Theist Posters: Why do you believe your God exists?

[SteveII]

5. Even were that true, this is a burden of proof shift coupled with an argument from ignorance.

This was in response to being asked if I would change my mind. Belief in God has not been shown to be irrational so I see no internal conflicts that I think would precipitate a change of mind.

---

1. I, like most people in the world, have no trouble believing that the supernatural exists. 
2. I believe the events of the NT happened basically as described. 
3. The person and teachings of Jesus are compelling and my personal experience affirms the truth of many of his teachings. 
4. While I grew up in a Christian home and don't have a "drastic change" story, I have directly heard hundreds (if not more) testimonies how God has changed people's lives in drastic ways. 
5. There are no successful arguments that show believing in God is irrational, so I can't see myself changing my mind.

1. I, like most people in the world, have no trouble believing that the supernatural exists. 

Just the Christian supernatural, or the pagan, or the Hindu, or the Native American or the  . . .   you get the idea

2. I believe the events of the NT happened basically as described. 

So, Jesus getting crucified on Thursday and again on Friday isn't a problem ?

3. The person and teachings of Jesus are compelling and my personal experience affirms the truth of many of his teachings.

Not all?  Sounds like HERESY to me.  I'm sure the long timers here are tired of me pissing and moaning about all the heresies I note, but sheesh !!!

4. While I grew up in a Christian home and don't have a "drastic change" story, I have directly heard hundreds (if not more) testimonies how God has changed people's lives in drastic ways. 

We've heard the same about Buddha.  Why are the God stories you've heard more compelling than the ones people share in India ??

5. There are no successful arguments that show believing in God is irrational, so I can't see myself changing my mind.

You mean your God, right?  It can't be rational to believe in Baneemy is it ??

1. I don't think it matters to my point--which builds to the next.
2. You are mistaken, someone can't die in two consecutive days (I shouldn't have to point that out). 
3. This is a statement answering the OP and I have no idea how your statement adds to the discussion.
4. Buddhism is not from India, however I'm glad Buddhists get their life together. 
5. In answering a question about my beliefs, I did assume people would read it as though I were answering about my beliefs.

[Neo-Scholastic]

For me the question is not why I believe; but rather, how anyone could not believe. I have related my journey in detail elsewhere, Why I Believe in God. Lately I have been re-cultivating my existential awareness of reality in light of all I have learned from the patristic fathers. Martin Buber called it the I-Thou relationship. It seems to me that non-believers have either never experienced Being-As-Such as something sacred or have, but attribute it to something mundane. Many atheists will say that they know all the proofs and find them unconvincing. In contrast to them, I know all the objections and all seem either irrelevant or unreasonable in light of what seems so obvious to me.

5. Even were that true, this is a burden of proof shift coupled with an argument from ignorance.

It seems rather odd when a proposition like "'God exists' is true" can be considered either true or untrue because it is a belief, whereas its negation, "'God exists' is not true", cannot be either true or untrue because it isn't considered a belief.

[PETE_ROSE]

Let me first state why I am not an atheist, agnostics, or one of the 70,000 brands of non belief.

I am not unhappy. I am not unhealthy. I am not in need of any emotional nor psychological crutch. I have a healthy respect for death, and no desire to expedite the process but I do not quake in my boots fearing it. I was not brainwashed and indoctrinated into religion as a youth. American by birth but raised abroad. I would evaluate myself as successful in nearly every aspect of life with one exception; I have a failed marriage that I would accept the lion's share of responsibility for.

Am college educated with two professional parents. Would personally find some aspects of life easier, and am not near as morally good as most here, in that if I were convinced there was no God, I would behave much differently.

Like many others I reflect and philosophize on life's big questions: Why are we here? What is our purpose (if any)? Where did we come from? What happens when we die?

It would require several in depth conversations to address the individual reasons for my theism and Christianity, as well as my refutations for other religions and atheism or agnosticism. I generally do this privately as the open forum has been exhausted with the same old arguments and brings a lot of outside interference.

In short Christianity answers all of these questions for me in a cohesive and logical way, as many are connected and interwoven. I truly think science (physics, math, biology, etc) and Christianity complement each other on many levels.

It is important to be grounded and have good reasoning for why one is or is not atheist, theist; so says me. I find that many Christians and atheists alike cannot answer this more than superficially.

[Cyberman]

5. Even were that true, this is a burden of proof shift coupled with an argument from ignorance.

It seems rather odd when a proposition like "'God exists' is true" can be considered either true or untrue because it is a belief, whereas its negation, "'God exists' is not true", cannot be either true or untrue because it isn't considered a belief.

Do I have to go over again how I don't accept your proposition "'God exists' is not true" as an accurate summation of my position? I'm still waiting for you - generalising - to convince me that it is true. Carry your own burden for once.

