Does God Exist? Questioning My "Faith"?

Question

I'm 15 years old, sophomore in high school, and I have never really been a spiritual person, but I've been raised as a Catholic, so there's always been that underlying theme of prayer and God and Jesus and all that jazz. Lately I've been really questioning the existence of God because it just doesn't seem to make sense to me. I've always wondered "Who made God?" and "How is it possible for one being/deity/w/e the he his to have so much power and authority?" and its just never added up. can anyone offer me any proof to the existence of God plz?
I also hate being christian because it associates me with all the intolerant christian assholes out there. Don't get me wrong... all of my best friends are christian so I don't have anything against christians in general, just the out-spoken, closed-minded, gay-bashing, everyone-different-than-they-are-hating, christians.
One thing I notice is how we look back at ancient history, and the beliefs that those cultures had, and we say "HA! they believed in multiple gods! How ridiculous!" but how are we any different? We still believe without proof, and we actually have science to tell us how things work, unlike the ancient people. What exactly separates us from them?
and please, don't answer hatefully or angrily, I'm not trying to insult your faiths but I really need answers and these are my personal beliefs

Answer 1

Asking yourself if God exists is not unlike asking yourself if good exists. When I was 17, I truly did not know if God existed or not tho I had been told all my life God existed. I begged God to let me know and God did in a big way. I will never forget it. The Catholics call it the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 2

Growing up in a Catholic family probably means that you have been going to church most sundays since you were born. Believing in God and knowing that Jesus died for our sins does not mean that you have to be Catholic or Protestant or any other denomination. What you should strive for is a personal relationship with God. You are still quite young, but are at a point where you have questions that you need answered. Always keep asking questions and seeking truth. Pray often and keep reading the Bible, too.

You ask "Does God exist?". I offer you this, yes He does. I once had an awesome experience where the Holy Spirit spoke to me. Ever since that day, I have had incredible things happen that I suppose could be explained away as coincidences or something else, but to have so many seems unlikely without it being related to God.

Don't let other people distract you from your quest, whether they be naysayers or ill-guided intolerant christians who don't really know God. Please remember that we are all sinners and need the Grace of God, in Jesus' sacrifice. Good Luck and God Bless.

Answer 3

Firstly I'd say that it will probably take you another 5 to 7 years to completely form a religious identity, so don't rush it right now....

But I thought the way you did before and researched really hard about it in the past couple o fyears... I realized that Science doesn't disproof God like all the aitheists are saying.. I also realized many christians and muslims and jews are missguided and worshipping God for all the wrong reasons.

I studied the holy books and researched on some great websites that taught me the true religion. I'd say you can research for yourself and hopefully you get your own idea of how everything is.

I can't answer your questions here because they're very long answers but I can talk to you later if you're interested. Good luck mate.

Answer 4

First Questioning you faith is awesome. I believe unless we truly investigate and question our faith we will never have a true faith. I will try my best to answer your question as I myself have struggled with this so many times. And I agree there are a lot of Christians that make me mad. And babygirl really why give Christians a bad name. Think for once. Understand and show love. Not just judge them.



By looking at your question you are looking more for a logical explanation rather than one based on personal experience. If I wrong assuming that I apologize.



So the first question you ask is who made God. That is a perfectly logical question. Because logic tells us that everything that exists had to created by someone or something. But is this true. If you we say that everything had to be created, then nothing would ever be created. Because in order for anything to be created something must have created that thing, and then something must have created that, and... You get my point it would go on infinitely. So we must believe some, wither the universe, God or something else, had to exist infinitely.



Now see one could say well then the universe must have existed infinitely, because I can prove the universe exists, problem solved.



Not quite. Scientific data completely disagrees with this hypothesis. For example the laws of thermodynamics. There for we know the universe had to come to being, and with that the laws that govern the universe. Also there must be a cause for its existence.



This cause must have existed infinitely or as i stated early we would just go into an infinite cycle. Also this cause must be of greater or equal power as the universe and its laws. And since it made the laws of the universe it itself would not be governed by them.



And finally it must be able to make decisions. It must have decided to create the universe.



So short version, something had to exist infinitely. The universe could not. So there must be some greater force which did exist infinitely.





