September 2, 2007
Interested in God?
I recently1 read a post by the Friendly Christian, who questioned why some people just “aren’t interested in God”. The suggestion is made that perhaps the Church isn’t friendly or welcoming enough, and that if they improved in this area, perhaps they’d win more converts.
It’s certainly a valid criticism of most of the churches I’ve gone to, as many Churches aren’t friendly to nonreligious people wanting to see what things are like. I’m utterly sick of people asking me “What church do you go to?”, and then seeing the look of shock on their face when I tell them I don’t go to any church, I’m not religious, or (worse!) if I was to use the word “atheist”.
The quote being discussed by the Friendly Christian is as follows:
“I’m not religious. I don’t think much about God, except when I am in a pinch and need some special favors. I have no particular reason to think he’ll deliver, but I sometimes take a shot anyway. Other than that, I’m just not that interested in God.”
This, to me, sounds like a person who has no reason to believe in God except for the simple fact that many others seem to have this belief. If one is raised in a society where God is almost universally accepted, if one made no effort to actively think about God, what possible conclusions could that person come to?
This is where I think the Friendly Christian has got it wrong. This person doesn’t sound like someone who’s been shunned by the church, but someone who (quite legitimately, in my opinion) has no interest in God because the idea has little or no influence on their life. In an ideal world (one where personal beliefs in supernatural beings remained personal – in the sense that your beliefs were unable to affect my way of life), I think such a lack of interest in God would be quite common.
That’s not to say an interest in God is a bad thing, however. As you might have discovered, however, I do have an interest in religion and the concepts of God. These ideas do have an influence on my life because our politicians make them relevant, and because I want to understand why so many people have these beliefs. I find the idea of God interesting from a historical and cultural point of view, and want to learn more.
Are you interested in God? If not, why not?
Popularity: 40% [?]
- Well, not so recently, but it was recently when I first drafted this post. As you can probably tell if you’ve been subscribing to my blog, I’ve been quite slack recently. I won’t bore you with the personal details, but lets just say there’s been a lot on my plate. My apologies, and I’ll hopefully get back to a more reasonable blogging schedule again now. [↩]
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Gaile said,
December 8, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I was a devout Christian as a kid, then fell away as a teenager when I became sexually active. I couldn’t stand being a blatant sinner so I negated my judge. Like a lot of people, I was too smart to go along with those holy rollers, etc. I agreed with the evolutionists and atheist academics. I married my first love in a secular ceremony, then had kids who I told God was a fairy tale. That is the regret of my life. My reason for being online this morning is to try to find a way to take it back. I know how they think because I was there. I know how repulsed I was whenever any Godly topic came up.
Obviously, God brought me back. My atheist husband left me and the kids, and a short time later I realized what a blessing it was for so many reasons. I don’t believe in coincidences any more. When things looked darkest, I said a prayer that if He was up there, to show me because I needed help. If He wasn’t there anyway, I wouldn’t be any worse off. Miracles still happen, even if they’re insignificant to anyone else. My examples are endless so I won’t bore you. I believe in Jesus with my whole heart. I don’t go to church. I have several Christian friends who also choose not to go. It’s fine, there are good churches, we choose to study in our own way. FYI, not all Christians roll in the aisles. Many (not me) are brilliant. World renowned scientists of EVERY field are Christian and can tell you how all science POINTS to God, not away from Him. Email me and I will send you three references that will blow you away. I double dog dare you to have an open mind. I also dare you to say the prayer I made. If God and Jesus are no more real than the tooth fairy, what harm will it do? While we’re at it, why do nonbelievers have such a gut wrenching repulsion for anything Godly if they don’t believe anyway? I ask because I felt that way too. The reason is chilling if you’re honest and think it through. You know there’s evil in the world. That’s not a coincidence either. If you don’t belong to God, (and Jesus is the only bridge) Satan owns you by default. Sounds crazy, that’s what he wants you to think. Do a search of Malachi Martin, check him out and see if you still think so.
God bless you, Gaile