Do you ever question your belief system as a mental excersize to find answers outside your faith? I do, but I keep coming back to where I started.

Not at all.
I am intrigued by how other people live their lives differently. However, in that respect of study, I've not found anything in matters of religion, for example, that makes me say, perhaps I can accept that is true, and change the way I live my life. Because I am very happy with who I know I am and what I know to be true for me.

I learn new things, certainly. However, at the core of myself, that relationship I have and that intimate knowledge of who I am now, that education enhances my sense of self, it does not compel me to believe I need to change me, to accept it as a new way of life. Rather it gifts the life I have.

Yes....both in the past and to this very day.


If you never question....you never learn.

Maybe not on a daily basis, but yes, I continuously keep on questioning what I believe. I question why I believe what I believe, e.g. my motivations, whether it is truly something I feel to be true down to the core of my being, whether it is influenced by my fears & wishes, etc. As my knowledge of the world increases & changes, I examine if that still fits in with my beliefs. As I am fond of lecturing:..."you can't shoehorn reality to fit your beliefs, but your beliefs must be able to stand up to the reality around you"...

Always.

so very true. you cant learn if you dont question if you beleive something then somewhere somehow you question it..it makes what you beleive in stronger and adds to your understanding of your beleifs..

I have been a Christian for 25 years, in the beginning I had endless questions some that I still have to wait for the answers. But I am ok with that. I feel satisfied that I know all that I need to know about my faith for this part of my existence on earth. Sometimes something new crops up and I have to hit the books but never anything faith shaking.

Irish

I'm on a spiritual journey. Along the way I know that I'm going to learn many things... some things I will agree with, others I will not. Throughout my journey I will stay open to the possibility of my spiritual beliefs evolving as I learn more and more.

I question life in general... my beliefs mould to what I find.

I realized again yesterday that questioning my belief system was really not an issue with me. Actually, I was hit with the fact (again) that my relationship with God is CONDITIONAL. True, I've tasted the UNCONDITIONAL part of that relationship in the past when my mom and my grandmother were - two of the most important people in my life then - taken away from me. Yes, I had a very hard time getting back on my feet... Besides, I still have many prayers, I still want situations to go my way, regardless. Therefore, the "Thy will be done" is invalid in my current belief system.

If the only way to gain my eternal freedom is to follow one of God's direct-to-me commandments, and I know ahead of time that I'm not ready to follow it..., then logic dictates that I'm not ready to meet God right now..., even if meeting God is an extremely rare event and the only way to know the specific command to gain my eternal freedom.

Sometimes. Most of the time I just float on.

All the time...in my spare time, when I am debating someone about it, when I think about it, when I am questioned on it, when I am teaching it. It's always a two-way debate in my mind, and I always lose to myself.

I enjoying questioning what I believe, however, I never question what I know.

floating is more fun

stay stagnate and die. the minute we think we know the truth is when we don't. in anything.


It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.
Isaac Asimov


Abraham Lincoln:
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.


Anais Nin:
When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow.


.D. H. Lawrence:
A person has no religion who has not slowly and painfully gathered one together, adding to it, shaping it, and one's religion is never complete and final, it seems, but must always be undergoing modification.


Isaac Bashevis Singer:
Doubt is part of all religion. All the religious thinkers were doubters.

New York Times, December 3, 1978

but what do you 'know' ? for certain ? not a feeling , but proof positive know ? and how do you know it ?

I know God is real, I know it as clearly as I know 2+2=4, not just a feeling, and I have loads of positive proof, but it's not proof that I can share with someone who doesn't already know the same thing I do.

I question everything because I know nothing.

Are you dictated completely by a need for proof of everything? Or does it just run your beliefs? Why is proof necessary?

Yes, a person always has to question their beliefs in order to find the true path of life and what you are seeking. If you accept something, but do not question if it may be right or wrong, then that acceptance is worthless because if you don't know for sure, that doubt will always be lingering in the back of your head.

I know this isn't directed towards me, but I would like to say something about it.

First of all, no I don't need proof for everything, but some things I do need proof. Man is a curious being and always wants to "know", but the fact is that life wouldn't be as exciting if we knew everything. If your friend said that they just ran a mile, would you care about proof or just accept what they say to be the truth? On the other hand, if someone just said they saw your mom in a car accident, you'd want proof that it was her and not some other person wouldn't you?

I guess it just depends on the situation or the matter.

even thomas required proof. outward proof. so where is this proof you have. ? proof seperates fact from fiction so yes it's necessary.

going by personal experience may be enough for me but that isn't proof. it's an opinion.


Proverbs 14:15
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good

proof /pruf/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[proof] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
2. anything serving as such evidence: What proof do you have?
3. the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial: to put a thing to the proof.
4. the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.
5. Law. (in judicial proceedings) evidence having probative weight.
6. the effect of evidence in convincing the mind.
7. an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation.
8. Mathematics, Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.
9. a test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacture.

