Why I do not believe in God of the Bible
By Myrrdin
@Myrrdin (3599)
Canada
March 15, 2008 7:18pm CST
Before I begin I am not saying that anyone who believes in the Bible is wrong, nor that any religious faithful person is wasting their lives or anything like that, believe what you will as do I. I am just writing my own opinion and to see what others have to say about it.
When I was young I was very religious. I was brought up in a United/Anglican household. I attended a United church during much of my youth but switched to Anglican when my parents split up. I was very active in my church, my step siblings, my cousins, and myself founded and ran the youth group, I was a cross bearer and candle bearer for many services, and I believed in the bible. My family was not overly religious, but they were not agnostic by any stretch, and in fact my decision not to have my daughter baptized was quite an issue for a while.
Now that I have told you that I have not always been a disbeliever now I will tell you of, what I am sure many of you will call my crisis of faith. It did not occur due to some great personal tragedy, I have been fairly lucky in that regard, but rather the more I learned about the bible the more I distrusted it. I read the bible from cover to cover, and had a practice of reading a few passages every night before bed. I often asked your ministers questions I had and they were always courteous about attempting to answer them, but the deeper I delved the more evasive their answers became.
The problem is I had an issue with the light the bible portrays God in. The God of the Bible is a petty self absorbed prick, at least thats how I interpret the bible. To me a truely benevolent omnipotent omniscient god would not condemn an entire village for being discourtious as he did to Soddam and Gomorrah. Nor would he demand that all non Christians be killed as he does with the command "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live". I can see no reason why any truly benevolent omnipotent and omniscient god would give a crap if he is prayed to or not, why would he? And why would such a being grant us free will then demand we follow strict guidelines, then continually throw temptation at us? To me it seemed more like the god of the bible used us as entertainment.
All of this made me question my faith, and eventually outright turn my back on it. The god I can see existing is truly benevolent omniscient omnipotent and omnipresent, or he is just a mean and cruel being who uses us for his own enjoyment, so maybe the god of the bible does exist, he's just a cruel comedian.
13 people like this
17 responses
@spanktastic2120 (172)
• United States
16 Mar 08
i was raised lutheran until i was about 9. i never really believed any of it, but i never really questioned it either. one day i came home from school and no one was there, so i prayed that someone would show up soon. hours later my grandmother came home and let me in. i think it was that day i started questioning everything. then when i was about 10 or 11 i became athiest, and i have been since, im now 16. i have a lot of christian friends, and a very, very, very christian mom. they all try to 'save' me and whatnot but theyve never won any of our arguments. its my personal belief that religion is for idiots, because when you watch the way their flocked around and herded, its almost like theres a church leader who is just trying to take you for all youre worth with a cult friendly fellowship and false promises of idealistic futures. religion is a scam, one of the worlds longest, and most successful. its a basic human instinct to live, and the search for an afterlife is merely an extension of that drive.
4 people like this
@littleowl (7157)
•
23 Mar 08
oh do i agree with you tessah--hehehe god is a joke, anyway according to jehovah's witnesses heaven is full already so we are all meant to be going to hell!! Something tells me not..
1 person likes this
@spanktastic2120 (172)
• United States
16 Mar 08
i forgot to make one of my points. this was a major factor in my rejection of christianity. the bible says god loves all his children, and also says god knows all, everything that ever was or will be. so its safe to assume god knows who is going to heaven and who is going to hell, before they are ever born. so how can god knowingly create and damn someone that he loves?
3 people like this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
16 Mar 08
such wisdom and astuteness in somene so young in years. while i dont share your atheistic convictions, i do agree with alot you said. one of my favorite quotes of all time "Anyone who would make a lake of fire and brimstone in which to incinerate his children, ought be the first one burned in it" Susam Wixon.
