Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Not exactly. I'm saying that God is infinite, he is there for all of us. He knows that his children are all different, unique beings. And, as such, he understands the different ways in which his children relate to him. It's not a matter of "conjuring" like you would a spirit out of cauldron. God is THERE, all the time, with all of us. We simply seek our own ways to best relate to and understand Him. Maybe you'll find your relationship with him in your own, unique way (assuming, of course, that you haven't already done so).

really, this sounds like something you conjured up -- its your definition of God, but some who also believe in God don't see it that way

That's o.k. They don't have to see things exactly my way Free will.

free will to make up your own God -- I don't think that's what "God" (the Christian God, that is) had in mind when he gave us free will

Clearly you have a different view than I do. That's o.k.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Not exactly. I'm saying that God is infinite, he is there for all of us. He knows that his children are all different, unique beings. And, as such, he understands the different ways in which his children relate to him. It's not a matter of "conjuring" like you would a spirit out of cauldron. God is THERE, all the time, with all of us. We simply seek our own ways to best relate to and understand Him. Maybe you'll find your relationship with him in your own, unique way (assuming, of course, that you haven't already done so).

really, this sounds like something you conjured up -- its your definition of God, but some who also believe in God don't see it that way

That's o.k. They don't have to see things exactly my way Free will.

free will to make up your own God -- I don't think that's what "God" (the Christian God, that is) had in mind when he gave us free will

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Not exactly. I'm saying that God is infinite, he is there for all of us. He knows that his children are all different, unique beings. And, as such, he understands the different ways in which his children relate to him. It's not a matter of "conjuring" like you would a spirit out of cauldron. God is THERE, all the time, with all of us. We simply seek our own ways to best relate to and understand Him. Maybe you'll find your relationship with him in your own, unique way (assuming, of course, that you haven't already done so).

really, this sounds like something you conjured up -- its your definition of God, but some who also believe in God don't see it that way

That's o.k. They don't have to see things exactly my way Free will.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Not exactly. I'm saying that God is infinite, he is there for all of us. He knows that his children are all different, unique beings. And, as such, he understands the different ways in which his children relate to him. It's not a matter of "conjuring" like you would a spirit out of cauldron. God is THERE, all the time, with all of us. We simply seek our own ways to best relate to and understand Him. Maybe you'll find your relationship with him in your own, unique way (assuming, of course, that you haven't already done so).

really, this sounds like something you conjured up -- its your definition of God, but some who also believe in God don't see it that way

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Not exactly. I'm saying that God is infinite, he is there for all of us. He knows that his children are all different, unique beings. And, as such, he understands the different ways in which his children relate to him. It's not a matter of "conjuring" like you would a spirit out of cauldron. God is THERE, all the time, with all of us. We simply seek our own ways to best relate to and understand Him. Maybe you'll find your relationship with him in your own, unique way (assuming, of course, that you haven't already done so).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

So they conjure up a God? You're practically saying it's OK to make up your own god to worship. It's like saying people have different needs, so they use different coping strategies, including inventing a special friend to lean on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

I don't relate to God the way that they do. They are free to worship God as they so choose and I sincerely believe that many people benefit from established rules, structures, definitive right/wrong. Some folks don't do as well with the gray areas as others do. And they may need something more rigid to keep themselves on track.

It can be off putting sometimes. It can almost seem anti-God at other times. And sometimes it can just be horrible, even sinful, hateful stuff. That's more a sign that people are imperfect human beings that make mistakes. Simply believing in God does not make you perfect.

Anonymous wrote:A Catholic friend says it's the Holy Spirit reaching out in a form we're capable of comprehending (a grandparent, a parent, a loved one). He also told me stories about deceased grandparents "visiting" his kid. Quite spooky, I must say. I never experienced anything like this personally, but I certainly would love to!

Since your friend is a Catholic, perhaps he would like to know what the Bible says about talking to dead spirits:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12: "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you."

The Bible is clear that departed souls do not return to talk with us, and that anything that purports to be a spirit of the dead is a demon in disguise. I would really hope you would re-evaluate your "hope" to have your dead relatives visit you.

Does God protect His children? Indeed He does. Does He use guardian angels to do so? Perhaps. But we are to keep our minds and hopes on Christ and not go seeking after angels.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Many people who also believe in God disagree with you. They this there is one particular god to believe in and that people who believe in another version (let say who has different requirements of people) are wrong and will be punished by the real god.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

How did you make your determination which of the thousands of characterizations of god to believe in? What was your process of elimination?

I think just going through some rough times did it for me. If it hadn't been for the rough times caused mainly (but not entirely) by my own mistakes and misjudgements plus my desire to do better and asking for God's strength to help me to do better - I don't know that I would KNOW all of this in my heart the way that I do. Kind of ironic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

How did you make your determination which of the thousands of characterizations of god to believe in? What was your process of elimination?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

I believe that there is one God for all of us. And that in His wisdom he relates to us in ways that make the best sense to each one of us. The more we listen to him, the better off we are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.

You know there are thousands of Gods, right? Which one are you specifically referring to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accepting real life (no guardian angels, no life after death, no gods, no heaven, no hell, etc) is extremely difficult for many people.

People self medicate with all kinds of things. Food, alcohol, drugs, and stories to help them sleep better at night or get through the day.

especially if they've been bombarded by it their whole lives and told they must believe and are ostracized if they don't.

God doesn't ostracize people. People sometimes do. But that isn't God doing that.