Where do you search for God????

[Bird123]

People look for God through holy books. They are taught about God from their parents. They are sometimes influenced by others to join a religion or change religions. If things don't seem to fit in their religion, some search other religions to see which one feels right. Atheists see religion and can only conclude God does not exist based on religion's view of God.


What do all these things have in common?? They are all trying to understand God through someone else. People depend on others to supply answers. If they don't like the answers, they demand proof, claiming nothing is true. Doesn't all this sound strange to you?? It's strange to me.


Sure we learn lots of information from others, however a lot of it isn't true. IS IT RIGHT TO GET OUR ENTIRE VIEW OF GOD SOLELY FROM OTHERS???? Doesn't the greatest learning come from discovery?? To discover, don't we have to be brave enough to venture beyond our comfort zone into undiscovered country?? Isn't it time to discover God on our own??


For atheists, I can see why you don't think God exists based on religion's view. Does that mean God could not possible exist?? Only our EGO would assume mankind is the most intelligent being in the universe. Isn't it time to search and see if you can discover God without religion's influence??


Everyone's religious view stems from others. Isn't it time we learn to stand on our own two feet??

 

[AntEmpire]

I have done years of research to determine what I think God means and what I believe. Me. Not just asking other people. Reading what others said but also soul searching, walking around and thinking about it. Smoking dope to get a different thoughts about it. I think you're right about most people but sure not me.

 

[sandandfoam]

Everyone's religious view stems from others. Isn't it time we learn to stand on our own two feet??

Why?

I'm not a solitary creature. I'm a social one. I suspect that if you take everyone else away you'll find there's nothing remaining.

 

[Sunstone]

Krishnamurti often said that those who search for god will find only the god they search for.

 

[Thief]

People look for God through holy books. They are taught about God from their parents. They are sometimes influenced by others to join a religion or change religions. If things don't seem to fit in their religion, some search other religions to see which one feels right. Atheists see religion and can only conclude God does not exist based on religion's view of God.


What do all these things have in common?? They are all trying to understand God through someone else. People depend on others to supply answers. If they don't like the answers, they demand proof, claiming nothing is true. Doesn't all this sound strange to you?? It's strange to me.


Sure we learn lots of information from others, however a lot of it isn't true. IS IT RIGHT TO GET OUR ENTIRE VIEW OF GOD SOLELY FROM OTHERS???? Doesn't the greatest learning come from discovery?? To discover, don't we have to be brave enough to venture beyond our comfort zone into undiscovered country?? Isn't it time to discover God on our own??


For atheists, I can see why you don't think God exists based on religion's view. Does that mean God could not possible exist?? Only our EGO would assume mankind is the most intelligent being in the universe. Isn't it time to search and see if you can discover God without religion's influence??


Everyone's religious view stems from others. Isn't it time we learn to stand on our own two feet??

As a rogue theologian I would agree with you.
I follow no one...no follows me.
Brother and fellow servant....when things are going well.

We are here in this life to learn all that we can.
There is no mystery about life.

Learn all you can...go back to God.

And we will stand on our own...each one of us.

To think you will walk in heaven and not be looked at?....
would be naive.

 

[Breathe]

Where do you search for God????

Inside myself.

However, I choose to still read scriptures and associate with other people who hold religious views that I share - I just don't let their views dominate mine. I enjoy community as, like stephenw, I'm a social person.

 

[Penumbra]

People look for God through holy books. They are taught about God from their parents. They are sometimes influenced by others to join a religion or change religions. If things don't seem to fit in their religion, some search other religions to see which one feels right. Atheists see religion and can only conclude God does not exist based on religion's view of God.

What do all these things have in common?? They are all trying to understand God through someone else. People depend on others to supply answers. If they don't like the answers, they demand proof, claiming nothing is true. Doesn't all this sound strange to you?? It's strange to me.

Sure we learn lots of information from others, however a lot of it isn't true. IS IT RIGHT TO GET OUR ENTIRE VIEW OF GOD SOLELY FROM OTHERS???? Doesn't the greatest learning come from discovery?? To discover, don't we have to be brave enough to venture beyond our comfort zone into undiscovered country?? Isn't it time to discover God on our own??

For atheists, I can see why you don't think God exists based on religion's view. Does that mean God could not possible exist?? Only our EGO would assume mankind is the most intelligent being in the universe. Isn't it time to search and see if you can discover God without religion's influence??

Everyone's religious view stems from others. Isn't it time we learn to stand on our own two feet??

When I was a theist, I searched for god in a variety of sources. Religious texts never really did it for me, but I read them anyway to get a better grip of various religious frameworks. I searched for god primarily through observation of nature, prayer, reason, and introspection.

As an atheist, I don't particularly search for gods at all anymore.

Also, I find it rather doubtful that mankind is the most intelligent being in the universe. And if it were the case that we are, it wouldn't be a matter of ego, it would be a matter of fact.

 

[crotsch]

The Bible! God is in his word! JESUS

 

[YmirGF]

Where do you search for God????

