Does God exist? I'd like to be clear in my mind

I am an atheist , none of it makes any sense .I agree with others. why would a god who is supposed to be benevolent,omnipotent and omnipresent allow people to suffer so dreadfully? The answer has to be
a) not benevolent
b) not omnipotent or
c) not omnipresent.

If not benevolent then that is just mean.
If not the other two then why are we bothering because s/he could not have brought the universe etc into being.
I am only a human being but quite frankly if I could make the world perfect with very little effort I would , so why won't a supreme being?
FWIW I was sent to a church school and read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and it didn't make any sense then and it makes less sense now.

Try to be good to yourself and others , that is all that matters.

I think the concept of God was created by man to solve an eternal problem - and to act as excuse for men to wield power. All religions have sought to control people - usually men doing the controlling.

It is no coincidence that the doctrines of most religions reflect the culture of the societies where they began. For example, the idea of sacrifice and atonement are ones that make no sense, but they arise out of cultures where sacrifices to the gods were commonplace. The idea that an all-powerful god sent his "son" to be killed to atone for the world's sins is bizarre in the extreme - surely an all-powerful god would know pretty well what was going to happen to this person and had control over it.

I believe that an awful lot of life can be wasted trying to explain the inexplicable and that it is better just to get on with life with as much kindness in your heart as you can muster.

I have been a Christian all my life, my faith has never wavered despite what life throws at you. I enjoy the love and companionship that surrounds me in the Church that I attend every week. Do not consider myself brainwashed, am a very down to earth person, my friends as a matter of interest are athiests, but this does not interfere with our friendship at all.

M0nica - equally there is evidence to suggest the atheists have it better eg www.google.co.uk/amp/s/bigthink.com/10-benefits-of-atheism.amp.html

Ultimately, what is proven is that activities that are meaningful, healthy and connects us to others bring us comfort, peace and joy - whether that’s through non religious or religious activities.

nanou I am not saying everyone is born without flaws, you did ask’ why did his maker plant the seed of evil in his mind’

Some are born blind, deaf etc, I do not believe God chooses
‘That one blind, that one deaf’ . that one evil.

On a personal note, I had a still born baby in 1972 and in 1974,
my husband died in 1976. Was I angry ? Yes. Did I ask
‘why me’, yes, the answer was ‘why not you ? ‘.

So true, should I have wished it on someone else ? No. Did I grieve ? I ended up in a mental hospital a year later. I read
C S Lewis’s ‘A Grief Observed’, it was January, a visitor dug in
snow for some snowdrops for me. For me this was God leading me, strengthening me.

This is my experience of my faith in God.

There is no evidence to prove conclusively, whether he exists or not. However there is evidence that those who do believe in God and are church goers are more altruitic and environmentally thoughtful www.pewforum.org/2016/04/12/religion-in-everyday-life/

So living as if you had a religious belief and joining a church community, could be good for you.

we are born with a genetic make up & with a combination of inherited traits , which when coupled with life’s circumstances & the way one develops will impact on how we behave throughout life.
Sometimes the recipe is going be lacking in vital ingredients & become very dangerous when this happens we have to make provisions to protect others.

paddyann I totally agree. My nephew died of leukemia aged 16. I went to visit him every day that he was in the children's cancer ward, on and off for two years. I saw things that I can never forget. There were many people praying for my nephew. To no avail. When he died his dad, my brother, used to be furious when people said they would have a mass said and such like. He would tell them not to bother.

I had a strict Catholic upbringing. We were terrorised into 'believing' . I no longer do. Too many horrible things happen in the world and in my life. It never enters my head these days that there might be a God. Maybe I would find things easier if I did believe.

AnnieBach Obviously Saville had a very sick mind through genetics or circumstances - I have no idea.

When I talk about evil its a figure of speech, he was just a very sick sexual predator who's done massive damage. So are you saying that everybody is born pure with no flaws?

Psychopaths are well known for feeling nothing towards their victims - incapable of empathy - they were born with this trait which will show/develop later on in life.

nanou was evil planted in Saville’s mind when he was born?
are babies born evil ? I don’t believe so.

Children can be damaged and when adults do the same to children .

