Have you ever truely doubted?

[achilles12604]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

What happened?

What brought you back?

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

[achilles12604]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

What happened?

What brought you back?

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

No one responds. Hmmm. ok.

[otseng]

I guess everyone is like me... I've never doubted God's existence.

[Goose]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

I don' think I can say I've really ever doubted there was a God. I can't claim to have ever been a confirmed atheist. But I have doubted Christianity in the past. But, if one has never truely doubted at some point, how can one claim they have actually made a rational decision based upon evidence and experience?

What happened?

Forrest Gump, "And then, God showed up."

What brought you back?

The truth found in the word of God. The evidence for the existence, death, and resurrection of Christ. The fact that the skeptical arguments I had been presented with just didn't cut the mustard. God's unmistakable presence.

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

It made me stronger in my faith.

[katiej49]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

What happened?

i doubted is what happened!

What brought you back?

He never left me during my doubts. I did some studying on what i believe and why. It strengthened my faith. My faiths gets stronger the older I get, I see more evidence of Him and I see His work in this world.

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

He welcomes honest doubters and seekers...remember Thomas?!

[SeriousOne]

I consider myself a long time Christian (20+ years). Practicing the Christian faith has undoubtedly been a benefit to me and my family (and extended family).

A little background on myself. I joined the Navy at 18 (already married). At the end of my first enlistment (4 years), I had three children. I had no civilian skills that I knew of and so reenlisted for six years in order to be able to provide for my family. I spent much time aboard a ship, trained with the Marines, and served in Viet Nam.

At the end of my second enlistment I took a discharge.

I spent way to much time away from home to be able to actually be a husband or real father to my children. I realized that in order to have a relationship with anyone that I NEEDED to spend time with them. One on one contact was/is critical to me. Just thinking about my wife (or children) when separated from them did not satisfy my need for them.

I for many years did not accept the Christian faith because I really believed that "faith" was something that propped up people who were weak.

Now after many years of being a person of faith, I encounter things which cause me to question my faith. It seems the more I learn works to my disadvantage.

Things:

Thing 01
As previously explained, in order for me to have a strong relationship I need to be in actual contact with those who are in the relationship. I feel this is not the case, especially for the Holy Spirit. I know Scripture and try to pick out and apply the Scripture/s applicable to whatever life situation I am facing. But the lack of actual contact leaves me feeling very uncomfortable.

Thing 02
There are so many denominations, based on the same Bible. It would seem surely that they all can not be right. If they are all not right, then which God is the God of the Bible?

Thing 03
The interpretation of Scripture, especially certainly ones, is hotly contested. i.e. Isaiah 53:5 "...By His Stripes you are healed."" Some believe this means spiritual healing and some believe it means physical healing. I believe it means spiritual healing based on my extensive research of the Bible, but a Greek scholar that I know for whom I have respect say the Greek word for "healing" explicitly means physical healing. Of course Isaiah 53:5 was originally written in Hebrew and then later translated into Greek.

Thing 04
Lets say Isaiah 53:5 does mean physical healing. Then why do saved people get sick today? If some saved people do not get healed today, then the implication is that Isaiah 53:5 does not apply to physically healing. And if that is true, then is it true our sins are forgiven?

Thing 05
In using Strong's concordance, the word "healed" in Isaiah 53:5 has a concordance number of 7495. There are 45 verses in the New King James NT which use the word "healed" and not a one of them reference the concordance number of 7495. Now if the OT was translated into Greek and the NT was written in Greek does it not seem odd that even though some of the NT Scriptures referencing the word "healed" do not reference concordance number 7495. i.e. Mat 4:24


And there are a number of other Scriptures that cause me to stumble in believing/accepting them. Yet Scripture teaches that Scripture is inerrant.

How the Bible has come to be raises a number of questions for me, etc.

This is enough for now.

[alexiarose]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

I doubt on the average of once a day. But that really is lots better than it was. I used to doubt God, hate God, and want to turn Him away. But someone here recently taught me that it is ok to be made at God sometimes and how I need to see that it really isn't all God' fault.

What happened?

I think most already know why.

What brought you back?

A person on the forum made me stop blaming God for everything. I may be able to blame Him for crappy genetics, but I can't blame Him for the suffering of innocent others. He didn't inflict the torture on them, man did.

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

I dont even pretend to try to guess the future anymore. I am very aware that if God lets something happen to her before she can find Him, I may not reject Him, but I will hate Him forever. Aside from that, I am not sure what else to think

[Noachian]

To put my experience simply, I have never doubted, just questioned. When I was going through a hardish time of loneliness I felt alone and that God was absent, sometimes I feel like he is not listening to me, but rarely since I know he is its just that I have to deal with somethings.

[Salve Adore]

Aside from the presence of the holy spirit which is an internal check, has anyone else here ever doubted God to the point of honestly wondering if he really existed?

Yes, quite recently actually. Scared the willies out of me. But I think it was something that I needed.

What happened?

After several days of discussing religion and belief with Negative Proof(the hubby) I sat down in silence for a very long time. I truly and completely began to wonder if this was all a facade. If this was a lifelong hoax. Is there no God? Have my memories been soaked in deceit? I felt as if standing at the edge of the highest plateau, constantly going back and forth in my mind: can you do this? Can you make this leap? Can you let go of this thing called God? I can tell you, I've never been so immersed in fear. The fear of being alone. That the great protector was never there to guide me. All I have to say is, thank goodness I was by myself, and no one witnessed my twitching, along with my sweaty palms and forehead.

What brought you back?

The fundamental difference between belief and knowledge, between sense and nonsense. Atheists(at least the ones I've come across) are abundant with knowledge, which is one of the many reasons why they are so fascinating. They are logical, and full of common sense. Although I have admiration for these qualities, I do not posess them. I am, at the best and worst of times, non-sensical. I do not have knowledge. I have belief. No one can take away the knowledge of an Atheist, nor should they. And I realized that if shaken to the core, stripped away of all comforts, and left in agonizing doubt and fear, the one thing you can give up is the one thing that is giving you this grief. It is belief that can put you through agony. But we do have that choice. That plateau will always be presented to us. To choose another path. And I chose not to. My life, and most of the time, my belief does not have to make sense. But the universe must. It simply must make sense. So, with all the arguments and evidence presented to me, it is not fear or comfort that keeps me from leaping. It is belief. And even now, I understand that if I ever did, I would lose comfort, but in turn gain knowlege and freedom.

How did this affect your thinking in the future?

One thing every person must do after choosing their 'weapons' is examine them closely. In my mind, the Atheists hold a prestigious sword, gleaned with precision, adorned with knowledge and careful consideration. I hold a thimble. Or a toothpick. Or a grape, if you like. Just a metaphor for my belief. But this is what I have. Now, the Athiests with their mighty swords(again, the ones I've come across) have never viciously attacked. They hold the sword gently by their side, and whisper into my ear that the object I hold in my hand does not exist. Their words are powerful. They have the power to push me to the brink. I hold no ill will towards them for this. It has never been done out of malice, only for me to see the facts. But only I can diminish what is in my hand. It is my choice.

[Vanguard]

I dont even pretend to try to guess the future anymore. I am very aware that if God lets something happen to her before she can find Him, I may not reject Him, but I will hate Him forever. Aside from that, I am not sure what else to think

Interesting comment and I believe I know what you're referring to. Why is it important to you that she find Him before something happening to her? What is your definition of find?