Back in basic training, I experienced Jesus and I know that there is not only a God, but a Savior, and even a Comforter. I was broken, and to Him, that was more than a little beautiful.

for knowing there is a god, my son got very ill when he was just 18 months old he almost died. I prayed and prayed and he is healthy and alive many years later. as for thinking there wasn't a god, when I pray and pray and it doesn't happen to go my way. but then i set back and remember god has a way of doing it his way and on his time, and it always seems to be just the way i "needed it to be" GOD IS GOOD!

Experience? EXPERIENCES! Far, far too many to even begin to list. And I have never, never even experienced anything that would have me think or believe there is no God! It's inconceivable to me. And I am not a "thumper", by any stretch.

Very good question. I was told that I could find the answers in the Bible, but I asked too many questions. I would see people all around me "feeling" the presence of God but I felt nothing. I prayed constantly, I went forward in youth meetings when they asked who would accept Jesus into their heart, I read the entire Bible, and attended Bible classes because it didn't make sense to me. I was actually asked to leave the classes because my questions were disruptive and "I had no faith" I finally realized most people were lying about God, and the rest were brainwashed.

I became a Christian in 1992, the year me and my husband got married. We had three kids - and while i "believed", I never had an experience with Him. It took me completely walking away from Him, for me to completely discover him in a true sense. to give you a little back ground - my husband was an associate pastor for five years, and while I still believe I was saved at that point, I didn't have the connection with God, until after my son was diagnosed with autism. I walked away from Him, God, i mean - not my son. I was so angry with him. For months - I think it was an entire year before I started talking to Him again. One night, I went to check in on him. He was sleeping in his bed - a bar of moonlight lay across his cheek. I can still see it so clearly in my mind. I remember asking God, "why?" Why in the world would You do this to him? If You had issue with me, why not take it out on me? Why hurt my son? The answer I got back, might not be what you would think...no, my son is still autistic, there was no chior of angels singing...the bar of moon light still lay on his cheek - it didn't become a flash of lightening. What did happen was, I got a question back. "Ok, if I could trade your son, make him the most well behaved boy, have him be 'normal', would you take the trade?" Of course I said "NO!" "Ok, then. You can go through this with me, or without me...but you will have to go through this." From then on, I've had a more real experience with Him. It's caused a lot of change - but most for the good - in our lives. For one, hubby is no longer an associate pastor, and eventually we left that church. From going through this, I now wear my heart on my sleeve, and am more real with people...this caused people to think, at my old church, that I had walked away from God. Instead, I discovered who I really am in Him (the story is a lot longer, but I'm affraid I'd bore ppl to tears). I stopped trying to change myself to "fit in" to church...and that caused the major rift in our church. I heard an interview with Amy Lee - lead singer to Evanescense...who said she was a Christian, but never tried to fake who she was to fit in. She went on to say that "unfortunately, that's sometimes the only way to fit into some churches..." As horrible as that sounds - it's true. We did leave that church, and I found another one...and eventually found a group of women who are accepting of me (a women's writer's group)...of my "weirdness" and who think I'm a pretty damn good writer. (oops, did I say 'damn'?) Sorry for the long story...I know that this "PROOVES" nothing...not to someone outside of my own skin...but had you been there in the bedroom, looking down at my son...you'd know how real that was. Suz

I can only answer the first question my friend, since my answer will negate the second one. It "seems" my prayers are always answered. It's quite uncanny, but I do have faith. But I still wonder sometimes, like a lot of people. I'm not a religious person. I'm more a "spiritual" person, on the "Zen" side. Lol.

Back when I was about 18, I was so scared about something in school, I asked God for help. He granted that help and I recognized that He did so by getting back down on my knees and thanking Him for it with a huge amount of humble gratitude. After that, He seemed to grant me things --wonderful things-- one after the other, time and time again, and, like, non-stop...all without my even asking. My undeserved achievements in life could have come from only one Source. I think He likes knowing that I know that. Throughout my life everything fell into place. I've had an incredible 70 years...and it wasn't MY doing, that's for sure. As for the second part of your question, I consider every "glitch" along the way to be His Will and for good reason that I don't happen to understand at the moment. For me, it would be impossible to believe that there was no God. If I were the one to believe that there was no God, God would have the right to strike down this earth with great disappointment, for He has treated me better than anyone in this world.

