How do you find God if you don't believe?

[Anonymous]

Christianity was a reaction to the very disciplined Judaism. Judaism was a reaction to paganism. They are all overcorrections of each other.

[Anonymous]

God is a combination of the best of human nature across all humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God is a combination of the best of human nature across all humans.

When humans exercise free will to make moral choices, that’s a good thing. But you’re still describing human behavior. Humans are not God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christianity was a reaction to the very disciplined Judaism. Judaism was a reaction to paganism. They are all overcorrections of each other.

Without the law, the Israelites would have been absorbed into the surrounding cultures and today we would have no idea who they were. Developing monotheism literally set them apart and preserved them. It’s fascinating to think about how the world would be different today had they abandoned their faith.

[Anonymous]

In our materialist culture, any form of spirituality is typically viewed as a laudable goal. But your spiritual journey can just as easily draw you into darkness. You need discernment. Not all paths have good outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look OP, if you are still here, or anyone else searching, the fundamental question is: do you even believe in the possibility of a correct answer, of an objective Truth? Because if you won't even allow for that possibility (maybe because you can't stand the thought of hurting other people's sensibilities because it would imply others are wrong), then you are not ready for this journey. Focus on that fundamental issue first. People get through this hump in varying ways. For some, it might be that they get there intellectually or logically. For others, it might be precipitated by an existential crisis that humbles them enough to say anything's possible. But that is just based on my observations. God works in mysterious ways and there are certainly no limits to how he breaks down people's walls. Good luck.

I don't think Christianity is my path to finding God, this thread has confirmed it. Some of the posts are lecturing and overbearing. I don't believe in the God of the Bible, that doesn't mean that there isn't a Higher power or I can't find my own Spirituality. I don't care if some of the Christians on here think I am wrong. There have been some helpful answers to my post but it has mainly been hijacked by one or two posters who seem intent in bullishly pushing Christianity and telling everyone else they are wrong. Pretty gross.

You have had a private school education, have a college degree, a career, and a supportive family. You have health insurance and can access mental health care and afford prescription drugs to treat your depression and mental health struggles. [b]You can afford your home, transportation, pay your bills, buy groceries, have a computer and internet access. You were not sexually, emotionally, or physically abused as a child or adult.

You’ve been blessed beyond measure throughout your life. If you don’t want to believe in the God of the bible, you were privileged to be born and live in a country with complete religious freedom- both freedom to believe, or not to believe.

I think calling people who are exercising their religious freedom (especially in a forum specifically discussing religion) is gross. Nobody makes you come to a religious forum. This is a place to specifically discuss religion. You don’t have to discuss Christianity or Christians. No Christian asked you to ask questions about Christianity or religion or spiritual beliefs or practices.

Because the majority of Americans are Christian, including our President and his family, as well as the majority of our elected officials claiming to have a Christian faith tradition, it’s completely understandable that Christianity plays a role in American society, politics, and culture.

I wish you luck on navigating your spiritual life. It’s clear that even with all your familial and material blessings, you are missing a spiritual component to your life. You should focus on your mental health, and focus on supporting your mom. Since you both have struggled with suicidal thoughts, you need to monitor each other and help each other in tough times and make sure you both have what you need to remain as physically and mentally healthy as possible.

Realize many people in America are not as well off or financially stable as you are, and consider donating your time and talents and financial support to organizations you feel are worthwhile, to help your fellow man.

Perhaps start a thread here encouraging others to do the same, share resources that are helpful.

Also calling people names and saying free expression of speech and religion are “gross” isn’t very kind or tolerant. Perhaps working on accepting others and giving them space to exercise their God given freedoms might be appropriate. Tolerance and acceptance is for everyone, not just for ideals/values/morals you approve of personally or happen to agree with.


A pp wrote on page 4 of this thread

“I don't have a problem with Christians generally just judgmental close minded ones like you. Most of my friends and family identify as Christian and are open and tolerant people who do not diss other people's faiths.

You know very little about my childhood and early adult life other than I went to boarding school. You are assuming that I don't already work with charities and volunteer my time- you couldn't be more wrong. I am leaving this thread now, so maybe you can focus your lecturing on someone else.

I have often felt envious of people who believe. It seems like such a simple answer to all of life's problems.

But in reality? There are no simple answers. The people I know who profess faith still struggle with the same depression, anxiety, and fear as the rest of us.

Instead, I have found "faith" in things outside of any church. I have found community through volunteer organizations - a group coming together for a common good, for reasons no greater or lesser than wanting to do the right thing. I found spiritualism through connecting with nature: gardening, hiking, camping, kayaking. I know that sounds trite, but watching the cycles of nature at work is truly awe-inspiring if you really take the time to observe. I found meaning beyond my existence by making an impact on those around me - in my case, volunteering with youth organizations, where I believe my impact may outlive me, and any impact I have on these kids may even outlive them.

Find what speaks to you, OP. It doesn't have to be God. It doesn't have to be religion in the traditional sense. You can find a purpose in whatever you do believe in.”



Anonymous wrote:
I have often felt envious of people who believe. It seems like such a simple answer to all of life's problems.

But in reality? There are no simple answers. The people I know who profess faith still struggle with the same depression, anxiety, and fear as the rest of us.

Instead, I have found "faith" in things outside of any church. I have found community through volunteer organizations - a group coming together for a common good, for reasons no greater or lesser than wanting to do the right thing. I found spiritualism through connecting with nature: gardening, hiking, camping, kayaking. I know that sounds trite, but watching the cycles of nature at work is truly awe-inspiring if you really take the time to observe. I found meaning beyond my existence by making an impact on those around me - in my case, volunteering with youth organizations, where I believe my impact may outlive me, and any impact I have on these kids may even outlive them.