We accept mental illness if people speak of depression etc, and we sympathise,but if an unbalanced mind is spoken of when someone does something which causes harm we dismiss it as evil.

I agree Day6 goodness is in us and evil as well. Hopefully through evolution we will conquer and destroy the bad forces in us. Your Mum was a wise lady, what a lovely message to leave to her daughter!

I believe in goodness, kindness, helping, positivity, love and respect of Mother Nature, and yes, there must be something out there (not the monotheist God that the Church wants us to believe in) - this is my view anyway.

I share your view, nanou. There is more.

I have read religious literature that expouses the view that God resides within us, and I like to think that whilst we live we can act honestly and kindly for a benevolent God - the 'something more' that is (I believe) out there.

My Mum used to tell me "Make your own Heaven on Earth" and despite all sorts of hardship and trials, I still try to do that and remain grateful for my many blessings.

AnnieBach somehow I missed your first post. Religion is a great source of joy and comfort for you.
I had once a very religious friend (sadly passed) and when terrible things happened to her, her faith was unmovable, she was like a shining light. I often envied her faith and the joy from it. Our mindsets were different, I couldn't see what she saw and she couldn't see what I saw. This didn't stop us from loving each other. She was my best friend.

AnnieBach Jimmy Saville, man allowed him to abuse by remaining silent ... but then why his Maker planted the seed of evil in his mind, and that goes for all evil murderers!

HettyMaud read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
by Yuval Noah Harari - a great reflection on evolution, brilliantly written and researched.
I was raised a Catholic but since then I have become agnostic. I believe in goodness, kindness, helping, positivity, love and respect of Mother Nature, and yes, there must be something out there (not the monotheist God that the Church wants us to believe in) - this is my view anyway. However, with all the galaxies and universes we know of, it is a huge concept to comprehend for our little human minds. It almost gives me the vertigo when I think about it...but again there must be a beginning, a plan, an end. I don't think I have help you much here, but the truth is that nobody really knows - you believe or you don't with no certainty. But if you apply goodness through religion or simply through your own human values, you might reach happiness and contentment within.

* Proved his existence

I agree re a belief in gods being a matter of faith Smile - which is why I was intrigued by the earlier post by someone who claims they have proved it.

Belief that God exists is a matter of faith; it cannot be proved or dis proved.

Over the years science has attempted to prove that the Turin shroud was the shroud Jesus was wrapped in after the crucifixion.

There is 'scientific evidence' that it is, and 'scientific evidence' that it isn't.

I don’t understand your post of 13:06 either rose. I haven’t been rude to you by calling your beliefs “self limiting “ and I expect the same in return.

There's no excuse for suffering and nothing and no one to hold accountable for it because it's always existed- When suffering is treated as a truth, it's easier to see if for what it is, and what it is is life itself-

I think the concept of God was created by man to solve an eternal problem:

How can we be happy to live and witness all the suffering in our beautiful world? How do we excuse the horror inflicted on fellow humans and animals? Oh, of course, it's God's will!

All will be rewarded (or punished) in that magical place Heaven (or Hell) after death, won't it? How very convenient it is to believe in a fairy tale that absolves us of any responsibility.

The church even give absolution for a sin!

I used to have a strong Christian faith and believed many of my prayers were answered, and I was heard in times of deep distress. That comforted me and I appreciate it may have just been the way things would have worked out anyway.

I have moved on from the dogma and ritual of the church although many of my dearest friends are practising Christians.

I am not so sure about a God any longer I am afraid, for the reasons most have given? Why suffering and pain and why are parts of the world so wretched for so many people in terms of drought, climate disasters, war, suffering?

I stopped going to church years ago and friends asked why. I believed God could hear my prayers wherever I was - often at the kitchen sink.

I have become more spiritual and my love of nature fits in with that. I believe we are spirits having a bodily experience. I don't think death is the end and I do think there is more to life than we'll ever know.

Didn't Charles Darwin and many other scientists refuse to rule out the possibility of a god?

Darwin is quoted as saying “I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God.”

RC , can you explain your comment of 13:06 please

What if what people see didn't involve belief?

paddyann I don’t believe God gives children cancer