Lou -
Not sure bro. seriously. that is one of those hypothetical questions that I feel is difficult to answer.
Because I am so convinced there is a God it is difficult for me to wrap my mind around "what if there wasn’t" does that make any sense?
--Snip--
Am I going to see you in December for the ride?
Ron, you are seriously the first person to EVER answer that question. Usually, I get a lot of shifting of feet, looking at the shoes, staring into space and a blatant avoidance of the question because . . .
. . . many people are afraid to explore the question. As you have demonstrated so clearly, there has been no harm in it!
To answer your question, however, "What would it take to get me to believe in god," the answer is also rather difficult. However, I have often heard believers who say they have a relationship with god or Jesus. That's fine. To become a believer, I'd have to have a similar relationship.
Now, to clarify what the means, there are some clarifications to the idea of the term "relationship" which may need to be stated. When I think of the term, "Relationship," I think of the kind of interaction that I have with my wife, my friends, my family. In spite of past attempts to have a relationship with god, that has never happened. Even my most sincere efforts after leaving the cult proved fruitless.
I never needed a flash of lightning, a visitation, a bonk on the head or the right scripture at the right time. All I wanted were answers to my prayers, even if the answer were, "No." All I needed, really, was the answer to one question and that was, "Where do I go from here?"
Frankly, that's all it would really take.
As for my question, I answered that in real life. I found that I could no longer believe that there was a god. I was angry at first, for about three seconds and then, realizing I had nothing to be mad at, the anger went away. The answer was, really, that not much about my life changed. A few things did. I had no more fear, no more guilt or anxiety and I became much more honest than I had before. Other than that, my life didn't really change a whole lot in terms of behavior and other than what I've said before in this thread.
I'm just rambling now.
I'm seriously considering the CA trip in December. I'll keep in tune with the thread!
--Wag--
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