Doubts.

[Isaiah_41:13]

I'm a Christian, I have been for all my life. I'm having some huge doubts though, with Christianity, and with some of the stuff from the bible.

Everyone always tells me that God was there with me when I was raped and when I go through the hard times, and that He was with me, holding me, and making sure I was okay.

I am not sure if I believe that any more.

If God is all powerful, than why does he let bad things happen to His kids? Couldn't he have stopped that? Couldn't He have protected me, and not made me have to go through stuff?

why would he ask people to go kill (almost, in the case of abraham) their kids, or rape girls, or...just, all that stuff.

anyone have anything that will help me deal with my doubts, or that will...idk, help?

-Marla

[Of Mike and Men]

My sister, if it is right I call you that. My love to you. I am so sorry to hear of your doubts. I pray that the G-D of peace grant you calmness of heart in believing through love. I do not understand the things of G-D, nor His nature, nor much of the bible, especially the old testament. I will pass onto you some wisdom shared to me. The only time we experience faith is when we admit we have no faith, and only G-D is faithful.

You ask some very hard questions, some which may be responded to with little sensitivity. I would love to talk to you, if you are willing, through PM. I do not pretend to have wisdom, just hope.

[LeapOfFayth]

Depending on what you believe and how you interpret things you might not believe what I believe.
But what I believe is that God is not a physical entity, he has no control over anything. Life was put on this earth to run it's course. We choose to do what we choose to do, some people choose to do bad things. The point of Christianity isn't believing that God will help you or that God will protect you, be there for you, or guide you. While thoughts like that can be comforting, it would be foolish to simply trust an invisible being to guide you through life would it not?
I believe that Christianity is there for comfort when we need it, a place to look for strength but not wait for it to come to us. It's a place to learn so that we can lead ourselves by example. Learn to forgive our enemies, to help those in need, to be kind and gentle, etc. I'm sorry you were raped, but I believe that if you are truly a Christian (not trying to challenge your faith) that you will (with time) be able to grow from this. Maybe you'll be able to use this experience to help others? Or maybe you'll become a stronger person from it? While life works in mysterious ways, and it's unfourtunate that someone was mislead enough to do something like that to another person, it's our job to continue on, and to grow from our experiences.
To me, God isn't someone to depend on or to ask questions to, it's an example by which we can choose to live our lives.

Just how I interpret it is all, everyone is different. It's important at some point that you take a step back from what you're being taught and question it. It's important to interpret things for yourself at some point and not just listen to something someone is telling you because they were told to tell you it like that.
If you've ever played the telephone game you know how a simple message can be jumbled up after going around 10 or so people. Imagine how much a message can get jumbled up after 2000 years and countless translations.

[Toz]

Here's an idea: independence. Don't depend on God to be there for you. Depend on you to be there for you. You've only uncovered one of the many great holes in the idea of God.

[Sythan]

God never did any of those things the Bible says, men wrote that God did it, or told them to do it, to have some justification for their actions. God does not involve himself in human affairs, he has created and set the wheels in motion, and now has stepped back to observe.

As Toz said, rely on yourself.

[RadkeLover]

I had the same doubts, well not the exact same, but why does this so called awesome god let people die and starve and get raped, and go through depression, then i just gave up on christianity, went through a few other religions, now im just a Satanic Pagan,

[Squidgy]

Originally Posted by Toz

Here's an idea: independence. Don't depend on God to be there for you. Depend on you to be there for you. You've only uncovered one of the many great holes in the idea of God.

This. It's great to have faith but you need to be able to protect yourself. (Not saying anything was your fault) I'm an atheist so I may not be very helpful but in actuality god isn't there to help you. I wish you best of luck with your future.

[dr2005]

First off, I am very sorry to hear that you went through that trauma - I know nothing I can saw will change that, but I felt it was worth saying above all else.

On the main issue you raise, what you should bear in mind is that everyone has doubts, particularly on the subject of religion. No one knows anything in this life with absolute certainty, least of all on the subject of God, and anyone who claims to know anything with absolute certainty is either insane or an idiot, or both. (Some on here would do well to remember that at times, but I digress) The doubts you have are not unusual, nor are there easy answers to them unfortunately - as you can tell from some of the replies here, it has been the straw that broke the camel's back when it comes to God. What I will offer is my own experience with this, and hope that is of some use to you.

Looking at it objectively, I have every reason to be an atheist after what life has thrown at me in 24 years. I have been bullied relentlessly at school, had someone assault me on the verge of sexual violation, been driven to the verge of suicide on at least one occasion, seen my girlfriend on a psychiatric ward and had three relatives die. I have prayed and prayed for understanding, and received none. I have shouted at the sky, cursed and broken down in tears. Yet I still believe. Some would probably say I am mad for doing so. But I do, because every time I have hit rock bottom it feels as if God's love has pulled me through - and sometimes it takes me a while to recognise that. Nowhere does God promise to be like Superman, rescuing us from all ill, any more than our families or loved ones could promise to do likewise. What He does promise, though, is His love when we need it most. That has been my experience, and that is why I still believe. Others have responded differently, and that is their free choice. But I do not believe I have deluded myself, or am suffering from a neurosis, or any other accusations the militant atheist brigade have thrown our way. I know my own mind, warts and all, and I know it is broadly rational and doesn't latch onto fairy tales. I believe something stronger than that is going on, and is probably why I am still here and able to write this.

On the issue of why these things happen, when we would prefer they didn't, perhaps the reality is that God cannot simply reach in and save the day, like Superman. Perhaps doing so would simply break the rules, and the Universe with it. Perhaps all He can do is support us with His love, carry us through the hard times and help us get back on our feet again. In order to stop things like those which befell you and I, God would have to halt free will altogether, and that may be more than the Universe can take. Who's to say? I don't know if that's true or not - I say it only to give food for thought. For my part, I say the issue is more with the people who commit the acts in the first place, but that's another matter.

Finally, on the issue of God ordering people to kill and rape - perhaps He didn't. Perhaps someone is using that as a convenient cover for things they're not so proud of. A God who stops a man from killing one child is harldy the kind to order wholesale slaughter, and is certainly inconsistent with the more longstanding notion of a loving God which exists within the Bible. As others have said, the Bible is the work of human hands and is open to human error. What is worth noting is that, certainly in the case of the New Testament, the message is more consistently one of love than of revenge. The Old Testament may be a different story, and may well be why Jesus said what He said. Again, it's only food for thought.

I hope some of the above is of use to you, and above all wish you the best in this whatever the outcome may be. Your personal beliefs are precisely that, personal, and it is for you to determine what is and isn't acceptable for you. What is more important, and what I hope for, is that you find peace in whatever form that may be and are able to go forward as you feel best for you.

Take care.

[Isaiah_41:13]

Thanks, everyone, for awnsering me.

[Iris. ♥]

I'm so sorry that you went through all that trauma. Honestly, I don't think anyone is going to be able to answer your question perfectly. There are a lot of things that we won't be able to understand this side of Heaven. But, God is there for you. He doesn't prevent bad things from happening in the world, but He does hold you up when you need to be comforted. I can't tell you to keep believing in God. I don't think it's my place to do that. But, I am going to encourage you to pray over it, ask the Lord for answers, and make your own decision. I've had my doubts too and I literally just came out of them. Feel free to message me if you need someone to talk through this with.

[Megan1]

I will be praying for God to keep you strong in faith and remind you of His truth and love. We've all been attacked with doubts, but God will provide us with the faith to get through them if we are willling without being double minded.

It would only be speculation if I tried to tell you why God allows bad things to happen, but I can tell you two things for certain: 1. He causes ALL (good and bad) things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 2. Instead of making this world perfect and pain free, He has given us a whole new kingdom to go to permanently at the end of this life (Heaven, obviously) where we will no longer suffer.

Also, you probably already know this, but God doesn't instruct people to kill any more. That was in the old testament as a way to avenge sin, but Jesus avenged our sins now, so God doesn't instruct people to kill today.

"In this world, you will have trouble; but take courage, for I have overcome the world." - Jesus

[JKmadu619]

God will take the steps to helping us, once we take the steps to helping ourselves.

Once we eliminate crime, sin and world hunger then God will see us fit to help. In the meantime bad things happen because we allowed them to, not God. As a society we allowed your rapist to become angry enough to harm you, and we obviously didn't take the steps to keep you safe.

I would hate for trouble to distance you from God, because it really wasn't his fault, it was our societies fault as a whole.

- Justin

[caffeineislife]

we dont know why G_D dose thing but if you could understand every thing G_D did that would not be much of a G_D to beleve in. we cant understand why becuse we are humen and limeted we can not under stand fully some thing that is infunnet. every thing G_D dos is for the good we just cant see how

belef is not having prof that there is G_D but know that there is G_D if you know you dont need prof