Find what speaks to you, OP. It doesn't have to be God. It doesn't have to be religion in the traditional sense. You can find a purpose in whatever you do believe in.


(Then you identified yourself as op and stated “you need to do this.”)

OP here -yes I think this is what I need to do.

I don’t think you are honest or truthful in this thread.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/45/1115470.page

[Anonymous]

^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Thanks for the chuckle. That was basically incoherent, but I'm sure there's a kernel of truth in there somewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Believing in any being that you cannot see is not simple. Only kids believe in fairies that they can't see. They also believe in Santa -- but they do see him - or at least people dressed up like him. But eventually, kids give up their belief in Santa. It not cool for an older kids to believe in Santa. Plus the gifts keep coming, which is the important thing, after all!

Some people also give up their belief in God. But some don't. Actually, it's still quite popular and acceptable to believe in God as an adult. In fact, many people are quite vocal about their religious beliefs.

Belief in God is decreasing, but people are not as likely to mention it in casual conversation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Believing in any being that you cannot see is not simple. Only kids believe in fairies that they can't see. They also believe in Santa -- but they do see him - or at least people dressed up like him. But eventually, kids give up their belief in Santa. It not cool for an older kids to believe in Santa. Plus the gifts keep coming, which is the important thing, after all!

Some people also give up their belief in God. But some don't. Actually, it's still quite popular and acceptable to believe in God as an adult. In fact, many people are quite vocal about their religious beliefs.

Belief in God is decreasing, but people are not as likely to mention it in casual conversation

This post sounds like AI was forced to watch holiday movies and talk shows debating religion, and then made to write a “news” article for a weird online website. lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Believing in any being that you cannot see is not simple. Only kids believe in fairies that they can't see. They also believe in Santa -- but they do see him - or at least people dressed up like him. But eventually, kids give up their belief in Santa. It not cool for an older kids to believe in Santa. Plus the gifts keep coming, which is the important thing, after all!

Some people also give up their belief in God. But some don't. Actually, it's still quite popular and acceptable to believe in God as an adult. In fact, many people are quite vocal about their religious beliefs.

Belief in God is decreasing, but people are not as likely to mention it in casual conversation

This post sounds like AI was forced to watch holiday movies and talk shows debating religion, and then made to write a “news” article for a weird online website. lol.

This post sounds like someone’s wanted to disagree with it on the merits, but couldn’t, so had to type some kind of ad hominem. lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Believing in any being that you cannot see is not simple. Only kids believe in fairies that they can't see. They also believe in Santa -- but they do see him - or at least people dressed up like him. But eventually, kids give up their belief in Santa. It not cool for an older kids to believe in Santa. Plus the gifts keep coming, which is the important thing, after all!

Some people also give up their belief in God. But some don't. Actually, it's still quite popular and acceptable to believe in God as an adult. In fact, many people are quite vocal about their religious beliefs.

Belief in God is decreasing, but people are not as likely to mention it in casual conversation

Belief in God is decreasing but not because are smarter or wiser (Have you read things written by people hundreds of years ago vs today's gibberish nonsense?!). Rather, people today have developed more technology and distractions to busy and distract themselves from deeper questions in life. More medical advancement have given people a sense of invincibility, thinking that if only they eat the right way, do the right things, take the right antioxidants, they can starve off death (at least until they are ready). All these developments make it easier to ignore God. It's so much easier today to believe tomorrow will come and will look quite like today, but it's all an illusion and everything can change in an instant. This is partly why depression shot up with covid, because many people were confronted for the first time with facing mortality and uncertainty. And covid was really nothing.

[Anonymous]

OP, go on a silent retreat. The Jesuits offer them. You don't have to go to any of the religious offerings, but can just go and relax and listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, go on a silent retreat. The Jesuits offer them. You don't have to go to any of the religious offerings, but can just go and relax and listen.

Not OP, but this is interesting. Have you been to one? Can you tell us more about them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Believing in God is not a simple answer. It is a hard work, physical and mental, on a daily basis. It is very hard to break that inner bad part of yourself that everyone have in us and to strive to become a better person. I think it is simple for a married man to see a sexy hot women and to desire her. That is a simple basic reaction. It is much harder for a married man to look at that woman and think "I bless you sister". But it seems like those concepts are too hard for you to comprehend, so you should go back digging your yard.

Believing in any being that you cannot see is not simple. Only kids believe in fairies that they can't see. They also believe in Santa -- but they do see him - or at least people dressed up like him. But eventually, kids give up their belief in Santa. It not cool for an older kids to believe in Santa. Plus the gifts keep coming, which is the important thing, after all!

Some people also give up their belief in God. But some don't. Actually, it's still quite popular and acceptable to believe in God as an adult. In fact, many people are quite vocal about their religious beliefs.

Belief in God is decreasing, but people are not as likely to mention it in casual conversation

Belief in God is decreasing but not because are smarter or wiser (Have you read things written by people hundreds of years ago vs today's gibberish nonsense?!). Rather, people today have developed more technology and distractions to busy and distract themselves from deeper questions in life. More medical advancement have given people a sense of invincibility, thinking that if only they eat the right way, do the right things, take the right antioxidants, they can starve off death (at least until they are ready). All these developments make it easier to ignore God. It's so much easier today to believe tomorrow will come and will look quite like today, but it's all an illusion and everything can change in an instant. This is partly why depression shot up with covid, because many people were confronted for the first time with facing mortality and uncertainty. And covid was really nothing.

Are you suggesting that belief in God is decreasing because of technology and medical advancement?