3 people like this
@Makena1968 (682)
• United States
16 Mar 08
Thank you for your thoughtful and intelligent post. Before you become an atheist, however, try to understand, that organized religion and God are two different stories. Most organized religions are run by people who are more interested in acquiring power and wealth for themselves, and are expert at manipulation and exploitation of people who are vulnerable and desperate for relief from their suffering. When you seek truth, sometimes it's best to go inside yourself, inside your heart, for the answers lie within us, without a doubt. You need to go beyond the Bible..and I don't disrespect the Bible, I do believe it has its place teaching us how to be good human beings. But there are other bonafide revealed scriptures available for your scrutiny and study, in other parts of the world, that delve much deeper into certain truths...about who we are, why we're here, who, or what God is. Most importantly, however, know these truths are within you, and if you want them badly enough, they will be revealed to you. Like a priceless diamond buried in a mountain of broken pieces of glass..the truth about who you are, and the truth about God, lies for certain in a mountain of untruths and twisted words. It just takes patience and perseverance,and sincerity,and faith, and will find that priceless diamond.
4 people like this
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
16 Mar 08
Who said anything about Atheism? I am not an Atheist. And I well understand the difference between organized religion and god. I think if you reread my post you will see that I am not casting aside the concept of a deity, but rather I am casting aside organized religion, specifically Christianity, but really it applies to all Christianity. I am a true classical agnostic, I believe there is most likely a god, however the truth about god is unknowable by mortal man, and thus any written work of god is false.
2 people like this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Mar 08
I was raised in a Roman Catholic family. I went to a Catholic elementary and later a Catholic College. I had to study the bible for school but I also did it during my own time and like you had a lot of questions. My first problem was that I was taught that if someone didn't believe in Jesus they were condemned to hell, even if they had never even heard of him. Now that didn't seem right to me. How could someone who has never heard the teachings be condemned for it? Then there were the many contradictory messages given and for an example: When we die we go to Heaven and see the Father but I was also taught that no one goes to Heaven until after Jesus returns. Well which is it? Can't have it both ways. There are many other such things and also what you mentioned. If this God is so loving and caring why be so petty at the same time?
I am still a very spiritual person but I have my own beliefs about the Gods (and yes I have plural there) and how they are in my life. I do not prescribe to the Roman Catholic Doctrine that was ingrained into me at an early age. I decided to explore other belief systems, to decide for myself what it was I needed to follow. The gods I believe in wouldn't have a problem with that.
3 people like this
@spanktastic2120 (172)
• United States
16 Mar 08
i was taught that when you die, you SEEMINGLY instantaneously go to heaven, but are really in some sort of timeless limbo. basically, you die, go into a coma, then wake up after jesus has come back, and then get into heaven. there wasnt an explanation like that for hell though, i assume you go there right away for your burning and whipping and boiling and broiling and whatnot.
3 people like this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Mar 08
Sounds like we have a great deal in common. I especially liked the part about "fear and hatred arent a tactic used to demand my actions, and love isnt a cause for damnation, regardless of a persons creed, code, color, or otherwise." I couldn't have said it better. Fear only goes so far and if one really wants love and understanding they don't demand it, they earn it. This goes for people as well as the Gods. If all they can do is intimidate then they really aren't all that powerful.
1 person likes this
@rinaaus (1201)
• Australia
16 Mar 08
I believe in GOD but my God is not from Bible. I think God is God. He is from all the religions with different name.
And I think there is nothing wrong if you don't believe in GOD or GOD of the Bible. If you believe in something (no need to be GOD), and that is enough for your faithful. It is your GOD!as I said He presents in different way and different name in religions or non-religions.
3 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Mar 08
I feel so very much like you do about this. I was raised Catholic and had to attend church, bible school etc. Luckily my dad was very open-minded and because we hated going to church so much, he often took my brothers and me to walk on the beach and just talk to us about life and how we are supposed to be. He also encouraged us to learn about other religions and beliefs. By the time I was an adult, I stopped going to church altogether. None of my girls was baptized. I have taken them to church on a couple of occassions when they were younger and curious.
I am far from an atheist. The bible? Well it is a book written by a group of men back in times when people were very very superstitious. We don't even know if these men were sane do we? It has been translated and re-written and changed up so much that how do we even know if it is an accurate account of the original even? And if it is so very important to believe in it then what did the people do before they had churches and before the bible was written?
