The God Experiment.

A month ago I have started to feel fear. Immense fear of death that I had never felt before. Of course this fear was based on the unknown regarding my death. As an Atheist there is no comfort in death, depending if you enjoy being alive or not of course. Myself, I am having a pretty good time so far, and the idea that it might end forever makes me feel very anxious.

So, I decided I wanted to become a christian. Why? Not for admiration in God or Christ, but by pure egoism. I have first asked the ATS community on how an Atheist could become a Christian and got a lot of very good replies here www.abovetopsecret.com...

I then made a thread regarding the issue of creationism. Being willing to believe in God to assure me eternal life was one thing, but to give up cosmological evolution and believe that the Universe was 5000 years old would not have been a possibility for me. Again I got a lot of very meaningful answers regarding that topic here www.abovetopsecret.com...

After the second thread I decided to proceed with the experiment. If God can be found If one seeks him, then I shall seek God. For the past week I have pretended to be a Christian. By pretending I mean that even though my mind tells me that I am praying for nothing and that no one is hearing me, I have kept doing so for a week. Reading the bible every morning and night, even on my iphone at work. Thanking God every time I eat and asking him to guide me to him.

Then it happened. As I was walking in the street the sky opened up and God brought me into the heaven. Just kidding. Nothing of divine nature happened. But something happened, something very real. I have started to feel good. Not that I did not feel good before, but this feeling was different, after 2 days of pretending, I was waking up with a better attitude, going through my everyday tasks with a smile (something I rarely do). Just an overall good feeling. Also good things happened to me all week. Everyday I was getting good news.

Now, the question must be asked. Is this God or something is happening in my brain causing secretions of certain hormones due to the fact that I am completely brainwashing myself with good thoughts and that I have less fear of dying since I think my little experiment will maybe grant me eternal life? What if the very act of believing in God makes you happier? Being real or not.

Also I understand that most Christians will tell me that I have found God, but know that this is not the case yet. But know that the feedback I am receiving from the God Experiment is very tempting. For the Atheists who will say I have been brainwashed by Christians, Know that I have intentionally chosen to brainwashed myself.

Anyways, this is an ongoing experiment.

To be continued...





Special thanks to TarzanBeta, SrWingCommander and everyone else who participated in this Experiment. Atheists or Theists. Thank you.

God looks on the heart so pretending or not He knows your true intentions. If indeed you are giving God a chance I have no doubt He will respect your efforts and you may have a change of heart. If you're just trying to make a cool thread, probably not.

I hope you're serious.

reply to post by TheGreatDivider


Well I got to say that this is a pretty cool thread. But I am being honest in everything I am saying here or in the previous threads if that is what you are wondering.

Originally posted by AdamLaw



Now, the question must be asked. Is this God or something is happening in my brain causing secretions of certain hormones due to the fact that I am completely brainwashing myself with good thoughts and that I have less fear of dying since I think my little experiment will maybe grant me eternal life? What if the very act of believing in God makes you happier? Being real or not.

How can you brainwash yourself if you know what you are doing?

Also I understand that most Christians will tell me that I have found God, but know that this is not the case yet. But know that the feedback I am receiving from the God Experiment is very tempting. For the Atheists who will say I have been brainwashed by Christians, Know that I have intentionally chosen to brainwashed myself.

Same question as above!

To me it seems like your experiment is in how to live a lie. Some people get so wound up in lies they create that they actually end up believing the lie.

Which is it for you, belief, or belief in a lie?

the results speak for themselves, a solid scientific endeavor. nothing to debunk here!

reply to post by Sissel


i think you should try this experiment for yourself.

Originally posted by tinhattribunal
reply to post by Sissel

 

i think you should try this experiment for yourself.

Why? I am already a Christian who actually believes.

Originally posted by AdamLaw

Now, the question must be asked. Is this God or something is happening in my brain causing secretions of certain hormones due to the fact that I am completely brainwashing myself with good thoughts and that I have less fear of dying since I think my little experiment will maybe grant me eternal life? What if the very act of believing in God makes you happier? Being real or not.

Also I understand that most Christians will tell me that I have found God, but know that this is not the case yet. But know that the feedback I am receiving from the God Experiment is very tempting. For the Atheists who will say I have been brainwashed by Christians, Know that I have intentionally chosen to brainwashed myself.

