An Agnostic's Thought
I should have posted this yesterday, but better late than never, right? Bakedpears, I'm sorry if my questioning has insulted you in any way: I am a teenager going through a tough time in my life (the anxiety and depression). Also, I just wanted to thank you for your input, it really helped to open my eyes to a new, refreshing look at Christianity. I now see that even the most devout of followers in any religion still have the same questions I have, but some are just afraid of asking (aloud or internally) because they don't want to lose their faith. I'm also beginning to understand why Christians and others proselytize (witness, convert, etc) others to their faith: believing that a best friend might go to hell based upon their beliefs (or lack thereof) sounds truly frightening. Being an agnostic, it would sound logical that I have lost faith in God, among other things. However, that is not the case: I neither lack faith nor own faith, for I can't accept or reject anything as true or false (even science) without personal, self-taught, firsthand knowledge and experience. This leads me to have an extrordinarily high open-mindedness, opening myself to all new trains of thought and all new possibilities. That is where the quote below comes in: I may not be religious (following a set religion), but I am still spiritual and appreciate religious diversity and the good works of others. When I say, "action is my only prayer," that only means that, instead of praying for a better world, I'd rather go out and volunteer and make a difference in the lives of others. Again, I'm sorry if I have insulted any of you in any way, and I greatly appreciate the opinions you shared on the questions, Bakedpears!
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Guest
Gaarden
Please do not apologize. I was hoping I did not come off too preachy. I'm a glad to see you asking yourself such hard-hitting questions. You remind me of me at your age. Very frustrated with people who talk the talk but forget to walk the walk. Just don't overwalk yourself into anxiety. Balance the questions with acceptance and rest. Emotional, mental, spiritual growth is tiring. There are so many out there just sitting on their religion in the name of not tiring themselves out with incriminating questions. They will search high and low for validation for their beliefs and actions before they will tell themselves the truth. I'm guilty also. It is good to be open-minded. Gaarden, you keep your open mind. I am not insulted by your questions or curiosity. I have learned something about agnosticism. Thank you for sharing so openly. I hope you continue to work through the anxiety and depression. I believe your hard work will be fruitful.
Don't worry about response turnaround time. We are pretty relaxed here on the forum. Ok not to respond at all. Whatever is best for you.
Tammy
Please do not apologize. I was hoping I did not come off too preachy. I'm a glad to see you asking yourself such hard-hitting questions. You remind me of me at your age. Very frustrated with people who talk the talk but forget to walk the walk. Just don't overwalk yourself into anxiety. Balance the questions with acceptance and rest. Emotional, mental, spiritual growth is tiring. There are so many out there just sitting on their religion in the name of not tiring themselves out with incriminating questions. They will search high and low for validation for their beliefs and actions before they will tell themselves the truth. I'm guilty also. It is good to be open-minded. Gaarden, you keep your open mind. I am not insulted by your questions or curiosity. I have learned something about agnosticism. Thank you for sharing so openly. I hope you continue to work through the anxiety and depression. I believe your hard work will be fruitful.
Don't worry about response turnaround time. We are pretty relaxed here on the forum. Ok not to respond at all. Whatever is best for you.
Tammy
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Guest
GAARDEN,
I have had the same questions as you. I wish I had the answers for you. I too question organized religion, and I was brought up Baptist.
I decided that I was going to read the Bible myself and not ask anyone their opinions on what I read.
May I suggest you do the samething? This is just a suggestion. There is a King James Version of the Bible that is for teenagers. I think its called the Extreme Word. I have it but it is at another place so I can't check on the title.
Again this is just a suggestions and I don't want push anything on you, but you have alot of doubts that maybe answered for you.
P.S. I am 41 years old and still have questions and doubts. I think we are suppose to have them so we keep searching for the true and correct answer.
Sherra
I have had the same questions as you. I wish I had the answers for you. I too question organized religion, and I was brought up Baptist.
I decided that I was going to read the Bible myself and not ask anyone their opinions on what I read.
May I suggest you do the samething? This is just a suggestion. There is a King James Version of the Bible that is for teenagers. I think its called the Extreme Word. I have it but it is at another place so I can't check on the title.
Again this is just a suggestions and I don't want push anything on you, but you have alot of doubts that maybe answered for you.
