I used to believe in Jesus Christ but now I don't.

You can believe in Yeshua without all the Paul duality team faith driven ideas causing followers of Jesus vs every one else.

Yeshua without the Paul is very similar to Nanak (Sikhism) and Buddha:s teachings and Rumi (Sufi mysticism).

Faith is not the same as awareness of the hidden secrets. Those who do not seek knowledge will not find knowledge.

originally posted by: jaws1975
All Jesus ever was or wanted to be was a signpost showing us the way. The way is love. I'm not a Christian, neither was Jesus.

This is a really great POV. Star for you.

originally posted by: donktheclown
a reply to: geezlouise

I, too, sense the mystery of life in general and I'm not opposed to the idea of a god or a higher power at all.

God is you. There is nobody else here but you. Jesus (ONE) is perfectly fine with you not believing in HIM. HE loves you regardless - and unconditionally. HE wanted me to tell you.

One wants to return to but cannot quantify how/what/where/when? I want to return to Source/Origin and have no idea/reason why I wish to do so?

a reply to: geezlouise

I feel EXACTLY the same way about religion. I was raised but never baptized Catholic and I eventually came up with the same conclusions.

But I still think that we should do our best to do good around us and fight against "sins" that aren't victim-less. I have no idea if that will get us into "heaven" but it's a good path to make life on earth heavenly

originally posted by: LittleByLittle
You can believe in Yeshua without all the Paul duality team faith driven ideas causing followers of Jesus vs every one else.
Yeshua without the Paul is very similar to Nanak (Sikhism) and Buddha:s teachings and Rumi (Sufi mysticism).
Faith is not the same as awareness of the hidden secrets. Those who do not seek knowledge will not find knowledge.

From nothing everything comes; must be remembered, as nothing contains that which is the possible of everything latent to grow from a NOT possible/negative.

a reply to: vethumanbeing

One wants to return to but cannot quantify how/what/where/when? I want to return to Source/Origin and have no idea/reason why I wish to do so?

You live a delusion. You can no more separate from CREATOR than a fish can separate from it's scales. You wish to do so because there is nothing else for you to do, and you're beginning to realize that, maybe? I hope so.

originally posted by: donktheclown
a reply to: vethumanbeing

One wants to return to but cannot quantify how/what/where/when? I want to return to Source/Origin and have no idea/reason why I wish to do so?

You live a delusion. You can no more separate from CREATOR than a fish can separate from it's scales. You wish to do so because there is nothing else for you to do, and you're beginning to realize that, maybe? I hope so.

The Absolute or "IAM" is perfect and does not need to create me to define itself. I am separate from Creator as It STILL refuses to Proclaim itself as my creator (and why would it) Its too busy being at war with Space/Infinity.

originally posted by: lovebeck

originally posted by: jaws1975
All Jesus ever was or wanted to be was a signpost showing us the way. The way is love. I'm not a Christian, neither was Jesus.

This is a really great POV. Star for you.

I don't think its so great.

I wasn't sure if I was a true believer even as a kid, somethings just didn't make sense and if I ask questions I get the tried and tested (The lord moves in mysterious ways..or who are you to question the lord you are on your way to hell if you don't do penance, ] by mid to late teen I'd skip going to mass unless the matriarchs gang up on me and insists I escort them,or when they had a potluck in the basement then I needed no prodding, since then my scientific curiosity expanded,am I a full blown atheist??. no, but only because I don't know all there is to know, like is there a universal consciousness?? then again metaphysics is not my strong suit .

a reply to: geezlouise

Hi there. I am also curious to hear what specifically made you stop believing? I believe in having a relationship with God (Jesus). And it's not about how much you go to church, or how much good you can do. It is about love, loving Him, and loving one another.

I also went threw many years of abuse, I've been through really hard times, lost many family members, some days I didn't know if I would make it. I am a bit older than you. There were many years I prayed and I wondered sometimes if God was going to answer, and when?

One thing was. I didn't know how God speaks to people. Sometimes I had visions, and I didn't know it was God showing me them. He also speaks through dreams, people, His Word, and a small inner voice.

If you went to Calvary Chapel, well, I did too for many years. I was very 'comfortable' at a branch 'off' of Calvary, and I am going to be honest. I loved it. I was in the worship team, I did youth ministry, I helped with setup. 'Then', the church started to break apart. I was so heart broken, I kept asking God, why?? why??

