Are Christians scared to think about God?  Reciting things is not thinking..?
397224
Indeed they are.  They have had 'faith' poured into their skulls for such a long time that they never stop to consider the validity of faith itself.\n\nTry telling a Christian you're an atheist.  More often then not they will plead that you have to have faith in something, regardless of what that something is.  They would rather hear that you became a Satanist than an atheist.  Why?  Because while others may reject what they believe, such a rejection is not an assault on their beliefs.  But to reject faith itself is!  Without faith their world crumbles and they know it.  It's unbearable to many of them to think it is possible to live a faith free life.
450301
bbb2165,\n\nI have been secretly amused by this for a long time. I think I've only discussed it with my kids, but it's true. Even atheists use God's name or say "Jesus Christ" when they get angry or sometimes during sex.\n\nWhen they are rational, they will say there is no god or that god is represented in some other form, but when they aren't thinking and something just comes out of their mouth, they prove that they know there is a God and that they know His name.\n\nIt's kid of funny, but there is truth to it also. Thanks for the question. It is always refreshing to me to experience a Christian with a brain and a sense of humor.\n\nGod bless.
1133646
Simple people are afraid of what they don't know and don't understand. Isn't it so much easier to go to church and swallow down all that brainwashing that they feed them? \nOf course it is - it doesn't require thinking with their own heads, it doesn't require reading and learning and researching and making mistakes and developing themselves...\nThey just get taught a pretty story and told it is the only truth. What an ideal world, isn't it?! Too bad it's ot that simple. \n\nPeople have been deceived and brainwashed through centuries and millenia. We can't expect them to suddenly start thinking. Organised forms of religion have caused much too much damage by burning everyone who dared to ponder another side of truth...
598950
Hello tall paul.. :)\n\nWe are afraid of NOTHING, because Perfect Love from Jesus casteth out all fear.. :)\n\nCan Jesus, give you Love, Peace, Joy, Kindness and Gentleness and Forgiveness within your heart..Yes He can..and He will if you ask :)\n\nCan satan blind your eyes to the truth of God's Holy word..Yes he can..and he does.. :)\n\nCan satan give you greed, lust, hatred, anger, drugs and a lonliness within your heart, yes he can and he does..without evening asking him..gee what a nice guy he is.. :(\n\nWars are not because of religion..\n\nJames 4\n\n From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?\n \n2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.\n \n3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.\n \n4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.\n \n5  Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?\n \n6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,\n         God resisteth the proud, \nbut giveth grace unto the humble. Prov. 3.34  \n \n \n7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.\n \n8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.\n \n9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.\n \n10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.\n\nI am here for you.. :)\n \nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
722363
is this a fear of churches??
1168327
nope it's not mental, because it's socially acceptable. Hearing god's voice is probably the one voice you can hear and not be put on medication for it. This message wasn't in anyway to disprove God, i'm a believer, I'm just commenting on the mental argument.\n\nSpeaking to god, listening to god, hearing god, I think we've all got problems if we take it all too literal. First of all, he's personified in the bible, depending on your sect, maybe you see him as the guy in the clouds or not.\n\nAnyone who has any character beyond their mouth has had a debate with their conscience. If I asked you to make a 100% accurate depiction of that debate to me, in words and in sounds, you couldn't do it, because inside you there's so much more going on, there's memory, there's interpretation of words and memory, there's feelings, and chemical reactions. If you can get that all across to me, then you've talked your conscience to me. Using this example, I think you can see how difficult it would be to\ninterpret a discussion with god, for someone who knows you better than you do, how am I supposed to say, yeah, yeah, and I was half way through my pint and he said, you better get another.\n\nWhether you see God as a safety net or not, most Christians will argue that god gives you what you need, and not always what you ask for.. Let's take a dumb example 'Please god, I love this girl, please let her notice me'...  Now I could start cursing the day I let god negotiate my love life because she didn't look once, but then I would never have ended up where I am would I? The simple truth is, we're morons, and we don't know what's best for us, because we act on impulse, and apparently, God knows what's best for us not only in this life, which I might add is generally a good 75 years and not a week of fling! But also in the eternal life that believers are promised.\n\nWhether or not you believe in god, or if you just think it's a scam, let's face it, it's not a bad concept to believe someone is always looking out for the greater good of you. Someone who apparently never cheats on you, or has an ultimatum, his concept won't divorce you, it wouldn't lie to you, and it would definately never have the impulse of what if.
