The God Thread

I'd hear people say it all the time, it's a huge cliche and everybody uses it: "thank god" or "oh god" or "god damn-it" I believe these term's were first invented as a small prayer to the almighty after an occurence (good or bad) happened upon a rather religous person. It then was adopted as an omen, if you said it after somthing happened you were blessed, good luck would aid you for small things. Then it evolved into a cliche everybody said, it was just the underlying realization that most people weren't actually religous that eventually brought this phrase to an everyday term. According to the books, you are indeed commiting a religous act by paying your quick respects to god when saying: "thank god... i got through the day," you aknowledge the fact that god helped you through the day. So I hear it all the time... everywhere I go I hear it, I see it in the media -religous or not, people say it. I'm inspired by this... so I try it. I felt bad the first time, because I knew I meant nothing by saying it. But I began to say it after somthing happend, "thank god i didn't crush my testicles on the hand-rail!" "oh god, shut the fuck up!" "god damn she's fine!" and so I went, blurting these phrases carelessly as if I had a trillion to spare. Then when I needed help I'd actually say a little prayer: "please god, help me pass this test" And sometimes I'd pass the test I prayed for or land a trick after looking up to the sky and saying a prayer. I started to take this whole god thing serious! I soon began to question whether I had real faith in this "god" character, I'd suddenly be carefull of what I said about god and talk to him. I even started to pray, because he was helping me on the little things... or so I thought. "God" was helping me, and I loved him for it. I loved him so much I started to act according to how a loyal children of god would act. I loved him. He was my god and my faith was true, nothing could hurt me when god is looking after me. Then I began to meet other people as in love with god as I was... and it was nice, we could talk about our god and how nice he was. I didn't want to go back to the "non-believers" because I was safe. I could land tricks, pass tests, go out with pretty girls and get jobs with god looking after me. And if anything went wrong, it was because I was being punished for my sins or it was for a good purpose. For example, I stole a ring once... I put it on and I couldn't get it off again. I panicked as most people do so I prayed to god and begged than he make it loose and I pleaded sorry for what I did. Sure enough, with a little soap thing ring came off. And pretty soon I believed that everything that happened to me was because of god's will. But it wasn't fair, other kids did the same tricks I did, passed tests, got girls and got jobs... yeah they "thank god"ed but they didn't mean it. I did. And they got hurt from time to time or failed a test... but I believed it was because god wasn't with them. Then something weird happend, my girlfriend dissapeared! I cried to god: "Why god? Why? I love her! I didn't do anything wrong, I obey you! What did I do?" I was broken. I was confused because I thought god wouldn't do that to me, I didn't do anything terribly wrong? But I forgave god, as he does to me. Then I found out my liver was just about to the point of "fatal measures" and again, I questioned god, and forgave him. Things began to happen to me, bad things, things so bad that I'd get mad at god. Then one of my good friends, a real god servant such as myself was struck by a car just after attending confession at the church. I was hurt, how could god do this? I began to question how faithful god was to us, maybe he's the one comitting sins, maybe he isn't there. But I was nice, and prayed to him still. Then one night I find myself clinging to the toilet puking my brains out while accidentally urinating all over my clothes, my ribs hurt and my stomach is going to explode... I wanted to die. But instead I thought of god and how me threw all these misfortunes at me, even though I believed in him, I prayed to him... I loved him. I thought of all those kids pleasently sleeping, the misbelievers and haters, I thought of Catherine and how she was hit by a car... sent by god. I thought of every single kid who would wake up in the morning, say hi to their parents and go to school. I though of me waking up to my mom hooked on some weird pill and having to scrounge for some money for lunch at school. All these thoughts ran through my head as a fresh wave of puke rushed through my mouth, and my screaming stomach... then I though of my god. I raised my hand from the toilet and formated the middle finger and spluttered: "fuck you god" - it broke my heart to say it, but here I am dying of some weird disease, broken hands, lost freind/ girlfriend and there's all those non-believers sleeping in bed... while im hunched, covered in puke and piss with my stomach shattered. Fuck you god.

Sorry it's a little sketchy folks, I just wrote it now. I actually believe in somthing up in those hazy skies, I call it god and it's comfortable for me knowing I have somthing to believe in. It's just "god" and I pray to it all the time. I was born a Catholic but I don't agree with churches and stuff like that, my life is my religon. So even though many of those unfortunate things happened to me, I didn't actually tell of my god, coz I love him. And I;m proud of him because it's a positive thing in my life.

