Do you believe in God?

[Sunlight.]

Do you believe in God? And if so, have you believed in God while growing up?

[Sythan]

I'm Pagan, so multiple Gods and Goddesses for me. I was free to choose my religion from birth, so I grew up in a Religious neutral household. Never went to church, never a Bible or crucifix in the house. Nothing religious really. I started getting into religion at 11, finding what I liked at 12.

[Power Cosmic]

No, not in the slightest. The very idea just reeks of primitive mankind trying to find a rationale for something that rendered them as meaningless.

I used to be Muslim though...:
Like, I used to be Muslim until about 8. (hence why I'm in a almost-unique position in Western society to see that both are as bad as each other). One day I was thinking about how my parents weren't letting me go out and play with my friends. And then it occurred to me that for thousands of years this was just something people came up with to control other people. At first I was terrified that Allah would make niblets out of my innards for thinking that, but when that didn't happen, I got up and shouted "FUck you Allah" and I didn't die or get cursed with a pig's head (that's a big one in islamic culture), I suddenly felt happier, more free and more powerful and in control than I had in my whole authoritarian childhood >.>
It was like...it kinda just clicked. And suddenly every undue thing my parents/extended family did made sense. I pretended to believe for a long time afterwards...kinda still do to my Mum, though my Dad knows better.
I think I can ironically thank my parents. Since they had very little childcare skills at that time, (they didn't know how to emotionally engage me at all, apart from telling me God did it and my questions meant I'd go to hell *cue nightmares*, they bought me lots of books since their shallowness meant they wanted me to excel at school so they could show me off
And these books were like, science encyclopaedias, well beyond my age, but whilst the hardcore stuff was beyond me and contributed towards my low self esteem since my parents expected me to be able to understand it all, and told me to keep reading if I didn't. I was even told to 'read a dictionary' =/ ..I never did, but it was continuously demanded of me. But that got my skill with words up and I got many fiction books from the library and read them instead and my mind exploded with creativity and mental prowess, and I'm fairly sure there was a lens flare at some point >.>.

But yeahh.. I was lucky...I realised that everything that it was complete bull where people justify their hatred, bigotry, racism and homophobia by telling themselves it's okay because their imaginary friend dictated they had permission to do so. =/.

When I hit my teens, I kinda did go off the rails a bit too much, got far too reliant on alcohol at around 13 (do you have a better idea to numb the pain of such an existence where you're scared of being disowned if you ever spoke your mind to your own family?...) and well, bleh, long story and stuff.

But yeah, now here I am. ^^. *roll credits*

[lost_soul]

No, I don't believe in God.
But I did when I was growing up.
I was raised as a Catholic and genuinely believed in God, up until grade 6 or 7.
Then I realised that it just wasn't realistic.

[Xujhan]

Glad to say that I never have, and proud to say that I probably never will.

[QuantumModulus]

Originally Posted by Xujhan

Glad to say that I never have, and proud to say that I probably never will.

Well said.

[BigBL87]

I do, and have most of my life. Had a period where I was agnostic, leaning atheist though.

[Kitty.]

I believe in God and have my whole life.

[ICantCreateACoolUsername]

When I was a child I used to believe strongly in god, but I had no reason for believing since both of parents never imposed any religious belief. About 2 years ago I realized the idea of god was insane..

[dr2005]

Yes, but I haven't always. I was pretty much an agnostic going through the motions of church etc. through my early teens, and I'm pretty sure at certain points I was atheist in all bar name even if they were only fleeting. It means my belief isn't as strong as may once have been the case, but I don't necessarily view that as a bad thing as I feel all beliefs - or absence of them - should be held up to scrutiny. So while my belief in God is less absolutist than some, it's proven to be more durable and with a welcome and distinct lack of indoctrination to boot.

[Rainbow Dash]

No. I used to question it but now I don't at all. I don't really like the term "Atheist" though. I'm not a fan of labelling my beliefs.

LOL I remember when I was about 8/9 years old in school, my teacher was "teaching" us about Adam and Eve. I asked why are there dinosaur fossils if the first animals alive were people. She didn't like me very much after I refused to pray in assembly after that point as I didn't believe in it.

[Spellbound]

Yes, I believe in God and I'm proud of it. I've had my doubts in the past but I've pretty much always believed.

[Celestial.]

