A personal account from an atheist who was convinced no god exists, and what facts led to God.

Religious people seemed annoyed by my question, "How do you know that God exists?"

Perhaps they wondered about my motives. Or maybe they had no idea how to answer. Most of their responses were, "Well, you just know."

I wasn't trying to be difficult. But I certainly did not "just know." And I was hoping someone did!

After many months of this, I thought, "Here are the people who say they believe in God, but no one knows why!"


It was like learning the truth about Santa Claus. It seemed obvious that God was completely fabricated. Maybe some people needed to believe in God but clearly there was no proof. No objective evidence. I came to the most stark conclusion...God did not actually exist.

I held this belief for years, not expecting it to ever change. But then I met someone who caused me to become interested in the possibility of God. She was caring, kind, and very intelligent. It bothered me that someone that intelligent could believe in God.

She talked about God like he was her closest friend. She was convinced he deeply loved her. I knew her life well. Any concern she would take to God, trusting him to work it out or care for her in some way. She would tell me, quite candidly, that she was merely praying that God would act upon her concerns. For over a year, I regularly saw what seemed to be answers to her prayers. I watched her life through a myriad of circumstances, and her faith in God was unwavering.

So, I wanted to believe in God on one hand, because I admired her life and her love for others. But I couldn't believe in something against my intellect, against my better judgment. God did not exist. A nice idea, but that was all. Wanting something to be true, doesn't make it true.

During this time I was developing a personally built philosophy.

I tried something that I'm not sure many people do. Every few weeks, I would study a particular philosopher's take on life ...Nietzsche, Hume, Dostoevsky, Sartre, Plato, etc. and then try to apply it to my own life. I was looking for the perfect, workable philosophy for life. I found over and over, that either their philosophies seemed lacking, or were too impractical to implement. But I kept searching.

I was challenging my friend with every question that came to mind about God. I would find myself writing out questions late in the evening. This went on for well over a year. One day she handed me a book1 that briefly answered questions like, is there a God; is Jesus God; what about the Bible. It presented facts. No comments like, "you have to believe."

I saw some evidence for God that was solidly logical. The parts particularly convincing to me were the chemical properties of water and the earth's position to the sun. It was all too perfectly designed, too perfectly put together. My faith in "nothing behind it all" seemed weaker than the possibility of God. I had fewer reasons to be certain of nothing, and more reasons to conclude that God might be there.

I then encountered a situation that fully challenged my current philosophy on life. What I had been putting my faith in proved to be completely insufficient. It shocked me to see that I was at a loss for an approach to life that was fully reliable. However, the situation resolved itself and I moved ahead. I have a pretty steady personality. Throughout my life, I never really felt "needy." No on-going crisis. No big gaps or struggles. And certainly nothing I felt guilty about.

But the concept of God was something I couldn't get off my mind....was he there? does he exist? maybe there's a God.....

One night I was talking to my friend again, and she knew I had all the information I needed. She knew that I had run out of questions to ask. Yet I was still trying to debate. In one clear, abrupt moment, my friend turned to me and said, "You know, I can't make this decision for you, and God's not going to wait forever."

And I immediately knew she was right. I was playing around with a very important decision. So I went home and decided that I was going to decide. I was going to either ask God to come into my life, or I was going to end the subject forever and never allow myself to consider the possibility of God again. I was tired of dealing with this decision. I was tired of thinking about it.

So, for the next three or four hours, I reviewed everything I had read and observed. I evaluated it all.

I concluded that the evidence for God was so strong that it made more sense to believe in God than to believe he wasn't there. Then I had to act on that conclusion.

I knew that just intellectually concluding God existed, was way too light. It would be like deciding...airplanes exist. Faith in an airplane means nothing. However, if you need to get somewhere and an airplane is the way, you have to decide to act and actually get on the plane.

I needed to make the decision to actually talk to God. I needed to ask him to come into my life.

After a few hours of thought I addressed God, "Ok you win. I ask you to come into my life, and you may do with it whatever you'd like." (It seemed reasonable to me, that since God exists, God had every right to influence and direct my life, if he wanted to.)

I went to bed and the next morning wondered if God was still there. And honestly, I kind of "sensed" that he was. One thing I knew for sure. I immediately had a huge desire to get to know this God whom I now believed in.

I wanted to read the Bible. When I did, it seemed that God was spelling out who he is and how he viewed this relationship with him. It was amazing. What really surprised me is how often he talked about his love. I hadn't expected that. In my mind, I was simply acknowledging God's existence. I had no expectations of him, but as I read the Bible, he chose to communicate his love to me. That was a surprise.

Now, my basic, skeptical nature was still there. The first few months or year, I would ask myself, "Am I really believing in God? And, why am I?" And I would methodically review five objective reasons why I believed God existed. So my "faith" in God did not rest on feelings, but on facts, on reasons.

To me, it's like the foundation of a building. The facts/reasons support my faith. It's like someone driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. They can feel whatever they'd like about the bridge. But it's the construction/design/materials of the bridge itself that allows them to safely get from one end to the other. In the same way, the objective reality of God--the logical, historical, scientific reasons to believe in his existence, are important to me. There are people who don't seem to need that. But I hate being fooled, and I have little regard for wishful thinking. The substantiating reasons for God's existence mattered to me.


http://www.everystudent.com/wires/atheist.html

My Experience, Part 2 – Further Evidence of God

Since that time, now that I've been a Christian for a number of years----why do I now believe in God? What reasons do I have for continuing to believe in God?

I'm not sure any of these are going to be believable to you. But I'll try to put that concern aside and be candid with you. Previously my questions were about God's existence. After beginning a relationship with God, I saw additional evidence that God is real. Such as...