"why? -is what makes us different"

akal - I think I'll call you the preacher man. I'm in the process of moving, it might be a bit before I get back here and read all that you have to say. but I will read it all.

Clay Turtle - If anything I have said has offended you I really am sorry - it was not meant that way. I would never make fun of any indian religion.

I was referring to the Hopi indians. All I know about them is what I have read. Their traditions have recently been written down to prevent them from getting lost. That I know of, they are not being made fun of. Many find it amazing that they speak of the flood that covered the whole earth and a promised land where they now reside and like the jews they await the return of great entity. This entity that they await for they call the ant people who saved them from the flood by sealing them up in logs and brought them to the promised land and showed them how to find water. These teachings are so similar to that of the jews, it makes one wonder.

And of course I have my beliefs that you are aware of. my beliefs are just that. beliefs, they will remain beliefs, as no one will, not even myself will ever prove them to be true, nor will they disprove them. Because a belief is not a fact, it can be wrong. So if my belief is contridictory to anybody elses beliefs, it would be foolish of me to argue over them. Here I only share.

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

okcitykid, no Iwas not offended but rather cofused. As I had paid special note to your reference I was not famiar with it within in the limits of your usage of it. Being I was (cofused) missing the point of it's use, I felt that perhaps others were too.
Ahh, now I understand better as you have cleared the issue by giving a fuller explanation. So to perhaps I should insure clear conception by better defining. Like sunka wakan (sacred dog) white men introduced maza wakan (sacred iron) the rifle. We readily accept the stereo
type, thunder stick or fire stick (like fire water) for their native name but wakan is translated as sacred so should not (Great Spirit) Wakan Tanka be translated 'Sacred Spirit'?
akal-- read your response twice (couldn't help it, as I read though the next responce thinking someone was paraphasing your words, before I realized what happened)
But I am unsure your stance, but then it took me along time to understand that my desire for GOD to enrich my life wasn't really love for GOD but desires within my own being. I think it is great that you are able to see that in your life so soon.

"Terrorist or tyrant, few may come to the Truth that both are poor choice."

i know it's not about church but about religion.... but if i were religious i don't think i'd ever go to church because i'd know that GOD doesn't really want me to do that, all he wants me to do is to be a good person and to believe every word of his, definetly not give money to some guy that is "closer" to the lord than i am
i've been to church twice in my life, the first time i was about 12 and just wanted to see what it looks like on the inside hehe and the second tyme i hung out with the "church" people and we went in there to meet up with someone .... and all my "religious friends" wouldnt' stop swearing inside the building
so yeah here is a begginning of a really cool song ... hope you like it

" Give God the first portion of your income, say that with me." "Give God the first portion of your income." "Give it first! Not after the deducts. Not after the social security, and the hospitalization, and the malnutrition. Not after all these things on ya check, ya say 'I'm a give God a little what's left.' You do, and that's what you gonna get from God." Who am I? I'm not the Devil, I can take you to my level, Above the rocks, above the earth, Tell me what your soul is worth. How much money do you make? How much will you let me take? I will give you tranquility, Just send you wealth and checks to me. Life is going to expire, And your soul will burn in fire. You will perish in the thunder, Unless you call my hotline number. God has asked you to make me rich, Me and my fat-rat gaudy bitch. On your T.V.'s late at night, Send those checks, and I'll guide you to the light.

"The more you suffer, the more it shows you really care .... right ?"

MiA,nice song it may not be eloquent but it makes a strong point. One thing though is that your friends may go to church because they feel compelled to do so like complusery(sp) educational requirements lack motivational incentive upon those forced to do something. The New Testament describes christians liiving within society but separate from it's values. Thus being a part of the Church was necessary as they had all things in common. Note that the depiction of the 'Last Supper' describes a shared meal into which the recurrected Jesus the Christ enters into giving them the breaking of bread and a drink of wine in (the spirit) rememberance of Him.
They were given to form a social order within the established society placing the Lord GOD (Heavenly Father) as their ultimate authority over their (spiritual) lifes and Christ as Lord of their physical lives.
Defined in the What would you do without Rules
http://www.captaincynic.com/thread.php3/frmid=12-u-thrdid=15874-u-page=1
#16878]

"Terrorist or tyrant, few may come to the Truth that both are poor choice."
[  Edited by cturtle at   ]

well the "friends" , i don't really see them much anymore they're a little weird and racist and they DO really believe in god and they do enjoy going to church only i don't think that to them church means what it's supposed to .... and i guess that's because church is not what it was supposed to be anymore , and THAT IS the point that i was trying to make

"The more you suffer, the more it shows you really care .... right ?"