Then, I actually heard and internal voice say, 'Because it's time for you to grow.'
I WAS SO SHOCKED!! HOW COULD THIS BE??

You see, at Calvary it was a 'verse by verse' teaching. But There is SO MUCH MORE. I went from reading about God, to experiencing God! God started opening my eyes to His supernatural love! It IS LIKE NO OTHER LOVE ON THIS EARTH.
I went to a 'power and love' conference with Todd White, saw people healed with an outreach team, I've had more visions, supernatural encounters, prophetic teaching. A whole new world opened up.

You might want to try a good full gospel church or foursquare church near you. Or a power and love conference in your area.

Experiencing God is so much better! (don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, people will always be people, christian or not)

a reply to: geezlouise Good to think about. You may want to reconsider what you think about hell etc. For example, people don't burn in hell for eternity (even King David knew that). The truly evil and unrepentant souls are destroyed in the lake of fire forever, and they cease to exist. Second, people get a second chance to reconsider and repent after they die, apparently, because there is a prison where Jesus went after the crucifixion where he preached to spirits there. Why would he preach to them if they had no chance to repent? It's not as bleak as you think. God wants all to repent and return to him. He loves us enough to die for us. Ref: 1 Peter 3:19, Rev 20: Ps 16:10

Additionally, you may want to do a search on youtube about Muslims who are seeing Jesus appear to them, and many of them don't even know who He is up front. Recently, a 108 year old rabbi said he saw the messiah, and his name is Jesus.

I'm very glad to hear this geezlouise, and congratulations! It can be an incredible struggle to live with religion, and in some cases an even more difficult one to leave religion. Nevertheless, you've managed to escape the chains of a ideology which generally teaches it's followers close their minds, never wonder, never ask questions, and to be a slave to the words of an ancient, fallible book.

Now, you're free to discover a whole new look on reality, and trust me, it's a path well worth taking. Not only that, but you'll learn to believe in yourself, and others too, rather than resort to explaining events through acts of god; rather than say, the effort and talent of a person. Now you're able to look at the world around you with even more beauty in your eyes, for all that's there is likely a product of natural occurrence, not needing magic to create it, but to arise all on its own, knowing that we may or may not be able to go anywhere after we pass on, which makes every second in this life that much more valuable (rather than simply a test)

Life without a god is fantastic, I hope you enjoy it as much as all of us non-believers

I stopped believing in Christianity at age 17 after reading Why I am not a Christian by Bertrand Russell.

At that point I became a Born Again Agnostic.

It hasn't exactly been plain sailing since then...slipped from the path once or twice...joined a church briefly around the age of 30...

But.

My faith was strong and I came through.

Whenever I find myself faltering, I consult the Good Book (above named), and it gives me the inner strength to resist the addiction of ancient philosophies with their irrational promises of pie-in-the-sky-when-I-die.

originally posted by: geezlouise
I used to believe in Jesus Christ but now I don't.

Have you spoken to him about it?

Think about it, if he really is for real and he really cares about you and wants you to know the truth would you WANT to know?

One day Louise you're going to have an encounter with him and you're going to KNOW that he loves you very much.

Once you've had a personal experience with God, all of these questions will vanish.

No one else can convince you but God.

You mentioned that you were interested in our stories and that's understandable...

Even more important than that though, is that God wants to give YOU a story that you can pass on to others.

I was once an atheist years ago but one day out of a clear blue sky, God decided to show up and show out and it became quite literally impossible to deny the truth any longer.

The end result is I KNOW that God is very real and anyone that wants to can KNOW what's real and what isn't.

He might just be waiting for YOU to make the first move.

WHAT have you got to lose?

Just remember that God is a gentleman and He never forces himself on anyone.

Nor will he force anyone against their will to go to Heaven.

I challenge you to ask him yourself, ask, seek, and knock.

If you ask Jesus to show himself to you in an honest and humble manner, he will do something to show you he is real.

Be patient though as he will do this on his timing, not yours...

I can personally vouch for what 'FlyInTheOintment' says below about God answering prayer.

originally posted by: FlyInTheOintment
God doesn't lie either - but he veils the truth from those who consider themselves wise in their own eyes. Finding the truth is a matter of humility and the acceptance of our need for grace (nobody can be counted pure in the eyes of God... Perseverance in seeking the person of God is the key. If we knock, the door will be opened. After that, it's just a matter of time until he 'leads us into all truth' by the power of His Spirit.

originally posted by: FlyInTheOintment
You are an open-minded sort of person, by the look of things! A rare thing in these days and times. I would advise you to pray a simple prayer, and see what happens. Test it out! Simply say: ''God, if you are real, would you reveal yourself to me in some way. I want to know the Truth...''

