Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: bredy@alkp.serum.kodak.com (Dan Bredy (x37360)) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Is there a God? Message-ID: Date: 9 Mar 91 03:38:42 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Eastman Kodak Lines: 35 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [Stephen Matson describes his experiences with Christianity, which at the moment are primarily those of doubting: > I don't mean to sound anti-Christian, I just seriously have these doubts. >I just can't keep from wondering if its all a pipe dream. > Then again I look around and I know this didn't all 'just happen'. --clh] Steve, Let me speak to you as someone speaking from the 'other' side (I am an agnostic). I was a practicing Christian for almost all of my 22 years before I adopted my present life philosophy. I too had many of the same doubts you had, and I too eagerly seeked answers to these. I found none. I finally decided that it was more important to me to live for Truth than to live a lie, no matter how much comfort I found in it. What I would suggest you do is to explore these doubts (talk to ministers or other Christians), but if you find the answers wanting, do not accept compromises. Either choice you make will probably cause pain and confusion (as one whose been on both sides of the fence, I know) but in the end you will be much happier. I sense that you would almost suppress your doubts than to believe that maybe there isn't a God. I humbly submit that whichever choice you make (wether it is for God, or to follow no religion) it is O.K. as long as you know in YOUR HEART that it is the TRUTH. For too long in my life I believe I let doubt rule rather than truth and that was a rough period. Now by truth I do not mean some absolute thruth that anyone can know beyond a shadow of a doubt-- I sincerely believe it is not possible to know all truths about the universe, and beyond. I am talking but a truth which provides peace of heart and mind. I as an agnostic have this truth. I know many Christians who have this truth, also. I hope this helps some. Good Luck! Dan