Comments on: Some “easy” questions for those of faith

By: Em

Em — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:24:49 +0000

Sorry about the spelling and grammar. I just read it again and relized what I had written. :-/

By: Em

Em — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:14:52 +0000

I don’t really condone anyone for asking these questions. How could you not after see-ing all the suffering etc… First of all, I’m open minded to views, I believe that anyone can believe whatever they want.On the other hand, I can’t really take christian views literally. For example, take South Africa.. A very christian based community, they will go to church to feel enlightened and literally that night, they will rape and rob somebody. (Speaking from something that my friend went through)Another personal experience of mine was a guy I was dating for a little while, he was a fundamentalist christian. We got into this debate and he couldn’t forgive me for asking what I thought was ‘good’ questions. I.E, when you’re walking through a desert for 40 days and 40 nights, the only thing to drink is cactus water, which of course makes you high, he must have been hillucinating right? But no, that wasn’t a good question. That was a week before he started cheating on me. Christianity is one of the only religions (plus 1 or 2 more) that forbids you to feel like another religion is right for you in anyway.
I did go to church for a little while but, after these experiences, I couldn’t forgive mysef for going to a place where I felt like I was surrounded by hypacrites!! There was also the fact that centuries ago, people were burned at the stake for being witches, even if they weren’t by the church ministers etc!! This was all about power. You either believed as they do you you get burned alive.
Some of the other religions state ‘An it harm none, do what thou wilt’ Which basically means, as long as you’re not harming or hurting somebody, do what you feel is right for you. I looked more into this, (after having some of these thought’s and feelings from a young age)and felt like I’d came to the right place. (Pretty much like when you discover B.M.E) You feel like such an outsider and a freak until you discover some of these things. You see this around you all the time, i.e, karma or it could be down to just having a really strong feeling, like when you go to do something and you just can’t bring yourself to do it and you find out later on that something bad has come from this. Take Rachel, she took over from B.M.E, her name maybe on the ownership but some of the shit I’ve seen online that she has to deal with, is the price she has to pay from doing this to you. I’ve seen websites that she just goes on and gets hate mail from people, they say all sorts of stuff to her about how all that went down with you guys. I went onto the website and here’s one example… Do you think Karma is getting back at you for being a shitty mother who only thinks of herself and who she can marry and ruin next? There’s plenty more like that on that websitesite too.
Anyway, it’s completely up to you and what experience you’ve had. Good luck!! X :-)

By: gerald

gerald — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:14:09 +0000

hey! i’m not a christian myself but i just read this book “dinner with a perfect stranger” it was a rather interesting read and answered lots of questions. Hope this helps!

By: Encarnacion

Encarnacion — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:53:31 +0000

And as promised, the details:
This slightly ridiculous parody that I wrote ought to suffice. And yes, it is to the theme of “the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, and references the movie “Nacho Libre”.

Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I’ll tell you how I became the “Encarnación” of a town called Porvenir

In west Phoenix I was born and raised
On the playground was where I spent most of my days
Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
And all playin’ some fútbol outside of the school
When a couple of gangs
Who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got picked on a little and my mom got berserk
She said ‘We’re movin’ away closer to your daddy’s work’

I begged and pleaded with her day after day
But we packed our suit cases and went on our way
My parents gave me love and a house with a picket.
I signed up for school and said, ‘I might as well kick it’.

First class, yall this is nice
Swimming in the backyard with tea on ice.
Is this what the people of East valley Living like?
Hmmmmm this might be alright.

But wait why is this place so plain, so “white”?
There are some different cultures here, right?
I didn’t see any
So I took to learning español
Fell in love with México with my heart and soul

Well, went to an orphanage in Baja, looked a lot like Rome
There was a God who got me calm and telling me I’m home
I ain’t trying to get called
Not looking for a career
But hey, whatever you say Lord, and I think I like it here…

I went back there, finished up with school
Learned the tricks of childcare and picked up many a tool
If anything I can say this job is rare
But I thought ‘Now forget it’ – ‘It’s beyond compare’

I joined the place about a year back
Just looking for Nacho Libre- but don’t have to be Jack Black
I looked at the job
I was finally here
To work here as the “Encarnación” of a town called Porvenir.

