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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am asking this question after reading a previous post about people being depressed because they don't have religion in their lives. I am an atheist in my 40s, although I considered myself Christian until my early 20's. However with life and experience I find it impossible to believe in a 'God' and especially anything written in the Bible. It all seems totally unbelievable to me and I hate the way it has given people reasons to discriminate against LGBTQ communities.

I struggle on and off with depression and sometimes I wished I did have a faith to comfort me. It is very easy for people to say you should turn to Jesus etc, but to me it is like believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

OP, have you ever found anything in your life?

I went to a Catholic boarding school and was one of the few non catholic students (although baptized Christian). I was judged by some very uptight religious teachers and overheard them gossip about my 'unorthodox'family. I tried to make them like me more by attending all the optional evening prayer services and tried to talk to God but never felt heard. In my late teens and early 20's I struggled really badly with OCD and depression and pleaded to God to help me but I felt no comfort only suicidal. The only thing that helped me in the end was antidepressants and therapy. I stopped believing in God after this bout of depression and it all seems a lot of hateful made up nonsense to me now. But I do often think it would be nice to believe, some of my good friends do, I just can't seem to make that stretch. Whatever happens I know Catholic Church is not for me or any religion who thinks that being in a same sex relationship is a sin.

[Anonymous]

I call scientific principles and the structure of the universe God. Problem solved. Now I believe in God.

Man are made of particles that follow thermodynamic principles, therefore in the "image" of God.

The stories in the Bible are just stories, interpreted by humans. Humans have demonstrated over and over again to be fallable. Don't take the stories literally, take them figuratively. Let everyone believe how they do and you will eventually find your place with them if you need one.

I find my social outlets through activities not church though.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Your post sounds so much like my story. I had tried yoga and Shambhala meditation, but I had a nagging feeling that something was missing in my life. I was an atheist in my mid-30s when I went into a church (Episcopal) on a whim. I started attending semi regularly and enjoyed the ritual and the community, even though I didn't believe it then. It felt really silly to start praying, because I didn't believe there was a God to hear, but I went anyway. Sometimes just walking into a church is an act of faith. A decade later that mustard seed of faith has blossomed into a real belief that has given me peace and hope in dark times. I have also had times where I felt God was reaching out to me, as another poster mentioned. I continue to develop more understanding of scripture, but I don't have all the answers yet. Faith really is a lifelong journey.

[Anonymous]

Somebody upthread mentioned an "earth-shattering" experience, and I would say I had this kind of experience that led me from atheism to Christianity.

[Anonymous]

One place to start is talking to God - aloud or in your head. Ask God to show themselves to you. Acknowledge your negative past experiences and the terrible ways the church has acted throughout history. Be open to things outside your comfort zone. Read the parts of the Bible that introduce you to Jesus and what he says. Have coffee with someone you consider a true God believer/ follower.

[Anonymous]

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]

I don’t identify as Christian religious, but I was told about the idea of thinking about good and bad things that have happened to you and asking yourself, was God there? And then moving that question to the day to day parts of your life.

I thought about, for example, a really scary accident that happened to me and I thought, was god there? Or then I thought also about a very special vacation I went on and thought, was god there?

The question is really not about the answer, although that’s very interesting for oneself. The answer is to start to notice God in your life. When the accident happened to me? God wasn’t there. I didn’t feel God at all. In fact, I found a major emptiness. but I have never considered that before and for me the practice of noticing God has brought me closer to feeling like I am part of the universe and the universe is part of me.

This morning as I sit here before I hop in the shower? I’ll ask myself the same question. Right now I’m feeling like God is 25% here. Nothing powerful but I feel the vibe a bit. That vacation? At this specific vacation God was holding me every minute of every day.

Inviting this practice has made me more spiritual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somebody upthread mentioned an "earth-shattering" experience, and I would say I had this kind of experience that led me from atheism to Christianity.

Will you share? I am always so curious about these

[Anonymous]

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.

