dahermit

Some years ago I had an Epiphany. It occurred to me that there was no evidence of the existence of
a supreme being and that a belief in such was most likely a manifestation of a sociological function.
I am not an ideologue and always willing to consider evidence to the contrary.
If I had an Epiphany it follows that persons of faith would have likely also had such an event/events that convinced them that God exists.
I ask that such persons describe the events, conditions, or other basis for such a realization.
Please no games of the order of: "...what evidence would you accept...", etc. This is your opportunity to be, "...a fisher of men...".
Regards,
dahermit

FRYandBENDER

I am by no means a religious person, I went to a baptist (southern baptist ) church when I was in high school. I went through a period after that when I actually hoped that there were not a God. I didn't believe in one, or at least I told myself that. The reason I went through this stage was because I had a few bad experiences that made me question the existence of a God, or looking back now, I think that I was just really angry at him/her. Anyways, I've had a lot of time to simmer down and really think about everything. The reason I have to believe that there is a greater being is because I just can't explain why else we would be here or how we came to be here. I mean we can scientifically explain all of this eventually, but still........ this and this and this might have happened, but how could the plane of existence for these events to take place have come about? I don't prescribe to any particular religious belief. I can only say that I believe that there is a God, and if he does care about us, well, he's probably shaking his head at us wondering why we choose to be as retarded as we are.
Don't know if this is what you were looking for.

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Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

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dahermit

...I am not "angry at God..." I just see no indication that a supreme being exists. Seems like your statement indicates your belief is based on a default situation, i.e., it must be God. Not a strong or convincing argument.
Regards,
dahermit

presluc

I have faith in God not churches.
If a person has faith and it sometimes make them feel good what's the matter with that?
As far as the convince me part.
Seems like everybody today is saying prove there's a God.
Strange ,nobody is saying prove there was a big bang to start the univirse.
We are all individuals we have the power to think therefore to make dicissions.
Mine is to beleive in God.
If your's is to beleive in something else, or nothing at all that is your dicission.
I can respect your choice if you can respect mine

panteth4h2o

I'm not sure why anyone would want to convince you otherwise, especially if it seems that you already have your mind made up. *shrugs*

Gumbercules

To be perfectly honest, it doesn't sound to me like god himself would be able to convince you he exists. No offense or anything thats just how your post read to me. Anyway, I think you're approaching this from the wrong angle. Faith in god, allah, yahweh, whatever has nothing to do with knowing that he/she/it exists. Thats how I feel at least. Also, I do believe in a higher power that created us and the universe around us. I don't know that I could explain my reasoning for this effectively enough to convince you that there is a higher power. I wouldn't really want to simply because thats an extremely personal thing that fits only me. I suspect you have probably had people try to make their faith fit you and it has turned you off to the existence of a god. I could be wrong though.

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You waste my coin Sam, all you can, to jail my fellow man. For smoking all the noble weed, you need much more than him. You've been telling lies so long, some believe they're true. So they close their eyes to things you have no right to do. Just as soon as you are gone, hope will start to climb. Please don't stay around to long. You're wasting precious time. - Steppenwolf

Slartibartfas

I fear I cant convince you, as I do not believe myself in a god or a god like supreme being.

Perhaps you could use the good old arguement:

"You can neither prove nor disprove god. If you believe in him, and he exists, you'd be saved. If you believe in him, and he does not exist, nothing happens. If you dont believe in him, you dont go to heaven. I you dont believe and he does not exist, nothing happens. Ergo, believing can't be much of a mistake. + it gives you much back in terms of motivation, seeking consolation, and something to hold on if everything else falls apart"

Ok that was not really an argument why he exists, but maybe why you should believe in it.

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"Every country gets the cuisine it deserves"

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Izzibeth

I don't think it's a matter of convincing. Belief systems (for healthy, functional adults) are just something that one comes to on their own.

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dahermit

Why? On their own or from the extensive influence of the sociological standard which is a belief in God?
Is it your position that healthy adults just have a belief system and if they are truly healthy, they do not doubt that system no matter how unlikely?

Regards,
dahermit

dahermit

In other words: You had better belive to be safe.
Regards,
dahermit