…I have since childhood wanted to be able to write my life story to that song, but was only recently blessed with enough material in my own life to make it happen. Call it one of the mysterious ways YHWH works through His people.

By: Encarnacion

Encarnacion — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:51:41 +0000

Preface: My apologies or being very late to the party on this topic, however it is the first time I have read it. And I have not read the posts above so as to provide solely my own.
1. What made you choose your specific fa(i)th, and, if applicable, denomination?
I did not choose my specific faith, rather I fully believe it chose me. It might be helpful to explain here that that faith is placed in YHWH, who has used the personalities of Father, Son (Jesus the Christ) and Holy Spirit in dealing with humanity. This “Trinity” concept is still very difficult for me to understand despite my last thirteen years of living with the concept, and others like me who have many more years in this faith do not fully understand it either, but like me know it as a fact of life. The perfect testimony of YHWH’s dealings with humanity are in the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible, and another, imperfect though being made perfect, testimony is in the lives of all who follow YHWH. YHWH has been the one constant in all of my life, though I cannot see him, he (for that is the gender he most often uses to describe himself) has always been part of my life, leading me on a very different, much better path than I could have chosen for myself, and I am daily thankful for this. After this I will post the details of that journey. As to denominational ties, for my entire life I have attended “nondenominational evangelical Christian Churchs”, which are ironically almost a denomination unto themselves. I suppose I would identify most closely with those, but I find myself at home among any fellow followers of YHWH, no matter how they express YHWH through themselves.
2. How do you know that God exists in general?
I know YHWH exists from the events that are recorded in His Holy Bible, which are later revealed through human findings to have actually happened exactly as written. I also know He exists by the infinite nature of His design of the tangible world, which is far too complex to attribute solely to a series of fortunate events. And I know He exists through “extra-natural” events that could have only happened through a power greater than all other powers combined, though these cannot be tested by the kinds of science as easily as one might hope to do. And I know He exists through the change that only occurs in a life that was once held in slavery to the opposition of YHWH, that through the perfect sacrifice of Christ, and this same changed life is now occupied by the Holy Spirit, is thus free in Him, changed from someone on death’s doorstep to a true immortal.
3. What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)
I could not possibly all-at-once remember nor list them, but I’ll try to remember some.
As a little kid, my family went on vacation to a national park. We returned from a short hike to find that the keys were locked in the car, and we were especially stranded as no one around us had any locksmithing tools nor any way to contact anyone who did (this was when only the rich and famous has car or cell phones) I begged my mother to tell me why she was so panicked, and she eventually did. Right after she did, I went to the side of the canyon we were at, and prayed for YHWH to deliver a way out. Not long after, someone came by with a two way radio, upon which we could call for the locksmith.
Much later, as a teenager, but again on vacation to a particular place in the world known for being a couples’ playground, I was quite upset with YHWH about my status as a single girl, when suddenly I spot a peculiar object washing up on the beach. I picked it up, and saw that it was a perfect, natural cross. At that instant, YHWH as the Holy Spirit said to me, “Am I not enough for you?”
Then, not a month ago, I was about ready to ignore that saying, and all of YHWH’s advice to the contrary and see if someone who just might be interested in dating me would do it. I had been praying and pondering that decision the whole day, and had kept that same cross close to me. just a couple hours before i was to tell him how I felt about him, the cross fell and broke, letting me know that if I went through with it, that I would be declaring that YHWH was not enough for me.
YHWH has also been that which has kept me sane though many other difficult times in my life, and gives me a hope beyond all reason that the only death necessary in my life already happened thirteen years ago; that which is my death to rebellion from YHWH’s plan for me, and a joy that life as I know it can only get better though the times only get tougher.
4. How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?
As stated previously, I consider the sixty-six “books” of the Holy Bible to be the true record of YHWH’s working out His plan for humanity. It do not include Apocryphal works since I agree with other Biblical scholars that they were not contemporary to the time they were written, unlike the famous sixty-six. That said, I believe all of those sixty-six books need to agree with each other, and that newer works fill the gaps in older works. For instance, the law given in the Old Testament is very nearly impossible to follow, and is meant to show that YHWH’s standard for a rebellious humanity is perfection, and failing that standard humanity is destined to die. Because humanity cannot follow that standard, YHWH in the form of Christ came to Earth as a human to pay the debt of death that humanity cannot pay. Thus, for all those who have accepted that payment in their place, the standard of the Law has been fulfilled and instead their conduct should be out of gratitude for this great action of love. The words of Christ are the universal code of conduct for all those in that group, and other writings in the New Testament and the Old are to help us (I count myself as one of them) with how we go about life.
5. How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?
I am absolutely sure in my faith as a follower of YHWH, and I encourage everyone to be His follower as well. However, as stated above, I can find a home among any denomination of likewise followers, though I will find some to be more comfortable than others. (It is like being a guest in someone else’s home. You are more likely to be at home among friends than strangers, but even in a stranger’s home you can be safe.) However, I have been so blessed to have a home church (i.e. group of fellow followers I am with at least twice a week) that celebrates above everything its devotion to the only earth-bound purpose of all followers of YHWH, that we share that we are free from death through Christ, and that everyone can join us, just as freely as we did. Because of that I feel most at home in that particular church than I am at any other.

