Is there some element of doubt ?

[Fluffy]

The evidence I have for my belief in the divine is indistinguishable from, say, the effects of a powerful hallucinogen and therefore I realise that I cannot call such a belief, "knowledge". Therefore there must be room for doubt.

 

[Snowbear]

Me too. Sometimes I'll get way up to 99.9%, but other times I only feel like 80 or so. So no, I have never been 100% certain, but pretty darned close.

I have always been 100% certain that there was a God, and that I was worshiping him; the uncertainly comes from if I am worshipping him correctly.

Why does it matter if you worship Him "correctly?" I have read nowhere in the Bible that *how* we worship is a condition of salvation....

 

[jonny]

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear........what I mean is, have you ever doubted the path you were on, have you ever thought "Hey, what if I am wrong ?"

Yep, and the experience that followed this "trial of faith" is what makes me so certain that I am on the correct path.

 

[YmirGF]

What I was getting at Michel was that I never, ever consider that I am 100% right. I recognize I am looking at my world through the rose coloured glasses of my perception. No one can really say otherwise.

I can only chuckle at those who had no doubts about their faith whatsoever. Amusing.
What they do not realize is when you stop asking questions, it is because you have locked in on one idea to the exclusion of all others. Some might call this selling one's self short. I also feel it is an arrogant position to take when dealing in matters of spirt, god, et al, as ultimately no one path can be proven to be correct.

No, not even the dazzling Buddhists, with their stellar Buddha mind. To their credit, at least they have a clear way to get where we really ought to be.

I can never call myself a Christian, regardless of my whimsical personal relationship/view of Jesus, the Christ. I thank my pathetically muddled, uncouth, unvarnished, god every day, that I live in a Christian country under Democratic rule. I cannot imagine living otherwise, as I know exactly how far I would get living under the yolk of Islam. The Creator of Worlds does not look kindly on upstarts. Knockout

Now lets bow our heads to the greatness that was amoung us, a mere mortal, named Rumi. Rumi was a giant, in a world of Lillipution thought. To his credit he pushed the envelope "just so", simply to stay alive, so we would learn of what he had to say. An exraordinary man, to be sure. Hats off to Rumi. One of the very few giants to be found in Islam, sorry, as it is a pretty arrid region of thought. Allah no doubt, knows best, I'm sure.

Michel, I have asked myself if I am wrong for over thirty years. I have looked long and hard at the waterglass of life, and finally dared to wonder, "What if I am right?"

I am careful to point out I am not claiming to be "right", but I say the words, just to make the point. One can only wander around with a million dollar smile for so long before one begins to wonder why.

(sorry to rattle on so long... meds are kicking in now...
Trauma teams are standing by the exist, thank you for coming...)

 

[RAZBERRY]

I have no doubt whatsoever about my Lord and Savior. None. I know in my heart, without a doubt, He is real and I am secure.

 

[St0ne]

I don't really believe in a god but I don't think it is healthy for a person to have 100% conviction that yes they are right.

 

[Dentonz]

No doubt whatsoever, I know my God is real. And Jesus is my Lord and my God.

I think it's kind of odd that the only people who have said that they know 100% are Christian.

 

[Snowbear]

That's not odd at all

 

[Master Vigil]

I think that if anyone is "without doubt", than they really have not studied it enough.

 

[Master Vigil]

I think it's kind of odd that the only people who have said that they know 100% are Christian.

Why? Do you think that is proof that christians are right? I don't.

 

[Dentonz]

I think that if anyone is "without doubt", than they really have not studied it enough.

There are many miniscule things in the Christian world that we disagree on among ourselves. But there are fundamental truths that are revealed to each and every true Christian. And yes I said revealed not taught or interpreted or understood, but revealed by the Spirit of God. So we can "without doubt" say that we are absolutely, positively sure of what we believe. Yes we will doubt little things here and there but the Word of God never changes.

 

[Dentonz]

Why? Do you think that is proof that christians are right? I don't.

I didn't claim that it was proof for you. I don't have to prove it to you. God will prove himself to those who will listen.

 

[Master Vigil]

And I don't have to prove to you that god doesn't exist. The absence of god will prove itself to those who will listen.

 

[Quiddity]

Where God hides I seek belief. Where God doesn't I seek doubt.
Don't let people question your insecurities because they lack an answer and are insecure themselves. We all die not knowing the answer to many things.

~Victor

 

[michel]

What I was getting at Michel was that I never, ever consider that I am 100% right. I recognize I am looking at my world through the rose coloured glasses of my perception. No one can really say otherwise.

I can only chuckle at those who had no doubts about their faith whatsoever. Amusing.
What they do not realize is when you stop asking questions, it is because you have locked in on one idea to the exclusion of all others. Some might call this selling one's self short. I also feel it is an arrogant position to take when dealing in matters of spirt, god, et al, as ultimately no one path can be proven to be correct.

No, not even the dazzling Buddhists, with their stellar Buddha mind. To their credit, at least they have a clear way to get where we really ought to be.

I can never call myself a Christian, regardless of my whimsical personal relationship/view of Jesus, the Christ. I thank my pathetically muddled, uncouth, unvarnished, god every day, that I live in a Christian country under Democratic rule. I cannot imagine living otherwise, as I know exactly how far I would get living under the yolk of Islam. The Creator of Worlds does not look kindly on upstarts. Knockout

Now lets bow our heads to the greatness that was amoung us, a mere mortal, named Rumi. Rumi was a giant, in a world of Lillipution thought. To his credit he pushed the envelope "just so", simply to stay alive, so we would learn of what he had to say. An exraordinary man, to be sure. Hats off to Rumi. One of the very few giants to be found in Islam, sorry, as it is a pretty arrid region of thought. Allah no doubt, knows best, I'm sure.

Michel, I have asked myself if I am wrong for over thirty years. I have looked long and hard at the waterglass of life, and finally dared to wonder, "What if I am right?"

I am careful to point out I am not claiming to be "right", but I say the words, just to make the point. One can only wander around with a million dollar smile for so long before one begins to wonder why.

(sorry to rattle on so long... meds are kicking in now...
Trauma teams are standing by the exist, thank you for coming...)

Actually, your post makes much sense. If, as you say, I did not occasionally have a soupson of doubt, I would start worrying.

I can never call myself a Christian, regardless of my whimsical personal relationship/view of Jesus, the Christ. I thank my pathetically muddled, uncouth, unvarnished, god every day, that I live in a Christian country under Democratic rule. I cannot imagine living otherwise, as I know exactly how far I would get living under the yolk of Islam. The Creator of Worlds does not look kindly on upstarts.

I would suggest you might be wrong in that assumption. The reason I suggest this is that we can only react in accordance to the frame of reference in which we are.

Your words "that I live in a Christian country under Democratic rule". Had you been born of an emaciated diseased African woman who was unable to feed you, you would never have known anything else. To you, that would have been 'normality'.

That actually makes it easier to bear that some live in misery; without that thought, I am not sure where I would be...........