I've always believed in some kind of 'higher being'. I was raised Catholic, so I believed what I was told. I prayed, I went to church, I went to a Catholic school.
I was agnostic for a while, but I never rejected the idea of God.
Now I believe in God... of a sort.

[TheBabyEater]

I just can't when I look at the world and all the people in it, how they treat each other, and everything. Some people say "Oh he's just testing them"

If that's how God acts, then I don't want to believe in him.

[Soliloquy]

No, I don't believe in God. I was raised Catholic, and I used to believe in him when I was younger because I was told to. Now, I just can't.

[Kate*]

Yes, I think I always have, but I'm not really sure. I was baptized Catholic and raised non-religious when I started wondering and asked my mom I found out she's agnostic after being raised in church and Catholic school. My dad went to Catholic school too because of where he grew up, I never asked him. I was free to come up with my own religious ideas, so yes, I believe in God, but I don't really follow any religion.

[Greyhoundredux]

I did growing up, but no, I don't.

[Heartlines.]

I grew up believing in God, but now I am not sure.
Nothing adds up. And it's not a priority for me to figure out if I believe in Him or not.

I was Mormon though.

Look at me now.
I drink coffee,
I'm Bisexual,
I swear,
I express myself,
I'm not a virgin.

Wow. I'm a real person.

[Tara.]

No, not at all. It hurts to much to think of things that have happened, and "God" just stood by.

[Pelios]

Yes I believe, while growing up I believed I was raised Catholic I went to Catholic schools all my life I had a phrase of doubt when I was in high school but got over it now I believe with all my heart something inside me tells me there is something out there greater than what we can imagine I have faith there is a God.

[A Lady]

Yes, I believe in God with all my being. I have always believed and will believe for the rest of my life.

[noveras]

There are times as a teen that I figured out that God is just a myth but as I grow up I found out that undeniably there is a greater force in this universe and it is God.When you studied science,engineering,medicines and etc2 you will found how great and mysterious the world is which is why even Albert Einstein recognize the power of God

[Noctis]

Originally Posted by noveras

There are times as a teen that I figured out that God is just a myth but as I grow up I found out that undeniably there is a greater force in this universe and it is God.When you studied science,engineering,medicines and etc2 you will found how great and mysterious the world is which is why even Albert Einstein recognize the power of God

Einstein's concept of God and yours are vastly different.

I would suggest reading this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...eligious_views

He seems to share much of the same views as I do. That even if such a higher being exists, said being would not regularly interfere with the affairs of us lower beings, and it is rather childish to think otherwise.

I believe his words were, "you may call me an agnostic". And so I will call him exactly that.

[Reverie.]

I'm honestly not sure about God anymore. As I grew up I was sure I didn't believe in him, and that no such being could ever exsist because the idea was too out there. Now, I'm open minded, don't get me wrong, but the idea that one greater being could create the very world we live in, breathe in and grow in, made little to no sense to me. Lately I've been questioning this. I'd say I'm agnostic, or between beliefs. I'm worried about saying certain things incase when I die I get punished for them. Obviously, I'm not going to go round killing people and worrying whether I'll go to hell for that, because I'm not a murderer, but if I say to someone, 'God doesn't exsist, don't be silly' I feel I might be punished for that.

I kind of see the meaning behind William Paleys desgin argument. I find it hard to believe that a world so full of everything man kind needs to survive can just...be here. It stuns me. But then again, I'm back to what I first said. If I saw God, it would assure my belief.

So in answer to the question, I don't believe in God, but there's a possibility I believe in A God.

[Cosmo]

Christian God? Definitely not. However, I don't rule out religion as a whole. Frankly, I think there are some things that science will never be able to explain, and I think some things do require faith unfortunately. I'm interested in a few religions but atm I'd consider myself agnostic - I'm not sure there is a God, but if there was one we'd have no way of knowing.

[Michaela *heartbroken*]

I don't believe in God, if he was real wouldn't he let the people who we love live their full life instead of dying

[ShadowDancing]

I've been Christian growing up. I'm starting to have some doubts though.

I really don't know where I stand. And I'm getting confirmed in less than a month.

[Anthropomorphic]

I don't believe in God in the sense that the Bible presents. I find that God to be far to hypocritical, vengeful, and dogmatic. I instead hold a fluctuant view that there is a power far greater than any human's comprehension that permeates all parts of life and death, and does not make our decisions, but rather creates every scenario and conflict that forces us to make decisions. I also believe there is a very fluid right and wrong: That every person must decide for himself and herself what is right and wrong, not based on their own needs, but on the needs of other people, other living things, and all other things they know can be influenced by what they do.

