i find it interesting examining proof of god and divine design in nature and our universe. but part of me feels guilty because i should believe by faith alone. i think it helps affirm my beliefs, even though i shouldnt need it to.

have you ever felt like this? should i feel guilty looking for god in other aspects of life besides the bible?

lets please not turn this into another evolution v.s. creationism debate

a moderator will just close it down

If it feels good to you, and doesn't infringe on the basic human rights of those around you, then you have nothing to feel guilty about.
Keep on believing as long as it feels right to you, and I'll keep on non-believing as long as it feels right to me.

Live long and prosper, etc. ;D

All right, I think I have ripped on ya before for believing, but I'll try to help this time.
Of course, I don't know what you are going through, but my mother is a huge fan of God, just a rabid Christian, massive faith.
And she studies the scientific and historical angles of Christianity endlessly. She has a whole library of books on scientific and historical proofs of the Bible. She says it isn't the basis of her faith, just helps bolster it sometimes, if she can know for a fact that this or that is proven.
I don't think you need to have guilt in looking for answers. After all, you wouldn't be religious if you weren't looking for answers in some way. And taking everything on faith can be hard. Look at some of the old school preachers. They found God in looking at nature on an afternoon's walk. They had faith out the yin-yang and still need that little extra oomph to keep them afloat.

There, that's my good deed for the year. I will now go back to being an a*******. LOL

Some of the most religious people I know are very big questioners. Also Thomas questioned. It says "blessed are those who do not see yet still believe" but if it wasn't for Thomas there wouldn't be a bible no? Thomas asked and got his answer. So can you.

Unless you first doubt or question your faith you'll never really explore it to it's limits and philosophize over it to truly appreciate it's abstractness. If you dont truly revere it then how can you have a humble faith? The intellect raises the questions but cant ansewer them because the answers come in the form of paradox. The intellect cannot make logical sense out of paradox and so needs to be put aside to embrace something higher and intuitive. This causes you to doubt because it isnt considered "rational". This doubt forces you to look at aspects of your faith you never questioned earlier or took for granted and view them from a deeper angle, from this deeper angle your faith is more purified because you have have deeper understanding. Take line two from Jesus Himself in the gospel of thomas:

Jesus said, "Let one who seeks not stop seeking until one finds. When one finds, one will be disturbed. When one is disturbed, one will be amazed, and will reign over all."

It is right you question. God doesnt mind questioning and in fact encourages it because it leads to a greater understand of God and therefore deepens one's faith. What God doesnt approve of is blind faith because it is repressed doubt that manifests as unloving fanaticism because of lack of wisdom.

Who says you have to believe on faith alone? I don't see what you have to feel guilty about.

It's funny because in another thread I got called "ignorant" because I said I wanted proof of God even though I already beleive in him. WTF is wrong with wanting to hear God and know he is there rather than just someone else telling you he is?



Exactly what I think

When I see nature and our universe It reassures me that there IS a God. I don't think it's where you lack faith at all, I think because you feel REASSURED in your faith thru these means it tends to make you feel you must be lacking--and therefore feeling guilty. (hope that makes sense). Not only am I reassured when I see beautiful things in nature or universe, I also see that divinity in God's creations... It's a great feeling.

You feel guilty for exploring what God put here for mankind to explore? Why would God look down on anyone for wanting to understand His/Her creation? Let's say God gave you a VCR for your birthday...(let's assume God hasn't upgraded to DVD's yet)...do you think God would be upset with you for reading the manual so that you could get the clock to stop blinking 12:00?

Faith isn't something that just comes to any of us without something to back it. There are reasons people believe, as there are reasons people don't believe. What harm is there in finding new reasons to believe or new evidence to bolster one's preexisting beliefs?

I think you're getting two principles mixed up KK.

Romans 1 says that God's attributes are visible within nature:
(Romans 1:19-20)
So, this means that God intends for us to seek to understand Him through His creation.

However, we come to a state of Salvation by faith alone as Ephesians 2:8 states: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

So, no there is nothing wrong with you seeking to understand God by looking at Creation, he intended you to.

No, I don't think anyone should feel guilty for looking for proof or Of God's exsistance, I used to ask for signs as a child run away and always recieved my signs, pretty soon I could not discount My asking or the signs given, it got me to where Iam today.

At 39 years, God came down with the heavenly Host ( Spirit Family ) And enlightened me as to who Iam to Them and the Universe.

Father also said I had an uncanny Faith, which I suppose not everyone has. Heavenly Father and Mother Love us all unconditionally and Know the pitfalls and problems down here in the Physical, including those related to Faithy in the unknown, they (Father and Mother , have told me that it is understandable.

Even thinking That Jesus is the only son of God is understandable, because it is what was taught by Man, and Believed and propagated as Truth, even though An infinate # of sons is closer to the truth. So do not feel guilty about Not Knowing all about God our Father and Mother Of our eternal spirit, or feel guilty about not knowing all there is to know about our spirit brothers and sisters which make up the heavenly Host, or Reincarnation for that matter, unless this guilt serves you as a Motivator.

He who searches will find, Thats a promise from our Father in Heaven, and when one finds , and believes, He Gaines the knowledge to accept the love of God, and share it, ensuring a place on one of the best of the best worlds to come, there is an infinate # of world s That have been given away by Father and the Universe, He that believeth in me will have eternal life, thats another promise from our Father, Brother jesus , said somthing similar I know , but thats because he is a son who was given a world to start, and Throughout many incarnations he has been inviting spirits to help him start it after this world comes to an end, which in the reality of eternal spirit is only a Beginning, one will realise that he is stating to God and the Universe what kind of world he wishes to incarnate on next by how he tries to shape his world today.

God bless you For searching For truth and God and Love.

Love Omnaka