P.S. I am 41 years old and still have questions and doubts. I think we are suppose to have them so we keep searching for the true and correct answer.
Sherra
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Guest
I have a "Teen Study Bible," printed by Zondervan press in the 90's. It's in the New International Version, but I find the commentary and "advice" to be quite distasteful: I deduced that it is meant for conservative fundamentalist protestant evangelical Christian teenagers (quite a mouthful). Also, I'm distrustful of ANY bias and opinion in translations of ancient text, which are rife in many different translations of the Bible. The only way to avoid this is to get a multiple-translation Bible (it must include the Old King James Version within it, at the very least), which lacks any of the commentary found in the "Teen Study Bible." If it's too "complicated" for me (which I doubt), I'll have to settle for a Bible that is written for a doubting, questioning, skeptical, liberal teenager like myself. I do plan to read the entire Bible someday, but I will only read it when I have other ancient texts from various religions all around the world: I will need Eastern religions, Western religions, ancient religions and "mythology," folk traditions, neopagan religions (such as Asatru, Wicca, etc), ancient and modern philosophy, secularism, and New Age and similar movements, to name the big ones. It will take an extremely long time, but the only way to be free of ignorance and precognitive bias is with a decent amount of religious knowledge.
P.S: I suppose I'll have to keep the "Teen Study Bible," because it gives a good perspective of what conservative fundamentalist protestant evangelical Christians believe in. Of course, I still need a lot more information about the recent Rapture beliefs and the apocalyptical beliefs/predictions throughout the various denominations of Christianity.
P.S: I suppose I'll have to keep the "Teen Study Bible," because it gives a good perspective of what conservative fundamentalist protestant evangelical Christians believe in. Of course, I still need a lot more information about the recent Rapture beliefs and the apocalyptical beliefs/predictions throughout the various denominations of Christianity.
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Guest
Gaarden,
Are you still here? Talk about getting into a conversation late!
I was just reading the thread & how you are going to research all religions, etc. Talk about confusion, that will be the most confusing of all! My suggestion is that you just pray & ask the God of the Universe to reveal himself to you. It will happen.
Are you still here? Talk about getting into a conversation late!
I was just reading the thread & how you are going to research all religions, etc. Talk about confusion, that will be the most confusing of all! My suggestion is that you just pray & ask the God of the Universe to reveal himself to you. It will happen.
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Guest
there is no pre requistite for salvation. nothing you DO can earn your salvation its all based on Christ's work on the cross. The times Jesus spoke of thoughts etc was to make his point that NO ONE can go without sinning unless they are God like he was. Mankind is imperfect and needed a substitute in their place for the atonement of sin. Which was Jesus Christ. The bible says we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH not of works so that no one can boast. I know there are christian denominations like catholicism out there that teach "you must do this this this and this" but that is not corresponding with the bible itself. Paul says in romans to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and you will be saved for it is with your heart you believe and are JUSTIFIED and with your mouth you confess and are saved. You see...living out the moral laws of the old testament (the ceremonial ones were all a foreshadowing of Christ and are not practised anymore) is a result of having the conviction of the Holy Spirit in you to do right according to scripture...as for the divorce rate...there are just many true believers who really do have a change of heart who just...i honestly dont know why...but for whatever reason feel the need to divorce. That's a personal thing between them and God I suppose but...i know many many MANY born again christians like myself who believe divorce is not an option except sexual infedelity. When it comes down to it its not a matter of christian or not or anything like that its the fact this world is just plain old getting more messed up lol not to scare anyone or anything but look around u can see it is lol
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Guest
Gaarden,
Hello again!! havent seen you in awhile. Personally, i have only comment to make. God called us to be witnessess, NOT judges. If we beleive and confess him, then he will change us from the inside out, so we are able to walk the walk and be who he create us to be. All the ancient texts, all the relgions in the world, all the READING in the world wont help you find God, because he isnt IN a BOOK or ancient text. He is everywhere!! And you dont have to look any further than your spirit. Take Care Nelly:)
Hello again!! havent seen you in awhile. Personally, i have only comment to make. God called us to be witnessess, NOT judges. If we beleive and confess him, then he will change us from the inside out, so we are able to walk the walk and be who he create us to be. All the ancient texts, all the relgions in the world, all the READING in the world wont help you find God, because he isnt IN a BOOK or ancient text. He is everywhere!! And you dont have to look any further than your spirit. Take Care Nelly:)
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blueskies4me
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:02 am
Gaarden,
What an interesting thread! It's such a long one that I must admit that I skimmed through much of it--I just wanted to interject one quick thought...
