God, Christianity and I
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The closest I ever got to Christianity was at a very young age when I would follow my Dad to a church. He would go for the mass while I would attend the children classes where the teachers will tell stories of the bible that appealed better to children and the public. I don’t know why Dad stopped going to the Church after some time but I stopped going as well because of that and maybe it’s why I became a happier kid as I could spend the weekend mornings watching cartoons on TV instead.
At that point in time, God played a role in life; like those times when I prayed that my Mum would get me the toy that I was eyeing at and also the time when I prayed that she wouldn’t find out that I failed my Chinese test.
She did find out eventually of course.
I love reading books and I came across a bible lying in one of my house’s cupboards when I was around 12 years of age. Out of curiosity, I read the bible from start to end and instead of enforcing the belief of God in my faith, I started to believe that it’s all fiction. Interesting isn’t it? As I think back into the thought process and life experience that I had back then, I begin to wonder if the books I’ve read prior to the bible were the cause of my detachment with faith.
I read up to 6 books a week back then and amongst the books of fiction like Greek folklore and princesses in distress, I had a great interest in science like astrology, physics and dinosaurs. I think the knowledge from such books gave me a good perception of what’s fact or fiction and build my interest in science over faith. So as I flipped though the pages in the bible, I had the same feeling I get when I pick up a book of fiction. Adam and Eve; their children living to hundreds of years; their children, having children, children and more children; and the sort of stories that fit very nicely into tales of the incredulous or such.
I begun to question the existence of God and I tried to look for his role/presence in the living world as I see it and found nothing. As science improved by leaps and bounds and explained more about the wonders of the universe, the smaller the credit I give to a ‘higher being’ that gives life.
As I mature in my years, I do start to be more encompassing in the fact that everyone has their beliefs and faith in a religion like Christianity does more good than bad usually. I do not deny God’s existence anymore but more then ever, I question the legacy and teachings he supposedly left behind and scoff at the ways that his children act in his stead, like the recent AWARE issues.
If you ask me about God and my take on him and Christianity, my answer would be that he could very well exist but I choose to question his existence till the day I meet him or truly feel his existence. I hate the fact that non-believers go to hell (if it ever exists). If I do ever meet God, I hope I can have a lengthy discussion on the criteria for entry into the gates of heaven (if it ever exists) and other questions about life.
And I’ll tell him to set up a blog and a Twitter account so that he’ll reach out better to the youngsters.
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May 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [Hebrews 11:1]
That’s the difference when it comes to God – he wants you to believe without seeing him physically.
His Food Blogs last blog post..HFB Revealed: SOY JOY GI JOY CHALLENGE!
May 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
@His Food Blog> I think seeing God is only a part of the reason why I refuse to follow Christianity. There are other factors like who is a sinner or not, who goes to heaven or not in which I totally disagree. A Christian once asked me if I am willing to enter hell for not agreeing to God’s ways and my answer was ‘Yes’. It might sound like big talk but I am really willing to stand for the people who do good in this world and are subjected to judgement in the afterlife just because they are non believers or they have ‘sinned’.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Haha, if God really sets up a twitter account, we will all fall out of our chairs.
Interesting what you said about choosing to question his existence till the day you meet him or truly feel his existence. I was a confident non-believer and unlike you, I had very little respect for people who believe in something (I refuse to even call it a someone) that OBVIOUSLY doesn’t exist.
But, perhaps because I was such a terror, lots of Christians actually prayed for me, haha. And I did come to a point where I actually felt his existence.
When it happened, it really shook me and even though at that point, I knew for sure that He does exist after all, it took me a few more months before I grudgingly acknowledge Him. Hilarious.
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May 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
@Hillary> In the Christian way of thinking, one might say that God has reached you through his children of the Church? In the same line of thinking, does that make me a messenger of the devil because I question people of his existence? Hahahaa..
Anyway, I sincerely think it’s a good thing that you started believing despite my own prejudices against God.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
“If I do ever meet God, I hope I can have a lengthy discussion on the criteria for entry into the gates of heaven (if it ever exists) and other questions about life.”
No need to ask God lah.. As long as you are in the sudoer list, you can always “sudo allow me to enter heaven”.. Hahahahahahahahaahah
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May 14th, 2009 at 10:43 am
@NTT> Okay. You got me lost on that one. What SUDO?
May 13th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I’m gonna try not to write an essay here, but religion and God has always been a lengthy topic for me due to my background. I grew up in the church, so I grew up a Christian and believing in God.
Now, I say that I believe in God, but am not a Christian. I don’t agree with organized religion, but I do believe that God exists. And I do think it’s more of a personal choice. For me, believing in God helps me live a better, and more positive, life.
And I do find it unfortunate that so many “Christians” have turned people off from the religion because I do think that it has its positive purpose and it’s all being overshadowed by the overwhelming negatives.
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May 14th, 2009 at 10:46 am
@shadeofmelon> But is believing enough? One still has to steer clear of the sins he has stated. How would he judge a gay man or woman who believes in him?
May 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I’ve always believe there’s a Higher Power. However I am very disenchanted by THAT particular religion that has always claimed that their God is the one TRUE God. To which I say ‘ Only in your mind ! ‘
May 14th, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Jo> Everyone has their right to their own beliefs and I guess the truth will only come to light upon death. God? Gods? Nothingness? Anything is possible.