I know of some Agnostics that are not sure if there is a God but they also will not say there is no God. They are still trying to figure things out. It's like being on a fence. You don't want to choose what is on the left and you don't want to choose what is on the right because you do not want to choose (or guess as you put it) the wrong side. Do you believe that God exists? That really is the first decision that needs to be made. If you are not sure that God exists then I can understand now why you have a problem with believing that the Bible is God's word and also not believing that God communicates with people and wants to have a relationship with them. You see if the Bible really is God's word and He really does want to have a relationship with us then that means there is someone that we need to be accountable to for the decisions that we make.
Other than calling yourself Agnostic...what do you believe in relation to God and who He is? Do you believe He exists or are you not sure that he exists (in this case are you seeking answers so you can know for sure)? What are your beliefs about Jesus? I'm assuming you do not believe he came to save the lost because if there is no afterlife then why bother? I'm not trying to disrespect you and I am not calling you evil. I really want to know and understand where you are coming from.
My apologies to Houston that this is off topic from the original post.
My apologies to other members if anything I am saying sounds argumentative. That is not my intention.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ixoye_val69
Timothy..first of all I am very sorry that something happened that led to all those feelings you experienced. So it appears that you are not really Agnostic.. you lost your faith. There is a difference. I think having faith...keeping faith...is something that we have to decide to do every day. Right now my husband and I are dealing with things that are so horrible that if we did not choose to keep believing God on a daily basis, I could see myself going down into a pit of despair. God does not promise to remove all of our difficulties in our lives.. but he does promise to not give us more than we can handle and that he will give us the strength to get through it. Yesterday I went and paid my property taxes (september 10). If I would not have paid them by the 12th we would have lost our home. I went through months of praying and seeking God that he would work things out. Some days I felt peace and other days I wondered if He was listening to me..so I kept praying. A few days ago my husband's family sent us what we needed to be able to keep our home. Am I grateful to them? absolutely..they are amazing and I am blessed to have them in my life. But I know it is God who deserves the praise for providing. Every day is a struggle since my husband lost his job but each day we choose to believe God will work things out.. each day we choose to do what needs to be done to get through it (looking for work, selling things on ebay if necessary, etc). Faith is a choice. Sometimes it is easy to believe and to be honest some days take a lot more prayer and seeking God to keep that faith. If it was not for my faith in God, I know I would not be able to deal with the stress we are going through. Again I am sorry for whatever you went through to cause you to lose your faith.
Thank you for the respectful and thoughtful comments and questions! It's refreshing.
I've said before that everyone should do what works for them. If faith in God works, great! Keep it up! If it doesn't, then try something else! That's what I did, and it's like night and day. Still not perfect, and no philosophy or religion ever will be, I suppose, but it works best. I'm alive!
Oh, that reminds me, I owe a post to someone on what works for me -- it slipped my mind. We've highjacked this thread beyond recognition, so maybe I'll start a new thread. Or find that other one.
All the best!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Again, you're right. I'm not honest. At least I'm honest about not being honest. Unlike you'll, again.
Funny, if you're a lair, how can anyone believe anything you post?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dante
Your attempts to insult me won't work. Just so you know. I roll with the punches.
No, they're working.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
I guess giving this guy his own personal section in the forum didn't work?
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
No, I stand corrected, it is Timmy's Talk (a thread) which seems to be doing tad better than Houston's Corner.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
This is an inaccurate statement. As houston said, lots of hetero people have AIDS, and I'll be as crass as you and state that lots of hetero people have anal sex, too.
That's really a sick thought.
__________________
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Do Not Argue With Idiots, they will just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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No, I stand corrected, it is Timmy's Talk (a thread) which seems to be doing tad better than Houston's Corner.
Oh ya, "a tad" only if "evangelistically speaking." 73K posts (the highest count in the "Café Blog-a-Bit" subforum) vs. next highest count at 10K. Then, if necessary, subtract posts of the host writers of each "blog", and it's still no comparison. To quote Timmy, "You can't argue with that, but of course you will!" (And no one should claim it was ever supposed to be a race in any case. I'm just happy there's a spot on AFF where ex apostolics can speak and those who can't take the heat can stay out of the kitchen.)
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