Somebody recently asked for reasons to believe and now I want to hear the other side. Please be respectful.
This post may include affiliate links.
I grew up in a conservative, evangelistic cult. The abuse I witnessed and endured because it was “Gods Will” haunts me daily.
I DO believe in the existence of something humans aren’t capable to understand fully - name it what you want to - god, allah, mythology, or quantum physics. Believing in something “bigger” and being religious are two completely different things in my opinion.
I think that you might be agnostic, if thats what you want. That's what I am.
Altar boy in the Catholic Church in the United States in the early 1980’s. Enough said.
I tried religion for a few days when I was a kid, but I couldn’t make the stories align with what I could see and experienced. There’s just no data to support any religious version of events. That might seem cold but what else is there? Do you just take for granted something you’re told in the face of facts and reason? It’s not more complicated than this. Choose proven observations about how the world works, or stories of magic.
“God does everything for a reason. God puts you through trials to make you stronger.” My father and I were inseparable, he didn’t deserve to die when I was young to make me stronger. Then the pastor was driving in the finest cars and wearing the most expensive suits, “Let’s pass that offering plate around one more time! Pastor needs a new ca- I mean God needs his tithes!” Nah lol maybe there is a higher power, but we can’t just be puppets and play things to make it happy and be granted a chance to be in a wonderful place. Just doesn’t make sense. Let’s just all be in a place where we’re all happy free of violence, depression and sadness. Stop all the hate and death. Anyways, love you pandas - TheGoodBoi
God as in Christian religion or a God? I think I don't know enough to believe or not. I know I do not believe in most organized religions. I feel they do more harm than good. At the least, they polarize cultural groups against each other. At the most, they support heinous acts against human beings everywhere. And don't get me started on how many religions denigrate ALL WOMEN.
“You’ve got to have faith.” The all purpose answer to my questions about God and religion as I was growing up. In other words, the nuns and priests didn’t have answers either. Way too many contradictions. A loving God who condones death of children, young parents, anyone for that matter. Terrible illnesses, torture, natural disasters that devastate families and whole cries. No, I don’t believe. I suffered way too much cruelty from the “good” religious folks.
