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Success after IF
Why do you believe in God?
Serious question. I am curious.
Just because?
Because that is how you were raised?
You saw a sign?
You were born again?
I don't know what to believe. When my Mom died, it was powerful and amazing, and I really felt her spirit, like a wild energy in the room. But I didn't start praying or going to church.
I find that religion is a lot more main stream in America than it is in Canada.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Why do you believe in God?
God created me, he gave me life. Faith is very very important to me, and I fail at it sometimes, but He has always been there for me. I praise Him for my life and blessings. He's held my hand through it all and He is my peace.
I'm not good with words...lol
I absolutely believe in God. We go to church pretty regularly and I'm a person who does pray on a regular basis. I am Christian, was raised that way. I have explored other churches, like Lutheran, Methodist, non-denomination. All believe the same thing though.
I respect other people's views on God, but I just don't know how people think of this world without any sort of religion.
i wasn't raised to believe in God and now i do, so i guess that counts as "born again". although i wouldn't say that i saw a specific "sign", i would say that it's an experiential thing. i have a regular meditation practice and it was when i began meditating that i guess you could say i had an intuitive feeling of the presence of God.
i also put a lot of stock in spirituality and religion in general, and i figure if most of the world's religions for thousands of years have believed in some higher power, they're probably on to something.
yep
Well, I am Jewish...DH is Catholic but non practicing..we are raising J Jewish.. But I began to really pay attention to my religion and God when my mother died when I was a young adult (20)..
I acutally believe more in her spirit then anything. I know this might sound silly, but I pray to her and hope that she has some kind of "connection" to God and gives him my message. I truly do believe that she, wouldn't give me more then I can handle. From greaving her death, dealing with my little brothers drug and alcohol addiction, to me meeting my husband, to moving from MA to Florida, and to my IF struggles, and then giving birth to a small baby. I know she played a roll in all of these things and I know that she is my gardian and she will help me through anything that life hands me.
And even though my father and brother and I have all handled her death differently, her spirit is with each and everyone of us.
Very interested in these responses. I'm curious about what most feel God is...a being? A presence? Can you picture Him? If you meet Him will you shake hands/hug or will there simply be a presence that you can feel/connect to? Does he have a voice...will He speak to you audibly? These are the things I wonder about... And I mean no disrespect, I am genuinely interested in the answers to these questions...and I wonder if God-loving people have very different answers; if God is different for everyone.
As I said in the post below, I'm Agnostic - I don't believe one way or the other. I'm simply unsure.
If there is a God I guess I believe it to be a universal energy perhaps stemming from metaphysics, rather than something/someone you can see/touch/feel/talk/pray to. In this scenario, we all have the ability, individually and collectively to affect the universe and each other because we are connected on a basic level, through energy.
LO #1 - 1 unmedicated/self-monitored IUI w/ donor sperm.
LO #2 - 1 m/c, 2 BFNs, 4th IUI worked (unmedicated/self-monitored with new donor sperm).
Life is beautiful!
Because we're fancy like that.
This.
TTC since 11/05...ectopic pg 4/08...early m/c 6/09...BFP 10/5/09!
Nora B...June 15, 2010...8lbs, 8oz...Med-free birth!
TTC #2 since 7/11...cycle #3 of Clomid + IUI = BFP
Malcolm...September 21, 2012...8lbs, 6oz...Another med-free birth!
because when I look into my child's eyes, I see His grace. Because I feel a sense of peace and hope when I pray. Because He gives me strength when I am not feeling it anywhere else. Because when I take communion, I feel grounded. Because my life is richer with the belief. Because I believe there are truly miracles. Because there are so many ways to support biblical fables (such as Noah's Ark.
faith and religion are far from infallible and there are some horrible inaccuracies (such as Noah's ark!) but I believe in a higher power, and I believe that He is always with me. I believe that Jesus is seated at His right hand. I believe in an afterlife and I believe that saints have interceded for me.
The "easy" answer: because I was raised this way.
But that's not why I do now. I'm old enough to make my own decisions, and I choose to believe and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He has been in my life since I was a young child (I accepted him as my Lord and Savior at 6 years old!), but I have had times that I've pulled away, gotten closer, run screaming, but I always found my way back. And QUICKLY! He is my comfort and peace, and I rely on that faith relationship.
This
I find God in the big things, AND in the little things. I can't imagine not having God to lean on daily, He is the only one that never fails!
This, exactly!! I couldn't have worded it better!!
That's me to a "T".
LO #1 - 1 unmedicated/self-monitored IUI w/ donor sperm.
LO #2 - 1 m/c, 2 BFNs, 4th IUI worked (unmedicated/self-monitored with new donor sperm).
Life is beautiful!
That's nice, but it's not evidence that works for me, just another statement of belief. I don't mind if that's what you and/or others believe, but just as I'm certain I'm not going to convince you that I'm right and god doesn't exist (nor do I have any desire or intention to do so), I don't think anything posted here is going to convince me that it does.
I'm very science-minded as well (I have a B.S. in chemistry and a Ph.D.), and I don't think I could study all of that science without believing in God. I just cannot believe that all of the intricacies involved in how the human body is created from 2 single cells can be just a lucky accident. Think of how complex our bodies are. That wasn't an accident. We were created to work the way we do.
I just believe in my heart that God exists. It's difficult to explain, but things like what I wrote above are why I think he does. I also feel his comfort when bad things happen.
Sometimes I think that people think that if you believe in God, you're going to have a perfect life in which nothing ever goes wrong and that's just not the case. He doesn't give you a problem-free life just because you believe in him. If that was the case, there wouldn't be a thing called faith. We are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world where bad things happen to good people and bad people prosper. Sure it's not fair, but nothing in the Bible ever said you'd get a free pass from bad things just by believing.
Sorry, I think I started rambling a bit there!
I didn't mean to imply that someone can't believe in science and god, obviously many brilliant scientists also have religion - I guess for me it's more a functional (and personal) incapacity for just sheer belief. It's not that I believe in science and therefore don't believe in religion, it's that the way my mind works, I view something as true when I see specific evidence and explanation for it, as in many areas of science, but I have yet to see specific explanation of god or religion that makes sense to me. I do understand your perspective as well though and don't think you were rambling.
This made me tear up.
I believe in God because that's how I was raised. I respect other peoples views but I can't imagine in not believing in any God. I would go crazy if I didn't have God to cry to, to pray to or to thank endlessly. Enlighten me, when you worry about someone/something, what to do you?
TTC#2=July 2011: Surprise BFP: Chemical Pregnancy
I love these questions!!
It would be so lonely without God. It MUST be so lonely without God...
Yup, me too! I love the idea of it all, I just can't freely believe without some sort of proof.
I wish I could believe. I truly envy people who have faith. I would love to put things in God's hands, to know He will take care of me and that even if I can't understand why things are the way they are, that there's a higher purpose. I would love to be able to pray and actually believe someone is listening.
I love the poem about footprints in the sand, but in my heart I can't believe in it. I want to, but I can't.
I don't believe in god (though I was raised Catholic, so did at one time) and I don't feel lonely. I mean, I talk to my dogs a lot when I'm here alone, but I don't think I'm missing out on anything because I don't talk to god.
I'm with schmoodle on this. If I can't see it or see evidence of it, it just doesn't exist for me. I really do believe that over the course of billions of years, nature could have come up with enough "accidents" to make the human body and everything else that exists.
And, if I'm wrong and "judgment day" comes and god is all like, "You didn't believe in me, you're going to hell," then I don't want any part of that god. I feel like a live a good life - that I am good to people, other living things, and the Earth. I make mistakes, of course, but I do the best I can. If that's not good enough for any kind of god that exists, then he's not good enough for me.
TTC since 11/05...ectopic pg 4/08...early m/c 6/09...BFP 10/5/09!
Nora B...June 15, 2010...8lbs, 8oz...Med-free birth!
TTC #2 since 7/11...cycle #3 of Clomid + IUI = BFP
Malcolm...September 21, 2012...8lbs, 6oz...Another med-free birth!
