Anonymous asked this question on 2/8/2000:
I don't mean to insult you or anything. I do believe that we all have the right to choose what we each believe. You don't believe in God, because He is invisible? Do you not believe in Him because you can't tounch, or feel Him. That's totally not a reason to not believe. If God shows Himself, so everyone can see Him, you know the majority of the population would believe in Him then. He doesn't want that, He wants us to decide on Faith, not by sight. Jesus/God has showed Himself to me in many ways. He has given His word to everyone. It's called the Bible, but you decide if you want to hear His word. God created us, He created everything. If we evolved from monkeys, why did we stop evolving. Would not we still be slowly changing into some other being. I belive that it is WAY easier to believe that God created everything. I know that His word is true. If you read the bible, which you may have, you will know that everything that has been spoken has come to pass. A thousand years before Jesus was born, it was written that He would be born. I know God is real, I have prayed to Him and recieved what I ask for. Not because I'm any more important to Him than anyone else, but I had faith in Him to answer my prayer. He wants you to decide by faith, to follow Him. I mean, don't you think He knows that if He appears in front of you, that you will believe. He doesn't want that. I have never seen Him phisically, but yes, I have felt Him on more than one occassion. I'm not trying to judge you, nor change your mind, I'm just stating facts that I know to be true from experience. But I say: Wanna hear God? Read the bible! Wanna see God? Have faith! Wanna feel God? Praise His name! Want help from God? Pray to Him and have trust in Him You may not believe, because you have prayed before, or because you thought you trusted Him enough, but If it works for me it can work for you. Also, we "want" things to benefit us, but the bible says, everything we do should be for Jesus sake. We need to pray for things "to benefit Christ". Now my question...
How can you deny the truth, how can you deny God based on science and sight and not on faith. HOW CAN YOU DENY WHAT IS SO CLEARLY TRUE?
ladytiernan gave this response on 2/16/2000:
I don't know what prompted your sermon, but it was not necessary. I am quite happy with the path that I have chosen and don't feel led astray in any way, shape or form. I am not lost, in need of salvation nor do I feel guilty for any choices I have made in my life. I choose not to believe in God because, frankly, he is not the only choice. It is not because he had not manifest himself to me or because I had lost faith or found myself in a bad way and couldn't deal with life. Quite the contrary. I'd have to say my life is as perfect as it can get. I have a great family who loves and supports me, I have friends who nurture and grow with me, I have a love that makes me smile and strive for the future and I have a job that I love that pays a large amount of money so that I can enjoy life as I see fit. With all this freedom, I have travelled the world, I have spoken to people of different cultures and I have learned that there is no ONE answer to any question. Life is not so trivial that it can be explained with a simple statement. Yes, I have read the bible. I have also read the Kabballah, the teachings of Buddah and the mysteries of Eastern mythos. I was born into an Orthodox religion and attended Catholic school for many years. So, no, I did not lose faith in God because I could not see, feel or smell him. I just gained faith in a calling that was far more powerful to me and it has never steered me wrong to deny its power in my life. You should be proud that your faith is so strong and your convictions so firm, but please have the respect to offer the same to others of different opinion and not force what you believe in on them as the end all and be all of fact, which it is not.
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