Have you ever believed in god?

The T wrote: I have believed in God in the past. Now I just don´t know. I don´t believe God exists, but I don´t pretend to be able to affirm it with 100% certainty. I leave that to the geniuses who have all the answers already, some really young but who have already figured the entire universe out.

DDPascalDD wrote: Not really hostility per se, and maybe less welcome is a big word, it's in little things. Topics like songs for theists not taken seriously, that sort of things.

Edited by Sean Trane - November 27 2015 at 09:46

Not really hostility per se, and maybe less welcome is a big word, it's in little things. Topics like songs for theists not taken seriously, that sort of things. 

No, I have never believed in God. I have always been an agnostic. But I am very tolerant of other people's religious beliefs-some of my best friends are devout Christians. I tend to not like to argue about religion; my late father was an atheist, and when he was on his deathbed, my stepmother grinned and said to me, "Well, you know, your father isn't going to heaven, he is an atheist." What a thing to say at such a time!
       I would never try to belittle a person's faith, even if I don't have a personal faith in god. Nor would I condemn an atheist or agnostic for his or her lack of such.
                    And I would never try to push or impose my beliefs on others; to differ is human, after all.

Though I grew up as a Catholic (in Rome, as many of you know), I lost my faith quite early, in my mid-teens. Due to various circumstances, it took me quite a long time to recognize it, but by the time I had turned 22 or so, I stopped attending church and calling myself religious. Now I consider myself agnostic, though leaning more and more towards atheism.

However, I don't feel the need to belittle anyone who has faith, or loudly state that religion is the root is all evil. I have a lot of respect for personal faith (as opposed to organized religion rammed down people's throats, and/or encroaching on public life), and if that means it's a crutch, so be it. After all, people use all sorts of crutches to go through life, and I don't see how faith is any worse than alcohol, drugs, gambling and their ilk. As to the world being a better place if religion was abolished, I think it's as much of an illusion as believing the world would be better if women were in charge (and I say that as a woman). Personally, I find the worship of money, power and "success" worse than the worship of an "imaginary" being, but that's just me.

emigre80 wrote: DDPascalDD wrote: A lot of attention to religion here lately! I'm raised as a christian and always stayed. It's a pity to see so few religious people here. Why do you think it's a pity?  do you think the site would be improved if more people were religious? It's not a hostile question, I'm just curious as to why you think having more religious people on PA would change anything.

Don't conclude too fast there mate! ;p
In general there are fewer and fewer christians and you can probably imagine one rather has the same thoughts/beliefs with some people than being the only one.
Also I am definitely not intending that christians are per se better people which would make the world better than non-christians.

So I think it's a pity that most people on PA think different. (on a forum that's kind of what you're looking for, right?)
And well it wouldn't change this place enormously but maybe you'd feel a bit more welcome here as a christian.
(By no means any blame to anyone)

I was raised in absolute freedom to choose my own faith and I am a Christian since my twenties. But I am not religious, and as far as I am, I hope to be delivered from that one day.

DDPascalDD wrote: A lot of attention to religion here lately! I'm raised as a christian and always stayed. It's a pity to see so few religious people here.

Yeah, still do. The Christian one specifically.

CosmicVibration wrote: condor wrote: A god, that is, that answers prayers: a personal god   And I mean a belief that is genuine, not one out of personal desperation but reasoned thought..? <!--if gte mso 9> <o:OfficeSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeSettings> <!--> <p ="Msonormal">God is both personal and impersonal, manifest and unmanifest. <p ="Msonormal">Reasoned thought is good but it’s only theory.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>Theory alone will not get you there, you need practice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>Practice what?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>Practice to still the mind and go beyond thought. <p ="Msonormal">I think therefore I am, says the little ego.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>You are neither the ego nor your thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>You are the observer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>You are Love and Joy; God is Love and Joy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span>The entrance is stillness of mind. “ Be still and know that I am God.”