By: Warren

Warren — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:24:10 +0000

1. What made you choose your specific faith, and, if applicable, denomination?

I was raised in an open religious concept family. Given the option to choose my own path and find out things on my own.

I did numerous research on religion as it fascinated me how so many people clutched tightly to their own denomination/religious belief. Even though the majority of them all rather flow along the same lines, when broken down to their core.

I refer to my denomination with The Great Architect of the Universe as mine and mine alone. I do not require a church, mass group to believe what I believe.

2. How do you know that God exists in general?

Aliens, do they exist? We say yes but how do we know 100% for sure? Is “God” an alien? perhaps. The Great Architects workings are in everything. The wind. The earth. Space. Good deeds. Bad Crimes. I know the Great Architect exists because I exist. Be that a man in the clouds, parallel universe, etc.

3. What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)

The fact that I am alive is my own personal experience. More Deja Vu dreams than I care to remember. Moments of incredible good luck, as well as bouts of bad luck.

4. How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?

all holy scripture should not be taken literally, except for those that specifically suggest you to do something. (ie: do not lie, do not steal, do not kill,etc). Most of the scriptures/stories are mere suggestive stories to make one think and analyze them into being a good person.

5. How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?

I believe mine to be the correct one because I place no specified name except for “The Great Architect of the Universe”. This means “God”, “Zeus”, “Odin”, “Allah”, “Gaia”, “Buddha” and any other religious figure head commands the same respect and appreciation as they are all one in the same.

By: Carmen

Carmen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:01:12 +0000

1. I define myself as a Christian, not a particular denomination, simply b/c I’m not well versed in the differences between denominations to choose between them. I’ve gone to a few different churches but have yet to find a “home”. Why did I “choose” Christianity? I was an atheist for years, and even before that had no specific beliefs. I randomly got interested in Biblical prophesy (which I think now was a form of intervention..b/c I don’t really know why I felt motivated go get books on something I did not believe in). I read a couple books on it and was surprised, I found a few prophecies in the Bible that turned out true, and I cannot see how this was known at the time, unless it was inspired by God. That is really what convinced me that Christianity specifically is correct, b/c due to those prophecies, I feel the Bible is legitimate. After that I started reading other books (as well as the Bible) and things just started clicking for me.

2. Well, what started the belief is what I explained above. Now I feel I can “see” God’s work around me, in the complexity of nature and science, and DNA and virus’s. Basically it’s the incredibly level of complexity on a small scale that convinces me daily of God’s existence. But, I was aware of these things before I became a Christian, and it didn’t lead me to belief then, so I know it is b/c of my point of view that I see it that way.
3. Moments of extreme beauty, in nature, relationships, etc. I’m not going to be specific b/c something like that is simply a person experience that I don’t think others can understand.
4. I don’t know the answer to this…I don’t “choose” books in that way. Basically I read the Bible and various books on Christian topics and try to get what I can from them. I’m not a scholar, nor am I particularly brilliant when it comes to these things. I just try to get what I can from it. For example..in my Mom’s church, there’s controversy over how literal communion is (are they wafer and wine literally the body and blood of christ). It’s a big argument. Me, I don’t know which is correct, but I don’t think me having the correct answer on that is important to my salvation. If I’m at a church that allows me to take communion, I will take it and focus on the meaning of it. I don’t worry if I’m correct on how literal it is, b/c I don’t think it’s that important.
5. I assume mine are correct b/c the “intervention” was specific towards Christian literature and the Bible. However, I’m also no expert and don’t claim to have figured it all out. Basically I tell people why I’m a Christian if they want to know, and explain my reasoning, and they can do with it what they will. I don’t preach to people..no tract or religion screaming person on the street ever did me a bit of good.

