How certain are you about the God you believe in?

[edhopper]

For believers. However you want to explain it (scale of 1 to 10?) how certain are you about the nature and description of the God you believe in and pray to.
I am not asking about you belief in God in general, I am accepting that you believe. But we often talk here about the different beliefs people have. So I am curious about when people go to church or temple or a mosque and pray, do they feel they have a good idea about God, as far as they can know about him?

Not flame bait, and I hope the non-believers don't chime in with snark, I am just curious about this.

[Pendrench]

1. Hi edhopper - Very interesting question.

To be honest with you, some days are more certain than others.

There are times when I am probably 99.99% sure that there is a God, and then there are other days that number falls well below 50%.

Why the differences? I'm not sure - it would be interesting to keep a journal to see what influences (both internal and external) cause these swings...I may have to try this someday.

That being said, I think that it is healthy (if not necessary) to examine my beliefs from time to time, so (to me) it's not surprising that my "certainty" concerning the nature/description of God would fluctuate from time to time.

I would also like to say that I do not think that my faith (Roman Catholic) is the only/correct way to view the nature of God. If one believes in God (as I do), I think that it would be short-sighted to think that one could know with certainty (and exclusivity) all there is to know about God.

Thank you again for asking this question, I hope my "narrow perspective" response makes sense - or at least as much sense as anything concerning religion can possibly make

Tim

[edhopper]

5. But when you do feel more certain

do you believe that God, or at least an aspect of him, is that which is portrayed in the Bible?

[Pendrench]

7. Hi edhopper - Thank you for your reply to my post.

Again, that is a very interesting question.

When I think about God (or at least my interpretation of what "God" is) it is probably closer to portrayal found in the New Testament.

Specifically, I like to believe in the God of Matthew 25:35-45 (When I was hungry, you gave me to eat...).

Thank you again for your original post - if you have any additional questions for me , please let me know - I greatly appreciate your taking the time to discuss this.

Tim

[rug]

2. About as certain as Thomas before he was told to place his hand in the wounds.

John 20

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

I can't put a number on that.

[edhopper]

6. I probably didn't phrase it right.

I wasn't asking about the amount of doubt of God, but rather about the nature of God. For instance, do you sometimes feel that though there is a God, he might not be the one from the NT? He might be completely different and have nothing to do with the stories of Jesus?

[rug]

9. I don't think any religion adequately describes God.

I see echoes of the Christian concept of God in almost every other religion. The one that makes the most sense to me, other than Christianity, is Buddhism.That's probably because it doesnt't attempt to describe a Godhead at all. The vaguer the description of the undescribable, the better it explains it. Not to go all Zen about it.

If you're asking why I accept my religion and not others, that's a different subject entirely.

[edhopper]

11. I'd be interested in hearing that.

but you are right, it is a different topic.

[hrmjustin]

3. A number would be very difficult.

I have my periods of strong faith, weak faith, and doubt. But I must say every fiber of my being believes there is a divine and an afterlife.

I believe God is live so when I pray I feel love and mercy. I believe in the extreme mercy of God.

As to what I personally believe I would say I believe in the Incarnation, life, work, crucifixion, resurrection, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

[skepticscott]

4. Best of luck

in your quest.

[struggle4progress]

8. I am entirely certain, but not in the sense you mean

Religion to me involves neither issues of objectively-discernable fact nor "knowledge" in the ordinary sense, but rather involves existential choices about what really matters most

[NYC_SKP]

13. Thank you.

Even among members of a congregation, even a fundamentalist group, I think every person's experience is individual and unique.

To each their own path, the question defies numeration.

Great Enya selection, BTW!

[mr blur]

10. Is it OK if the believers "chime in with snark"?

I am just curious about that.

[edhopper]

12. I'd rather they didn't as well.

Hey, wait, was your post snark...why you.....