I don't need to prove anything to you, I go by what has been proven to me.

If something was proven to you, obviously you could prove it to someone else if it is proof.

Someone tells you that A cannot be A and non-A at the same time, this is proof. Proof is the same to every person, so I guess your proof is not proof but belief.

in other words all you have is your opinion. no proof.

Definitely, PROOF is extremely important. It is the only way to vanquish all doubts. But, at what price?!

Some people who were given the chance to see/meet God decline the chance because of Earthly ties, such as hopes, dreams, romantic relationship(s), and/or other reasons. The signs are all around us, and somehow, these people could see/read them like maps. The thing is: God has eternity to know our souls (and vice versa), that I gathered from a personal experience. One's concrete, personal experience is proof(!) since it is not an outside opinion, nor a hearsay, even if others don't think so. That experience will be polished by other experiences. One thing leads to another. Eventually, all these experiences will lead to that one-on-one connection/conversation with God, the ULTIMATE PROOF to vanquish all doubts. This is inevitable, even if it takes many lifetimes for it to happen. There are no accidents, but I believe that everyone of us has a sincere desire which brings us back to this world, over and over again. And I believe God is pure patience, just by looking at my life to find this out. And since God created our souls equally, we will all get the chance to experience whatever 'it' is that needs to get experienced. But, are we really ready for the Truth now? At one point in time, I thought I was. The reality of my life tells me otherwise -- not yet, at least. And I truly believe that God knows my sincere desire, what's buried deep in my heart. And It knows that perfect timing since It is God, after all.

If it can't be demonstrated then it's not proof.it's a belief, nothing more


fullywired

When it comes to things like God, ghosts, aliens, and bigfoot My beliefs are neutral and fluid(see the sig).

When it comes to my beliefs in things like freedom and equality they remain unchanged and unquestioned. They may not be right but they are right to me.

but a personal experience with nothing to show for it outwardly again is only opinion to everyone else. it is not proof. it's belief to you. not proof to anyone else.

not everyone feels god. there is proof leaning that it's ( religion, faith ect ) is genetically inclined.

Most people who claim to have had NED's said they didn't want to come back . family ect ...... didn't matter. so those who were given the chance to 'see god' didn't want to come back.

your truth is not THE TRUTH since the truth is different for everyone. My truth isn't THE TRUTH for everyone else. the christian truth likewise isn't the truth for everyone nor is any religion. that would limit god.

I already know my truth as of this moment. it isn't your truth and it isn't 'wrong' or 'right' . it just is. I would hope after I die I get THE TRUTH , but until then noone has it.

Spirituality is a personal journey, after all.





Not yet, at least. Most people want God, right here, right now, as if, especially if they haven't done anything to warrant being indulged. But, what's the rush??? Do we really want the Truth??? Are we really ready to take on that journey, especially if we pressing business to do on Earth? Have we even experienced living, to its fullness???

Then again, God is just a whisper away, no doubt.





I, in my recollection, have never claimed to know THE Truth since I'm still here on Earth. In fact, I say "belief system" in many of my posts. And yes, of course, my belief system is not THE Truth; however, a belief is a road map, a hint, a clue. And more clues will sharpen that particular road map to hopefully breakthrough to the Truth.

Also, I'm actually very careful not to "own" Truth, to claim that I know Truth because there are forces out there who watch us very carefully -- just speaking from experience. I certainly don't want to get psychically "tripped."

Again, I try to avoid using the word "truth" (with a small "t") in all my posts. I always say belief system -- BIG difference.




It's always good to hope. On the other hand, I have no doubt that certain individuals did find out THE Truth, but not here anymore to tell us all about it.

Be back Tuesday.

Iams......LT said it good

No offense meant Iams,but I must single out this quote for a moment.

What one "knows" may only be what they believe or think they know.Therefore,it should still be questioned.

I have heard many on these forums state that they "know" something,yet cannot give evidence that can prove or demonstrate to others that it is something truly known.For example,you and others say that you know that God exists from some sort of proof that has been given to you...but that you cannot give to others so that they may "know" as you do.

Some may see this as self-delusion,others see it as a personal opinion,and others may believe that you have truly been given some sort of proof.

Now....how many times have we all been given "proof" of something...yet still questioned it until we were absolutely positive that there could be no doubt about that proof? Then again...how many of us have been shown some sort of proof and taken it for granted that it was real without questioning it or attempting to examine it? When it comes to normal everyday items,there are points at which we can all take it for granted that something is real because we can see it,use it and hear it.But when dealing with the non-normal,such as spirituality,do we really know something exists just because someone tells us so or because we think that we have been given some sort of proof? Should these things not be questioned?

For some of us,questioning everything will always be a good thing,for it may lead us to a deeper understanding of what is real,how things work,and what is happening in the environments in which we are in.