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by Safe-inside-my-head

I'm honestly not sure about God anymore. As I grew up I was sure I didn't believe in him, and that no such being could ever exsist because the idea was too out there. Now, I'm open minded, don't get me wrong, but the idea that one greater being could create the very world we live in, breathe in and grow in, made little to no sense to me. Lately I've been questioning this. I'd say I'm agnostic, or between beliefs. I'm worried about saying certain things incase when I die I get punished for them. Obviously, I'm not going to go round killing people and worrying whether I'll go to hell for that, because I'm not a murderer, but if I say to someone, 'God doesn't exsist, don't be silly' I feel I might be punished for that.

I kind of see the meaning behind William Paleys desgin argument. I find it hard to believe that a world so full of everything man kind needs to survive can just...be here. It stuns me. But then again, I'm back to what I first said. If I saw God, it would assure my belief.

So in answer to the question, I don't believe in God, but there's a possibility I believe in A God.

I would say two things in response to this. One: would you really want anything to do with a god who would punish you simply for being sensible, albeit ultimately wrong? There is nothing immoral about thinking that god doesn't exist, but there would be plenty immoral in punishing you for that reasoning.

As for the existance of everything we need, may I suggest that you're looking at things from the wrong angle? The world predates us by billions of years: it's not that everything we need to live happens to be here, it's that life on Earth evolved to use the resources available to it. We live on water and an oxygen atmosphere because the Earth has water and an oxygen atmosphere; if the chemical makeup of our atmosphere were different it might well be that a different type of life would have evolved to make use of it.

[Janet11]

No, I have no faith in God. What I think is only our self can rule us. There is no spirit called as God according to my belief.

[savealife723]

I was definitely not raised in a Christian home at all. My family wasn't religious in the least bit, but I found God on my own. <3

Yes, I believe in God. (: <3 With everything I am.

[Youth Pastor]

I can relate to Kaylaa in a way. I didn't grow up in a Christian home but, this is the difference between Kaylaa and myself, my parents were God believing. I accepted Christ in 2000 in my college dorm room. Also, like her, I believe in God, obviously.

[silentmuffin]

My views are a little confusing, even to me sometimes. I was raised Catholic, but my dad's side of the family is Lutheran, and about half my family is atheist or agnostic anyway. So I've never really been pushed into believing anything.

I believe in *a* god. Something that created the universe and set into motion the laws that keep it in perpetual motion and not in utter chaos. I also believe he is a "father" figure, who created humans in the image of himself (as creators and leaders) and who has an interest in what we make of the world we've been given. But he doesn't necessarily intervene in all our actions or even pay attention to every one of us all the time. Is it the God as described in the Bible? I have no idea. I do not believe in the infallibility of the Bible, so I try not to base my beliefs about God from it.

The Bible was written by people, decades after the events supposedly occurred, based off oral tradition which no doubt changed over the years (ever played Telephone? I'm sure some weird stuff that was never really said found its way in there). Plus, it was translated into many different languages, when some of them don't even have comparable vocabulary. And probably most important of all, it was political leaders such as Constantine - not direct dictation by God - that decided what would ultimately become part of the Bible and what would be banned as heresy. So I'm not buying it.

I talk to God all the time, which is basically just talking to myself but honestly it does feel different than that, and I can talk to myself without talking to God so something in me tells me there is a difference. Sometimes I can't make a decision or figure something out, then I ask what I believe to be God about it and the answer comes to me. Was it there in my mind all along? Yeah, probably, but I believe God is a part of all of us anyway, and it's that trust in him (and consequently in ourselves) that allows us to be confident in our decisions, morals, actions, etc. That's really what the soul is in my mind... it's that part of God inside us that we all share. Maybe it's not a conscious, omnipotent being in the sky, maybe it's one of the strings that holds the universe together, or maybe it's some sense that we're just not aware of yet, I don't know, and frankly I don't think it matters what the truth is.

It's what you do based on your beliefs- not what you believe - that matters.

[JustDanielle]

No, but growing up i was raised too. But i don't.

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by silentmuffin

My views are a little confusing, even to me sometimes. I was raised Catholic, but my dad's side of the family is Lutheran, and about half my family is atheist or agnostic anyway. So I've never really been pushed into believing anything.