[Minimalist]

In short Christianity answers all of these questions for me in a cohesive and logical way,

Then ask better questions.

[vorlon13]

5. Even were that true, this is a burden of proof shift coupled with an argument from ignorance.

This was in response to being asked if I would change my mind. Belief in God has not been shown to be irrational so I see no internal conflicts that I think would precipitate a change of mind.

---

1. I, like most people in the world, have no trouble believing that the supernatural exists. 

Just the Christian supernatural, or the pagan, or the Hindu, or the Native American or the  . . .   you get the idea

2. I believe the events of the NT happened basically as described. 

So, Jesus getting crucified on Thursday and again on Friday isn't a problem ?

3. The person and teachings of Jesus are compelling and my personal experience affirms the truth of many of his teachings.

Not all?  Sounds like HERESY to me.  I'm sure the long timers here are tired of me pissing and moaning about all the heresies I note, but sheesh !!!

4. While I grew up in a Christian home and don't have a "drastic change" story, I have directly heard hundreds (if not more) testimonies how God has changed people's lives in drastic ways. 

We've heard the same about Buddha.  Why are the God stories you've heard more compelling than the ones people share in India ??

5. There are no successful arguments that show believing in God is irrational, so I can't see myself changing my mind.

You mean your God, right?  It can't be rational to believe in Baneemy is it ??

1. I don't think it matters to my point--which builds to the next.
2. You are mistaken, someone can't die in two consecutive days (I shouldn't have to point that out). 
3. This is a statement answering the OP and I have no idea how your statement adds to the discussion.
4. Buddhism is not from India, however I'm glad Buddhists get their life together. 
5. In answering a question about my beliefs, I did assume people would read it as though I were answering about my beliefs.

#2, yet scripture reports, inerrantly, Christ being crucified on Thursday AND Friday.

Denying either crucifixion is denying the BIBLE.  I'm at a loss as what else could be Scripturally acceptable other than to accept He was crucified twice.

[Whateverist]

Let me first state why I am not an atheist, agnostics, or one of the 70,000 brands of non belief.  

I am not unhappy.  I am not unhealthy.  I am not in need of any emotional nor psychological crutch.  I have a healthy respect for death, and no desire to expedite the process but I do not quake in my boots fearing it.  I was not brainwashed and indoctrinated into religion as a youth.  American by birth but raised abroad.  I would evaluate myself as successful in nearly every aspect of life with one exception;  I have a failed marriage that I would accept the lion's share of responsibility for.

Am college educated with two professional parents.  Would personally find some aspects of  life easier, and am not near as morally good as most here, in that if I were convinced there was no God, I would behave much differently.  

Like many others I reflect and philosophize on life's big questions: Why are we here?  What is our purpose (if any)?  Where did we come from?  What happens when we die?  

It would require  several in depth conversations to address the individual reasons for my theism and Christianity, as well as my refutations for other religions and atheism or agnosticism.  I generally do this privately as the open forum has been exhausted with the same old arguments and brings a lot of outside interference.

In short Christianity answers all of these questions for me in a cohesive and logical way, as many are connected and interwoven.  I truly think science (physics, math, biology, etc) and Christianity complement each other on many levels.  

It is important to be grounded and have good reasoning for why one is or is not atheist, theist; so says me.  I find that many Christians and atheists alike cannot answer this more than superficially.

Feel free to elaborate on my bolded.  At what age and how exactly did you become aware of Christianity?  What was the position of your parents and extended family on these matters?  Did you ever identify as anything other than a xtian?

---

For me the question is not why I believe; but rather, how anyone could not believe.

Do you mean how can they not believe in Christianity in particular, or just any form of god worship?

[Simon Moon]

It seems rather odd when a proposition like "'God exists' is true" can be considered either true or untrue because it is a belief, whereas its negation, "'God exists' is not true",  cannot be either true or untrue because it isn't considered a belief.

But the negation is another proposition.

1. Proposition - gods exists

2. Proposition - gods do not exist

I do not have to take the contrapositive position when responding to the first.

Your proposition is that a god exists. I can simply say, "I do not believe you", without also making the proposition "god does not exist".


It is a logical no-no to respond to 2 prongs of a dilemma simultaneously.

[Edwardo Piet]

Some people just don't feel safe without a supernatural caretaker looking over their shoulders and at everything they do.

Personally I'm rather glad that Jesus doesn't watch me masturbate. I never consented to being stalked. What a pervert he would be if he existed.

[Drich]

I decided to make a thread on theists explaining why they accept the existence of their God. I know there are few theists on here as compared to atheists/agnostics but I am interested to see what the major ways of the theists on here are. 

Would you ever change your mind God's existence and become an atheist?

Simple answer is the bible provides a way for those who seek God to find Him. I sought God via the biblical instructions and simply found God. Now i want to share where he is and maybe provide a why the bible tells us to seek a certain way.