Well there is a very simple explanation. Any objections you have let me know. Any more questions, anything at all let me know. The best way to get a hold of me is stupidbob307 [at] g to the mail .com. (just breaking it up so i don't get spam). I will be sure to post my reply on here or whatever. This argument is very small. Please feel free to ask questions.

Answer 5

I was once in your shoes myself... feeling exactly as you do now. I was raised a Catholic... even was baptized twice. I never reached my Confirmation. I became agnostic and then eventually atheist. I remember watching a film in a science class explaining the earth (and other planets) were formed and how life began and evolved. I found that explanation much more realistic than the creation story I was taught by my Catholic upbringing, and that film was pretty much what ended my faith in the Church.



By no means am I suggesting you become an atheist as I have. What's right for me may not necessarily be right for you. One book that I would strongly suggest you read is "The Reason Driven Life" by Robert M. Price. I guarantee you;'ll find it enlightening and help you on your journey to find your own place. It's a book I would highly recommend everyone read whether they are Christians, atheists, or agnostics. Especially someone in your position who is questioning their faith.

Answer 6

Believe whatever you want to believe. If you want, don't have any religious beliefs at all. You could identify yourself as an agnostic, which is a person who believes that nothing can be known about God. Believing in God is not a requirement for being a good Christian, if you ask me, as long as you are kind, helpful, respectful of others, blah blah blah. You don't need to believe in God to be a good person, contribute to charity, or live a full life.



You don't need anyone to "prove" the existence of God for you. Nothing can prove the existence of God, so in a way, God is whatever you want God to be. For me, God is a distant spirit; for others, God is a close friend; for others, God is a many-faceted being; for others, God does not exist at all. Don't let anyone tell you what to believe. Find a religion that matches your own beliefs, or choose to not associate yourself with a religion. Form your own value system and choose to follow it, no matter what other people tell you. God doesn't have to be a part of that value system.

Answer 7

I think many of us question our faith at some point and we come to very different results for ourselves. I think the important part is figuring out what you really feel is correct for yourself. You may still believe in your version of God but you may see him/her as less judgemental than some or you may start seeing God as more of a universal force rather than one specific person or group of three.



My advice is to go to the library, read some books on the history of religion and maybe take a look at some other faiths that catch your eye. Just because you are examining your beliefs doesn't mean you will reject them, it just means you want to understand them better.



You may come out of your search with a better understanding of your current faith or you may find a new way of looking at it all.



Don't expect answers to come to you over night and don't expect to have every question answered or even to have each person you ask have the same answer, no matter who you ask. Religion can be a very personal thing and I think it has certain core elements that people see in their own way, no matter what scripture or dogma may say.



Good luck on your search and I hope you come away with something you feel you can follow.

Answer 8

I was also raised Catholic, but stopped going to church about 3 years ago (I'm 22). I came up with the same observations that you just mentioned, and it didn't add up for me. I personally believe now that all organized religions, including christianity and all of its denominations, were man's attempt to explain his existence, which was later used to define morality and establish a set of codes and laws to be enforced to maintain order within a society. What better way to deter people from commiting a crime or acting out of bounds in a society than to not only punish them, but to threaten that they will also be punished in the afterlife for their "sins" (ie: Hell).



Religion has been and still is a primary source of hatred and suffering that continues to divide groups of people throughout the world. Millions of people have died throughout the millenia in the name of God. It doesn't make any sense.



The Bible was created by man. The Quran was created by man. Every religion is a product of man.



Nobody knows the source of life on Earth, and I think it is ignorant to attempt to prove it without evidence. Religion can really motivate people, however. Find what's right for you. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

i can understand where you are coming from. at one time or another we will all doubt what we believe.

shortly after i was baptised (i suppose i would be classed as a baptist) and when my mum got cancer i started to question a lot.

