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I agree. Trying to beat the "house" is not a reason to have a relationship with God and Christ. Either you have the faith to believe or you don't.

QUOTE]



The Bible, Matthew 17:20: I tell you the truth, if you have faith as
small as a mustard seed.....

At least I have a mustard seed.

I'm still new in my walk with Christ. How I got to where I am, what motivated me to begin my walk, started with wanting to "error on the side of caution", which is a quote from my post you are referring to. I may not be eloquent with words and I may not have worded what I was really trying to say, but I really don't need anyone to justify my reasons for wanting or having a relationship with God.

 

[LisaR]

If one converts to Judaism,one becomes Jewish..A Jew is anyone who is born to a Jewish mother or anyone who converts in accordance with Jewish law

I never knew you could convert. I tell my kids that even I still learn something new everyday and I just did! Thanks so much.

Lisa

 

[JennyMominRI]

I never knew you could convert. I tell my kids that even I still learn something new everyday and I just did! Thanks so much.

Lisa

NO problem...Probably the most famous person to convert to Judaism is Sammy Davis Jr.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you convert would your children be considered Jewish or would they have to convert? I know that children are automatically Jewish if the mother is Jewish, right? Does the same hold true for converts?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The Bible, Matthew 17:20: I tell you the truth, if you have faith as
small as a mustard seed.....

At least I have a mustard seed.

I'm still new in my walk with Christ. How I got to where I am, what motivated me to begin my walk, started with wanting to "error on the side of caution", which is a quote from my post you are referring to. I may not be eloquent with words and I may not have worded what I was really trying to say, but I really don't need anyone to justify my reasons for wanting or having a relationship with God.

Of course you don't have to justify your reasons. And I wish to encourage you to continue your walk. I'm sorry if I sounded harsh and judgmental, it's just that a relationship with God is such an amazing thing, I wouldn't want someone to miss out the true meaning by wanting to "error on the side of caution." You have been through and continue to go through some very difficult times. I hope that you can find peace through your faith.

 

[JennyMominRI]

If you convert would your children be considered Jewish or would they have to convert? I know that children are automatically Jewish if the mother is Jewish, right? Does the same hold true for converts?

Any children I would have after I convert would be Jewish..My already born children would not be,unless they convert

 

[snoopy]

I was raised Catholic. However, I stopped believing in the church when I was around 13-14. I remember being taught that God is all-loving and all-forgiving. Then I remember being told if you think something bad or think about a sin, you have commited it and will go to Hell if you do not go to confession. I was probably just 13 then. It didn't feel right in my gut. I believed in an all-loving/forgiving God, but how could he then condemn you to hell for thinking something? How could he be all loving and forgiving and then turn around and mark you as hell-bound for being human?

I believe in God, but not the one that was taught to me as someone sitting up there with a checklist on everyone, demanding worship. It just sounds silly to me now.

See, now this is what I *do* like about Catholicism, and one of the reasons I was brought back to the church, after exploring some Protestant churches. I like that one is expected to live a good life, that God is watching, that simply saying "Jesus Christ is my savior" is NOT enough. The "grace through faith alone" concept is lost on me.

That's why I like Catholicism's focus on good works and faith, not just faith. If I'm shaky in my faith (which I frequently am), I focus on the good works. Was it Aristotle who said that we become what we do? I go to mass when I can, I try to do good things for other people, and I try to have faith; although I'm not always successful. The thing is, I believe that those actions, those good works, will in turn help me to have faith.

Does that make sense?