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
Excellent points both of you. As I stated in my post, I am not an atheist either, although many have mistaken me for one. Very few people realize that an agnostic is not really a atheist who can't commit, but rather a believer who has shunned organized religion.
2 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Hehehe. I actually responded to your comment here on my own post. When I re-read it I wondered why I had gone off on agnosticism and atheism. Now I know. ;-) Yeah, so my eyeballs are a little bloodshot, what can I say... I enjoy the buds and flowers off the holy tree of life.
2 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
16 Mar 08
The Bible, and every other Holy Book that I know of were all written so long ago for such an entirely different people and age and culture, and gone through so many translations and repetitions from so many different mouths and tongues that it boggles my mind how anyone would have the patience to sort through it all and examine each point for validity. But of course most people don't do that, they've been indoctrinated to accept it all automatically as TRUTH. And I mean sheesh, look at the supposed penalty for NOT believing... burning eternally in hell!!! It gave me pause when I first turned my back on Christianity, but I concluded that if refusing to cow and bow to such a sadistic egomaniacal creep meant that I had to burn then I would do it passionately rather than kneel obsequiously before him.
I no longer feel the need though, to resist the Christian's concept of God. Everybody creates their own world, here and otherwhere, we create our own worlds with our thoughts and our beliefs. If you believe something is true, then for you it becomes true, and will even manifest in your life.
Therefore I have decided to only believe what gives me pleasure to believe. If it doesn't give me a delicious feel good thrill then I'm not interested.
2 people like this
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
18 Mar 08
Sorry but the idea of hell as simply not being granted everlasting life is a modern concept that does not fit the scripture.
Read the following passages for biblical (and yes since most are NT even New Testament agrees):
Matthew 5:22
18:8-9
8:12
22:13
Mark 9:43-49
Romans 2:7-9
2 Thessalonians 1:9
Hebrews 10:27
2 Peter 3:7
Jude 7
13
The book of Revelation
Luke 16:19-31)
And by the way, some Christians claim only the worst of the worst suffer the fates described above, but this is not the case, in fact it is stated outright that he who does not accept Jesus is doomed to hell. So again you can see that Christians have decided to use only the passages of the bible which fits their own means and not what the bible actually says.
And Flowerchilde, if you admit that the bible has picked up much over the ages that was not intended, then you must accept my basic premise that the God of the Bible does not exist. That is not to say there is not a god, or even that some of what is said in the bible might not be accurate, but either the bible is the word of god, and thus accurate, or it is not, you can't have it both ways.
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
18 Mar 08
The problem with trying to apply old books of wisdom to your current modern life, books that were written in other languages for an entirely different species practically, is in the translation. Any one thing could meant any number of different things. It is like trying to apply the rules you're parents gave you when you were small to your adult life.
People act like God stopped talking after the bible was written. That is so not the case. Your inner guidance is your connection with God-source. I find it infinitely more rewarding to trust myself above all others and to look within for guidance. No man is my master but me... I am my own master and I make my own choices and decisions and when I follow my inner guidance it is never wrong. Ever.
I think that when people think about 'the voice of god' they think they're going to hear some booming manly voice from the heavens and harps will be playing in the background or something. That's why you don't always recognize the voice of god when it speaks in your mind in concepts or living pictures or inspiration or a good idea or an inclination to take the next exit.
The body of God is so incomprehensible that it doesn't even make any sense to try and conceive it, except for entertainment value. It would be like the consciousness of one of the cells in your big toe deciding that it wanted to experience the whole concept of what it is to be human. What makes sense to me is to just do what I was born to do. Just do what comes naturally and be what I am... a cell in the body of god. The way most religions have it set up seems like the body of god is infiltrated with cancer. It is not. We are here for the joyous experience of creation. We are all co-creators with god and what we say goes.
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
22 Mar 08
Life is a flowing, ever changing thing. When you have no growth and no change that is stagnation. God is not a pool of stagnant perfection waiting for us to catch up. God is a growing thing too.
Personally, I don't feel the need to look to those books for guidance when my inner being, the living god-force that moves me, has the fresh, up-to-date information that applies specifically to my current state of being, state of mind, state of grace, all of it, and also takes into account my individual goals.