I thought that my baptism would help me and "fix me up" but i realised that i found everything harder. so i took a little time out from God. (which wasn't the best idea.) i'm slowly starting to read the bible again and pray.. but i'm getting there.



perhaps you could try a different denomination of Christianity if you find yourself being stiffled by everyone around you. and instead of following everyone else in this world blindly, follow jesus instead.



i often find it good to say to God i don't really know if i believe in you anymore. i'm struggling with it.. with my belief, help my unbelief.. and all that jazz. i don't think he would really be offended. honered rather that you would feel ok to approach him ith such honesty.



i've been to a catholic church a couple of times. i felt that a lot of the time i felt very uneasy and like it was all forced and fake.. like i said before, perhaps going to a different church that you feel is more real for you would help.



I don't really like being called a Christian either, so i prefer to be called a follower of Christ.. but you know, whatever tickles your fancy =]



and as to your last statement/question.. i don't really think there is anything else that seperates us from those with other gods. we're all human and in need of redemption. but yeah. it'll all come to you in good time.. i'm really sorry that i can't help you to much.



and you know how you said "I have read the bible" by my guess is you're still pretty young and there will be some very important things you haven't read. after reading one passage on ten different occassions i got ten different lessons out of it... so keep at it and don't get to narrow minded



Best of luck. =]

♥♫♣

Answer 10

This is what I've been through also when I was your age.

Religion really matters in our lives and I really would like you to try.

Christianity is very very holy and really peaceful. But we also have to respect other people's beliefs as well. I'm Christian and I've faced through terrible insults and lots of discouragement. I hope you can at least try and pray once. Maybe you won't like it, and that's fine. Religion takes time and effort, and only if you are devoted, you will believe. Well, the rest is up to you!

I bless you a whole lots for searching your religion!

Remember, I'm not trying to "persuade" you into this stuff. Express yourself. Be who you are, and find it freely. Really, it's up to you!

Good luck!

Answer 11

your facing a question that every one asks at one point or another. There is no direct proof of god. You won't find any, But there isn't any proof that he doesn't exist either. God may be just theory to some, but so is the science that replaces him. Nothing can be proved. You just have to have faith. I suggest you research and maybe branch out of catholicism, and see what other religions are out there. best of luck

Answer 12

You bring a very educated question the table at 15, no offense but i never started thinking about it until colllege, (26 now) I just had the coversation tonight with my GF who thinks there is just one god.. Don;t get me wrong you brought a very valid point up..........HA! they believed in multiple gods................the world as a whole believes in different gods, whose to say what god is true, just becuase there may be some evidence things happened in the bible (the history channel) doesnt make it true ( history channel also explained how natural occurence could explain ALL chistian's valid ppint for a single god.......Imean look at greek gods, we dont believe in them anymore.... I think GOD is something humans created need in order to make stabilty AND MONEY . People were dumb back then and needed to believe in something to teach the difference between good and bad and have order.... The universe is endless as far as we know now.. far all I know we cell on something gigantic............God is good for family values like santa is for christmas............Most wars these days have to do because people dont agree on a god. sry for rambling



plesa reply in intial post if ya dont mind !

Answer 13

I grew up in a very religious family too, i never really beleived all the hooey about jesus etc and had constant fights with parents about going to church.



I probably didnt handle it so well, but here is what I would suggest, go to your library and check out "the god delusion" by richard dawkins it goes into spirituality and looks at it from a unemotional perspective, if you are curios this would be a great place to start.



Good luck man and good for you for questioning it.

Answer 14

Only yourself in the fullness of time will know the answer that makes the most sense to you.

At least you have the brains to think about it.

Good Luck

Answer 15

Are you taking about "GOD" like a higher power? A higher intelligence? The thing that answers:

Can you have something from nothing?

Can a contradiction ever be true?



Or "Scriptural GOD" Man in the sky, physical heave/hell God?

The one that makes no sense ^.^

Answer 16

It's a tricky question, and one that people ask very often. Fortunately, someone built a website just to answer this. Hope it helps.

Answer 17

There's plenty of evidence of god(s) in today's world, people see them every day, even photograph them - it's just that nowadays they're referred to as UFOs and aliens.

Answer 18

son....you are 15 years old....the only thing you need to read is the bible...and live by it....it don't matter what anyone says.....THE TRUTH IS THE BIBLE...AND NOTHING ELSE....if you have friends or peers that is telling you different...then that is not a real good group to get caught up with....live your life the way you have been raised the last 15 years and you will come out the winner.