I believe in *a* god. Something that created the universe and set into motion the laws that keep it in perpetual motion and not in utter chaos. I also believe he is a "father" figure, who created humans in the image of himself (as creators and leaders) and who has an interest in what we make of the world we've been given. But he doesn't necessarily intervene in all our actions or even pay attention to every one of us all the time. Is it the God as described in the Bible? I have no idea. I do not believe in the infallibility of the Bible, so I try not to base my beliefs about God from it.

The Bible was written by people, decades after the events supposedly occurred, based off oral tradition which no doubt changed over the years (ever played Telephone? I'm sure some weird stuff that was never really said found its way in there). Plus, it was translated into many different languages, when some of them don't even have comparable vocabulary. And probably most important of all, it was political leaders such as Constantine - not direct dictation by God - that decided what would ultimately become part of the Bible and what would be banned as heresy. So I'm not buying it.

I talk to God all the time, which is basically just talking to myself but honestly it does feel different than that, and I can talk to myself without talking to God so something in me tells me there is a difference. Sometimes I can't make a decision or figure something out, then I ask what I believe to be God about it and the answer comes to me. Was it there in my mind all along? Yeah, probably, but I believe God is a part of all of us anyway, and it's that trust in him (and consequently in ourselves) that allows us to be confident in our decisions, morals, actions, etc. That's really what the soul is in my mind... it's that part of God inside us that we all share. Maybe it's not a conscious, omnipotent being in the sky, maybe it's one of the strings that holds the universe together, or maybe it's some sense that we're just not aware of yet, I don't know, and frankly I don't think it matters what the truth is.

It's what you do based on your beliefs- not what you believe - that matters.

I think that might be one of the most sensible expressions of theism I've ever encountered. Good on you.

[losing touch.]

Not the classical theism definition of God.. But I do believe in a higher power and the design argument.

[dr2005]

Originally Posted by silentmuffin

My views are a little confusing, even to me sometimes. I was raised Catholic, but my dad's side of the family is Lutheran, and about half my family is atheist or agnostic anyway. So I've never really been pushed into believing anything.

I believe in *a* god. Something that created the universe and set into motion the laws that keep it in perpetual motion and not in utter chaos. I also believe he is a "father" figure, who created humans in the image of himself (as creators and leaders) and who has an interest in what we make of the world we've been given. But he doesn't necessarily intervene in all our actions or even pay attention to every one of us all the time. Is it the God as described in the Bible? I have no idea. I do not believe in the infallibility of the Bible, so I try not to base my beliefs about God from it.

The Bible was written by people, decades after the events supposedly occurred, based off oral tradition which no doubt changed over the years (ever played Telephone? I'm sure some weird stuff that was never really said found its way in there). Plus, it was translated into many different languages, when some of them don't even have comparable vocabulary. And probably most important of all, it was political leaders such as Constantine - not direct dictation by God - that decided what would ultimately become part of the Bible and what would be banned as heresy. So I'm not buying it.

I talk to God all the time, which is basically just talking to myself but honestly it does feel different than that, and I can talk to myself without talking to God so something in me tells me there is a difference. Sometimes I can't make a decision or figure something out, then I ask what I believe to be God about it and the answer comes to me. Was it there in my mind all along? Yeah, probably, but I believe God is a part of all of us anyway, and it's that trust in him (and consequently in ourselves) that allows us to be confident in our decisions, morals, actions, etc. That's really what the soul is in my mind... it's that part of God inside us that we all share. Maybe it's not a conscious, omnipotent being in the sky, maybe it's one of the strings that holds the universe together, or maybe it's some sense that we're just not aware of yet, I don't know, and frankly I don't think it matters what the truth is.

It's what you do based on your beliefs- not what you believe - that matters.

That actually tallies a lot with my views on God and the Bible (even though I am a Christian, I take the infallibility of the Bible with a pinch of salt - it is a collection from different authors after all), and I have to admit puts it in a much more eloquent way than I've managed to date. Fair play.

[.I.Overcame.SI.]

i absoutely believe in God..now..dint growing up

[snappydog]

I did because I was raised to, but one day in church I just sort of realised 'I shouldn't be here, because I don't really believe this is true'.

[Littlebylittle]

I was baptised, had my communion, and was confirmed.
But i don't beleive in God and never have done really, i went to a catholic primary school thats why i had my communion etc.

I don't beleive in him; if he was the one who was like our father, why would he stand back and watch us all hurt so often?