God Doesn’t Mind Skeptics!

by Mike Edwards I would suggest you are better off doubting what you have been told and verify it for yourself. It isn’t easy in the land of uncertainty but it can save you from regretful decisions in the arenas of religion, science, and politics. Being a skeptic isn’t being disrespectful. Children will often claim “I didn’t do it.” You still love them but still seek to confirm they are telling the truth. A marriage may be different as such a relationship has built up trust, but we certainly can question our partner’s opinions as we all need to think for ourselves. Spiritual Authorities Too much trust is given to pastors and other religious leaders without questioning their opinions. Run from leaders who are afraid or unwilling to defend or discuss their opinions. Many will proclaim “the Bible says” without acknowledging many don’t agree with their interpretation. Scholars do not agree on many moral issues. I was told often that the Bible teaches there is a literal hell where unbelievers in the afterlife are tortured with fire forever after a few short years living here on planet earth. 12 Reasons To Believe Hell Is A Myth! This impacted my view of God and caused regrets in my relationships. I felt obligated to evangelize them out of hell. I wish I had challenged many views of God that went against my moral intuitions. Moral of story – don’t believe everything you hear claimed about God! See here. Science experts Many readers have begun to question their spiritual leadership. Lessons learned – we should question authorities in all areas of our life in case they are wrong. Because of my early religious experiences and contrarian personality – I knew to question experts who said to trust them without debate. It has been declared in the past that the Covid vaccines prevented infection and transmission of the disease. That was the purpose of mandates. Scientists and doctors who declared otherwise were censored, but it turns out they weren’t the mis-informers. Those who claimed masks didn’t prevent the spread of a virus were called mis-informers. Turns out a review that dug into findings of 78 randomized controlled trials discovered wearing masks made little or no difference in stopping the virus. See here. Lots of my friends who wore masks got Covid. For those curious, it is claimed by many masks can even be harmful to the virus getting inside the mask and staying on the masks thus breathing it in. “Undebated/censored science” isn’t science. We must make decisions for ourselves in case so-called experts are wrong. Politicians We often don’t change our mind because we make decisions based on our feelings than cognitions. Should we make buying decisions based on if we want it as opposed to whether we can afford it? Should we date or marry someone based only on feelings or based on their actions? In our recent election, many voted based on their feelings about a particular candidate. Without specific evidence one is Hitler incarnated or a Communist. I am convinced a wiser choice is to vote based on policies/cognitions that I believe best for the future of my children, grandchildren, and country. Climate alarmists have warned of the world coming to an end in the past. We still live on. Ignore those unwilling to debate. Question every idea and decide for yourself after looking at both views. Certainty or uncertainty? One may believe what seems to be the popular narrative, without exploration, to avoid anxiety not knowing. Disagreeing with the popular science narrative or church leadership about God’s character can lead to isolation. The truth is certainty is an illusion unless talking about universal moral sins such as rape or incest. Adultery isn’t only wrong in the eyes of the betrayer. Assume uncertainty if you have one rational friend who believes differently from you whether it’s about religion, science, or politics. It should be intuitive those who reject diverse opinions is unloving and controlling. Most don’t except such behaviors in their personal relationships. Having good intentions by believing you are right for the whole doesn’t matter if you could be wrong. Religious leaders seem hell-bent in telling people what they must believe about God according to their understanding and interpretation of the Bible. Scientists or Politicians who refuse debate of their policies are no different. Leaders play God (Superior) in the lives of others by claiming to know the truth and we can’t decide for ourselves. I have a hunch God especially loves skeptics! Most agree an unloving or tyrannical God isn’t worth believe in. It is only intuitive, if a Creator exist, that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. A parent obviously loves a child who finds it easier than their others children to accept them and their ways. But we don’t unlove our skeptical children. A greater pain may be when our children ignore us. Spiritual or human parents don’t desire forced love, which isn’t genuine, but hope for consideration and to prove the possibility of a better relationship. Be a free thinker and resist those who resist! ******* Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like

Acting in Faith

by Michael Donahoe What is acting in faith? It is taking action even when we cannot see or prove that something is there. I remember when I was a little boy, I would wake up in the middle of the night and call out in the dark to my mom. I could not see her but I knew she was there. If I went by sight I would never have called out to her and I would not have received the comfort I needed. The same with God, we cannot see God but we know God is there. We must realize that we live by faith or we will never call out to God and receive what we need. In certain ways, I see all people as people of faith. That is not saying that all people have faith in God but all have faith. Some people have faith in science, some in various religions, some in humanity and others have faith in God. God loves each one of us no matter what we put our faith in. God accepts us, loves us and has restored fellowship with us through grace, and that is all through faith. None of us can prove beyond a doubt that there is a God or that there is not a God. None of us can prove Heaven or Hell, it is all by faith. Just as it is by faith that we flip a light switch and expect the lights to come on, or sit on a chair and expect it to hold us, it is by acting in faith that we accept God and know God is there. Do not worry about trying to prove God to everyone you meet. Live your life daily by acting in faith in God. Allow God to live through you and touch others by loving them with godly love. It is by us acting in faith that we can show the love of God to others. ******* Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/