BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Bible Basics Does God Really Exist?

Why do you think that the Christian forums are empty and the pagan and new age forums are constantly filled?

It's because people are searching....they are searching for God and can't find him. I challenge everyone who comes here to express where they find God and how do you know He really exists.

Boy, that's a really bizarre way of looking at it, Jenna.

Has it occurred to you that those of us on the New Age boards have found God? I mean, it would explain why we talk so much about our connection with God, the Guidance He/She gives to us, how we walk out our spiritual paths, etc.

Maybe the reason people don't visit the Christianity board (and the reason that church attendance has been declining rapidly over the years) is because people are not finding answers that jive with their spirits...as well as knowing, deep down, that God is love. Maybe they're tired of the judgmentalism and fear based schtick? Maybe people are realizing that God is a lot bigger than the fundamentalists would have us believe?

And maybe, just maybe, people are realizing their spiritual needs can be met through a direction relationship and experience with the Divine? As Jesus said "The Kingdom of God is within".

That's really all I have to say on the matter. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Janet,
As always, I enjoy your point of view. My comments, while they could have been worded differently are not meant in any way to offend, just to start conversation. I always like to hear WHERE people have found God (or their concept of Him) To me thats the interesting part.

As for church attendance, yes I have noticed that myself. i don't belong to any "denomination" and I don't think one necessarily has to. It is the direct relationship with Christ that is important. I don't respond well to the traditional "schtick" either.

Thanx for your comments. I'm sure they will spark some conversation.

I feel the presence, the upliftment of God many ways - when I smell the roses in the garden I 'know' that God exists. When I see a smile returned from a kind act, I know that God exists. When I am inspired by that which is greater than I can create I know that God exists.

Susan <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You know, I've always thought it would take a lot more faith to think God didn't exist than to believe He does. It would take way too many coincidances and accidents for everything to have worked out so well. Life structures are just too complicated to believe it could be an accident. I'm not a big fan of coincidence, and there would be too many coincidences in my life if I had to believe all the miracles were just accidents.

Susan,

God is in the small things...like a whisper or a raindrop....I feel closest to him when I am hugging my children.

Terrie,

I don't believe in coincidences at all. Our lives are orchestrated by the Holy Spirit in ways that are too big for us to understand. That though alone gives me comfort.

Thanx for your comments.

I'm one of those who does not believe in god. I'm sure there is some sorta spirituality stuff going on out there but I believe most of the "warm fluffy feelings" we feel when hugging our kids are more chemistry, science and logic than proof of god.

I mean.. if there was a god how could he allow such bad spelling and grammar out of me? (kidding here)

Ash
hugemoron.com

Dear NeverthefirstASH,

Have you ever considered the possibility og the existance of God?

Are you so sure that there isn't one?

How are you so sure?

Can you prove that God DOESN'T exist? Or do you choose to live the contrary life?

Just some thoughts to ponder....

I have considered the possibility of the existance of God.

I can't prove that I exist today let alone prove that there is something that I don't believe in. The very essence of religion is based on "Faith" and because of that, it will always be about "believing" in something that will never be proven for or against.

Have you ever thought that perhaps organized religion was created simply as a tool for controling the populace? Obviously it isn't quite that simple now days but perhaps... back way back when... that was the motivation of those who wrote the first stories.

I do believe in something beyond us. Something greater than what we are. I can't explain it but I wouldn't call it, "God" the way most would and I most certainly not relate it to any christian form religion.

More thoughts to ponder. I respect your approach and honestly and if I'm a problem here or annoying I'll go. I don't want to be the icky bad man bringing down the group.

I think believing in something is great if you feel you need to believe in something. If it works for you and makes you a better person and you don't inflict damage on other people in any way then groovy.

Too often religion has negative effects though.


Ash
Hugemoron.com

Believing in God is not one of those things to which "I'll believe it when I see it" can be applied. When you make the choice to believe, then He proves Himself to you beyond a doubt. He shows Himself in a million ways everyday.

It may be a hard thing for those with a natural doubting nature, but I believe there is a spark of belief in everyone that is kindled when we let it. There is a natural connection that has always been in us because we are His creation.

Low church attendance
I think that the 'old' dogmatic church system is declining but there is a movement of new nondenominational churchs (not new age) that is growing and increasing attendance at an amazing rate. They are geared for people who have never been to church or who have been hurt by the church.
The important and wonderful thing about these churches is that they teach conservative doctrine and the gospel in a way that is not cluttered with the old "churchy" ways. They strive to be like the original church as described in the book of Acts.

One of these churches saved my life because I was searching for something that jived with my spirit. What I found was the true Spirit that my spirit longed for. Only thru the gospel of Jesus Christ.