Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
On Jun 30, 8:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
Welcome!
> I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work.
You sound like a bright, curious young lady who is being honest with
herself. If people judge you for curiosity and attempting to learn
things, then they're the ones missing out. As you grow, while it may
be difficult, you'll be a much more well-adjusted adult who is able to
deal with reality.
> But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God,
Why?
> but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard.
Yes, indeed it is hard to make yourself believe in something you
don't.
> All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
How about this: You continue being a rational, well-adjusted young
person with a healthy curiosity and a dissatisfaction with half-
answered, doing the best job at being moral that you can do, make good
judgments based on empathy and respect for humanity, and you'll do
just fine. It sounds like that leads you to atheism. No shame in
that.
You sound like a very smart young lady, keep up the good work.
On Jun 30, 6:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
LL: And the best one. Read some books by Sam Harris and Richard
Dawkins. They will answer many of your questions. Start with Harris's
The End of Faith. It's the most accessible. You might also try
Bertrand Russell's Why I am Not a Christian and his other essays on
belief.
Howdy Khalaly. If I might make a suggestion for you: please do your
best to examine what people tell you and believe what is most likely
to be true.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
Just to fill you in on something you might not yet know (and take no
offense if you already knew this); a theist is anyone who has the
belief that at least one god exists. And an atheist is simply someone
who is not a theist -- ie, someone who does not have the have the
belief that at least one god exists. Thats all it means and there
isn't anything else to it other than that.
Cheers.
On Jun 30, 6:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
Welcome aboard, Khalaly. For a young teenage girl you show an
extraordinary level of intellectual maturity and curiosity...and that
is so refreshing. Too often young people allow themselves to be drawn
into belief systems and irrationality because it is easier than making
the effort to do the hard work of making up your own mind. I agree
that Harris and Dawkins are good beginnings. As for believing or not
believing in a god. Keep an open mind and know that we can lead a
good, decent, loving, charitable, ethical, and moral life without
anything supernatural.
Cheers,
Steve
On Jun 30, 9:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
Welcome, I just hope you will always question.
I am an atheist. All that means is that I have no belief in a god.
I consider that to try and put any pressure on you to believe
anything is wrong and I sincerely hope you will view each and
every question you have with the reasoned logic that you
already appear to possess. In the end analysis, you will only
be truly happy with what you have reasoned for yourself
and can come to terms with, to your own satisfaction.
I wish you well.
On Jul 1, 2:43 am, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
On Jun 30, 9:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
You should take solace in that you are not alone. I remember going
through several years and periods in my life when I wanted to believe
in god. In fact, to this day, I admit that there is a part of me that
looks out at the universe, this world, the life here, and wants to
insert some *purpose*, some *reason* for it all to be. Why is anything
here at all, rather than nothing?
This is all natural and good. Our desire to make sense of the world
stems from an innate survival factor and is necessary for us to live.
It is also the driving force for all human advancement.
The issue here should not be abandoment of your desire to make sense
of things, but, rather, whether or not to let compulsion rule you.
Throughout your life you may have the impulse to jump to a conclusion
because of emotional concerns. This can be a trap not unlike a pitcher
plant. The goal is emotionally appealing and going there may *feel*
good, but once inside you may find it hard to get out. You are content
in your answer and would rather stay there instead of reevaluating it.
Unfortunately the answer may corrode and dissolve rational and logical
thinking until there is nothing left.
It is important to keep yourself honest. Regardless of how you have
arrived at a conclusion, be humble and honest enough to constantly
scrutinze it. You will be surprised at how many things you are
absolutely certain are true right now, turn out to be not-so-true
later in life. If you become attached to these answers, ego and pride
may prevent you from letting them go. There is nothing wrong with not
having all the right answers. We are *all* ignorant in some fashion,
that is simply the human condition. If someone asks you a question it
is alright to answer "I don't know".
If you feel bad for not having an answer, or not being sure about an
answer, that is just your natural desire to keep finding one. But it
is a balancing act. You must keep your desire for a truthful answer in
balance with a desire for any answer.
I would have you ask yourselve why you want to believe in a god. What
is the source for that desire? Think of this independently of familial
or social influences. Think only about yourself and your desires. Why
must there be a god?
On Jun 30, 6:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
Are your parents religious? Do you have to go to church?
If you want to learn, church is the wrong place to go. They are still
passing around the superstitious beliefs of some ancient goat farmers.
Those goat farmers may have known goats, but that didn't make them
experts on anything else. They didn't even know they were standing on
a globe. They're hardly a reliable source for knowledge. But they are
a source for conflict, if know any history. It seems a lot of
suffering and unfairness and lack of peace is actually CAUSED by God,
or at least, the belief in God. The world needs better citizens than
them, desparately. Be one.
> On Jun 30, 9:43 pm, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> > topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> > rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> > teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> > about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> > in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> > in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> > have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> > hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> > prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> > I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> > atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
> You should take solace in that you are not alone. I remember going
> through several years and periods in my life when I wanted to believe
> in god. In fact, to this day, I admit that there is a part of me that
> looks out at the universe, this world, the life here, and wants to
> insert some *purpose*, some *reason* for it all to be. Why is anything
> here at all, rather than nothing?
> This is all natural and good. Our desire to make sense of the world
> stems from an innate survival factor and is necessary for us to live.
> It is also the driving force for all human advancement.
> The issue here should not be abandoment of your desire to make sense
> of things, but, rather, whether or not to let compulsion rule you.
> Throughout your life you may have the impulse to jump to a conclusion
> because of emotional concerns. This can be a trap not unlike a pitcher
> plant. The goal is emotionally appealing and going there may *feel*
> good, but once inside you may find it hard to get out. You are content
> in your answer and would rather stay there instead of reevaluating it.
> Unfortunately the answer may corrode and dissolve rational and logical
> thinking until there is nothing left.
> It is important to keep yourself honest. Regardless of how you have
> arrived at a conclusion, be humble and honest enough to constantly
> scrutinze it. You will be surprised at how many things you are
> absolutely certain are true right now, turn out to be not-so-true
> later in life. If you become attached to these answers, ego and pride
> may prevent you from letting them go. There is nothing wrong with not
> having all the right answers. We are *all* ignorant in some fashion,
> that is simply the human condition. If someone asks you a question it
> is alright to answer "I don't know".
> If you feel bad for not having an answer, or not being sure about an
> answer, that is just your natural desire to keep finding one. But it
> is a balancing act. You must keep your desire for a truthful answer in
> balance with a desire for any answer.
> I would have you ask yourselve why you want to believe in a god. What
> is the source for that desire? Think of this independently of familial
> or social influences. Think only about yourself and your desires. Why
> must there be a god?
On Jul 1, 3:43 am, khalaly <kalilah.zi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I see many people are touching bases with this interesting
> topic, and I would like to do the same. I am a young girl, which is
> rather hard to tell, because of my writing, but I am only a young
> teen. In fact, people judge me for questioning, and trying to learn
> about the way things work. But I want to learn. I am again interested
> in this topic, because I don't know what to believe. I want to believe
> in God, but not to the extent of having a religion, for those matters
> have are to mixed up for me. But I want to believe in God, but it's
> hard. All this suffering. and unfairnes. Isn't a god supposed to help
> prevent those things, and help make peace in the world for all people.
> I'm stuck should I be of some faith, just believe, or be a complete
> atheist. Atheist is my closest option.
wouldn't it be so nice another million like you in this world?
Not much, but a much better start for the next generation.
Read and question the bible and match it with this sites:
