From a different thread:

http://mommysavers.com/boards/mind-b...tml#post821032

Comments? I'll post in a few...

(I'm waiting for ya Calimari! )

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I attended church from the time I was a baby until my teen years, so my non-belief isn't from lack of knowledge....it's actually that the more knowledge I gained, the less I believed.

My opinion is very much based on study. I think it is far more likely for a believer to be a believer due to lack of study or lack of knowledge on the subject than for an atheist. Atheists are generally very knowledgeable of the bible or religion in general. Atheists tend to read a great deal about religion. Religious folk really know nothing of atheists, agnostics, deists, etc. And they don't read up on atheism at all - even when I posted information about it here on the board once there was "outrage" that I would post the "Bible of the Good and Moral Atheist" on the spirituality board. Some think we are devil worshippers - I have even been asked that here on the board. If we don't believe in god, we do not believe in the devil. Many people simply believe in god because that is what they were taught, that is what they have always known, or it never occurs to them to question it. People who question generally do a lot of research because they at first do not know why it is they have questions that no one else they know seem to have.

I went through 12 years of christian school. I had doubts since about 4th or 5th grade, but it wasn't until high school - more advanced classes on the history of christianity - that I realized for sure that it was just another creation myth. Additional classes on mythology in college showed me even more similarities between the christian creation myth and other creation myths - such as norse mythology. And, again, even further reading in my adulthood - especially the time during and after my mother's illness and death - I thought to re-examine the whole thing since so many other people obviously derived great comfort from their faith. Came away once again with nothing.

If I read anything on atheism, end of faith, books like The God Delusion or Why I'm Not a Christian - it just clicks and makes perfect sense to me. Totally makes sense. And, I don't believe in any god - not just the Christian one, although that is the one I refer to most as that is the most common here in the USA. I do not see judaism, islam, or other faiths holding any more sense or logic to me.

What I don't understand is why, when I ask a christian if they have have doubts or questions about their faith, they say "no." They are 100% certain. But when I talk to a minister or pastor, they say that everyone has doubts and questions their faith - that their faith is not real and true if they have never doubted or questioned it. Even Mike Huckabee said that on his show the other night. So, that just leaves me thinking that most christians do at times doubt or question their faith but simply claim to be 100% certain out of fear. I've no other conclusion to draw.

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Well, I am a Christian and so is my dh and we have doubts. We were actually just discussing our doubts this weekend. I do believe in God, but more of a higher power kind of God - I like how happymom stated it in the other thread by saying something like God is just one name for the higher power. I think it is terribly arrogant of anyone to think that their God is the only one. It is a big world, for crying out loud!

Dh and I were both raised as Episcopalians. It is what we know. We are raising our children the same, but we are raising them in a much more liberal church than the churches we went to as children. We stay open minded and we want our boys to do the same. We have doubts about all of it. Sometimes it makes me uncomfortable to talk about it with him (his doubts seem to be stronger than mine) but we discuss it anyway. We don't take the Bible literally. It is comforting to think about the whole concept of heaven, but really, who knows if there is anything beyond this life. We have no way of knowing until it is too late to talk about it.

Christians have doubts in their faith for many reasons. I have doubts about MY faith in God, not God's faith in me. I am sinful and human. Do I really have what it takes to be completely humble in Christ? Do I have what it takes to walk away from all the temptation in this world? Do I have what it takes to truly be a follower of Christ?

I doubt my own abilities, but I don't doubt God and His ability.

That's what I mean when I say I doubt my faith.

I also took some time to study other religions. And it seemed to be that they were all modelling Christian beliefs and values to some degree or another.

And honestly, it wasn't my studies in these religions that brought me to Christ. It was the events that took place in my life that led me to Christ.

The loss of my first son at 14 weeks gestation, the adoption journey for my 3.5 year old son, and the birth of my surprise biological daughter is what truly brought me to believe in Christ and God. All of these things, plus the many people who entered my life during this time period who had strong faith in God, opened my heart to God. Two nurses who cared for me during one of many painful trips to the ER were blessings sent from God. Without knowing me, they both told me stories of their faith in God. One had endured 6 miscarriages with his wife. Another birthed her 8 month old still born son, also her first child. But for both of them, their faith in God carried them through the tough times. It all didn't make sense to me then, but about a year after I miscarried, the conversations that I had with those two people came back to me.

There is no factual or scientific explanation for it. It just happened. And once that door opened, everything in my life made sense. All of the up's and down's in my life made sense.

Faith is not about science and facts. Faith is what you feel in your heart. God performs miracles everyday. They don't call it a Leap of Faith for nothing.

Sandra

Maggie, then you are an exception among christians I've spoken to. Your DH sounds more like a deist - believes in a god/higher power, but not necessarily in the whole bible/ organized religion thing. My DH is a deist.

Sandra - I think you're talking about something a little different than I was. Your doubt seems to be in your own abilities, but not in god. I was referring to doubting the existance of god in general. Most I speak with have an unwavering/no doubt belief. I think what you talk about makes more sense - a leap of faith - faith is believing in spite of your doubts. So, when people tell me they have no doubt, it seems to me that they have more of an unwavering belief rather than actual faith.

But we're getting off topic for this thread....

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I completely agree that this is a sad truth within the Christian community. The opposite of faith is not doubt, it is certainty. I am sure the fact that I am saying that will not "hit" some people well, but I believe it. I think that is the faith that is referred to as "an inch deep and a mile wide".

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Very well said and SO true.

Yes, you are absolutely right. He says he has felt this way since was about 10 years old. I honestly think he goes through the motions of church for our children.

Probably. I went through the motions for my mother for years. Now you can only get me to church for a wedding or a funeral.

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