By: HJP

HJP — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:00:26 +0000

5. should be ‘nor’ do I worry instead of now do I worry…

By: HJP

HJP — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:59:32 +0000

1. I was riased Lutheran, but I can’t remember much specifcially Lutheran about it. In my teens I went to a non-denominational church based in Baptist foundings, and an interdenominational chruch based in Pentacostal and Southern Baptist roots with contemporary music. I think I enjoyed the contemporary music most, the Lutheran church my paretns went to seemed stuffy and dreary with classic Bach droning thru. Currently I go to a United Church of Christ church a couple times a year and a Unitarian church as well. I enjoy to community and poeple there and inclusion.
2. I don’t, and I don’t believe there may only be one god or one god that is right. I believe there is a spiritual force and world we are part of and it intwines us in different ways. I believe in each person having the freedom to be allowed this personal journey and also to not force another to follow in a specific way.
3. I havehad a few times where I was swayed in an odd way and it saved my life. Twice I was spared from a car accident, one time I don’t know how I ended up staying on the road and not crashing on ice adn the other time I had a specific feeling that I shouldn’t drive thru a green light and then a car without headlights on came barreling thru it. I won’t say it was specifically god, but it wasn’t just dumb luck.
4. I look at the genaral reasons the rule or law was written. In the Bible there were different risks and different reasons for doing things then what we have today. If you take one law over another you are be hipocritical of it all – to be specific, you are critical of gays but you eat shrimp, cut your beard and sideburns and jack off to pleasure yourself. These laws of the time need to be left there, howeverm the spirit of giving to help another person, treating others as you wish to be treated, and be compassionate and kind are things that should be followed more often.
5. I don’t know, now do I worry about it. I feel if you try to help others, be a good person yourself, and follow your heart in what is right, then you are a better person than most I see these days.

By: SteveC

SteveC — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:47:13 +0000

Some interesting and thoughfull comments here.I can understand how religion evolved,and to some degree even understand the comfort it gives some,but for the life of me I can’t understand why people are willing to worship and follow what is basically a genocidal sociopath.Read the bible or koran,it is all violence and destruction in the name of peace and goodwill ,and people just try to justify it.Beats me completely

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:23:41 +0000

1. I don’t have a specific denomination.
2. I have felt the presence of a higher being. I don’t feel that God is a creator, but a creation. He would be the crystallization of different energies that exist in the world.
3. I have felt God mostly through nature and through very complex introspection. Love (for all things, not just for a partner or a specific person, although this could be a good way to start) is, by far, the most divine sensation I have ever encountered. I have also had voices in my head (not Jesus, just voices) which have told me of important events in my life before they’ve happened. In this sense, god for me is a bit like a frequency my soul has to tune into to feel. There are many ways to do this, and most require discipline of the brain (including body modification). Then, one time I actually heard him talking to me. I asked for proof of it being him (I use the masculine form out of ease, not because god is male) and I got the evidence. What was it? My senses became very acute at that moment and I was able to see the world and everything in it (emotions, thoughts, trees) as an entity, as a whole. I was able to see all the pain and joy in the world. That’s about it.
4. I don’t have a holy book. Everything I have learned has been from personal experience and inner voyages.
5. I don’t know if they are correct. But then, it’s more about what I do than what I believe in. I feel that when I hurt myself, I am also hurting god. And when I am good, I am also good to god. My beliefs seem correct to me because, when I abide to them (when I am a good person), I feel better and life flows better. Better things happen to me. I don’t believe in any type of postmortem punishment.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:37:09 +0000

1. What made you choose your specific faith, and, if applicable, denomination?

I grew up in a Christian family (generic protestant, Presbyterian if you want to know) so that was my background from an early age. When I got a bit older into my teens and twenties I saw no reason to change my mind. I did begin going to Anglican churches for a few reasons – I appreciate the style and ritual, I like the Eucharist and not the sermon being the main point of the service, I like that they are more inclusive, etc.

