How to become a believer?

[gene2009]

This is my stupid, strange, easy, and difficult question.
I've read Bibble, read about Buddhism, Daosism and etc. However, all this brought me a ton of questions at all.
Science discoveries made me unhappy, they drive me to atheism, and i don't want to be an atteist. I had never been an atteist before. Some time ago i watched a few programs and something broke in my mind and it made me atteist. I wish i'll be back to my mind position where i was before those tv programs.
Please your suggestions, questions I've lost my sleep.

[Albalida]

Why not give atheism a try? If that's how you feel and think, then why not give the time for the full experience of it? What you resist, will persist.

If there is a mustard seed of belief in you, it will sprout its leaves in its own time. No need to keep digging the seed up to check. Let it grow by itself.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by gene2009

This is my stupid, strange, easy, and difficult question.
I've read Bibble, read about Buddhism, Daosism and etc. However, all this brought me a ton of questions at all.
Science discoveries made me unhappy, they drive me to atheism, and i don't want to be an atteist. I had never been an atteist before. Some time ago i watched a few programs and something broke in my mind and it made me atteist. I wish i'll be back to my mind position where i was before those tv programs.
Please your suggestions, questions I've lost my sleep.

Why not become neutral/open and try a little self inquiry?

[gene2009]

Originally Posted by Albalida

Why not give atheism a try? If that's how you feel and think, then why not give the time for the full experience of it? What you resist, will persist.

If there is a mustard seed of belief in you, it will sprout its leaves in its own time. No need to keep digging the seed up to check. Let it grow by itself.

Because atteism drive me to do bad things or to do nothing because everything doesn't metter.

[gene2009]

Originally Posted by raykilleen

Why not become neutral/open and try a little self inquiry?

I'm trying to do it. Just i've very impressed by those programs. That was very cold pragmatic.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by gene2009

I'm trying to do it. Just i've very impressed by those programs. That was very cold pragmatic.

Don’t confuse yourself with new-agers and their programs, they often take bits and pieces from that which they know nothing about, check out this free writing by Sri Ramana Maharshi:

http://www.messagefrommasters.com/Eb...s/Who_Am_I.pdf

Where’s that Arcanum guy when you need him?

[Prinie]

Gene, stay open, ask questions, trust yourself.

I don't think anyone can really answer this question for you otherwise it'll become more like a brainwashing than genuine.

[Indiana]

Originally Posted by gene2009

Because atteism drive me to do bad things or to do nothing because everything doesn't metter.

Atheism doesn't make you do anything. You choose what you do, or don't do. Atheism allows you the freedom to choose what you think matters, or doesn't matter, and to act accordingly.

What sort of things do you think atheism would drive you to do?

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by gene2009

This is my stupid, strange, easy, and difficult question.
I've read Bibble, read about Buddhism, Daosism and etc. However, all this brought me a ton of questions at all.
Science discoveries made me unhappy, they drive me to atheism, and i don't want to be an atteist. I had never been an atteist before. Some time ago i watched a few programs and something broke in my mind and it made me atteist. I wish i'll be back to my mind position where i was before those tv programs.
Please your suggestions, questions I've lost my sleep.

Gene,
Pretend that life (& any belief system you choose) is a game.
There are rules (which depend on your society & chosen belief system).
The goal of the game is to have fun, to enjoy yourself (which eventually you realize involves helping others enjoy themselves too).

I don't believe there are any atheists. NONE.
We cannot help but believe in & pursue God (what we think is GOoD).
I find it ironic that atheists accept the warped definition of a sky-Grandpa version of "God" only to reject it. That doesn't make sense at all, besides being unhelpful to their psychology ("study of their soul").

Each of us (& for that matter all life/energy) is doing what we think is best at any given moment (pursuing that which we think is GoOD). Most people don't call this God. But what else is God, if not love? Love is hoping & striving for what is best, through trial & error (active faith).

So, Gene, what would be best for you today? What do you need, physically, emotionally, socially etc.? In what way can you contribute to GoOD in your life & in your sphere of influence? I assure you that there is plenty of good to be done!