Quite the opposite actually. I'm not lonely at all! I'm surrounded by loving family and friends. I can absolutely see how a person can find peace and comfort from God, I just don't. But I'm certainly not lonely without him!
I agree. I don't "look down" on people who don't believe in God. Your life, your beliefs. I'm just curious to know how they get by through the tough times and the joyous times.
TTC#2=July 2011: Surprise BFP: Chemical Pregnancy
I get by with support from friends, family, pets, et cetera. I'm surrounded by the love of human beings and animals and that's enough for me. Obviously I have no basis for comparison since I haven't lived with the belief of a companionship of a higher power, but I think I do ok generally, and I think I did ok coping with a very devastating loss and getting through it, even without religion to guide me.
Thank you for sharing. Loving family and friends are definitly much needed in life!
TTC#2=July 2011: Surprise BFP: Chemical Pregnancy
I don't think she means, "If you don't believe, you live such a lonely life." It's not about being surrounded by people. You can be lonely with many around you. Did you ever feel that way during your IF treatments? Many times, I did.
I think it's more that if you've never had a personal relationship with Jesus, you don't know what is missing. If I were to decide today that I didn't want to believe in God anymore, there would be a void, most definitely. Even when I go days without getting in the word or haven't had my time with just Him, I feel lonely, and I need to get back in the routine. Make sense?
ETA: I agree that having family and friends is very important. Not saying that!
Ya I so didnt mean to offend, I suck at words. In all my friends, and all my family and all the incredible support I have, it would not be the same, or as fulfilling without the Lord. And how do you know if you're not missing out if you havent truly submitted yourself to God? ( I think someone made that point )
me too
I've heard it said that God is love. Now, I'm not sure if it's meant to be taken literally or if in the minds of believers it means that God created and/or spreads love. If it's as simple as God equating love, then I suppose I do believe in God. I have a lot of love in my life. I am far from lonely. And, yes, love is an unknown. So maybe I believe in God. But I have a hard time with the concept of God being a being that is worshipped. I think being good to others; loving others; appreciating the world around us; and, self-awareness can all be powerful and uplifting...and, yes, comforting. I don't call it God, but maybe some do.
LO #1 - 1 unmedicated/self-monitored IUI w/ donor sperm.
LO #2 - 1 m/c, 2 BFNs, 4th IUI worked (unmedicated/self-monitored with new donor sperm).
Life is beautiful!
I see what you're saying, but I guess I should give more background. I use to go to church. I was baptized Catholic but never attended the Catholic church. I suppose my mom did it out of Catholic guilt because she didn't raise me in religion nor does she practice any longer. I was curious about God and religion as a child. I joined the Lutheran church by myself when I was in grade school and continued until I graduated high school. I went through Confirmation and the whole 9 yards. Sadly, it never felt right to me. I wanted so badly to believe and trust me, I tried VERY hard. However, as I got older and more comfortable and confident in myself and my feelings, I realize it was OK that I questioned it all. I'm very interested in learning about all religions, I just don't freely believe.
I honestly don't feel like I'm missing out on anything!
i was raised Catholic...believing just because it was the way it always was...
i didn't TRULY believe until the boys were born, i prayed every day for their health and that everything would be okay..i don't know how to explain the fact that I believed that my prayers kept being answered one after another. i felt that someone was listening, i had truly never felt that before...there have been other little things that have contributed to believing in my life...but i had never been so sure as then.
i KNOW my mom is part of an afterlife....not just because i want to believe she is not gone, i just KNOW it. and i am entirely sure she had a hand in sending Audrey to me...i have no doubts about it
Joey, Ronnie, and Audrey,
my awesome IUI 30 week twins, and my surprise miracle
LOVE my SAIF ladies
Just to clarify, I dont think most people who have true faith find it is easy, or just believe. (I dont think you implied that, I am just clarifying) for me, it takes work to believe in something that can't be proven. I have to suspend that innate expectation of proof... but I have to oversimplify and use the concept of an atom. I can't see it, but i believe in it. I can't see DNA, but I believe it. I know that isn't incontrovertible proof, but it is enough to make me WANT to believe and that WANT (and need) really leads me to belief. Does that make sense?