My slow descent into Agnosticism...

[maria]

Do you ever think that maybe you value morals because were were created in God's image? Animals weren't created in God's image, and they have NO sense of right and wrong! And don't tell me that a dog doesn't pee inside because he thinks it's wrong, he doesn't pee inside because he knows you'll yell at him and whack him with a broom if he does! He doesn't know it's wrong.

I hate to say this, but there's really no choice I can make for you guys. I believe in God because I talk to Him every day, I hear Him every day so many different ways, and I see Him work every single day. I don't do it to feel safe, and I don't do it because there's something in my brain that I think is God talking to me. I can never EVER explain to you what a relationship with God is like fully, because you can't understand it completely unless you have one! I don't choose the "Christian Religion", I choose the truth, and I don't choose it because it's the religion that I like the best, I choose it because it's something I never expected to please me but God filled my senses perfectly. Do you know WHY I know God isn't a figment of my imagination? Because I am the QUEEN of placebo and hypochondria (ask Nina, she'll vouch for me), and God is the one thing that I am absolutely sure of. I know how my mind works, and God is not anything like other things I've "convinced myself of". I feel like nobody reads these paragraphs, but I'll post it anyway.

If you have questions, ask me. I think I'm done posting here.

[{joy the hideous new girl}]

I understand what you mean, and I truly believe that you are connecting with God. I'm just trying to say that this God is not solely the God of the Christians.

The fact that we can tell right from wrong is what makes us human instead of animal. Call it divine, call it realization, call it evolution, whatever. People from different religions value slightly different morals, as I've said, so that's not proof of a Christian god. At all.

[maria]

But I still don't have an answer to this question: why on earth would a "god of all religions" allow me to have a real personal relationship with Him if I didn't accept him for the "god of all religions"?

[Swoosh]

Because perhaps this God, unlike the Judeo-Christian God, does not interfere with events on Earth quite as frequently, and is also not obsessed with recognition as long as the relationship is true.

I don't believe the god-of-all-religions thing, though - just defending Joy.

[Keaton]

Maria, I read your whole post (see top of page). Amen. I understand fully where you're coming from and agree completely. You said what I couldn't put into words, LOL. I guess I could, but I never did, LOL.

[Swoosh]

Expanding on my previous post, can someone explain to me why their God is on such a big ego trip? He demands so much recognition and praise - seems like he'd be above all that, y'know, being God.

This is just something I've been wondering about lately...

[{joy the hideous new girl}]

Supporting my point... I basically echo what Swoosh guessed at. God wants us to have a connection with *insert gender-neutral objective pronoun here*, and doesn't care what we see *insert gender-neutral objective pronoun here* as. All different religions (even golden Benny statue worship, if the feeling is true) are all just facets, or interpretations of God.

[maria]

If God created the universe, gave me my life, supplied me with a beautiful earth that works perfectly, and allows me to live an eternal life with Him despite anything I've done, I'd say he deserved more attention than I could ever give Him.

And even then, that's not the point... it's not all about "what God deserves", God is kind of... stating a fact... there are some things that I believe that we can't FULLY understand about God, like we can't understand how he has no beginning or end, kind of like we can't understand fully how God's mind works... but when you really trust God and you have that relationship wtih Him, you DESIRE to worship Him and Him alone, you DESIRE to spread word that He is the only God! It's something that's probably going to sound unclear unless you've experienced it...

I guess if you want me to explain it in a way that relates to the world, think about if a really snobby, arrogant person walks into the room. This person demands attention and tells you that they're the best person ever and that you should be their friend. What's you're response? You're not gonna like this person because they're not as perfect as they say they are! They're just as good as anyone else, right? Well God isn't "just as good as everyone else".

I know my explanation might not make that much sense, but there's only so much I can explain to you guys. I am not and cannot "explain" you into a relationship with God. You need to have faith, and faith isn't fully understanding every single little detail about God before you decide to trust Him.

[Keaton]

Why does it even matter that God wants praise? He deserves more than anyone could ever give him. All he's asking for is a little thanks for:

Making the universe
Giving you the opportunity to live forever
Giving you a world to live in
Making you
Offering a relationship with you, if you'll only accept Him

[{joy the hideous new girl}]

I agree that God doesn't demand praise. *insert gender-neutral subjective pronoun here* just wants a personal relationship with you, praise isn't necessarily the right word for it, per se. It's the same fuzzy feeling I get when, say, Swoosh and I laugh hysterically about an evil starfish for ten minutes and I realize I have the awesomest friends ever. Just... without the evil starfish.

[Swoosh]

[{joy the hideous new girl}]

DOESN'T WORK.

[Keaton]

Exactly. Because not only is God my God, he's also my best friend, except in a much deeper way than anything physical or of this Earth.

[Swoosh]

The picture should work now...

[tyler]

That starfish looks....evil!