Anyways, this is an ongoing experiment.

To be continued...

edit on 18-10-2012 by AdamLaw because: (no reason given)

If it isn't God, then why would Evolution have produced a brain that is capable of giving you a good feeling about religious pursuits? What functional purpose would it serve?

If, on the other hand, your brain was specifically created by God, for his own personal pleasure, then it is logical that attempts to "get closer" would have programmed rewards designed to motivate you, but that do not violate your capability to express what is, from your perspective, free will.

Hope, assurance, peace and purpose are all words that are used more in context of religion than atheism or agnosticism.

Similarly, once you begin to see evidence of the divine around and within you, it will self reinforce and you will begin seeing more and more (because you are now looking for significance).

You have not found God but you have found that the intellectual and spiritual path to that knowledge/experience is neither dark nor foolish.

Originally posted by Sissel

Originally posted by AdamLaw



Now, the question must be asked. Is this God or something is happening in my brain causing secretions of certain hormones due to the fact that I am completely brainwashing myself with good thoughts and that I have less fear of dying since I think my little experiment will maybe grant me eternal life? What if the very act of believing in God makes you happier? Being real or not.

How can you brainwash yourself if you know what you are doing?

Also I understand that most Christians will tell me that I have found God, but know that this is not the case yet. But know that the feedback I am receiving from the God Experiment is very tempting. For the Atheists who will say I have been brainwashed by Christians, Know that I have intentionally chosen to brainwashed myself.

Same question as above!

To me it seems like your experiment is in how to live a lie. Some people get so wound up in lies they create that they actually end up believing the lie.

Which is it for you, belief, or belief in a lie?

edit on 18-10-2012 by Sissel because: (no reason given)

That is my point exactly. If it is indeed a lie that makes me feel better, then what is the problem believing in a lie? And if it is not a lie, then God is real.

Win-win

Originally posted by AdamLaw


That is my point exactly. If it is indeed a lie that makes me feel better, then what is the problem in living a lie? And if it is not a lie, then God is real.

Win-win

This is what the Bible says about lying. Should it make a difference to you? I think so.

www.godvine.com...

Just a few examples from the link for you:

Leviticus 19:11 You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Psalms 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but your law do I love. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Originally posted by Sissel

Originally posted by AdamLaw


That is my point exactly. If it is indeed a lie that makes me feel better, then what is the problem in living a lie? And if it is not a lie, then God is real.

Win-win

This is what the Bible says about lying. Should it make a difference to you? I think so.

www.godvine.com...

What if I lie to my son about his medications being candies in order for him to take them to cure him of a disease?

What if I lie to my soldiers about the number of enemies that they are about to face and that lie gave them courage that saved many lives during the fight?

What if I lie to myself in Order to know God and perhaps one day believe in this lie?

reply to post by AdamLaw


. For the past week I have pretended to be a Christian. By pretending I mean that even though my mind tells me that I am praying for nothing and that no one is hearing me, I have kept doing so for a week.





That's nothing...some people can prolong the charade for a life time. Update us in a year, as the 'experiment' and thread will be more interesting.

Originally posted by AdamLaw


What if I lie to my son about his medications being candies in order for him to take them to cure him of a disease?

That is how children end up having accidental overdoses.

What if I lie to my soldiers about the number of enemies that they are about to face and that lie gave them courage that saved many lives during the fight?

They should be expecting the unexpected if they are trained for battle. So why would you have to lie to get them to have courage, anyway?

What if I lie to myself in Order to know God and perhaps one day believe in this lie?

Lies take a lot more effort than being truthful. If you have any life experience you would know this already. You need to figure this out for yourself.

Originally posted by facelift
reply to post by AdamLaw

 

. For the past week I have pretended to be a Christian. By pretending I mean that even though my mind tells me that I am praying for nothing and that no one is hearing me, I have kept doing so for a week.

That's nothing...some people can prolong the charade for a life time. Update us in a year, as the 'experiment' and thread will be more interesting.

I will oh serpent of death
This thread is to inform you that the Experiment has begun

Originally posted by AdamLaw

That is my point exactly. If it is indeed a lie that makes me feel better, then what is the problem believing in a lie? And if it is not a lie, then God is real.

Win-win

"He is no fool that gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose" - Jim Elliott.

