Posted by WorryGirl on December 12, 2002, at 14:09:01
In reply to Why god?, posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 21, 2002, at 14:23:33
Eddie,
You are asking one of the most complex questions about life. Every time I think I have the answer, humility crashes down on me in many forms.As much as anyone would like to believe they have the answer I don't really feel that there is one, because everyone's faith (or lack of it) is individual and it seems that it's supposed to be that way. Why else would there be so many religions?
From the time I was a little girl it was instilled in me that there is a God and that He cares about us. I was never taught faith at that time, just that if I was a good girl I would go to heaven. So naturally, whenever I wasn't good I felt doomed to the eternal depths of hell. At that time the only role that faith played was that I believed what my parents told me.
As I became an adult I started to resent that I had to "act a certain way" or I wouldn't have eternal life. I also had to have faith. And what was that, really?
I've gone through many transitions in my life, and been on some dark roads, which in the long run helped me to have the faith that I have today.
My definition could change down the road, but for me, faith is this:
1) Surrender - realizing that you cannot do it alone. We need help. God will help us if we ask Him. Even if we doubt his existence He will hear us. This might sound crazy, but one night I was questioning God's existence and asked for just one tiny iota of proof. This goes against religious teachings as a whole. What, doubt? If you're a good christian, you're never supposed to doubt and it would be an insult to God to ask for proof. But Thomas doubted Jesus' existence, then Jesus was shown to Thomas. Well, that night, seconds after I prayed this prayer for some kind of proof I received a jolt and bolt of light that I had never seen before and have not since. I believe God was letting me know that it was OK that I had a doubt, and He was letting me know that He was there for me. It was OK for me to admit how needy I was. At this point you ask for Him to guide your life. If we need meds as part of our journey, that's OK.2) Assurance - Knowing in the end we're all going to be OK as long as we trust God to take care of us. I'm still working on this one sometimes because of guilt over the past, etc., but God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He just wants us to know that He'll take care of us if we let Him. I'm sure God wants us to be as happy as possible so whatever keeps us balanced, whether it's meds, exercise or herbs, as long as it's healthy, so be it.
3) Sharing - sharing anything we've learned with others. Since we can't actually talk to God in person (at least I haven't!), I think that whenever we share the faith we have (how we got it, how it works for us) that is, in a sense, God speaking through us.
>Why would you come to belive in a divine creator (and potentially an afterlife)? What would compell you to do so?
Another belief of mine is that every single being on this planet will be given the revelation of a divine creator and afterlife at some point in their life. It's what they choose to do with that revelation (cast it aside, dispute it, believe it) that determines their faith. I don't feel that God would unfairly put us on this earth to be doomed merely to just this life here. It's too imbalanced - sometimes good people have crappy lives with one bad thing after another happening to them, bad people live like millionaires, good people live wonderful lives and bad people live miserable ones. It is during this life that we have our chance to determine our fate. God has given us choice - we do have a say in the matter. I know it's easier said than done, and what I keep trying to aspire to. Some might say that I'm just fooling myself, but I would have a difficult time existing here if I thought this was the only life I had. If this was the only life I had, I think I would be absolutely miserable and resentful of every missed opportunity. I wonder what the purpose would be of even being a decent person when you see so many evil people thriving - you know, "dog eat dog". But it would never be enough, because the more you had the more you would want; after all, this is the only life you have. It would be hard for me to be at peace if this was it.
I hope that helped in some way, even if it's just to hear someone else's perspective.
Take care.
poster:WorryGirl
thread:1262
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021001/msgs/1391.html