For most of my life I've been agnostic. I never really knew what I believed but I definitely have never been actively part of any religion. I've made a lot of Jesus jokes. lol.
I mean;, I believe in science: big bang theory, evolution... And I believe that Jesus was just a normal man who was spreading some kind of story about an Almighty god, but he wasn't a miracle worker, he was just a man and not until years (even centuries) after his death was he made into the holy "Jesus Christ".
So yea, I don't exactly believe the stories in the Bible, but I am starting to believe in some sort of Higher Power, God, if you will. Which to me is not a person, but, as I said, a power. It is sth untouchable and unseeable.

But when do you really believe? And then what religion am I? Or am I no religion. And then if I do really BELIEVE (but how will I ever really know that I believe?) what am I? Cos then I wouldn't be agnostic either?

I do am also starting to believe in the power of prayer (and gospel and the likes), not in that God (I will call the power that because "the power" reminds me of star wars or sth, like "The Force") will give you what you pray or, but that praying can comfort people and guide and help them through difficult times.

As you can see, I've really been struggling with these issues. So: discuss!

Oh, and what are those churches called in America where they sing gospel and dance. It's mainly black people I think.
I forgot the name!

I would love to go to one of those churches. For the same reason I mentioned above, i believe it can really help you through difficult times.

I was a total non believer until I read a book by H. Emillie Cady and I was a believer from then on.

I think you mean Baptist churches. I've been to a couple and it's quite inspiring, except when someone gets the holy ghost...then it gets kinda spooky when women throw themselves to the floor speaking in tongues.

I totally believe in God, I should be dead many times over and yet I'm still here. Apparently I have something important to do.

I've overdosed so many times and survived, it's got to be God. It sure ain't me, with the way I've abused my body...chain-smoking, too many pills, eating disorders and little or no sleep.


Thank you, God. I'm still here

of course! Baptist churches! that's what I meant!! thank you!!!

I am very interested in reading that book. Is it called "Lessons in truth" ?

Thank you for the replies! Really appreciate it!

Oh, and do you guys consider yourselves Christian? Or something else?
Do you go to church? Do you believe in Jesus?

If you don't want to tell me it's fine of course, but I would really appreciate it if you did.


Thanks

one day if im lonely im going to trick myself into religion so i can have friends and a place to go and some rules to live my life by
otherwise i would just be a mess
im weak

yea well, that's kinda what i think it's mostly about when you really follow a religion and all it's rules.

But I don't want to follow all the Catholic Church's rules, because I don't believe in all the stories, but I do beliee in the higher power. but I don't believe in priests (they can't be married! they can't be women! it's ridiculous) and nuns and stuff... I don't think they really matter. It's just all this "official business", they gotta have them. they're like from centuries ago, religion has evolved and they should have as well...but unfortunately...

I don't believe in having to go to Church on a specific day, it's not like you'll go to hell or it i you don't I think. You should go when you feel the need, and I'd rather go to a Baptist church where people are actually actively taking part in the mass, rather than sitting there falling asleep....

I don't really need the rules. I decide my own limits, I can drink and smoke pot and have premarital sex AND believe in the Lord and I believe that if the higher power I believe in is what I think it is, it won't matter in the after life that I did that stuff. You gotta see the bigger picture.

that probably didn't make any sense, but it's hard to explain.


And as I said I do not believe in the story of Jesus, and it has been "proven" that he was not a miracle worker, but I do enjoy the story and find it bo inspirational to be a better person.

well i have never been very religious, but right now i see myself as spiritual. there was a point in my life where i was nothing basicially, but since last year alot of stuff has happened, and ive had alot happen to me in life in general to the point where i begin to think, "there must be someone/thing out there to keep me going".

so, i guess i converted myself in a way.

and with all the "what am i?" questions, one of my favorite sayings is "religion is a man in church thinking about fishing, and spirituality is a man fishing thiking about god".

im not one to say its god, but whatever you believe is out there.

This reminds me of an Ali G moment.
Ali; Is God a man or a woman?
Preacher; He is neither.

lol. I remember that. hahaha.

No I don`t go to church........Infact it freaks me out!
And the whole Jesus thing?
Only that he was here,once..Like we`re all gonna be.
But as far as "The son of God" thing?

Sorry,no!

__________________
"I don't care if your world is ending today.
Because I wasn't invited to it anyway.
You said I tasted famous, so I drew you a heart.
But now I'm not an artist I'm a fucking work of art!
I've got an F and a C and I got a K too.
And the only thing that's missing is a bitch like you!

You wanted perfect?
You got your perfect!"


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5.../jadestone.gif

i truly believe that converts are people who are searching for safety and companionship. the churches can be a very powerful social force. you can make job connections, meet husbands or wives, have a sense of community that is much harder to obtain especially if one is socially inept.

im not dissing church; im just saying that sudden conversion to a set of beliefs like THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD AND JESUS HAS LAMB BLOOD or whatever they believe, probably doesnt truly happen very often

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

yes. But I really don't think ever be a true Christian because I could never beliee those stories in the Bible.

As stated before, I do believe Jesus existed and that he was a good person who helped people and made them believe in a higher power.

I guess for now I consider myself "spiritual", and I have faith in God. (not necesarily God as described in the bible though)

im christian ... baptized roman catholic but attended a episcopal church .. i am thinkin of converting to cathiolicism . i also haf not been to church in over a year nd i really want to start again

I did. But then I went back again, and currently I am a non-believer.

__________________
Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

When I was young I remember asking my mom, "what religion are we?" She told me I was Christian - Lutheren to be specific, but I grew up the lowest of white trash and there was no church or anything remotely related to faith. My mom had a Bible in her closet from when she was a teenager and went through confimation. I tried out religion when I was about 13 but found it didn't fit me, cuz what they were teaching and what I was living were so different. I abondon it all completely and went through a Buddhist phase a la Courtney-tardness and although I really connected with the core ideals, I couldn't adopt it really, cuz I'm such an impulsive and emotional person.
When I was 21 I had a real conversion - a real spiritual calling and experience. I believe G-d called me. I simply asked for His presence in a broken way. I was going through a trauma and was at the lowest place of my life. I started going to a Baptist church and for two years filled the shoes of all the stereotypical evangelical hoopla, but then I broke the rules. I sinned BIG TIME in a BIG WAY and during my affair I kept questioning my faith and my ideals. I've been to church once since last Christmas. I can't remember the last time I prayed. I still open my Bible fromt ime to time. I still believe everythign absolutely whole-heartedly. I don't doubt any of it, but I guess I'm the worst Christian ever. I dont have a desire to fit in with the Christian crowd. I don't like the cruelty of the unbelieving crowd either. I have one friend JUST ONE that gets me on this - of course it would be the person I sinned with. I'm a believer, but I'm trying to find a balance between believing and living comfortabley.
I reccomend two books, both by the same author.
The Case For A Creator and The Case For Christ by Lee Strobal. He was an agnostic with a Christian wife. He set out to prove her wrong. It has all kinds of really interesting things to think about.

__________________
getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson

Read "Saint Augustine's Confessions."
It explains his doubts and struggles with Christianity.
I myself have never read it, but a priest suggested it to me once. I'm not at a point in my life where religion is important.

__________________
cheeseburger lips!

have you ever seen The Rapture ? It's with Mimi Rogers. It blew my mind.

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world