That's what I did ten years ago, and the very next day someone walked past me in the street, before stopping, turning back and pointing to me. She said: '"You've been praying. God answers prayer. Come with me...'' She was prompted by the still, small voice of calm, the voice of God's own Spirit, who lives with all believers, to be an intermediary between me and God, to prove His existence, so that I could answer the call of God, to give my life to Him.

I came to faith in Christ through her talking with me, and since that day God has shown me a thousand things that I would have no natural way of knowing. He does so in order to help us in real, practical and spiritual ways, and to help others to come to know Him. He desires for you to walk with Him, and to know His voice, and to bless your life in a million different ways. Take it or leave it - but I hope you take it, in faith.

Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Don't bother with 'Droidus the spirit guide' (or others like him) - he has no answers for anyone; not even those who are devoted to him. God Himself will be your guide.

originally posted by: WeAllDieSoon
The nature of the Truth is that not everyone hears it. The proof of God is everywhere. Creation itself is proof. Knowing the Truth and proclaiming it is not pride. I can provide evidence, which I already have, but proof is something that comes from God. The truth is either God revealed the truth or He didn't. The truth is you have been given the ability to seek the truth. Where there is smoke...

Me, I know because I spent years seeking. My God has revealed Himself to me. He does that after you seek Him. He does it because He said He would. You can't know if I am telling the truth, though. That is because God designed your reality so that it is up to you, personally, to seek the truth. If you hear it, and believe it, you will seek God. And then you will know what I know.

I Stray... More Often Than Not... Then I Renounce Faith... Simply Because I Prefer To Learn As I Go Along. Without The Blemish Of Instructors Plaguing My Intentions.
If God Can See... He May Never Need More... Nor Offer It... In Exchange For Works With Merits.

God Is My Bah-Hum-Bug. Jesus Is My Damned If You Do And Damned If You Don't.
The Spirit Is Full Of Wannabes...

I Am Lonely....

BUT!
Just To Piss God Off.... Even Though We Are Not Allowed To Tempt Him....

I Sell My Soul... And Dabble In Breaking The Ten Commandments... And Further It With Faithlessness.... And Mock Him By Saying:

Body And Soul I Cannot Call My Own In This Life Or The Next!
So... I Take Nothing With Me Except My Name. It Shall Be Blotted Out And Be Forgotten As The Ages Pass By. My Name. Give To The Devil What Is The Devil's. And To God Give Trust.
But To Me... I Give My Right To Remain Nameless... And In Life My Lord Is A Disappointment. He Shall Not Use My Name To Mock Life And Those Who Want It.

The one you call Jesus is here on Earth and fighting the corner of the oppressed, most of whom are blissfully aware they are oppressed. As prophesied, nobody believes him and the governments have gathered against him - that's what that whole Climate Change charade was all about: CC = Catholic Church + Crucify Christ = 33, the age Christ reputedly died. They've made two assassination attempts already. In the UK at the time (last week) there were two crashes on the same day with car drivers ploughing into a Costa Coffee and a bus with CC on the front. There is a faction amongst the oppressors that believes against this CC-33 policy, it would seem.

These oppressors are now in a pickle. I can't go into details, but the clock is ticking for them to reveal themselves publicly in plain language who and what they are and for the top two 'chapters' to be tried. The deadline is 7 January. Countless lives are at risk, but still they think they can win.

God in All Their Might are with him. I'm just a voice in the wilderness proclaiming the facts. He is doing his utmost to bring things to a tidy close, but the other side aren't playing fair. Send him a prayer or two, would you?

a reply to: geezlouise

In the timeline, Santa Claus comes after Jesus. (for most of us). But the ego's training with Symbols are clear here:
You stop believing in one, because it will tell you he doesn't exist, then you stop believing in the other because you dont see him.

But one of them is True, and with him the other one can be true as well.

One must also come to the realization that it isn't Jesus The Chris†'s fault. Jesus was NOT following any religion™ It was the power hungry Churchies that made Jesus the "Lee Harvey"


These folks enjoy links to any claims. I've provided a link to Your claim.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

namaste

Its OK, You have good reason for that.

Why do believers come here and try preach to the OP?

Is it for her sake or for yours ?