2. How do you know that God exists in general?

I know it in the same way that I know I love my husband, I know that I’m straight, etc. None of those things can really be proved and yet I can say with 100% certainty that they are true.

3. What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)

Mostly a feeling like I described above, it’s hard to describe but basically a deep awareness of a caring and loving presence. I view the various shaping events in my life as God’s subtle directions. They could be viewed as entirely circumstantial but seen through the lens of awareness I mentioned, it makes more sense to me as God looking out for me and directing my life.

4. How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?

My interpretation is that the Bible is people’s record of interaction with God. Stories of God being vengeful are because that’s what those people’s experience was. Jeremiah’s life which was bizarre to say the least was because he experienced God in an extremely bizarre way. And so on. The people who wrote the Psalms had other experiences and responses, and the result is what we read today. And it’s extremely important to have that in mind when reading it – who wrote this, what was he experiencing, why did he respond in this way?

5. How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?
I’m not totally sure, I’ve been wrong about things before. I used to think that homosexuality was very wrong and I’ve gradually learned that it was I who was wrong about that. On a lot of minor things I’ve gone from a position of needing to be correct, to thinking that maybe I don’t know, maybe nobody will every know, and that’s okay. We don’t really need to know. End times for example, I don’t see the point anymore in debating whether Jesus will come before or after the tribulation or during or what. It may be interesting but it’s speculation and not really central. I have not changed my opinion on the main tenets of my faith and so of course I lean towards them being correct. If I didn’t think I was right, I wouldn’t be believing it.

By: my $.02

my $.02 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:24:56 +0000

What made you choose your specific faith, and, if applicable, denomination?
I was raised to be a conservative, evangelical Christian (of the Rush Limbaugh-admiring, Bush-loving, pro-life, anti-evolution, anti-sex ed, homeschooling-because-public-schools-brainwash-our-children variety). Into my late adolescence I parroted these beliefs and embraced them as my own.
In college, I began to actually study the Bible for the first time. Between scripture study, friendships formed within a small Christian community on campus, and visits to Christian missions in the dying city of Cleveland, Ohio, I would say I began to frame my faith in a new way. I came to know and love better the God of scripture– a God profoundly concerned with justice for the poor, liberation of the oppressed, and restoring people to right relationships with Him and others. This was not the God I feel I grew up knowing. It is complicated for me to answer questions about when I became a Christian believer. It’s a work in progress and a struggle more often than not. But I think that wrestling with difficult questions makes for a healthier spiritual life than the complacent faith I was raised in.
I do not affiliate myself with a particular denomination and have struggled to find a church that feels like home to me. But I am part of a community of Christians in my area who encourage hard questions, and seek to follow Jesus in word and deed– from their personal pocketbooks to larger issues of global justice. I am a globally conscious person, having lived on several continents, and my concept of the “big C” Church is global as well. I have a lot of anger towards the brand of American Republican Christianity that much of my family still espouses, and I am leery of any attempt to make God’s allegiance national or cultural.

How do you know that God exists in general?
Fundamentally, I cannot accept the idea that this world is without a Creator. Beyond that, I only know it as much as I know anything else. In my own experience there is a void in my life that cannot be filled with anything physical. I think we are born with a spiritual longing for something more– and that something more is a restored relationship with the God who made us.

What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)
For much of the time that I struggled and tried to deny God’s existence, I could justify the miraculous as chance. However, I have had many opportunities by now to see prayer answered in a way I could not doubt. I have seen the seemingly impossible happen in my life and in the lives of those around me.
I have also, on very infrequent occasions, felt the physical presence of something outside of my body’s control during times of worship. The Holy Spirit has manifested itself for me as uncontrollable muscle movements in my legs. It sounds weird, because it is. But I know I wasn’t doing it myself.

How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?
I believe the entirety of the Bible to be God-inspired. I also believe that scripture has been misused in a blasphemous ways by power-hungry people. There are some hard things in the Bible and some bizarre things, but I believe that with prayerful consideration and a concern for context, the entire body of scripture is relevant to believers today.