Originally posted by Sissel

Originally posted by AdamLaw


What if I lie to my son about his medications being candies in order for him to take them to cure him of a disease?

That is how children end up having accidental overdoses.

What if I lie to my soldiers about the number of enemies that they are about to face and that lie gave them courage that saved many lives during the fight?

They should be expecting the unexpected if they are trained for battle. So why would you have to lie to get them to have courage, anyway?

What if I lie to myself in Order to know God and perhaps one day believe in this lie?

Lies take a lot more effort than being truthful. If you have any life experience you would know this already. You need to figure this out for yourself.

Thank you for the good laugh. If you are going to quote me and then counter at least have some real arguments. These answers would grant you an F at best in philosophy 101. I also like how you use sophism at the end by mentioning that I know this already if I have life experience but that if I disagree with your laughable arguments I therefore have no life experience.

Originally posted by AdamLaw


Thank you for the good laugh. If you are going to quote me and then counter at least have some real arguments. These answers would grant you an F at best in philosophy 101. I also like how you use sophism at the end by mentioning that I know this already if I have life experience but that if I disagree with your laughable arguments I therefore have no life experience.

Why would I need to argue with you? It's really pointless and my silly replies were given because of your silly reply. Oh, and I said you would know this, not that you already do.

Actually, I am interested in your thread.

If you were to die tomorrow, do you think you would make it into the hereafter based on lies? Even if you are "brainwashing," yourself into some sort of salvation, there is no getting around lying to God. In other words, the words that leave your lips won't by you a ticket. God knows what is in your heart.

Actually, thinking about your experiment, it sounds like you are casting a spell, and nothing more.

Originally posted by Sissel

Originally posted by AdamLaw


Thank you for the good laugh. If you are going to quote me and then counter at least have some real arguments. These answers would grant you an F at best in philosophy 101. I also like how you use sophism at the end by mentioning that I know this already if I have life experience but that if I disagree with your laughable arguments I therefore have no life experience.

Why would I need to argue with you? It's really pointless and my silly replies were given because of your silly reply. Oh, and I said you would know this, not that you already do.

Actually, I am interested in your thread.

If you were to die tomorrow, do you think you would make it into the hereafter based on lies? Even if you are "brainwashing," yourself into some sort of salvation, there is no getting around lying to God. In other words, the words that leave your lips won't by you a ticket. God knows what is in your heart.

Actually, thinking about your experiment, it sounds like you are casting a spell, and nothing more.

What if the spell ultimately leads me to believe in God? I will have been saved and granted eternal life because of that lie no?

reply to post by AdamLaw


All G-d needs is for us to open even a single tiny crack. It is that invitation which allows HIM to make HIMSELF known to us because that crack is our free will acknowledging an open invitation, even if there is skepticism.

HE works in magnificent ways, most of which cannot be seen but rather felt and known within our souls. The terrifying fear of death you were experiencing was a message you see, so that you could give HIM that tiny opening and come to know HIM and be saved.

There is a real battle here AdamLaw and it is over souls. Don't be decieved into thinking that this world is here for the pleasure of reaping superficial accomplishments and physical goals. It has and always will be about the fight over people's souls.

Originally posted by AdamLaw




What if the spell ultimately leads me to believe in God? I will have been saved and granted eternal life because of that lie no?

luther.badgerinternet.com...

Is magic good or bad? It depends upon what you mean. The difference is not between white and black magic. The difference is between fictional and real-life magic. What does the Bible say about magic? Magic of all kinds, in all forms is forbidden by the Bible. Anyone who practices magic is breaking God’s Law. The verses condemning the use of magic appear in both the Old and New Testament. A list of verses appears below. The specific things that are rejected in The Bible are: divination (using magic to predict the future or learn secrets about lives), sorcery (casting spells using any form or skill), witchcraft (spell-casting or potion making), mediums and spiritists (claiming to speak with the dead or with spirits other than God or God’s angels), or any magic arts, including astrology (that’s right, astrology). Here are examples of verses in the Bible forbidding magic in all forms: Leviticus 19: 26 Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 II Kings 17: 16-17 II Kings 21: 6 Isaiah 47: 12-15 Ezekiel 13: 17-23 Acts 19: 17-20 Revelation 21: 6-8 Revelation 22: 14-15