Tell Me All Your Thoughts On God...

[UAHparrothead]

Well this place as been too quiet so I thought I would shake things up a bit. Seriously, I am curious on your opinions on God. What does you mind conjour up by the word "God"? Where does you knowledge of God come from? The Bible? Tradition? Experience? Divine revelation?

You might be asking, why am I asking this on a Buffett board? Why not go to a Christian or Religious board? One reason, I want honest truth. If I go to a Christian board I am pretty certain on the anwsers I am going to get. But on this board, there are people from all faith traditions and those who are atheists, so I am looking for a pretty good cross section of the population.

Now, I am a United Methodist pastor and a student at Vanderbilt Divnity School. I am NOT here to convert or to proselytize anyone. I am honest and truly interested in what you have to say. That being said let's please try to keep this respectful and cordial. We all might learn something from one another.


P.S. Here is an interesting story from Baylor University
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2 ... rvey_x.htm

[buffettbride]

A cute little story related to this...

My daughter has recently been cast in a play at a local community theater. She was at play practice the other night telling the other actors, all adults, how she has three mom's. One of the actors bit and said, "Who is your third mom?" knowing of only me and the person playing her mother in the play.

Victoria, responded, "I have a real mom, a theatre mom, and a spiritual mom."

Life is easy when you're 9.

[buffettbride]

And Brad, have you been listening to Dishwallah? I saw them play live on my 21st birthday...almost 11 years ago!

[blackjacks wife]

Well, I come from an Irish Catholic family. My parents both received their education from Nuns and Priests. I believe that is this reason that we were never a Church-going family.

My father used to say that God is everywhere, he is not a building, he is a flower, he is the sunset, he is the wild deer in the back yard. Dad told us that Heaven is a place where the souls of your loved ones go to get well again, To be young again and to do what they love to do with out the responsibilites that being "alive" brings.

I believe that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one in the same. I believe that there was a man named Jesus who died on the cross and rose again to save us all. The basic Catholic teaching.

I am also not afraid to die. If everything that my parents taught me about God, Heaven and what is waiting for me on the other side is true, then I am not in a hurry to get there - but I have a bushel full of friends and relatives waiting for me who I want to sit around a table and have a glass of whiskey with.

[flyboy55]

Honestly, my thoughts about God were originally derived from religious exposure as a child.

Once I reached late adolescence, I couldn't reconcile a God (in the Christian/biblical sense) with what I understood about reality and the universe in general.

As I get older, the vigorous atheism of my youth hasn't changed, but in moments of quiet contemplation, I realize that there may be a purpose to the universe that I don't fully comprehend. I still don't "believe" in the Christian God, but I know I have a lot to learn about the meaning of life.

For what it's worth, I think love (not in the physical sense) and compassion for all aspects of what we call "reality" or as the Christians would call "Creation", go a long way towards giving us an understanding of what the ultimate purpose of the universe might be.

Sorry if that comes off sounding flaky, but I've had a few glasses of wine already tonight.

[Wino you know]

GOD SAID IT-
I BELIEVE IT-
THAT SETTLES IT!

[PIA]

Hbr 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.


God is our creator and Jesus is our savior...the spirit is omnipresent...God is my friend he is and always will be there to listen, to comfort, to forgive...i believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit...and a life after death...

i grew up in a Roman Catholic family...and i give my grandma most of the credit for my spiritual background...i was involved in this really awesome religious retreat called "Footsteps" when i was in high school and it really opened me up to my religion and began to build that relationship. I love God with all my heart...

[Moonie]

Kudos to you Cory, what an outstanding thing to say....

I'm also Roman Catholic and find the teachings have carried me through many tough times in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

[NYCPORT]

God is a made up story that people long ago used to explain natural phenomena and control the uneducated masses.
For some reason people continue to believe it.

[thebeachbumm33]

I'm a walking enigma, I was brought up Roman Catholic and am bringing our children up the same way. I also am a non practicing Catholic, I find so many contradictions.

I look at the wealth of the Vatican and I think that wealth could feed so many, my brother who is gay is the most loving and caring individual I know, he assists strangers on the street but is doomed to hell according to the teachings of catholicism although he is more deserving of the Kingdom of Heaven than I imo.

Personally I'm against abortion but have no problem with somebody else's decisions, I have a problem with the church's stand on contraceptives, if I'm in a loving relationship with one person in the eye's of God why can't I go at it with out the potential "mistake". I could go on and on and some of you might even look at my stances as living a spiritual life easiest to my needs without sacrafice, so be it.

I do believe in God, I believe he sent his son Jesus to die in this world to save us from our sins, I believe in Heaven and Hell.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I believe in God, was raised Catholic, but am not a practicing Catholic. I don't care for denominations... Too many man-made rules...

I believe God takes an interest in my life. Since the Bible says we're created in his image, and since I happen to be female, I believe that God in spirit form encompasses all those qualities typically split into "male" and "female". If ancient Israel had been a matriarchal society, I believe we would be referring to God as "she".

I believe in miracles and believe that God uses "coincidences" to get our attention. That "little voice"? I try never to ignore it; bad choices usually follow.

I admit to having an awfully hard time understanding unjustified suffering.... A toddler with cancer, for instance.... What did that little one ever do to deserve such a thing?

I believe completely in an afterlife.

While I fully respect those who don't believe in God, I wonder how people get by when things go terribly wrong in life. That's when I lean heavily on my faith. I know people will say it's a crutch, but that's okay for me when I need a crutch. Not 'dissing atheists; not at all. Do find the concept really hard to understand, is all. But then, I suppose atheists find my believe in God just as baffling.