THAT IS the point that i was trying to make, well I wouldn't aurge that point because in that we agree. I stopped going myself to a large extent although I did go last Sunday. I had been having some dialogue with a couple of their people and I told them I would come and hear & see. They are good people whose lives seem to reflect their believes. It was an interesting experence as some of their practices are somewhat different from most, unique but a good experence. I may continue to study with them although I may not join their church, iwould like to understand their teaching better.

"Terrorist or tyrant, few may come to the Truth that both are poor choice."

"I'd like to say something profound....."SOMETHING PROFOUND""

AKAL: VERY GOOD

I'm sorry I took so long to read it, I've been very busy. I hope you are able to read the answer to your very honest post.

You are Job. If you get the chance you should read the story, it will make you feel better.

Job told god to stuff it. Job was a very righteous man it is said, and god allowed all kinds of terrible things to happen to him. But in the end, Job was an even more righteous man and received even greater blessings.

I will pray for you - and thanks for sharing - you did good

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

okcitykid said:

quote:

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Job told god to stuff it.

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"All statements are false. The last statement is false.--One of these statements is true."

Job became angry with God

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

If you want to beliee in God, just ask God to reveal himself to you. He done it for me oer and over and over again. it may not be "i saw this great light....!" sort of thing, but a lot of people have expirenced that. you really have to mean it though.
if Christians died, and we found out there was no God, we STILL have nothing to worry about. but if an athiest died, then they SURE better HOPE they were right!
have you noticed that Christianity causes a big uproar against the critcs and media? cuz they don't want you to know the Truth.
There is no better reglion than Christianinty. what other religion has a god that loves YOU SO MUCH, that he sent his ONLY son, into the world, just to die for you? he will forgive you of ANYTHING you have ever done. we did abousluty NOTHING for the gift. all we have to do is except jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (and our life's Driver!) we did abouslty NOTHING!!!! and, een though he walked on earth 2000 yrs ago, he is STILL saving lives! but if you read Revelations, it's some pretty freaky stuff. may want to Start with the book of Matthew, first. i'm reading revelations right now, and i SURE don't want to be here when that happens!

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity"-1 Timothy 4:12"

first of all, EVERY SINGLE person on this planet has bad times. when bad things occur, i call them "tests" its sort of like, "how are you going to handle this?" it's not God that makes bad things happen. it's Satan. He wants to destroy you. he wants you to fall. ifyou think you think your pretty strong, ask God to test you. the Book of Job was the most toughest test anyones ever had to take. but its a success stroy. it also says in Job that he was "blessed twice as much as he was before, after the test was over" he went through all of that, without curseing God!!! even when his OWN WIFE, told himto "curse God and Die!" but he refused. yes, he did get angry. Job was a example (a very good one at that!) no matter how bad it gets, just hang in there. things always get better. your freind and girlfreind died for a reason. i may not know what that is, but looking back, you'll see.
i saw a very good qoute at my freinds' house hanging up. it said, "God gae us building blocks, so we could make stepping stones out of them." it means, your troubles may make you stronger. you could look back in life and say, "i overcame this" you may help someone that is going through the same thing. have you eer seen "Tuesdays with Morrie"? rreally good movie. its a true story too. i met a couple people who knew they were dying, and it was unbelieveable how much stregth they have and they're not afraid of dying. they all give God credit. it gives them a lot to think about. how much god has blessed them, home, freinds, parents, food, stuff like that. just ask God to give you strength.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity"-1 Timothy 4:12"

You should have been here a long time ago when we were trying to explain if there was a God, why does he let bad things happen.

I don't like to blame things on Saten. We get ourselves in trouble when we do that. It is too easy to say that the devil made me do it when in fact if we take responsibility for our own actions we could walk straighter and trip less. If there is a devil or saten, God created the devil or saten. We know God made no mistake. Therefore there must be purpose in this. I believe that the story Job helps us understand that.

But it sounds like you got it figured out.

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

If you want an interesting take on god and satan, read Anne Rices 'Memnoch the Devil'. its a bit wordy but so worth it. I promise you will never look at religion the same way again.

"In the very depths of hell, Do not Deamons love one another?"