if god is so loving

My suggestion is that you read the Bible. It’s all in there recorded by a loving God who wants to be a Father to us, for us to read and believe or not, it’s up to us. It says we are made in Gods image so he gave us free will to choose.
He doesn’t want robots, He wants people who love His son Jesus, who gave his life at around 33 years of age so that we could be forgiven and live forever with Him.
I know it sound strange and a bit far fetched but for the last 40 years I have had a wonderful relationship with the Lord Jesus and I think I’m a well balanced and sane person 😁

I don't have all the answers red1.
But my faith keeps me going.
When I think of the universe and beauty and love, I find it hard not to believe in God.

Gosh, red1, your post has raised questions I've been turning over in my mind for years.
If this Almighty God entity is all-powerful why did he (automatically male, of course!) create such a badly flawed creature as a human being? Are we the end result of a cruel and sadistic whim?
And why does the bible (origins uncertain at best) dictate repeatedly that this supreme entity demands our undivided worship? It's almost egotistical.
And, the ultimate question, why is the world mired in so much misery? We are led to believe that anything good in our lives is due to the generosity of this mythical entity but anything negative is all our fault. Religion is,generally, appallingly one-sided, to be sure.

God loves each and every single one of us. I believe that through belief in Jesus we will have eternal life. I have not had an easy life at all, but my suffering actually brought me closer to him. I don’t have all the answers at all, but I do know that since (aged 55) I decided to trust in God completely and lose the ego, I have changed as a person. I feel less fear, more peace and a sort of deep joy. My faith deepens every day. You can have a bad start as I certainly did, but you can have a good finish. It’s really just about love.

Frangipan

I think for me, and perhaps many others, reading the bible is most confusing and raises far more questions than it ever answers, especially given the fact that it’s clearly been written by many many different people with different views.

The whole Adam and Eve story is preposterous, the Old Testament contradicts the New Testament, I struggle so much with parts of the bible. For me it’s almost a historical tale and shows how things change over time and partially allegorical. I have no doubt there was a very good man called Jesus who was considered a prophet.

I was raised within the Church of England, my husband as a devout Catholic. His childhood was awful, his Dad was an alcoholic wife and child beater and his Mum schizophrenic, my DH Secondary Schooling sounds horrific, taught by Jesuit Priests, who certainly never “spared the rod”. He was a very damaged person when we met, when we were both in our 30’s. He won’t really entertain any religion now.

It’s made me question things so much, but I’m still there balancing on that fence.

I try to live my life treating others as I’d like to be treated myself.

My SIL was a lapsed Catholic and had terminal cancer. In her last few weeks she asked a RC Priest to visit her. She felt hypocritical but the priest re told the story of the Prodigal Son.
When he was in trouble he came back to his Father who welcomed him home.

I have faith in a higher being than us. Praying helps me and I gather my thoughts. We are not perfect, far from it, we have the gift of free will. Unfortunately there are people who have no conscience who perform outrageous acts. I stopped watching the news because if it. I hate the injustice, all these stabbing of young children on our streets. Victims of war, of violence, the list is endless. All we can do is our best.
Ginsberg, I am not a Catholic but I’m glad your sister had comfort from the Priest, his words were wise and true.

I came to believe in God in my 50s after years of just not being that interested in it and actively avoiding those professing faith. My life changed so much, I can feel God’s love and I am so grateful that he sent his son to forgive and take all our sins. Nothing I did gave me faith, I have a sense that when I actually realised that I was indeed a sinner I was adopted and became a Christian . You can’t make yourself believe, it happens to you when you are open and willing.

red1 God made a beautiful earth it wasn’t him who’s destroying it it’s us. we humans who are so cruel and destructive. If only we had listened to King Charles who was so caring of our world we wouldn’t be in such a mess.

Bonnybanko

red1 God made a beautiful earth it wasn’t him who’s destroying it it’s us. we humans who are so cruel and destructive. If only we had listened to King Charles who was so caring of our world we wouldn’t be in such a mess.

But your god made those 'cruel and destructive' humans? And yes, yes, I know all about the 'free will' thing...

For me there is a God. Often I have felt the power and comfort of the arms of a 'guardian angel' when times have been tough But I cannot accept religions which were created by man for their own power hungry ego. The universe is a magnificent wonderous place and the human being is equally a splendid creation. There are many good, kind, supportive, helpful and truthful people in our world but it is the power hungy, and the greedy who will destroy our planet and everything in it. I would like to think that good will conquer evil but I'm not so sure it will. If only the greedy could learn what it means to be content the world would be a much better place. And I would not worry so for the future of my grandchildren.

God made a beautiful earth

Ask yourself - is it really so beautiful?

It is utterly miraculous of course and awe-inspiring, but there are so many ways in which it is not the least beautiful. The whole is set up on the basis of organisms trying to kill each other in order to survive; bacteria and viruses invade all species with a view to their own survival; predators are programmed to kill; most species live in constant terror of their lives faced with predators.

There is nothing whatever beautiful about this set up. It is barbaric. And yet it is what this postulated divine loving being has done. None of this can be laid at the door of humankind.

Religions have caused so much trouble in the world.
Christianity is different.

How is Christianity different?

Which religion was involved in the appalling sectarian violence in NI?

Man made Religions have caused trouble in the world. Faith and belief have not.

nadateturbe

Religions have caused so much trouble in the world.
Christianity is different.

How, exactly?

Indeed Luckgirl the survival of the fittest Darwin.

It’s great that we raise these questions about religion, meaning of life, purpose, and so on. An unexamined life is not worth living attributed to Socrates. Those who just don’t bother surprise me.

For those who don’t accept traditional religious explanations it’s worthwhile having a look at humanism. I joined a local group a few years back, and have found a bunch of thoughtful, intellectually questioning, fun, caring, ethical people, very involved in community activities including multi faith groups.
It’s not just those of faith who try to live by the adage of treat other people as you would want them to treat you.

Many well known people are humanists including Sandi Toksvig, Adam Rutherford, Stephen Fry and many more including a Parliamentary cross-party group of around 115, and a long list of scientists, mathematicians and philosophers.

As fervently as some of you believe in God, I believe that he's not there. He's never been there for me or mine.

Try the Humanist Quiz on “How Humanist are you?” On U.K. Humanist site?

Organised religion has been corrupt for years - the selling of pieces of the cross, enough for umpteen crosses for example. I don’t believe you have to belong to a religious group to believe in God. Too many people who go to church are hypocrites in the way they behave - shake your hand in church but ignore you out of it. That is not what Jesus taught.

nadateturbe

Religions have caused so much trouble in the world.
Christianity is different.

The trouble is not caused by the religions themselves, which usually began with high ideals of how people should act so as to look after one another and live together in peace and harmony. It is the human weaknesses that the people who profess those religions still possess.

thanks for so many replies, I have had a difficult relation with
religion, ultra strict RC with family members, one a bishop,the other a cardinal, now get yourself out of that one! I like the idea of a loving god, but it does not make sense.I follow dawkins idea of why would a god send his son down to be murdered than sent back again? The same applies to us humans? I think the whole area of theology/philosophy definately stretches grey matter.

I don't believe for the following reasons.
If God is so caring and good:
Why did he create a worm (Loa loa) which can eat children's eyes from the inside out?
Why did he create cancer?
Why did he create dementia?
Why did he create leprosy?
I could go on.
IF he does exist then he presumably enjoys watching people suffer. I wouldn't want to worship a deity like that.

Well said, Cardriver!

Varian I think we've been here before. Trouble in NI is unionism v republicanism. Anyone who advocates violence is not a Christian. People often claim God is on their side, while committing acts that are wrong.