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

I think a lot of people feel like that hettymaud. I've been a Christian all my life up until the last few years. World events, and events in this country, make it hard to understand.

But then, just as think your faith has completely gone out of the window never to return, someone seems to speak to you. And it feels like God. Totally

Many would say that my generation were brainwashed. Who knows? But it's good when, briefly, you feel close to what you so much need.

Sorry I missed off your capitals. HettyMaud.

I’m an atheist. I believe in the power of love, community and respect for our friends, family and neighbours. I believe that we’re attuned to nature and to our environment and that came about through evolution and not through the work of gods. When I do very occasionally go to church I don’t feel close to a god because I obviously don’t believe in them, but I feel a connection to other people, both in the present and of those who have been in that building before me - all of us living our small lives but all connected in peace. That sense of being is what makes me feel whole.

I’m probably making no sense whatsoever but ultimately it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about whether there are or aren’t gods - it’s what you believe and what makes sense to you.

I understand that SirChenjin I was raised a Catholic in a mixed marriage ,went on to marry a protestant and raised my children in the church of Scotland to keep my FIL happy ,the old " if you take his name you have to take his religion" west of Scotland thing

.I dont believe in a god ,any god.I cant imagine any being who had the power to make life if not good at least easier for millions could sit back and watch the suffering,the poverty ,the pain that goes on every day in some peopsles lives .Simplistic? Maybe but if I had that power I wouldn't watch children starve or live in horrific circumstances as they do.I do go to church ,with my MIL when she visits.I am good friends of 40 years with the minister who is wondeful man ,he doesn't ever try to convert me to his way of thinking and for that I applaud him.I also find it difficult to understnd that he can excuse HIS god for the mess he has allowed the people of the world to make .Sometimes I would like to be the child who believed the fairytales I was told about the caring ,loving father in heaven...but how can he possibly be the same fierce fiery god of retribution some minsters preach on Sundays /

Last evening I wandered along a quay close to where I live just before sunset. I played some favourite hymns on my phone (I was completely alone!) including The Day Thou gavest Lord is ended.
I too got that feeling of awe as I looked at the changing sky and watched the waves splashing on the shore. There is no doubt in my mind that it was created and I believe that human beings are different to all other animals.
But I have no explanation for suffering. Sometimes I find it hard to have faith in the God of the Bible. And yet I know some very intelligent people who believe totally with no doubt! I live in hope that all will be revealed some day.
My husband a former Christian believes everything can be explained by evolution.

I too believe everything can be explained by evolution. The extremely slow evolving of simple bacteria to the vast array of life on earth today, but I can also see how primitive man (the world over) believed there was some kind of higher being. They would've seen and heard everthing weather can throw at us; thunder, lightning, wind, rain, snow or relentless heat and seen stars, planets and more in the sky above them, so easy to see how the belief there was 'a God up there' controlling it, came about.

The problem people have with God is their idea of God, that God is separate instead of ever present- God gets filtered out of their lives because they believe God couldn't possibly have anything to with atrocities- So when atrocities take place people feel abandoned by God as a result of believing God to be a specific thing rather than everything- And when their idea of God fails them, they lose faith- But only faith in a God they failed to understand from the beginning-

Nothing is separate- Its all a delicate balance that humans struggle to understand- There is no end to the universe- So why place limitations on God- From the big bang to the big crunch, God is there- The alpha, the omega-

The unanswerable question Hettymaud.
I used to ask why are we here? How we came about, seems easier somehow.
Some say there's no God. What's the alternative?
God is life? God is the power to create which is in every living thing.
God is everything and everywhere.
The everyday miracles such as how i can tap a lump of flesh on a screen and seconds later you can read my mind.
Faith in God whatever you believe is valid if it helps you on your journey.