Answer 19

See this , investigate it, to decide for yourself. http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/donald_morgan/inconsistencies.html

I question mine too.

Answer 20

salam which means peace.I m a muslim. I love this religion bcoz it gives u peace,hormonay,no racism,

no extremitisets,but rather a way of life and fruit to earn each minute of ur life.basic fundamental of

islam is one god,that no one can ever imagine wat god is all about.and islam itself comes from a root word

in arabic which means peace.in islam prophet mohammed said:no black is greter than white,and neither white is greater than black

no arab is greaterthan non araband vice versa,no rich is greater than poor except for good deeds:women have equall rights with man.women

should be compulsory treated good and should be taken care of if not then the men are accountable to god.

and same to women they should be good to men. in islam they r five pillars,from which zakat means charity

is compulsory that is it is mandotaroy for every muslim to give charity of 2.5% of his or her wealth every year,

if one doesnt do this ,then he is accountable and punishable by god.the most amazing thing of islam is people

now a days believe in science more than the religion they follow but alhamdurillah i want to say that science

is from quran.it is cleary mention in quran abt cycle of baby in mothers womb which has been discovered recently

and many scientist after discovering reverted to islam.abt big bang theory ,abt light of moon which is not its

self,u know many things which has been discovered recently is send from god that is quran 1400 years ago.and

today alhamdurillah islam is the fatest religion on the face of the earth.islam does not have missionaries to

spread it but it is allah who does it. u see sep 11 was shocking horrible,people started blaming islam and went

there to see wat it is all about and many found out that it is religion of peace and many reverted.

if u really want to know wat god is and all about it go there get a quran in ur language read it u will find

peace bcoz islam means peace.

in islam we believe there is no image of gods and god that is allah is beyond human being imaginations.

one place where u image some thing as god that moment it seizes to be god. bcoz god is out of our understanding.

allah says in holy quran that if all the trees are pen and oceans and ses are ink and if u write attributes and

glory abt allah that would never be finished or end. no body knows how allah is and in islam it is belived u see

god only on judement day for the people who wishes to see him.

islam is confirmation of jesus(pbuh) and moses(pbuh) and the final message send by alllah

through mohammed(pbuh).islam is not a different religion as people think.islam belives in one

god(allah) which has no images ,eternal,with no begining and no ending and one who does not beget

nor is begotten. and the final messenger is mohammed (pbuh).this criteria is even in bible and tourah too.

i have read this.go back to ur books read them and come to know the truth.

according to prophet mohammed(pbuh)said :"in paradise half of it will be filled with muslims"

then companians reliep who are the other half, prophet(pbuh) reliep "the other half r the true followers

of jesus and moses that is the ones who believes in the above criteria and who are the true belivers

of the messengers."

drinking of alcohol is forbidden in islam.whether u take it in little amount or larger amount the sin is

same and punishment is same.and same thing pork is forbidden too. drinking is gunahey kabeera which means a big sin. u can see according to statstic,a large percentage of muslim dont embibe alcohol just bcoz it is written in quran to follow.and a large culture muslims follow this. but there r a minorty people who do it.now here it is ones own imaan that is owns own deed to do it or not if u do it then u r accountable to allah ,and wat ever one does is for its own self not for god whether good or bad.

same way pork is also prohibited .this too has logical resons for it.pig when having sex invites other males to join in it.this is one reason and the other is pig eats human waste like stool. this has number of biological reactions and diseases by eating this meat.so pig is prohibited.

people who drink and pray. here praying is mandotary whether u r killer raper or anything u need to pray. by doin big sins like this, that person is accountable to allah not to anybody else. but that person should not do it.its like ur believing in one thing and not in another. u can advice them but do not force them.and praying is his imaan deed as bad deed and good deed. u can pray to god to make him a better person.never say not to pray.

now allah says i will forgive u everything except blatfamy,that is claminig other as god besides allah. it is allah to forgive sins even bigger ones.



first of all let me put for u that no sin is inherited . the one who does a crime or bad deed will be accountable he himself not any body else. bible condems inheritance of sin but people are ignorant do not read the scripture in context