In my opinion, faith is a very important thing. It is important for each person to find what guides them, what drives them, and what gives them hope.
I don't subscribe to any one specific religion. I think that the Catholic woman who is praying at mass has a faith that is just as valid as the Muslim who is praying at a mosque. I have a great respect for people of faith. My frustration lies not with specific faiths, but with how divisive many religions seem to be--pitting fellow human beings against one another in an "I'm right and you're wrong" battle. I'm not pointing any fingers at any specific beliefs; in my opinion, it's not the beliefs, per se, but some people who seek to divide in the name of beliefs. There are many who are not only open to, but encouraging of others who worship in ways that are different than their own.
Personally, I don't believe that you have to subscribe to any one religion in order to have faith or to believe in God. (I'm not suggesting that you should not, I'm just saying that I don't feel that it's an "all or nothing" endeavor.) I am a deeply spiritual person, and my beliefs have helped me to a great extent with my anxiety and depression.
I would highly suggest that you read Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now." It's not a religious book--it's more of a guide to spiritual enlightenment. It's a book about slowing down, honoring the present moment, stopping the constant thoughts that make many of us anxious, and finding peace within ourselves. Tolle supports his ideas with teachings from many different religions and many different texts--from Biblical scriptures to Islamic teachings and teachings of the Buddha. Basically, what he says is that all religions point to one universal truth--but they have branched off in different directions in pointing the way to this truth.
<A HREF="http://www.eckharttolle.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.eckharttolle.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.eckhart-tolle-quotes.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.eckhart-tolle-quotes.com/</A>
What an interesting thread! It's such a long one that I must admit that I skimmed through much of it--I just wanted to interject one quick thought...
In my opinion, faith is a very important thing. It is important for each person to find what guides them, what drives them, and what gives them hope.
I don't subscribe to any one specific religion. I think that the Catholic woman who is praying at mass has a faith that is just as valid as the Muslim who is praying at a mosque. I have a great respect for people of faith. My frustration lies not with specific faiths, but with how divisive many religions seem to be--pitting fellow human beings against one another in an "I'm right and you're wrong" battle. I'm not pointing any fingers at any specific beliefs; in my opinion, it's not the beliefs, per se, but some people who seek to divide in the name of beliefs. There are many who are not only open to, but encouraging of others who worship in ways that are different than their own.
Personally, I don't believe that you have to subscribe to any one religion in order to have faith or to believe in God. (I'm not suggesting that you should not, I'm just saying that I don't feel that it's an "all or nothing" endeavor.) I am a deeply spiritual person, and my beliefs have helped me to a great extent with my anxiety and depression.
I would highly suggest that you read Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now." It's not a religious book--it's more of a guide to spiritual enlightenment. It's a book about slowing down, honoring the present moment, stopping the constant thoughts that make many of us anxious, and finding peace within ourselves. Tolle supports his ideas with teachings from many different religions and many different texts--from Biblical scriptures to Islamic teachings and teachings of the Buddha. Basically, what he says is that all religions point to one universal truth--but they have branched off in different directions in pointing the way to this truth.
<A HREF="http://www.eckharttolle.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.eckharttolle.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.eckhart-tolle-quotes.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.eckhart-tolle-quotes.com/</A>
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Guest
I too am a Vegetarian and actually More Vegan. I agree...we are all equal with our brother and sister Animals.Originally posted by Gaarden:
I have become a vegetarian since my anxiety and depression began, for conceit extends not toward just fellow humans, but most (if not all) organisms as well. Why think of ourselves as higher than anyone else, let alone any plants or animals? I am also very liberal: I love diversity in thought and religion, as long as what a person believes doesn't turn into action that hurts or defames another person in ANY way.
It’s All About the Love ~*Chiana*~
Last edited by ~*Chiana*~ on Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.