After one crosses the subject/object divide, the concept of god becomes somewhat meaningless.

 

[Breathe]

After one crosses the subject/object divide, the concept of god becomes somewhat meaningless.

As is always the case with me and your posts, I'd love to hear in more detail.
Do you mean, nonduality or something else?

 

[Bird123]

I have done years of research to determine what I think God means and what I believe. Me. Not just asking other people. Reading what others said but also soul searching, walking around and thinking about it. Smoking dope to get a different thoughts about it. I think you're right about most people but sure not me.

Does the smoking dope really get you anywhere??

 

[Bird123]

Why?

I'm not a solitary creature. I'm a social one. I suspect that if you take everyone else away you'll find there's nothing remaining.

You might just be surprised.

 

[idea]

Everyone's religious view stems from others. Isn't it time we learn to stand on our own two feet??

You are correct, there is no borrowed light, no inherited testimony. We must each gain for ourselves a sure witness of God. Those who partake in humble study, and prayer - those who experiment upon the word, who strive to live worthy lives that invite the Spirit, can gain for themselves a witness of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit has been given to all mankind that we might know for ourselves what is true and what is not.

(New Testament | 1 Corinthians12:3)
3 ...no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

(New Testament | John14:26)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(New Testament | John16:13)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...


(Book of Mormon | Moroni10:4 - 5)
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

...

.. there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, a"Lo, here!" and others, "Lo, there!" Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.
...
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?
11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of aJames, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects cunderstood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, ......
(Pearl of Great Price | JS-History1:5 - 17)

 

[Bird123]

Krishnamurti often said that those who search for god will find only the god they search for.

Mankind is a controlling lot. We all try to shape our world to our pleasing. There are those who search for the truth regardless of whether they agree with the truth or not. Aren't those most likely to discover the real God??

 

[Bird123]

As a rogue theologian I would agree with you.
I follow no one...no follows me.
Brother and fellow servant....when things are going well.

We are here in this life to learn all that we can.
There is no mystery about life.

Learn all you can...go back to God.

And we will stand on our own...each one of us.

To think you will walk in heaven and not be looked at?....
would be naive.

THe one looking the hardest will be ourselves. I really do like one line you write. Learn all you can.....go back to God. No other instructions are really needed.

 

[Bird123]

Inside myself.

However, I choose to still read scriptures and associate with other people who hold religious views that I share - I just don't let their views dominate mine. I enjoy community as, like AntEmpire, I'm a social person.

Exploring our spirituality is very important. We must know who we are. Consider, in this causal universe, God's actions are not hidden. To discover the how and why of it all supplies a view of God's intellect. One must, of course, look beyond the surface.

 

[Bird123]

When I was a theist, I searched for god in a variety of sources. Religious texts never really did it for me, but I read them anyway to get a better grip of various religious frameworks. I searched for god primarily through observation of nature, prayer, reason, and introspection.

As an atheist, I don't particularly search for gods at all anymore.

Also, I find it rather doubtful that mankind is the most intelligent being in the universe. And if it were the case that we are, it wouldn't be a matter of ego, it would be a matter of fact.

When science discovers, it usually opens more doors and leads to more questions. It is a never ending quest for the truth. Searching for God is the same way. The answers run deep and are much more complex. To discover, one must have the will to venture beyond our comfort zones into undiscovered country along with an unending desire to know the truth. One day science will discover God. That day is a long way off. There is much to learn before that happens. The surprising news is that they will discover God before relgions does.

 

[Bird123]

The Bible! God is in his word! JESUS

Maybe you should confirm that with God instead of relying on people who not only write holy books but claim they were inspired to do so. Would it hurt to get it from God, Himself?? Have they taught you God has a middle man and you can only get to God through them???? Perhaps, it's time to question instead of blindly following.

 

[Bird123]

You are correct, there is no borrowed light, no inherited testimony. We must each gain for ourselves a sure witness of God. Those who partake in humble study, and prayer - those who experiment upon the word, who strive to live worthy lives that invite the Spirit, can gain for themselves a witness of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit has been given to all mankind that we might know for ourselves what is true and what is not.

(New Testament | 1 Corinthians12:3)
3 ...no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

(New Testament | John14:26)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(New Testament | John16:13)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...


(Book of Mormon | Moroni10:4 - 5)
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

...

.. there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, a"Lo, here!" and others, "Lo, there!" Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.
...
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?
11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of aJames, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects cunderstood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, ......
(Pearl of Great Price | JS-History1:5 - 17)

Well, that's a start. Of course, one must be open minded with a wide view rather than hold on to the religious stories taught by religion. Discover the truth whether you agree with it or not. Religion does not really understand God.

 

[idea]

Well, that's a start. Of course, one must be open minded with a wide view rather than hold on to the religious stories taught by religion. Discover the truth whether you agree with it or not. Religion does not really understand God.

I'm a convert to my faith. I spent the first half of my life meeting with many different groups. This is me: Hi, I'm Jamie | Mormon.org
If you are curious, you can read why I am a Mornon.

Good thread btw!