You are free to believe what ever you want to believe, and if your religion makes you feel good and it works for you then there is nothing wrong with your following it.
1 person likes this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I was raised methodist & like you the more I studied what I was supposed to believe the less I actually did.
The bible wasn't written by god it was written by man. Man who is falable & has his own agenda. Then it was edited several times by men who also had their own agendas.
Welcome to the cosmic joke. 
1 person likes this
@kishusia (1066)
• India
22 Mar 08
I am a Hindu. My religion teaches me that God can not be confined to or guided by any book, , Bible, Quran, Ramayana or any other book belonging to any other religion. God, the Supreme Being, manifests Himself in all living and non-living beings. He is the cause and also the effect of this creation. We all are images of God. God loves all and accepts every person who approaches Him with love in any form, in any manner and through any path. Each one of us have a personal relationship with God, and this relationship is not governed by any book. This relationship is based only on love.
2 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Boy, I thought I had finished every thing I came here to this discussion to do - that is, until I read your post kishusia! Wow! That was so beautifully stated! I'm curious to know what is your religion that so closely matches my own personal religion, that it has taken all my life so far to arrive at??
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
2 Apr 08
If a wind-powered generator could be attached to your a$$ you would never have to walk anywhere again... you could just fart yourself into the next room.
Just because you have observed your own behavior, or the behavior of certain others, and concluded that appreciative remarks from one person to another are all arbitrarily insincere and delivered with an ulterior motive, does not make it an irrefutable fact.
If I read something that somebody wrote that made me feel so good that I read it over and over, and I have the opportunity to express my appreciation to them I damn sure am going to do it, regardless of your opinions about opinions being just so much hot air. So what if they are... it sure feels good to express them. You just need more practice that's all. Practice expressing appreciation, not expelling hot air.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
17 Mar 08
I was hoping that you might get a few zealots, but so far not much. But some interesting points though. My upbringing was very much like your own only Anglican only. I was head chorister at my local church. When I was seven I was sent to a Quaker school (because it was a good school, not for any religious reasons) until I was thirteen. They didn't ram their religious thoughts down our throats, but I did learn tolerance and a somewhat pacific outlook. Although I am not a pacifist. Like you, I struggle with the fact that God is all forgiving, and yet, according to the Bible, has threatened and deployed wrought awful vengeance on individuals and towns. Indeed I was told the other day in a discussion that swingers and perverts had no morals and would suffer the wrath of God. I asked why, if God forgives us our sins, this should be. Unfortunately I don't have a reply as yet, so have concluded that the well intentioned zealot, doesn't have an answer, and neither do I. I have a great respect for people of faith, but I hate to see it being followed blindly without any kind of acceptance that others may not be so fortunate. My view is that I like to think that there is something after this life, and I could approve of a supreme being. So I do believe in a God of sorts, but I have found that religion can be very disruptive and even damaging, so tend to leave it alone now. I still enjoy singing along to the odd hymn now and again though!
2 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Hehehehe, yeah, Ralph Stanley sure had a way with that old gospel music. I love some of them a lot, I just wish they were written in a different language so I could more easily appreciate them without being constantly distracted by the weird beliefs behind the words. Half the time I can't even sing along because the words are so depressing.
2 people like this
@anotherbirthday (810)
• Malaysia
22 Mar 08
This is just my opinion. The story of God in the Bible is true, but most of the stories about God in Bible are human-made (and added-up), and the authors themselves were not good men. They liked to use the name of LORD to fulfill their missions, evilness, comedies, sexism, and whatever their wanted...the Bible today are corrupted ones. The original one might be good, but not available anymore.
1 person likes this
@totalcomments_com (167)
• United States
21 Mar 08
I am sorry you feel this way. I believe in a loving God who gives us the freedom to choose Him in a world filled with other choices. He does not willingly destroy. It is a last resort. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah says that God would have spared everyone if only one person there was righteous (chose God over evil). I am glad you spent your childhood in church. It appears that you were very religious, but religion is not what God wants. there will be many religious people in hell. God wants a relationship with you not empty religion.
