HelenM

blondegoddess

Can I ask - what were you asking for from God, that God didn't answer? Were you asking for some specific thing? I apologize if you've said more about this in posts I haven't read - this is a long thread and I admit I haven't read it all.

Anyway - to address what you asked in your original post, I don't see how you could not have a big void in your life if you go from believing in God and having a life centered around that belief, to being unsure about God's nature and even existence, perhaps. If you believed you used to talk to God and now you don't talk to God because you're not sure God exists, then that will create a void in and of itself just like surely as it would if a human being you loved, who you believed loved you, died or moved far away.

And if most of your friends were Christians and they now don't understand you or reject you or aren't willing to talk about anything except, say, whether you were really saved in the first place that too will create a void.

And if you were spending a lot of time on Christian activities and you now have stopped those things, that will create a void.

I expect you'll have to be quite intentional about thinking through what you are missing now and then figuring out ways to put back into your life the things that you 'lost', as it were, through ceasing various forms of Christian activity and belief. And once you've figured it out you have to do it - find new friends and new ways to be socially involved, and maybe a new community whose beliefs or non-beliefs are more in tune with yours so that you're accepted there and not continually questioned about why you don't believe what everyone else does.

Like I said, I haven't read the whole thread, nor have I read the whole atheists' testimony thread, but I'm fairly sure that there are people on these boards who have experienced what you're going through now but they're happier now. Maybe happier than they ever were as Christians. I'm a Christian myself but I'm not going to argue that or try to explain it away; I'll just take them at their word. I could say they never really understood Christianity but - I don't know that and besides, who knows whether I fully understand it myself so who am I to judge?

(And, thanks, Stephen T-B )

take care
Helen

beth

Thank you, Helen. You lead me to believe that you are a true Christian. To answer your question, I asked God to audibly address me. I want Him to speak to me as if He were in the room. With a load and booming voice. I do not want little whispers or thoughts because I cannot tell whether they are just fabrications of my mind. I've also been praying this all morning. I do not think that this is a big request for the Almighty God. If He truly loves me, He will meet this request.

HelenM

Thanks .

Do you know any Christian who has heard God speak to them like that? I'm just curious. I haven't ever heard God speak to me like that and I don't think I know anyone else who has.

There are places in the Bible where God seems to have spoken to people that way. But not many, actually. Often the Bible is quite vague about how God spoke to a person. And sometimes it says the person heard God but those with him didn't. So that's a bit confusing...imo.

That's understandable. I think that a lot of Christians who say "God told me" actually mean "I had this thought and followed through with it and everything worked out remarkably well so I concluded that it had come from God".

That's an interesting assumption because - do you believe that humans only love you if they do everything you ask them to? Do you automatically assume they don't love you if they don't always do what you request? Presumably not. I suppose the point is "I don't see any reason why God wouldn't talk to me in an audible voice except that He doesn't love me after all - or He doesn't exist". But sometimes we don't see all the reasons for things.

I'm not trying to change your views or beliefs. Just to say, maybe some of your assumptions deserve re-examination, just to make sure they are all reasonable...

Although, not to worry because some seasoned non-Christians here will probably rip what I said to shreds for you if you just wait a day or even a few hours

Btw my favorite Christian site is:
The Christian Think Tank

Even if you don't agree with what the author of the site writes, he clearly has a heart of gold and you might appreciate seeing that there are some Christians around who do...

take care
Helen

Radorth

Re Helen:

Er, no. I said IF they were Christians, they cannot stop being Christians or lose their salvation. That is portraying God as extremely forgiving and faithful. Meanwhile you're portraying God as saying it's OK to become a friend of the world, as you are, when he well knows the suffering and that will invariably entail.

I really wish people would quote what I actually said, in context, but I suppose their theories about my motives would be seen for what they are. I'm amazed at all folks here claim to know about me, while claiming I know nothing about them.

Re BG:

So in one day you have gone from not knowing to turning away from "your God" because he did not speak to you in an audible voice. Is that what I am hearing now?

And the only "true Christians" here are those who don't disagree with you? And you were more "on fire" than any of us, even though you always knew you were going to hell? And we who might dare disagree with you is simply "rationalizing"?

For a "confused" person, you certainly know a lot about our faults, and none of your own, apparently.

All I'm hearing is "I did everything right, but God didn't respond in an audible voice, so he doesn't exist."

You apparently don't recall a skeptic here asserting we pray so because we are narrcissists.

Criminy.

Rad

Celsus

Everyone,

I've followed up the discussion here . Let's not derail this thread.

Joel

Radorth

BG, I think your username and your posts indicate you made your choice a long time ago, and are just here to hear what you want to hear. I have never once heard of a true Christian choosing such a narcissistic name, but I suppose there are exceptions. God has never been picky about who he takes in.

He sends his servants out for the blind the halt and the lame, as you know from reading the previous litany of my personal faults.

Funny Helen didn't call those "off-thread." But she is loathe to offend anyone, I know.

Rad

beth

Why thank you. I do so appreciate that remark, but I am far from a narcissist. But I can say you are an ass.

beth

Another thing, if you are truly a Christian, then why are you intimidated by my name. It's a joke. A nickname. Christians are not supposed to believe in any goddess.

Radorth

Heh. I think I'll rest my case on your humble and holy assertions. The fact remains I am the only Christian here who encouraged you to leave the church, and that it was healthier to be cold toward God than lukewarm.

Rad

Bree

I have received a PM asking to close this thread, and I can see why: it's has sort of strayed from the OP and wandered around a bit. Instead of closing it, I'm going to move it to Secular Lifestyle and Support, where only non-believers may respond: after all, the topic is "To all atheists who used to be Christians...."