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red-jericho · 09-30-2008 01:21 AM

I go to a catholic, private all girl school and religion of course is a compulsory subject. We have been studying Ethics, value of life, God and significant life experiences. And it reaches a certain point where the teacher can no longer answer questions with knowledgable answers, but with theories.

For the past three years i've been struggling with everything, school, friends, family etc. It has come to a point where teachers are extremely worried and have sent me to the school counsellor several times, My religion teacher being one of them. Certain statements have been made in class like 'Pain and suffering is Good' and the original 'God loves you all, he gave you free will, and that is what causes some people to do bad things'.

If God Really did love us, why would he make us me go through so much pain, that im at the point in my life, where i wish to just drop dead, if he wanted me to live, why would he make me want to kill myself? Ive recieved answers like 'He is testing you' and 'i cant answer that, you have to ask God yourself, and listen because he will answer'.

If he is testing me, how long must he test me for? 3 years? 3 years i have thought things would get better, and they havent, only worse. Talking to God? seems ridiculous to me. im a very logical scientific and mathematical based person. The theory of God that has been pushed upon me since birth has already seemed incorrect, and now, having this happen to me, makes me doubt my religion entirely.

If thought about life and its meaning. And i cant find one, a meaning to life, in my eyes, does not exist. we are simply here to live life, and keep the race going. I cant seem to find another reason. I've kinda relied on God all these years, because i have had no-one else, and thinking he doesnt exist...im going to be lost, im not going to have anyone.

What are your thoughts on God? Does he Exist? if so, Why does he make people suffer Immense pain, to the point where they wish to die? Whats the point in life If there is nothing after it?

What am i supposed to do?

liq3 · 09-30-2008 01:32 AM

I believe God doesn't exist.

My current spiritual belief system says that the meaning of life is to grow. Experience growth. That's the only reason humans exist.

As for what to do? Maybe read this.

Also, you seem like you already believe God doesn't exist. Do you REALLY believe he exists? If no, be fully honest with yourself. If yes, you have no problem.

red-jericho · 09-30-2008 02:07 AM

I've basically just come to realise, that there is no way he can exist....but im trying not to believe it. because if i do, i dont know what to do with myself.

Alucard483 · 09-30-2008 02:10 AM

He is there, but works is very strange ways. I've questioned my faith before but still belive. Just keep going, things will improve

liq3 · 09-30-2008 02:43 AM

red-jericho Wrote:I've basically just come to realise, that there is no way he can exist....but im trying not to believe it. because if i do, i dont know what to do with myself.

What do you mean exactly?

I've experienced the whole "lack of direction" thing. It's not very fun. Actually I'm still kinda stuck in it. But, I prefer choosing what I do, over having to be told.

Man fears responsibility. Freedom brings with it great responsibility.

I also think you may be scared of not being "secure". The article I linked to talks about that.

**SoulRiser** · 09-30-2008 04:38 AM

I believe there is a God. Or at least something like that. But not necessarily like the one in the bible, or at least not the whole "vengeful" type thing that smites people and their descendants for something their long lost ancestors did. That's just... wrong on too many levels.

The testing thing makes sense to me though. You want to feel secure in your beliefs? That's impossible Smile

Well, not entirely, but it's good to challenge what you believe. People tend to be scared to do that because they like to have something to hold onto, but if you challenge everything you believe, and build yourself back up from scratch, you'll be a lot stronger in whatever it is you come to believe after that, whether it's the same as before or something entirely different. I don't think what people believe really matters as much as what they do with it.

I don't think there is some kind of global "meaning to life", but there can be a meaning to each person's individual life - if they want one. It's up to you. You can do whatever you want and be however you want to be.

For what it's worth, I was raised Christian. I doubted the hell out of it at some point 'cause I didn't see anyone around me actually practising what they were preaching... then I came across a few people who actually DO that stuff, but they don't preach it really. So I got back into it again. But I still question everything, and quite frankly it annoys me when people quote scriptures instead of coming up with their own answers to something. Well, quoting is fine, but it's when they do it as if it's the end-all of everything, as to say "it is written. Case closed"... that type of thing. It's just not very open minded and quite frankly it ruins discussion.

Eh, I'm rambling. This topic always fires me up for some reason.

Summary: What you believe is up to you and nobody else. Don't let anyone make that decision for you. Don't be scared to challenge everything you believe - even if it's scary as hell, once you emerge on the other side you'll be a lot stronger.

liq3 · 09-30-2008 05:12 AM

SoulRiser Wrote:The testing thing makes sense to me though. You want to feel secure in your beliefs? That's impossible Well, not entirely, but it's good to challenge what you believe. People tend to be scared to do that because they like to have something to hold onto, but if you challenge everything you believe, and build yourself back up from scratch, you'll be a lot stronger in whatever it is you come to believe after that, whether it's the same as before or something entirely different.

I, personally, can't believe something strongly unless I've attacked that belief several times, from different angles, and it has survived. If a belief can do that, it's probably right.

SoulRiser Wrote:Summary: What you believe is up to you and nobody else. Don't let anyone make that decision for you. Don't be scared to challenge everything you believe - even if it's scary as hell, once you emerge on the other side you'll be a lot stronger.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!!!!

**SoulRiser** · 09-30-2008 05:26 AM

Quote:I, personally, can't believe something strongly unless I've attacked that belief several times, from different angles, and it has survived. If a belief can do that, it's probably right.

Well said. That's pretty much what I meant, yours just sounds better. Smile

Sunbourn · 09-30-2008 06:19 AM

There is no god. The bible is just non sense made up to explain the unexplainable, and nowadays its only use is keeping the people under control.

John Tuttle · 09-30-2008 08:15 AM

Can parents even force you to go to a religious school?

arthasmenethil · 09-30-2008 10:20 AM

|55555| Wrote:There is no god.