[gene2009]

Raykilleen, thank you for the ebook. I'll read it. The problem is, there were very authority scientists in those programs. I couldn't ever imagined their words would so much magnet me. I want to break it but how. I always had my own opinion about life after.... And i was very sure in this.

-----------------

Indiana, i have no easy life. In other words, have experienced enough Hell on Earth. And atheism says - nothing doesn't metter. Ok, i'll go earning easy crime money for my family. I'll much drink, test different drugs because nothing does matter for me more.

----------------

Perspective, i understand. Please, i don't try to be a deep religiose. Simple, i'm seeking of those scientists - they said it's nothing after die. I don't have anything in contrast to their scientific arguments.

[bodi]

Lots of good advice, every post.

You know Gene, there is nothing incompatible between science and spirituality. I suggest reading Carl Sagan, Ken Wilber and Alan Watts to start with.

[gene2009]

Thank you Bodi. I'll try to get some books writen by them as soon as possible.

----------------

What the hell i watched that tv stuff. Why it is killing me.

[Indiana]

Originally Posted by Perspective

I don't believe there are any atheists. NONE.

Of course you're entitled to believe whatever you believe, but this atheist respectfully disagrees with you.

Originally Posted by gene2009

And atheism says - nothing doesn't metter. Ok, i'll go earning easy crime money for my family. I'll much drink, test different drugs because nothing does matter for me more.

Atheism says there is no God. That is all. It says absolutely nothing about anything else. Any further meaning you construct is all your own.

If you believe that if there no God it is okay to steal, hurt people, or hurt yourself, then by all means I encourage you to urgently find a belief in God.

However, there are plenty of atheists who do not believe that just because there is no God, it is fine to behave in any harmful way you like. However, you have to take personal responsibility for yourself, not cede responsibility for good behaviour to a deity.

[gene2009]

Indiana, I never said if you're an atheist you should do all that stuff. I know many atheists who should be taking in paradise in the 1st line. I also know some believers who seem the hell is for.
I just want to back my belief in something at all. I want to find any reason to go on my bloody life.
I started progressing with my life and then that fu..ing smart tv program cut my wings.
I now know it's possible to kill somebody with a tvset.

[ChristsLight]

Good, drop the beliefs. You will realize that they aren't the truth. But as long as there is a person behind the beliefs, then you will always be going from one belief system to the next, and none of them will be true. When the person is gone, the beliefs die.

However, take note that atheism is just as much a belief system than any form of theism. Don't be fooled into thinking that a lack of beliefs means atheism.

[VinceG]

I was an atheist for most of my life. Only recently did I learn how to believe. Belief really is a skill you learn, it doesn't just magically come out of nowhere. Many religious people don't think of it this way, but guess what they mean when they say their "faith was tested."

If you want to believe, don't be ashamed to admit to yourself that you're not there yet and you have to work on it. The key to this is to find things that inspire you. Even the atheist can get inspired by certain sayings and sentiments that aren't quite religious but are vaguely spiritual in nature.

Who ultimately convinced me that there was a God was David Hawkins. That doesn't mean he'll convince you, just that it's possible for a convincing person or book to pour water on that seed of belief in your head and get it to grow.

[bodi]

"Mike Teavee..."

(from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

"The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set–
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all the shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink–
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK–HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy–Winkle and–
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole–
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks–
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start–oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hears. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

[Arcanum]

Originally Posted by VinceG

I was an atheist for most of my life. Only recently did I learn how to believe. Belief really is a skill you learn, it doesn't just magically come out of nowhere. Many religious people don't think of it this way, but guess what they mean when they say their "belief was tested."

If you want to believe, don't be ashamed to admit to yourself that you're not there yet and you have to work on it. The key to this is to find things that inspire you. Even the atheist can get inspired by certain sayings and sentiments that aren't quite religious but are vaguely spiritual in nature.

Who ultimately convinced me that there was a God was David Hawkins. That doesn't mean he'll convince you, just that it's possible for a convincing person or book to pour water on that seed of belief in your head and get it to grow.

David Hawkins believes in a God?

[Beingist]

Originally Posted by Arcanum

David Hawkins believes in a God?

David Hawkins' "God" is synonymous with Reality, to me, though a bit more, as he somewhat combines Reality and Love.