Being a Christian does not mean you will not struggle with day to day living. You will still will have financial/relationship/health problems, because we are all
human. God does not promise us blue skies every day, He promises strength in dealing with skies whatever color they may be. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Billionaires get divorced, lose kids to drug overdoses and unfortunate accidents. Billionaires die from cancer. We all die, in fact. Our children and mothers and neighbors and siblings die. We have nothing on earth that will last. Go to a cemetery and see the neglected graves of truly loved people.

Jesus didn’t come to earth and preach that everything on earth will be “ok.” He promised us salvation and peace and happiness through Him when our earthly bodies have died.

I believe people possibly see how difficult and painful life can be, and become depressed. This is it? I was born for this?

Jesus says you were born for much more.

[Anonymous]

PP, thank you for this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, thank you for this post.

You are welcome, keep going, brother/sister! ❤️ We claim victory in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

"Being a Christian does not mean you will not struggle with day to day living. You will still will have financial/relationship/health problems, because we are all
human."

>> so why turn to religion?

"God does not promise us blue skies every day, He promises strength in dealing with skies whatever color they may be. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Billionaires get divorced, lose kids to drug overdoses and unfortunate accidents. Billionaires die from cancer. We all die, in fact. Our children and mothers and neighbors and siblings die. We have nothing on earth that will last. Go to a cemetery and see the neglected graves of truly loved people."

>> money can't buy happiness, but it helps

"Jesus didn’t come to earth and preach that everything on earth will be “ok.” He promised us salvation and peace and happiness through Him when our earthly bodies have died.

I believe people possibly see how difficult and painful life can be, and become depressed. This is it? I was born for this?

Jesus says you were born for much more. "

>> so the message is not just about the value of religion, it's about trying to convert people to Christianity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

"Being a Christian does not mean you will not struggle with day to day living. You will still will have financial/relationship/health problems, because we are all
human."

>> so why turn to religion?

"God does not promise us blue skies every day, He promises strength in dealing with skies whatever color they may be. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Billionaires get divorced, lose kids to drug overdoses and unfortunate accidents. Billionaires die from cancer. We all die, in fact. Our children and mothers and neighbors and siblings die. We have nothing on earth that will last. Go to a cemetery and see the neglected graves of truly loved people."

>> money can't buy happiness, but it helps

"Jesus didn’t come to earth and preach that everything on earth will be “ok.” He promised us salvation and peace and happiness through Him when our earthly bodies have died.

I believe people possibly see how difficult and painful life can be, and become depressed. This is it? I was born for this?

Jesus says you were born for much more. "

>> so the message is not just about the value of religion, it's about trying to convert people to Christianity.

People have their own deeply held reasons to turn to Christianity. You will have to ask each person you encounter, why are you Christian? There is no standard answer.

Money can’t buy happiness, and it helps, yes. But the majority of the world lives in dire, life threatening poverty.

I can’t convince people here to be Christian or convert people here to Christianity, any more than the people who post here daily and claim God is not real, Jesus doesn’t exist, etc.

Are the atheists here trying to convert people to atheism? They can say God doesn’t exist. I say He does, and the Bible His word.

Plenty of non-believers posting here the Bible is man-made/made-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

"Being a Christian does not mean you will not struggle with day to day living. You will still will have financial/relationship/health problems, because we are all
human."

>> so why turn to religion?

"God does not promise us blue skies every day, He promises strength in dealing with skies whatever color they may be. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness. Billionaires get divorced, lose kids to drug overdoses and unfortunate accidents. Billionaires die from cancer. We all die, in fact. Our children and mothers and neighbors and siblings die. We have nothing on earth that will last. Go to a cemetery and see the neglected graves of truly loved people."

>> money can't buy happiness, but it helps

"Jesus didn’t come to earth and preach that everything on earth will be “ok.” He promised us salvation and peace and happiness through Him when our earthly bodies have died.

I believe people possibly see how difficult and painful life can be, and become depressed. This is it? I was born for this?

Jesus says you were born for much more. "

>> so the message is not just about the value of religion, it's about trying to convert people to Christianity.

op specifically asked how people find God. Do we answer, or are all answers “proselytizing?”

[Anonymous]

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.

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