Excellent question my friend. My initial thought was that each child is a miracle and who provides miracles? But then to be honest, my belief predated my being a mom by decades. I think for me it is a comfort to believe that some high power somewhere else will simply listen to me, be on my side, and not be mad at me when I screw up. I feel better after my little "chats" with Him and I guess that is all the experience I need! Happy Thursday kdp! :) ((hugs))

Absolutely none whatsoever. I've gone thru life with eyes wide open and have never seen so much as an inkling of anything that would make me question my reality and the existence of that which does not exist. Oh, btw, I should also add that I've never been confined to a mental institution, on drugs, meds or alcohol - I'm sure that has helped!

I have wondered myself why I think the way I do and see the world the way I do. I don't really have any major experiences that made me think one way or another. Some people grow up and just accept whatever was thrown at them when they were young. But I just had to search for more answers. Everyone in my family is baptist or christian or whatever, they weren't extremists at all, they just went to church and led regular lives. But for some reason when I grew up and got around the world that I knew nothing of before, I just kept persuing a "What does it all mean?" type of attitude. I think in my mind, I have an immature, childish view of life like, "Why does it have to be this way?" When I see all the horrible things happening in our country and all over the world. I don't know why I think that way, it's just how I think for some reason. Its hard to think of this earth/galaxy/universe being "controlled" by a deity.

The first part is easy...none! The second part is hard...many!

My grandmother dying in agony despite our prayers for her to go peacefully. My neighbor molesting me, and saying it was okay because Jesus did the same. Many many times where I've said silently, 'Jesus, I'm a sinner, I know and admit it; please come into my life and help me change that!', and just been left feeling stupid when nothing happens. Many times trying to pray, but feeling nothing in response. All adds up to there not being a god.

For me there is no question there is a god,though my thoughts or beliefs are different than most.I believe god permeates all existence and all non existence,thus not separated from anything.All nature is god,thus not a separate entity that is male or female,and thus all things,including humans are gods in their own right.Thus free will and the ability of self knowledge.

I just find it hard to believe that everything in existence is a random accident. I also think it's arrogant to assume, as many do, that human intellect has a monopoly on truth. In the end, the existence of God is always a question of faith.

WHen I was staring down the barrel of a rifle and the bullet didnt go off. When i took 2 full bottles of Xanex and Haldol and im still alive.

I grew up in a violent house With no positive role models.alot of hatred and abuse,I was poisend and stabbed by my own Mother. My Brother did not Survive, I prayed to God often as a Friend and loving parent to protect me and my siblings ,to keep us alive.I went through numerous foster homes ,incarceration and lived on the streets during my youth. I only had my relationship with God to guide me and give me strength. I became an alcoholic when I was 12 years old and many hard time followed,God was always there with me,he never left me alone.I have many experiences I can look back on and see him helping me. If you told me of your parents and your love for them I would beleive you that they EXISTED and they were very real to you. even though I do not know what that is like, or have never met your parents. God is my parent, My loved one,My friend.I am where I am because of him. he brought me through my past to make me the man I am today. No self pity,No regrets I have been sober for 23 years ,have a beautiful Family ,home ,Life. I can be the father to my children ,that he has been to me. Because you have never met my Father does not mean he does not exist,Just that you have never met him.

Watching a 10 yearold girl be blown to bits by an IED, convinced me to re-examine god. And when I read the bible with an open and honest eye, I realised just how horrible and inhumane the god of love and peace is. That's when I knew it was a lie.

I have never ever ever seen anything that made me think there was some divine creator or benevolent spiritual power watching over me. Never once have I seen anything that I thought couldn't one day be explained through science and understanding. Nothing that convinced me that IF there was a god, this god was anything like what we perceive god in our many religions to even be like. But I look around the world and I see all that there is and I have many reasons to think that if there was a god, one who made us and supposedly loves us, he would let things be the way they are. Regardless of freewill which I find many holes in, regardless of sin and such, the bottom line is, if any one of us were a god, why would we not make the world a better place? Why would we, the silly dumb little monkeys we are, not do a better job than what "god" has done? I mean is this the best a god can do? surely not...which leads one the believe IF there is a god then he surely doesn't care and has left us to our own devices. Which in return makes him unworthy of worship or recognition anyways. I've read all the books, asked all the questions, debated, studied, prayed, and never once found any proof, much less a satisfactory answer to the existence of a god or even why the bible is such a befuddled mess of hypocrisy, double talk, circular logic and downright bullcrap....even worse, why if this is so godly and important has it wrought more death and destruction than any good it has ever done? Why no modern intervention? Why no proof? Forget FreeWill becaus eNO MAN has free will....what kind of free will is "believe in me and you get paradise but don't beleieve in me and burn in hell...oh but you can choose whatever you want" um that's not free will.. free will is being able to choose unaware of the consequences or being able to choose and there is equally good and bad consequences..but the deck is stacked in god's favor. Not to mention god created everyting from the beginning to the end, he is the alph and omega, he knows the end of the world, yet he doesn't know you will believe in him or not or what you will do when he made you? that's such illogical crap..so if he made you and he already knew what you would do when he made you then you are really just going through a predestined routine..that's not free will...so IF WE DON"T REALLLLLY have free will..then why doesn't he just make himself known and say "hey, this is the deal...I made you guys..now I'm a cool dude so you don't have to worship me or anything, just be cool and shit, don't kill each other, don't steal, here's everything you need so you don't have to work or own anything, let's just party our asses off and have a good time for eternity".......now that's what a god would be like.......as for this world and existence? well I beleieve we are on our own.

