What Do You Believe?
What do you believe, and why do you believe it? That’s the real question. Everything has to have evidence to back it up, and I’m sick and tired of people telling me that I don’t have any basis to believe what I believe. I’m sick of people asking me “Why?”. I believe what I believe because of my personal life, what I’ve been through, and nothing compares to that.
You can call me stupid, you can laugh at me, you can mock me, and you can do whatever you want to me. But this is what I believe.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
That is what I believe. And why do I believe it? Because of my personal testimony, my relationship with God (Christianity is not a religion, despite what some people may say), and the overwhelming evidence for Christianity (for a completely different post. The point here is not the evidence, it’s the fact that there is evidence).
The point that I’m trying to make here is not a matter of religion, it’s that when you believe in something, you must understand that you’ve got to believe it because you have evidence. Don’t let your friends or parents tell you to believe something “just because they do”.
Comments
Ranjani had a thought ¬
GIVE ME SOME GOD DAMN EVIDENCE! You say the same thing every time! Faith is not evidence, nor is it proof!
And Christianity may be a relationship to you, but not to everyone else. YOU DO NOT DICTATE OTHER PEOPLE’S BELIEFS, nor should you ever.
⇒ May 30, 2007, 11:15 pm
Joey Brooks had a thought ¬
Religion in modern English (its own language, and certainly not Latin) is derived from Old French and the Latin religio, some say religare (being the page you just linked me to), and religio meaning reverence and obligation, religare meaning to bind, not to bind up. Bind meaning “cause (people) to feel that they belong together or form a cohesive group.”
⇒ May 30, 2007, 11:20 pm
Ranjani had a thought ¬
Actually, religio, religionis, surprisingly means religion. That wasn’t too bad
⇒ May 30, 2007, 11:25 pm
Jim Whimpey had a thought ¬
Hrmm.
⇒ May 30, 2007, 11:39 pm
probabilityzero had a thought ¬
Okay, you’re saving that for another post, but just saying “trust me, I do have evidence, but I can’t show you it right now” sounds a little silly, especially since it’s more than likely you’re going to try to pass off your faith or “relationship with God” as proof.
Your parents are Christian, I assume. Had they been Jewish you’d be Jewish right now.
What is it then if not a religion?
⇒ May 31, 2007, 9:11 pm
Kat had a thought ¬
I agree - no one should feel they have to justify their beliefs to anyone (I mean harmless ones…not ones like ‘Kill all non-whatevers’)
And I mean, no one; athiest, agnostic polytheist, theist etc
A belief is just that - something you believe in and thats just fine by me, so long as it stays a belief and not a conversion-mission. I agree - no one should feel they have to justify their beliefs to anyone (I mean harmless ones…not ones like ‘Kill all non-whatevers’)
And I mean no one; atheist, agnostic polytheist, theist etc
A belief is just that - something you believe in not something you can prove. That’s partly the whole point in faith; you do believe without the need of proof and that’s just fine by me, so long as it stays a belief and not a conversion-mission.
I’m happy being an atheist and I’m sure you’re happy being a theist
⇒ June 1, 2007, 4:13 am
Anthony had a thought ¬
I get what you’re all saying. Buuut.
That wasn’t the point of my post. I kind of took an opinionated view on things, sure. My point was, have evidence to back up what you believe, whether it’s Atheism, Christianity, or Islam.
They are. And, well, I’m not Jewish. I’m a Christian. And the fact that I’m not Jewish - uh. Who controls that? Some force has to. And, well, Christianity is the one that makes the most sense.
They didn’t force me to be a Christian, I chose to do so on my own. They had some part in Sending me to church, sure.
⇒ June 2, 2007, 4:16 am
Dave J. (Scoop0901) had a thought ¬
Nice post, but it’s always charming to see people attacking others for their viewpoints, when they are but mere statements. But, in attacking, others say, “You may not be forcing it upon me, but others do, so I am coming after you just because.”
Keep the faith, knowing that faith means you believe. You believe what you believe for a variety of reasons — and none of which need be “proof” for others, much like most people of faith all stepped out on just that: faith. There is a page at http://users.binary.net/polycarp/Fideset.html you may be interested in reading on this very issue.
The Bible (1 Peter 3:15-16) tells you to be prepared always to give reason for your hope, not to try to prove or disprove anything about God or if God exists. Unfortunately some atheist can be as unreasonable and dogmatic (i.e. religious) as some Christians. We must bear in mind as the Encyclical recognizes, that: “If human beings with their intelligence fail to recognize God as Creator of all, it is not because they lack the means to do so, but because their free will and their sinfulness place an impediment in the way.” [Pope John Paul II, Fides et ratio 19]
When others tug at you about your faith, your beliefs, grab your Bible and re-read about what many call the “Heroes of Faith” in Hebrews 11.
For those who want to jump on the bandwagon about the reference to Pope John Pall II, no, I am not Catholic. I am Christian. I do not force my beliefs upon others, just as I do not want others to attempt to force their beliefs upon me. My beliefs are not open for discussion or debate. My beliefs, just as my finances, are solely mine, and unless you are accountable on my behalf, you have no say or input.
⇒ June 6, 2007, 5:36 am
Paul Hillsdon had a thought ¬
I’m not one for internet arguments, and thus I am not looking for one. With that in mind, there are just a few things I wanted to touch on.
1. Christianity is a religion.
2. There is no evidence that god exists. While there may not be evidence to disprove him (or her, or it) either, it is highly improbably based on the scientific discoveries. The concept of theism, where there is one all powerful over-seeeing creator tapping into people’s lives all the time is just as ridiculous as claiming Santa Claus is a real person who actually delivers presents to children around the world one night a year. Deism is the only reasonable belief in some god - whereby there was some creator at the beginning, but he has since left his creation to slowly evolve over time, outside of his control.
3. You claim you were driven to Christianity on your own, yet you confess that your parents took you to church. Taking a young child to be indoctrinated into a particular religion is “being born into Christianity” and was not your choice. The only way you could have possibly made a consciencious choice is having been raised without religion in your household, and once you are “of age” to make such a decision, you researched deeply into all the religions of the world and chose your favourite. Have you studied Islam or Judaism? Or how about the many pantheistic religions no longer popular (such as those from Greece, Rome or Egypt)? What if you decide you don’t need a religion, but rather a philosophy of life, such as is provided through buddhism or taoism? Or heck, maybe you live for reality and science, and you could be an atheist? Have you, trully without bias, researched all the options?
That said, I believe in the reality of the world, as it is presented to me, and corroborated by others. That is to say, the world and universe according to human reason and logic (aka: science). I believe in free will, and simple concepts such as karma. I am a moral and spiritual human being. Nature is astounding and beautiful, just as the arts move the soul. I live for everything good that exists in this world, and for the personal goals I set for my life, with the realization that I play a role in the advancement of human society.
⇒ July 1, 2007, 9:43 pm
anna had a thought ¬
Why do all of you feel the need to attack others based on their beliefs, especially on the internet, and then state what you believe..is it just a lack of self esteem or are you in reality cruel? I think you all need a bit of spiritual maturity before you go slamming other people’s religions. Its called humility, look it up.
⇒ July 25, 2007, 1:52 pm