Welcome to Gaia! ::

Why do you demand other people prove the existence of God to you? Do you honestly believe we had that luxury?

It's not like we can say, "He came by my house and dropped off cookies yesterday, 'cause I was craving something to go with my milk?" Spouting off Scripture you already know isn't going to suddenly light a light for you, is it? I mean, I am sure most of the people in this guild could do that, but is that really what you are looking for?

The proof I have of God is purely personal, you aren't going to believe it just because I say so. I can't quote Bible verses as proof, because there are other books out there that say there is no God, and they make some pretty potent points....

I could tell you of some pretty powerful experiences I have had, but they won't mean a thing to you, because you weren't there. What premise would you have to believe I was telling the truth?

I could ask you why you think God might not be there, but you could come up with a million reasons why... Heck even I could do that.

I think the main question would be; "Why did you come to your religion in the first place?"

Then follow it up with; "Is your religion just a religion, or is it your faith; your way of life; your walk?"

Then, if your really want proof, you might try asking the One you want proof of.

Religion in general is experiential and cultural (well in Christianity's case counter-cultural) which basically means is that the "proof" of Christianity doesn't rely in the history but rather in the experiences you have that confirm the teachings of the religion. Christianity is a BIG thing. Just because your experiences don't match up with what one denomination teaches to be Christianity doesn't make all of Christianity untrue, just that one denominations teachings. Realize to that the US only makes up a mere 11% of all of Christianity.

No one can prove it to you, and no one can convince you or save your spirituality.

Honestly? I didn't come to believe through what anyone said to me. I did not believe by reading the Bible. I believed by an experience at a Christian concert {My boyfriend was a Christian, and because I was looking for a religion and open to all, I let him take me}, and then I started to see all the miracles of my life and others, and that strengthened it. Now I feel Him all the time, and He helps me so much.

So honestly? Do some searching and sitting with Him. That's all I can really say to help. Sorry. :/

I have actually thought about your post, Mahlyenki. To be honest, these type of posts usually only grab my attention for an instant, unless there is actual arguing or debate going on.

I have to ask...

Are you someone who has grown up in a Christian home? Someone who was told they were a Christian before you even had a chance to choose for yourself?

Or have you recently experienced a tragedy, or know someone who did?

If this is the case, I am sorry I made such a hasty reply, although I would still say what I said I might add a bit more to it...

I would say that you may be Christian by religion, but never Christian by faith. There is a difference. God and Jesus Christ is something you believe in, not something you take for granted as real.

If you are truly questioning the religion in which you were raised, then I believe there is a possibility that your soul is yearning for what you have heard talked about but never have seen for yourself. Of course, only you know the motivations that lead you to question.

If there was something bad that happened to you, or close to you, I just want to say that the gift of faith gives us the ability to give meaning to the meaningless. It's in our darkest times that we need God most. I don't even necessarily believe that you have to belong to a certain religion, just be willing to open yourself up to Him.

I believe that God doesn't want puppets who blindly serve him. Questioning what we believe is a way we separate the chaff from the wheat. It's how we learn that we aren't being lead astray by false teachings, and it is how we reaffirm our beliefs and our relationship.

Some people come to the conclusion that they can't believe in God. Some people find that they can't associate with Christianity, but they know God exists. You may be leaning one way or another, and that is alright, as long as you always question why you believe the way you do. Your beliefs will change as you get older, you will see things that will make you reconsider your stance every so often, and that is fine. If you don't question yourself, your spirit becomes stagnant, and that is bad.

I really urge you to continue questioning. I urge you to pray and seek for answers. I am sure that if you are honest with yourself about what you do and don't believe, leave your mind open to the possibility of God, and you research each answer you obtain to verify it as true or false, you will be heading in the direction you are intended to go.

I am glad. 3nodding

i just wanted to say that i really love your post. our belief in god is based on faith and trust, if everyone was able to proove god exsisted then there would be no point for us to have faith in anything

i didnt mean just having blind faith because a book tells us god is real, i emant more that god cannot really be proven to other people unless they open themselves up to him. we can proove his existence to ourselves with out own experiences and what we see in the world around us.

im sorry, im really horrible at explaining what im thinking with this. i know im wording it horribley