That's my take, anyway.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by Arcanum

David Hawkins believes in a God?

Yes. He also mentions non-material entities such as angels and archangels. He just doesn't spend a whole lot of time discussing them, I think because such discussion inevitably ends up diluting the message.

But God Himself figures very prominently into his teachings. He's a huge proponent of faith-based healing groups like AA, which he calibrates at 550.

[lost]

I'm border line atheist\agnostic\believe in God but not attached to a religion. I definitely have some soul searching to do. It indeed does take work to 'believe' and to really 'find yourself'. It doesn't just jump out at you like I used to think it would.

[CroMagna]

Why would you want to force yourself to believe in something you don't feel is true? Why not embrace the feeling of not having to answer to anyone before or after you're dead, the feeling of being able to write the script of your own life, devise your own morality, and determine your own purpose?

[larkok]

I think what the OP is really after (and to some extent, myself) -- is that he wants PROOF. Some kind of evidence that will slant his belief system into the most beneficial way possible.

If there is no God, then where is the proof?

If there is, where is proof?

And so forth. Unfortunately, most people are heavily invested into their own personal experiences and convictions. To be able to form an effective belief system is to become inspired or contemplative of a "truth" or "proof" that manifests itself somehow in life.

This is a difficult thing to do. Atheists can say, "well, there is no proof of God because I have not witnessed a miracle". Yet a Catholic can say, "there IS proof of God, because my wife's cancer disappeared after I prayed to her."

So.. The issue here is, what proof do you need? I know for myself, I would want to witness a miracle. Or to be visited by some divine, ethereal being who would engage me in a conversation before I can FULLy believe in a God.

But since neither of the above has happened, I'm stuck with being an Agnostic. Sort of believing, but hardly convinced of it.

I'm waiting for proof.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Albalida

Why not give atheism a try? If that's how you feel and think, then why not give the time for the full experience of it? What you resist, will persist.

If there is a mustard seed of belief in you, it will sprout its leaves in its own time. No need to keep digging the seed up to check. Let it grow by itself.

Don't you mean agnosticism?

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Indiana

Atheism doesn't make you do anything. You choose what you do, or don't do. Atheism allows you the freedom to choose what you think matters, or doesn't matter, and to act accordingly.

What sort of things do you think atheism would drive you to do?

Why do we need -ism's at all? They seem to take our freedom...why not just be free?

[Beingist]

Originally Posted by gene2009

This is my stupid, strange, easy, and difficult question.
I've read Bibble, read about Buddhism, Daosism and etc. However, all this brought me a ton of questions at all.
Science discoveries made me unhappy, they drive me to atheism, and i don't want to be an atteist. I had never been an atteist before. Some time ago i watched a few programs and something broke in my mind and it made me atteist. I wish i'll be back to my mind position where i was before those tv programs.
Please your suggestions, questions I've lost my sleep.

Consider the sense of awareness of yourself, or simple consciousness. Dwell there for a bit, and you'll be fine.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Do some peyote and continuously repeat mantras about Jesus appearing before you?

[gene2009]

ChristsLight, i'm not warrying about terms of belief systems. I just want to do something that will sounds for like the true. For now, the words of those programs sounds like the true. However, that true is killing me.
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VinceG, yeah, i agree, belief isn't come in one moment for most. Anyway, i know a few people who became bilievers at one moment.
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Bodi, a good verse. he,he.
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CroMagna, again, i did well before those tv programs. I was believed in what i did and felt. Now, i lost something inside myself.
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Larkok, exactly, i'm looking for proof for myself. Or proof that those scientists are wrong. Or better, i'd be happy to see any ghost, specter, spook my own eyes.
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Beingist, thanks for your suggestion.
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[ChristsLight]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Why would you want to force yourself to believe in something you don't feel is true? Why not embrace the feeling of not having to answer to anyone before or after you're dead, the feeling of being able to write the script of your own life, devise your own morality, and determine your own purpose?

God or no God, are you certain these things are within your control?

[Prinie]

Gene, look all of the wonderful wealth of information for you to choose from and succumb to. all of these options are there for you to "retain" if you so choose....