Thanks for sharing your belief.

Rebelnerd · 09-30-2008 10:50 AM

christillusion Wrote:
|55555| Wrote:There is no god.

Thanks for sharing your belief.

says the guy named "christillusion" LOL

arthasmenethil · 09-30-2008 12:38 PM

Rebelnerd Wrote:
christillusion Wrote:
|55555| Wrote:There is no god.

Thanks for sharing your belief.
says the guy named "christillusion" LOL

Main reason I said that is because theists that say things along the lines of, "There is a god and if you don't follow him you will be tortured for eternity," are just as annoying as atheists who keep saying things like, "There is no god and anyone who believes in one is an uneducated moron."

I understand the commmon atheist position of "no evidence of a god so no reason to believe" but asserting "there is no god" is only a belief, not a fact.

red-jericho · 09-30-2008 01:56 PM

john tuttle Wrote:Can parents even force you to go to a religious school?

They Sent me there for a 'better education' and ive thought of leaving it and have looked at other schoools around the area, but mine is the only one that seems to offer the subjects i need, with fairly good teachers...still hate it though, the religion classes, the mass.

Nah · 09-30-2008 06:38 PM

Why does God give us pain and suffering?

Somewhere in the bible (I forget where) it says god works us like a blacksmith works silver. This is by holding it over a fire to remove impurities, and removing it when you can see your image in it. Helpful?

liq3 · 09-30-2008 08:17 PM

Casualty of Society Wrote:Somewhere in the bible (I forget where) it says god works us like a blacksmith works silver. This is by holding it over a fire to remove impurities, and removing it when you can see your image in it. Helpful?

Sounds like school. God is trying to mold us into 'good' humans, just like school. Rolleyes

Liquid · 10-01-2008 05:06 AM

liq3 Wrote:
Casualty of Society Wrote:Somewhere in the bible (I forget where) it says god works us like a blacksmith works silver. This is by holding it over a fire to remove impurities, and removing it when you can see your image in it. Helpful?

Sounds like school. God is trying to mold us into 'good' humans, just like school.

Not like school.

It means that even the bad things that happen in your life are from God like everything else. God aways has a purpose, even for the evil that people do, and in the end "all things work together" for good.

God knows people even better then they know themselfes, he knows what every decision they make in their life will be, how it will affect them and affect other people around them. He made us, you could almost say "coded" us.

And no, he is not "molding" every single person for their own personal good, many people are mearly "vessals of destruction", the "elect" will always end up personaly better off in the long run though, but not nessisarily from our point of view. (Of course the elect go to heaven afterwards though Smile

)

.:

- School wants to, and tries to change people. (and with us, they clearly lost)

- God perdestined everything and knows how everyone will change throughout their entire life.

Milk2Go · 10-01-2008 08:50 AM

God does not exist.

Liquid · 10-01-2008 10:04 AM

BobManPerson Wrote:God does not exist.

But that's just your opinion , how can you be sure?
Smile

liq3 · 10-01-2008 11:18 AM

Liquid Wrote:
BobManPerson Wrote:God does not exist.

But that's just your opinion , how can you be sure?

Yes.

Sunbourn · 10-01-2008 11:19 AM

Liquid Wrote:
BobManPerson Wrote:God does not exist.

But that's just your opinion , how can you be sure?

Not opinion. It's fact.

Nah · 10-01-2008 01:36 PM

This seems to be getting a bit off-topic. There is another thread somewhere for this kind of debate. Go there.

thewake · 10-02-2008 10:55 AM

red-jericho Wrote:What are your thoughts on God? Does he Exist? if so, Why does he make people suffer Immense pain, to the point where they wish to die? Whats the point in life If there is nothing after it?

What am i supposed to do?

God exists as well as I'm typing this to you. God is real.

God doesn't make people suffer any more pain than they deserve, the rest is our own doing or others hurting you. Lots of people will blame bad things on "Satan", I personally believe Satan is a personification of the evil within. Satan is part of us, just like God can be part of us.

There's something after life for everyone. It depends on if you have God in your heart or not. I don't expect you to understand, but if you want to know what I mean there is a Private Messaging system on this site.

I have some basic advice. First, review your situation. What's wrong with it? What's good? Try to focus on the good, make it grow if you will. The bad may or may not go away, but no matter what you do life won't be perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect.

EDIT: As of 2011, I don't believe in God. Thank you.

liq3 · 10-02-2008 11:40 AM

dogman32 Wrote:God exists as well as I'm typing this to you. God is real.

Just like Bardus Primus. Rolleyes

thewake · 10-02-2008 11:44 AM

Wassat?
Optimus Prime isn't real, and he isn't a "Bard", if that is what you mean.

liq3 · 10-02-2008 11:50 AM

Put "Bardus Primus" into a Latin to English translator.

Your 'God' will never defeat Bardus Primus! >.>

thewake · 10-02-2008 11:55 AM

Lol. That's funny.

Reminds me of the Latin class I took for about 3 weeks in eighth grade. I didn't like it, the teacher was nice though.

Puchiko · 10-03-2008 04:00 AM

Casualty of Society Wrote:Why does God give us pain and suffering?

Somewhere in the bible (I forget where) it says god works us like a blacksmith works silver. This is by holding it over a fire to remove impurities, and removing it when you can see your image in it. Helpful?

Not really. I'm not a piece of metal. Most parables don't really make sense.

I, as an agnostic, believe that some experiences make you grow. And that you have to find happiness on your own. Just give stuff a shot-do things that interest you, maybe volunteer somewhere?

Nah · 10-03-2008 10:04 AM

Did you just disagree with me then agree with me?

Sunbourn · 10-03-2008 10:22 AM

I shit in gods mouth.

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