Last week I picked up my grandchildren from school and my granddaughter was explaining how they are learning about the big bang theory, I asked her little brother what he had been learning, and he said, how God created the earth, which do you believe? my granddaughter wanted to know, and it got me thinking. I’m not a religious person, and I certainly don’t think God created the world in seven days, but it seemed comforting to my grandson, he said of course it’s true, God can do anything, and he loves us all the time. I couldn’t bring myself to burst his bubble.

I agree paddyann.

The wonder for me isn’t in gods - it’s that we as sentient beings have worked with the natural world that has evolved over billions of years and that harmony has created everything we know, both good and evil. It’s such a profound thought - how can anyone fail to be moved by the enormity of that.

My father was raised a Catholic (I didn't even know that until I was an adult!), my mother Methodist. They married in the Church of England, which is where my elder sibling was baptised. By the time I came along, they decided not to bother at all. Our primary education, as was the norm in our area, was in C of E schools
I'm only giving this information to set the scene, to show that religion really wasn't a big factor in my upbringing (despite school).

Like my late dad, I really can't believe in some all seeing, all knowing God. Less still one that expects us all to believe blindly in 'his' existence.
My own feeling is very much that if such a power existed, it would leave us in absolutely no doubt of its existence. If it had the power to create our world, that would be a doddle.

Rather than the word 'God', I prefer to think (and 'feel') in terms of 'good'.
That's where my mind takes me when I marvel in a wonderful sunrise, sunset, or any other marvellous natural joy that the world has to offer.

I'm just saying what I personally feel, and certainly don't mean to offend anyone who does believe in God

I wrestle a lot with this and can totally understand the other posters I can’t wotk out what I believe in Why do good people suffer and often bad people get away with it all A good child dies from some horrible horrible disease and a Jimmy Saville lives on and on
I used to believe in a God I was baptised a Protestant went to a Catholic school (because my mum saw it as the best school in town) I became quite a believer then and was unshakable but as the years have gone by I ve become more and more of a doubter
I don’t want to think there’s nothing but the practical part of my brain tells me there isn’t and it’s just something used as a comfort to some and a rod for others the amount of wars caused by religion the amount of badness the mockery the hypocrisy turn me away from formal religion and with it beliefs
I would love to be unshakable

Evolution for me too. Darwinism.

I'd like to be clear in my mind - a vain hope I fear! I don't even try.

I try and live by a doctrine of kindness - anything else seems entirely irrelevant as far as I can see.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I wish very much that I had faith, I just struggle to believe in something so powerful, I do believe in Jesus, but not as the son of God.

It is said that God sent his son Jesus to show us of his existence & that to further show the proof of his love for us he would have his son sacrificed by being crucified. Bit extreme to say the least, surely there could have been a better/ different way/ways to show us.
The questions are as prolific as are the proffered explanations If belief brings comfort then that is a good thing. People find comfort in many beliefs & organisations, as long as it is not harmful to others & gives comfort then no harm done.( and maybe & often it give purpose & positivity to our lives)

Try this:
www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/authors/goldstein/36%20Arguments.pdf

I will take a look , thanks for link

Jesus said ‘he who believes in me believes not only in me but in the one who sent me’,

For me , belief not only brings comfort but joy.

Religious wars are carried out by man , greed and power hidden behind faith.

Jimmy Saville , man allowed him to abuse by remaining silent

Children starving - enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed . Gandhi

God is useful to blame for the evils in the world not man.

What anniebach says.

I'm with you in those beliefs Anniebach I don't think everything in the Bible and religious teachings was meant to be taken literally. A lot of the stories for me are just illustrations about life as it was and an ethos to live by.
Whatever faith people hold if it brings them comfort then that can only be a good thing.

I agree with SirChenjin

I envy those of you who can find comfort in your faith

Yes, yes, yes and a thousand times yes. God does exist! I know it and I have proved it! He loves us and cares deeply for us. If we turn to him, acknowledge Him and are willing to follow Him, we will develop a personal relationship with Him that is a million times better than any human relationship we can have on earth.