There is nothing wrong in saying 'I dont believe, but I dont disbelieve and I still have respect'. That seems to be pretty much the stance of most people I know (including myself). You cant force belief, any more than you can make yourself love someone. Its either there, or its not. Im sure your family and friends will honour you for being honest.
Thanks! So far I've gotten very positive feedback. So far only one set of Christian friends who are saddened by my choice to walk away from God. I understand that, because not that long ago I would have felt the same way. Here's part of my response:
"I don't see this as walking away from God, but as walking away from acting falsely to myself and to others about what I believe. It was never an intentional falsehood. In a way I am starting over, perhaps allowing God to truly reveal himself to me. I do know that not everyone can be 100% right or wrong about God, and that none of us will truly know if any of this is truth until we die."
Good for you, manandariusMarch 3 2008, 00:48:03 UTC
I bet it does seem like a relief. If you don't believe it i am glad you are not trying to do so. I am glad you are being honest with yourself. You tried hard. Just being able to say, " I don't know" must be a very freeing experience. Weird i was listening to 'and when I die' by Blood Sweat & Tears and thinking about the line, " I could swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell... " I laugh because that is pretty close to how most of us feel a bit of the time. Anyway, I still love ya and I am not disappointed at all. I am proud of you.
Mike, I'm sorry to just now be commenting--I hadn't been keeping up with my reading. Thank you for your honest struggle and for being so gracious in articulating your positions. I have had many of the same struggles and questions, as you know from my site. If there is a God that we can't see, surely he honors someone such as yourself for honest searching and wondering.
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There is relief in no longer feeling your trying to force yourself to believe something you don't, isn't there?
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*hugs*
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"I don't see this as walking away from God, but as walking away from acting falsely to myself and to others about what I believe. It was never an intentional falsehood. In a way I am starting over, perhaps allowing God to truly reveal himself to me. I do know that not everyone can be 100% right or wrong about God, and that none of us will truly know if any of this is truth until we die."
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I always thought hell was for children. Oh wait that was Pat Benetar.
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My only active blogs now are http://merelyadequate.net and http://atheists-and-christians.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your kind comments.
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