God. The fact that you are reading this suggests that you are at least partially open to His existence and open to learning more. If so, then this essay is for you. I want you to know that God is real and that God loves you.
Does God exist and if so where is He - where can He be found? In my experience this is the question that many people are asking today. At the same time many people have come to the point in their lives where they have serious doubts about God - or have already denied His existence.
Of course many have tried to "prove" God's existence with rational arguments. Aquinas, Abelard, Anselm, Pascal, and Paley are a few that have attempted this. These approaches are of limited helpfulness, for though we can approach God with our reason and detect Him in nature, He cannot be fully grasped in this way. More importantly, these logical "proofs" for God's existence miss the point.
What is the point? In my experience, most of those who doubt or deny God's existence, do not do so because of firmly held philosophical convictions. They do so because of personal disappointment with God. Furthermore, I'm suggesting that many of those who now perceive themselves as doubting or denying God for philosophical reasons, got where they are because they became personally disillusioned with God sometime in the past.
Personal Disappointment with God
What kind of personal disappointment? Disappointment like unanswered prayer. Many in personal crisis have cried out to God in prayer. They have called out to Him for help. But the help they were looking for did not come. People like Frank from the Paralyzed Veterans Association, who phoned me for a donation. As we talked he began sharing some of his problems with me over the phone. When I told him I would pray for him, he angrily responded, "Please don't. I've given up on that guy." He had prayed many times but never received the answer he expected. As a result he now severely doubts God - His existence, His... [continues]
Does God exist and if so where is He - where can He be found? In my experience this is the question that many people are asking today. At the same time many people have come to the point in their lives where they have serious doubts about God - or have already denied His existence.
Of course many have tried to "prove" God's existence with rational arguments. Aquinas, Abelard, Anselm, Pascal, and Paley are a few that have attempted this. These approaches are of limited helpfulness, for though we can approach God with our reason and detect Him in nature, He cannot be fully grasped in this way. More importantly, these logical "proofs" for God's existence miss the point.
What is the point? In my experience, most of those who doubt or deny God's existence, do not do so because of firmly held philosophical convictions. They do so because of personal disappointment with God. Furthermore, I'm suggesting that many of those who now perceive themselves as doubting or denying God for philosophical reasons, got where they are because they became personally disillusioned with God sometime in the past.
Personal Disappointment with God
What kind of personal disappointment? Disappointment like unanswered prayer. Many in personal crisis have cried out to God in prayer. They have called out to Him for help. But the help they were looking for did not come. People like Frank from the Paralyzed Veterans Association, who phoned me for a donation. As we talked he began sharing some of his problems with me over the phone. When I told him I would pray for him, he angrily responded, "Please don't. I've given up on that guy." He had prayed many times but never received the answer he expected. As a result he now severely doubts God - His existence, His... [continues]
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