263172
Come on lymber1,I know it can get frustrating sometimes as a Christian trying to tell the truth of GOD.........But you know that calling people who don't believe,ignorant,is not the way to spread the truth of GOD,doing that will only drive them further away from GOD\n\nI know how you feel,but we must approach them from another angle the way JESUS did\n\nCraig,before you judge other peoples grammar,look at your own...."realize"not"realise\n\nhttp://www.gotquestions.org
12111
I am also a Christian and the reason they do is because they're scared. To believe in god is to much for them. And that would mean not going to heaven they would want that. So for them it's easier to just believe that there is no god just a heaven. And that they are going there. E-mail me it would be cool to finally have another believer to talk to. Oh yeah don't listen to this "Skeptic Man".
1154595
Hey Crazy Frog,\n\nPerhaps the best way would be to go to your faith and ask God to protect you from such thoughts.  Whether or not you are a Christian, the Bible really provides you with some excellent solutions to problems. As you know, thinking about something before you sleep really influences the quality of sleep.  For example, if you were to watch a horror movie late at night, you wouldn't be able to sleep well.  The Bible says that in order to stay pure, (or keep our mind off somethings that we don't want to think about) we should fill our mind with something else, that is pure, righteous or something that is totally opposite from ghosts.  \n\nLet me illustrate this:\n\nIf I were to ask you to stop thinking about pink elephants, what would you think about? \n\nTherefore, the solution is not about STOP the thinking, but to think about something else.  Also, try to read a book that can give you comfort or try going to your parents, asking them for help.  Remember, fear is what everyone has.  Acknowledging the fear is courageous.  \n\nCheers,\n\nSmashingly smashing
604874
Yes it does sound like christians are shooting themselves in the foot. its quite amusing. I also think that on some subconciese level that the guilt fear and shame inside them darkens thier hearts until they are unaware they are doing anything wrong or believing anything wrong/.;
230795
I think a lot of the time it does, yeah.  \n\nHOWEVER (yeah see, ya knew that was coming along somewhere) I don't think all Christians base their faith on fear.  Some base it on belief, and by that I mean that they feel the presence of God in their lives, and that is why they believe, or they get comfort from the words of Jesus Christ, and that is why they believe, or they enjoy having a community place within the church, and that is why they believe.
535434
What you say just isn't true for many people.  People don't refuse faith; faith just doesn't exist for many people, especially thoughtful, rational-type people.  And you already know that it's not true that God always gives when asked; lots of times He doesn't.\n\nRE: Your Email (Yahoo wouln't let me respond directly):\n\nThanks Jenny.  I've read lots of the Bible growing up.  I have not decided "he doesn't exist."  But if He exists, he has not given me Faith.  To the contrary, He has given me a brain and a heart that do not lead me to Faith, even reading the Bible.  Who knows why, but that's the situation.  I can act like I have Faith, I can pretend I have Faith, but it would be a lie, and I can't just manufacture real Faith.  I'm sure it's very comforting to have Faith (regardless of whether it's well placed).
872116
I think your questions count as preaching, but I can tell you that I am not interested in a relationship with Jesus or the Christian God.  I do feel complete.  I do not feel vulnerable and alone - my beliefs empower me and surrounds me with the protections I need to enjoy my life.  Even with an army on your side, anyone can feel scared from time to time - but I am very safe in my understanding of the Universe.\n\nThe things is, that even in a Christian God model philosophy the point is not to life your live for god - the point is to understand your own divinity and to understand that you and god are a team.  If god is an ocean, we are each and everyone of us a glass of god, with tremendous power and divine right - no matter what we call this being.  To spend time steeped in any church dogma only brings you closer to understanding the church, not god.  \n\nI am glad that Christianity has helped you and I rejoice that you are happy on your chosen path.  I regret that you feel you need to school others or that you feel you have the only answer to the mysteries of life.  There is no way to truly know the Unknowable and there are many paths to enlightenment.  Worry about your own soul until someone asks you for help if you truly want to display the virtue of christianity.\n\nPeace!