How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?
When discussion turns to exclusivity, my perspective comes down to Jesus’ own claims about himself as the path to salvation, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is not easy to accept by any means, but it’s a hard statement to reinterpret. Pretty straightforward. As far as knowing that Jesus’ statements were true, or knowing that all the Old Testament prophesies pointing towards Jesus were trustworthy, it does come down to faith. I believe because unbelief seems much riskier in terms of eternity. And I believe because I have experienced God personally and I want to love what He loves. Every day I hope to grow in love for others, for the poor, for justice, for liberation for captives, for healing.

@Luna Fox, I believe a Christianity which incorporates racism and sexism is a false Christianity and in opposition to the teachings of Jesus. This is the Christianity that we are very familiar with in North America, but the loudest voices are often wrong.

By: Luna Fox

Luna Fox — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:41:56 +0000

Like I said earlier, it seems that many people are “born into” a religion and, although they may go through a period of questioning, stay with it. I have known many people who have done this and this has the potential to be disrespectful. Pressures from family and society (especially in countries with more religious government, such as those imposing shara’a) can be immense. In my case, I am the only member of my immediate+extended family, which is very large, who does not profess to be a christian. I am constantly reminded of this and have been attacked several times about my choices and ‘beliefs’. As a child, I struggled with expressing my concerns about christianity because that was something that was generally not done. One was expected to believe the elders or superiors. This was particularly frustrating because all superiors are men. Regardless of all this, I was an outwardly complacent child and actually tried quite hard to ‘believe’ what I was expected to. However, I was and continue to be unable to rationally accept teachings of christianity or any other religion, even in the sense of (and this is, bizarrely, a pro-christian argument that I get frequently) “there is a chance that this may be true, so to be on the safe side, just believe it.” This is an example of what I was referring to when I mentioned disrespect above.

I have often wondered and suspected that many intelligent people decide to follow a religion because of the benefits. Community bonding, help from church members, socializing, following the traditions of one’s family, feeling a connection to a deity who may care, avoiding eternal punishment and having a purpose in life are all logical reasons to conform to a religion. But doing something because it benefits you and doing something because it’s what you believe are immensely different things. Perhaps disrespect is the wrong word, but I feel that humans should be able to accomplish those things without a religion that often also incorporates negative elements such as racism and sexism, among many others.

What is it that allows people to believe something that is irrational and illogical? People say they just ‘feel’ it’s right… that doesn’t make sense to me.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:16:07 +0000

I just want to thank everyone with how open they have been on this subject, especially given how critical my blog is of religion in general and how much trust it must have taken on your part to reply. It has been very interesting reading all the responses and I really do appreciate it a lot. Thanks again.

By: Gemma

Gemma — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:52:06 +0000

1. What made you choose your specific fath, and, if applicable, denomination?

I actively tried out a whole bunch of religions/churches/spiritual groups and I stopped when I found yoga as a spiritual practice because I felt like it fit me. I have Hindu leanings now, and over time my faith has deepened.

2. How do you know that God exists in general?
Because I feel it.

3. What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)
When I am the most quiet, the most still and and the most accepting and honest I feel with absolute certainty that I am very, very small. And the universe is very, very big. And that I am a living, breathing, organic component of this universe and this is my home. Also, when I study science (which I do – I’m in college) and I learn more about the incredible complexity of life, it seems unfathomable to me that there is no creator.

4. How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?
In all honesty, I’m not an avid reader of the Gita or the Sutras or any other yoga/hindu texts. I have read bits and pieces, but there is no obligation to do so. As and I’m when I’m ready, I read what I want to. It’s a simple as taking what I like and leaving what I don’t. I’m not required to believe or do anything.

5. How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?
My beliefs, and the general consensus among Hindu people is that all religions are ‘correct’. That all faiths and all spiritual practices will lead you to God if they are practised sincerely and with love. One truth, many paths.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:44:47 +0000

Luna Fox: Do please expand. :)

By: Cid

Cid — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:01:55 +0000

1. What made you choose your specific faith, and, if applicable, denomination?

Years of abuse, neglect, torment and anger. Years of knowing the Government was corrupt and full of greed and that for every Sin “God” bestowed upon man, there was a Religious Sinner dressed in Dolce and Gabanna telling me I’m wrong.