[PIA]

I believe in God, was raised Catholic, but am not a practicing Catholic. I don't care for denominations... Too many man-made rules...

i agree too...too many rules...and that comes with everything...we can disagree with rules in the constitution...

i believe in god and that is enough for me...

there are some things i believe in that do make me catholic though...so that is why i am...

[Moonie]

.

While I fully respect those who don't believe in God, I wonder how people get by when things go terribly wrong in life. That's when I lean heavily on my faith. I know people will say it's a crutch, but that's okay for me when I need a crutch. Not 'dissing atheists; not at all. Do find the concept really hard to understand, is all. But then, I suppose atheists find my believe in God just as baffling.

truly, my faith is what has sustained me.

As far as the rules and regulations, I take what I personally believe to be true and just, and ignore the rest..

[chuck wagon]

4 statements from the Bible sum it all up for me:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, the He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Galatians 2: 8 & 9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

It's one of the coolest feelings when you meet people who share your faith, especially when you don't expect it ... I was at a Pioneers of Rodeo luncheon last summer and met the rodeo announcer, Bob Tallman, who is also a "follower of Jesus Christ"; when I introduced myself, he reached into his pocket and handed me a silver coin with a cutout of the cross in it and the words of John 3:16 inscribed on it. Truly, a "chicken skin" moment for me!

To me, it's not about religion; as a friend, Rick Fraser (chuckwagon driver), simply put it: "IT'S ALL ABOUT GRACE." That's where it all begins.

My signature line has one of my favorite lines, from Guy Clark's song "The Cape". It actually goes "He's one of those who knows his life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape." I know who my "cape" is!

[backbeat]

I grew up around Christian Science and attended their Sunday School. Never payed much attention to it. When I went away to college, all thought of it was forgotten. I returned to it about twenty years later when things started to collapse. As some have mentioned here, it's when our abilities are exhausted and all material supports have failed that we turn wholeheartedly to divine Love. Lately, Christian Science is confused with Scientology. (Does Tom Cruise come to your services?) The two are completely unrelated. The woman who discovered Christian Science (around 1865) and wrote the book explaining it (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures) was named Mary Baker Eddy. She gave what she described as the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer - which is familiar to all Christian denominations. I think this will give an idea of what Christian Science is about:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Adorable One.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Enable us to know, -- as in heaven, so on earth, -- God is omnipotent, supreme.
Give us this day our daily bread;
Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections;
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And Love is reflected in love;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
For God is infinite, all power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.

[East Texas Parrothead]

God is.

I was lucky enough to have an incredible Methodist minister in my formative years who said God is.

He let us find our own way; believed each of us is on a journey and the most important thing in life is kindness.

I try to live the lessons he taught.

At 54, I'm facing my own mortality . . . am coming face to face with the knowledge that I am not ten feet tall and bullet proof ... and knowing God is really does soften my new reality.

[ph4ever]

The past 10 years of my life have been a spiritual journey. I was raised and baptised in the Disciples of Christ Church. My great-uncle was and a couple of cousins are Church of Christ Ministers. My great-grandfather was a minster at a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the country but was ordained a Methodist Minister. My mother taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. I was an assistant VBS kindergarden teacher.

So in other words I grew up in what you'd call a "Christian" atmosphere.

Shortly after my 1st marriage I turned my back on my spirituality and everything eventually went downhill. It was a slow roll at first but let me tell you when it got closer to the bottom it was steamrolling fast!!

10 years ago I started going thru a lot of trials and tribulations that I KNOW I wouldn't have made it thru without the grace of my Heavenly Father. My everyday existance so heavly relied on the scriptures and there were probably THOUSANDS of times that the scriptures did hold true. Faith will overcome ALL odds.

It was also during this time that my faith went outside the confines of denominations. I KNOW I had angels helping me bunches of times. I KNOW I had that particular voice in my head that once I learned to listen to it - it never led me astray. I again began to ask the questions I had as a child, that no "Christian" could answer. Things that my mother put off as - that was a bad dream, you were seeing things.

Now I really don't know what kind of "label" should put on me. My spirituality is a lot of beliefs rolled into one however first and foremost are my Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, the Holy Spirit and Christ Consciousness.

I know that throughout my walk in life God has given me angels, a spirit guide and his love to help me and I thank him for these wonderful gifts on a daily basis.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

GOD SAID IT-

what did he say?

[12vmanRick]

I grew up in church. I even went to seminary for a year and half. Sometimes I believe there is a God then sometimes I think "how could there be when this or that is allowed". Yet, I do believe in the existence, I do believe that Christ was his son that died for all mankind's sins and I believe the Bible is literal.

I tell you one thing that I have found for sure. Christians give God a very bad name. They are amongst the worst people to deal with. Churches buy our product at where I work. They are the absolute worst people to deal with on a regular basis.

I said it before and will again now. It's not God I have a problem with, it's his fanclub.

[The Lost Manatee]

I grew up all over the world and then spent much of my adult life visiting the rest of it. I've been exposed to most major religions for extended periods and I have found that most teach us lessons on how to get along with one another if we, as human beings, only learn to follow those teachings.

I don't believe that there is one "true" church nor am I convinced that there is a single being out there somewhere who really cares what we do on an individualized basis. Churches strike me, in all too many cases, man made creations with which one class can dominate others.

I do see the wonder of life all around me and I have to ask myself lots of questions about the purpose of life, how did we come to be here and where are we going. I guess you could say that I am spirtual but not religious in a church going sense.