998320
They are afraid. Their fear of what they don't understand makes them always on the definsive. They are walking around in life in total darkness, while we as Christians can go through this world in Christ's light and not live in fear.\n\nThey fear what they can't control or see. What they do not realize is that when you become Christian, God gives you more of life than what you had without HIm. But since non believers don't have concrete proof of this, their fear of the unknown caused them to lash out foolishly. Essentially what they re doing is telling the world that they are satan's disciples when they behave that way. But consequentiy they will have all the proof they have been asking for, but by then, us Christians will be sitting with Jesus in heaven, and they will be sitting in hell with their lying buddy satan. But they made that choice. God did not put them there. They put themselves there.\n\nJesus is our armour in life. His name is as beautiful as the life we live with Him. His strength is more powerful than all the strongest men in this world put together. And He keeps His promises, which is something that most mortal people can't seem to. So...\nIf the Lord says something, you can bet your life that it is so.\n\nCome visit my prayerline at...\nhttp://www.freepowerboards.com/praywithcarol/praywithcarol.html\n\nEmail me at carolbmartin1958@yahoo.com and I will give you a access code if you wish to become a free member of our little prayerline family in Christ. We even have a chat line called the shout box where you can chat online if you wish. The posting on the prayerlien is for Members only.\n\nGod bless you\ncarol
191341
Hello The Great an... :)\n\nI was not raised in a Chrisitan home..my dad was an alcholic..my mom used to abuse us with a belt..If I listened to my mom and my dad, I would still be an atheist..\n\nI was not afraid of going to hell (I did not believe it existed)..I did not believe that heaven existed either (God was not real to me)..\n\nI tried the Wiccan religion..it had no answers for my drug addiction..or for taking away the feeling of loneliness..I did not like the idea of any god or godesses'..for if they were real, my life would not have a hell here on earth..\n\nI also tried Buddism..it said you have to find yourself within to change..that was the problem I was having..I could not change my self..No matter how much I tried.. :(\n\nI could not have followed the marjority..because before I asked Jesus into my heart, I did not even know that Christians were the marjority..I did not even want to know..I hated Christians..because they were sicky sweet..telling everyone that Jesus Loved them..they did not know how to have fun in life, they lived boring lives..\n\nThen one day, I just could not take life anymore (I was going to kill myself that day)..\n\nMy brother came over on Sundays to take my children to Church..he asked me if I wanted to go..I told him I was not dressed, he said he would wait for me..So I went to the Jesus Freaks Church (that is what I called them)..I cursed the Pastor..all he did is tell me that he Loved me and so did Jesus..I said I would be coming back next Sunday to curse him out again..\n\nThe following Sunday before I was able to say anything the Pastor asked if anyone wanted to be baptised that afternoon..before I knew what I was doing, my arm went up into the air..I was baptized that afternoon..\n\nThe next morning I was quoting scriptures from the Bible (I had never even read it before)..my oldest daughter came down the stairs and I said to her, I Love you and for the first time in my life, I felt Love for my little girl, she came running to me and we hugged each other, I was crying, because you see, I used to abuse my little girl.. :(\n\nI was immediately set free from drugs, greed, hatred, anger, self pity, lust, and fear of what tomorrow may bring..\n\nNo one, had ever able to give me total peace within my heart..or given me a reason to live..nor have they ever been able to fill the emptiness within..\n\nUntil that one day on August 28, 1978..when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life and forgive me of my sins..for if one asks with a sincere heart, your sins will be washed away and you will feel as clean and as white as snow..a veil shall be lifted from your eyes..then and only then will anyone believe that:\n\nJohn 3\n\n16  ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\n \n17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.\n \n===========================================================\n\nThank-you for asking this question.. :)\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
1147830
I have a great reverence for God.  There is fear in a sense, but it's not the sort of fear that I grew up with or that I understand you to be speaking of.\n\nI need to be aware of my actions, but not paralyzed by fear.  \n\nI think I John give a good picture of the Christian walk.  This is my favorite part:\n\nLove has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.  I John 4:17-19
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I have often wondered about that "term" myself. I do have a belief in God, but I don't follow any religion. I was raised to believe that God was all forgiving, so I see no reason to "fear" God. I agree that we do not need a God to be told what is good and what is bad. We all know within ourselves if something is right or wrong. I do my best to follow what I believe to be right and I try to avoid anything that I know is wrong.  Great Question! \n\nA.H.