1 person likes this
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
24 Mar 08
As I stated I believe in god, I just don't believe in the god of the Bible. Ok, maybe Sodom and Gomorrah really deserved it fine I am willing to give you that one, but what of Lot and God's bet with the devil over how devout he was. tell me how that isn't petty.
1 person likes this
@aidenw (632)
• United States
16 Mar 08
there are so many great responses here and also the original post. i agree with a lot of the views expressed here.
my biggest problem with mainstream religions (i won't single out any, since there are more than 1 religion that share the same belief) is the belief that everyone who does not belong to their religion, no matter how good they are will go to hell, including little children and unborn babies. yet they also believe that God is all loving. well, you can't have it both ways!
it is therefore understandable that people of those religions try to convert others because they believe it's their duty to save as many people as possible from eternal damnation.
i believe all religions were created by human beings for good reasons, i grant you that. however, certain organized religions have gone overboard and use God to control others and brainwash them.
i still believe in God but not the way he is portrayed by these religions. i believe God is nothing but love, we are all a part of him (God is in all of us) regardless of our beliefs, and he wants us to enjoy life (this one and the hereafter) to the fullest. it is up to us to tap into God's power and make that happen.
2 people like this
@choudhary03 (943)
• Hyderabad, India
21 Mar 08
Who says god is there in this world there is no one.
Read this in olden days people used to be barbarious and the only way to stop their barbarious act was to invent something which they fear and thy came God. Now there should be some morals so thy came Religious scriptures.
You are right in all you said, try to follow the morals it is enough. That need not be from the scriptures or whatsoever it can be from your parents,mentor,morals, etc.
Thats what i do i take what is good in all religions and i try to implement in my life. It was an excellent discussion.
@jules1977 (48)
• Qatar
16 Mar 08
reading and knowing the bible is very interesting, but it does'nt imply that we have to live with it, these are just guidelines that we have to follow at our own free will. the book is not perfect itself, so not all that is written in the bible are correct, we have to live and follow our instinct, we have to use our free will, we have to live by our choice. god is not the bible itself, it is just his words, but the words and the context of the bible was being passed to generations to generations, and there might had been transpired or altered in the context during those times. I also read the bible, but i do not believe in everything that it says there, what i believe that god do exist in everyone's faith. Believing with faith makes the god exist in everyone's life, not in the bible.
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
16 Mar 08
I do believe in the Judeo-Christian God. I don't believe in the bible as anything other than a collection of stories and parables designed for the educated to teach the uneducated how to behave in a civilized society. The bible is also a history lesson on racism and the subservience of women in society; their property value. I do, however, believe that the God of the bible was a petty self obsorbed prick. And you know what, he admits it, many times over in the OT. I don't believe that He is omnipotent or omniscient. I believe that he is very human in his thoughts and feelings and actions. I believe he is very flawed. With that said, I don't take much stock in what the Bible worshippers have to say. I do, however, know enough to fight them with their own words.
1 person likes this
@lucky_witch (2707)
• Philippines
16 Mar 08
Well, Im a Roman Catholic. I believe in God. but not in Ritualistic crap... haven't read the bible as much as the other people do... but I intend not to do anything that will harm others. I believe its enough to say that I am a good follower of Christ.
Many religions claim that they are the right one, the chosen one. I am not against it... if they think it that way. but all religions have their foolish members that made the religion a crap.
The 31 years old nanny of my daughter, who is an active member of Iglesia ni Kristo, stole an amount of P2,000 in the neighborhood... left our house with so many debts in the neighborhood for cosmetics products.
And the mistress of ever loving ex husband (hehehe) is an active member of the 7th day adventist, not only her... her whole family. With her parents knowing about that. And they call themselves the chosen one... Amen.
1 person likes this
@Harley009 (1416)
• India
31 Mar 08
I'm just saying my case...
I was raised as a Muslim with some traditional practices.
I studied more, and I got more interests
I learned Quran, it strengthened my beliefs.
As I learned more, It made me a strong believer with more proofs.
Still I'm a Muslim.