I havent had any experiences that make me think that there is no god. I just use my head and said " all religions r bullshit and I'm not buying this crap". No experience needed!

I survived death so many times and one time man I was about a second from saying bump it might as well see what's on the other side of the door. I was drowning my cousin was drowning and we were like 40 minutes from help. I remember just saying I quit and said basically one more pleading prayer and after 7 minutes of wrestling to save our lives some how my little coz pushed me to the top and was able to pull us to the edge. He was pist I almos killed him but hey he forgave me. Second time I had my step father loaded gun to my head I was sik of living after my grand father died. I just basically remembering thinking there wasn't nothing God could give me or show not to pull the trigger. Next thing I knew my little brother come busting in the door. God or no God some body is keeping me here. Surviving gun shots and the dumb ish my family almost got killed by too much happen to be just by accident. Someone wanted me here I feel like it is GOD but I NEVER will judge those who don't believe because there was a time I asked the same questions of what type of God would give me pain? But now it's like what type of evolution or Alien would save me life?

This depends completely on your definition of God. I believe that God is the universe/nature/harmony. So in every day life, whether it's music, mathematics, or just a really tasty piece of fruit, I can see God. God is just a word, and it means something different to everybody. Depending on how you define it, there may be no God (in the supernatural sense), but what other people mistake for God, might actually be your God. www.defineyourgod.com

i have had no experience to make me think there is a god which is why i dont think he is there. Ill believe it when i see it Its like asking what experience do you have to say that there are no unicorns?

Just looking around, there is so much beauty that it seems as if it must have a source. The source for me is God.

If you've ever seen a 9 year old girl blown apart, you have to ask yourself why. And I did. I opened my bible, and read, and the more I read the more I realised that I have never really read the bible before. I realised the difference between reading and READING. All of the glory was gone, all I saw in it's place was a cold cruel and viscious god, that not only allowed murder and savagery but encouraged it. Joshua 8, 2 Kings 2:23 and 2:24, Job, these stories and more showed an utter lack of caring and understanding of the people he supposedly loved. AFter that it was nothing more than a little bit of logic to realise that there was no god, only a boogeyman, used to scare the bad and reward the good. After a little study it's easy to see how the book is nothing more than a tool used to make the weak bow, and the strong afraid.

i'm 14 years old, i'm one of those kids you see at school that i guess people label as a "jesus freak". haha i find it funny. i just recently got back from a christian youth retreat. it changed me soooo much and ever since then i feel like God is walking beside me wherever i go.

The absolute lack of evidence for a god or gods has lead me to believe that one doesn't exist. I've come to the same conclusion regarding little green men from outer space, Big Foot, the Boogie Man, the Tooth Fairy, gnomes, fire-breathing dragons, honest lawyers, good Christians, etc.

when i wish to do thig and i cant [god do what he wish]

I went to meditate and said to this world, to the universe that I love it. I love all who are in it. I love the innocent spirit that resides in all people, animals, vegetables and minerals. I wish to give my unconditional love to this world and universe. And then the most unbelievable thing happened to me. I connected with the Spirit, the Creator, the Energy that binds the universe. My spirit left my physical body to become one with the Spirit. I was wrapped in unconditional love, peace, bliss and ecstasy. I felt the knowledge of everything, I felt connected to everything that ever existed, did exist and would exist. I never, ever wanted to leave that feeling of pure bliss. I thought I could never love anything more then my husband, but I was wrong, this was the spirit of all things and through it all was the Creator’s energy, that energy was unconditional love. I felt as if the whole universe was pouring love into me, it was the be all and end all of the universe. I knew I had to return to my body but I didn’t want to go. I was at complete peace and wrapped in perfect love. When I returned, my body shook and was covered in sweat. I cried tears of joy so profound I could not stop. I believe! We are all one with the Great Spirit; our soul is this Great Spirit of Love. We are only separated from it by this physical world we use to create in. I know now that anyone can reconnect to this Primal loving energy by giving what we truly are in spirit, Unconditional Love.