2. How do you know that God exists in general?

I believe “God” exists in general because so many believe in him and preach his word. Faith is a powerful thing and swings in both directions.

3. What first-hand experiences have you had that confirm the existence of your specific God to you? (ie. a feeling, Jesus voice in your head, etc.)

The clear and unending distaste for most religious human beings was enough to prove that my God existed. To see people adorn their bodies with clothing that does not serve a purpose other then a fashion statement, to watch “christians” on television at 4am asking me to donate money as their $5k Rolex gleams in my eyes. People who claim to “Not judge lest thee be judged” and then in the next breath ask me when the circus came to town. The fact that our government is the most evil thing I’ve ever seen makes me believe in “God”.

4. How do you choose which parts of your holy books should be taken literally? If it’s not all of them, how do you decide how to interpret or ignore the rest?

I’m an avid reader of all Satanic Scriptures, especially Enchonian Keys. Anton LaVey made it all very clear, to the point and precise. There were no words to confuse or passages to decipher. It was clear to me. Clearer then anything I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

5. How are you sure that your specific faith and denomination are the “correct” one? If not, how do you reconcile that?

My specific faith and denomination is clear, for me. It may not be clear to others. It has often infuriated others and caused many debates and arguments.

“Let me give you a little inside information about “God”. “God” likes to watch. He’s a prankster. Think about it. He gives man instincts. He gives you this extraordinary gift, and then what does He do, I swear for His own amusement, his own private, cosmic gag reel, He sets the rules in opposition. It’s the goof of all time. Look but don’t touch. Touch, but don’t taste. Taste, don’t swallow. Ahaha. And while you’re jumpin’ from one foot to the next, what is he doing? He’s laughin’ His sick, fuckin’ ass off! He’s a tight-ass! He’s a SADIST! He’s an absentee landlord! Worship that? NEVER!”

By: Luna Fox

Luna Fox — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:49:30 +0000

It’s difficult for me to understand the people who say they were “born into” or are in a religious tradition circumstantially. To me, that shows that they have not chosen a religion and greatly improves the possibly and probability of following a religion almost purely out of tradition.

I was raised in a strict non-denominational assembly of protestant christians. I was raised on a farm and never had access to television, movies, secular music, or other common mainstream culture. My mom made my clothes and much of life was farming, homestead stuff. I did go to public school but had little connection with people and felt that I was so different, I didn’t care to fit in.

I never ‘believed’ christianity in the sense that religious people do. I learned and studied the bible, but to me it was no less real than the roman and greek myths that I would read in my spare time. I went through the motions of christianity because it was a tradition, just something we do. My father died in an accident when I was a pre-teen and this changed many things including my mother remarrying and moving off the farm. I became increasingly unsatisfied with the teachings of the Assembly, especially because of the heavy emphasis on male superiority and the many seeming illogical and contradictory things in the bible. Anyone in the Assembly that I questioned about these things could not provide meaningful explanations, usually resorting to, “pray and ask god for understanding” or “this is just the way that it is.” When I was 12 years old I finally completely denounced christianity, which was difficult since all my family and most of the people I knew were in the Assembly. I experienced a lot of turmoil and moved around a lot, moving out of my mom’s house at the age of 15.

Now 21, I am a senior in college studying biology (evolution and ecology, to the chagrin of my family) and religious studies. I also realized that, while ‘pansexual’ I have a sexual preference for the same sex, which I have not revealed to my family and continues to bother me because I know they would not accept it.

It’s fascinating to me the phenomenon of religion, and I am always trying to understand it more completely. I tend to be very logical and rational; as far as my current beliefs, I do not identify with atheism, but I don’t think that a god or gods exist in many of the popular senses. I could go on and on… let me know if clarification or expansion is desired.

By: theist

theist — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:25:56 +0000

1. It evolved over time, through meditation, automatic writing and vision questing.

2. If I knew, it wouldn’t be faith.

3. I hear Her and feel Her presence, especially when I enter a trance state for creating works of art.

4. No holy books.

5. The same way I know how to raise my arm by thinking about it – I just do.