1. When I have questions, concerns, or would like insight on a matter, God speaks to me through the Bible. What he shows me is always perfectly suited to my question, and a better, more satisfying answer than I expected. Here's an example.

One day, my schedule, deadlines, and obligations were crawling up my neck and tightening their hold. You know that feeling when you're so overwhelmed, you don't know what to do first?

So I got out a piece of paper and pen, and asked God: "Just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it." I was fully prepared for shouldering 100% responsibility, and was basically asking God to just set the priorities, tell me how to approach it all, and I would.

I then opened my Bible and immediately read where Jesus was talking with a man who was blind. Jesus was asking him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

I read it again. Jesus asked: "What do you want me to do for you?" Rather amazed, I picked up my pen and began writing an entirely different list...to God. This, I have found, is characteristic of God. Reminding us that he is there. That he cares, and he's capable.

I choose that example because it's brief. But I could cite hundreds of examples where I was asking God a question and he perfectly, thoroughly answered me. It probably is the characteristic of God that I most appreciate and value--that he is willing to answer my questions.

This isn't something I learned from other Christians. It's just how my relationship with God operates. I ask a question, with an attitude that I really want to give him freedom to tell me whatever he wants to....to correct my thinking, to point out an area in my life that isn't right, to show me where I'm not trusting him, whatever. And he always graciously speaks to me.

2. Similarly, when I need direction for a decision, he gives it. I believe that God cares about our decisions. I believe he has a plan for our lives, that he cares about who I marry, what kind of job I have, and some decisions smaller than that. I don't believe he cares what toothpaste I buy, or lots of mundane decisions. But decisions that will affect my life or what he wants to accomplish through my life...I think he cares.

When has God given me clear direction?

One time I needed to decide about a trip to the Middle East. There was risk involved, and I was willing to go only if God wanted me to go. It was important to me that I knew what he wanted.

Two different times I asked God about a job. Both times his leading on it was so clear, that anyone watching would have concluded the same. Let me try one thin slice of an example.

During my senior year of college, I had decided to take a job with a Christian organization after graduation, that would require a move to California.

It was Christmas break, and I was now visiting my parents. One evening, I was alone and thinking through a long list of friends. I was wondering who I could talk into moving to California with me to be roommates. One person named Christy, came to mind, who had already graduated and settled in a job in Iowa. I thought she'd be the perfect roommate, but I hadn't talked to her in several months. Just 30 minutes later, at my parents home, Christy calls me on the phone.

Her first sentence was, "I heard you are taking a job with this Christian organization." I was floored because I had only told one friend, in Ohio.

Her next statement was, "Ok, I've got the pots and pans and dishes." I said, "WHAT?!" She was moving to the same town in California and was calling to see if I would room with her.

Ok, so you see my point.

You might ask, why such a big deal, to even need God's help in this decision? I knew that my parents would be completely opposed to this job. I thought it might cost me my relationship with my parents forever. So it was not a light decision. I asked God to guide me toward what he wanted. And he did. There were about ten other events related to this job, just as clear.

Other reasons I still believe in God...

3. In terms of explanations about life--why we're here, what the purpose is, what is important in life, what to value or strive for--God has better answers than anything I've ever read anywhere. I have studied multiple philosophies and religions and other life approaches. What I read in the Bible, what I see from God's perspective, all the pieces of the puzzle fit.

There is still a lot I'll read in the Bible and close the Bible saying, "I don't get it." So I don't mean to suggest I fully understand everything in the Bible. Instead, I'm saying that life only makes sense from the perspective of what God has revealed. It's like reading the operating manual to life on earth, only we are not left to merely follow the manual. The inventor is explaining to us how it all works, and then offers to personally guide us through it, on a daily basis.

4. The intimacy with God is deeper than intimacy with any human being. I say that married, with two children, and tons of very close friends. His love is perfect. He's incredibly gracious. He takes me right where I'm at, and as I said, speaks to me. He intervenes with actions that leave me amazed as the observer. He is not a belief or doctrine. I see him act in my life.

5. He has done more with my life than I would have done on my own. This is not a statement of inferiority or lack of self confidence. I'm speaking in terms of accomplishments that far exceeded what I ever had in mind. He provides ideas, direction, solutions, wisdom, and better motives than I could aspire to on my own.

Well, there is more, but I think that gives you enough. I'm not sure any of it is believable to you, but I've been as honest as I know how to be.

If you would like to see some of the evidence that moved me from my atheist experience to believing in God, please see these two articles:
      Is There a God?
      Beyond Blind Faith

I love testimonies.

God bless u brother....

Blind faith,the twin brother to yahweh

ifenes:
Blind faith,the twin brother to yahweh

What is the meaning of Blind faith?

felixomor:
I love testimonies.

God bless u brother....

Thanks. God Bless you too bro.

winner01:
What is the meaning of Blind faith?

Conclusion without verification.

ifenes:
Blind faith,the twin brother to yahweh

Your time will come.....eventually. ...


winner01 I may be tired today from hard work but not too tired to express my appreciation to you for this Testimony.

keep on riding on our Fathers wings. Bless you.

ifenes:


Conclusion without verification.

how ironic that an atheist would have what you call "conclusion without verification"....She had a personal verification which gave her a conclusion. ..I guess you did not read the article in order to understand it but just read it in order to poke holes as always....... I just dey look u dey smile because surely your time will come....

ifenes:


Conclusion without verification.

Okay.
Tell that to those who have blind faith.

We have faith
Faith in Christ Jesus
Not against Evidence
But beyond Evidence.


People can click on the following for more testimonies.

From christian family to atheism to Jesus Christ

Atheism failed me: Nick watts

Craig keener explains his journey to christianity


Christ hating atheist writer becomes christian

Atheist to church planter: Pastor Alin on the deficiency of atheism

Why I gave up on atheism- Paul Kalanithi

Essay causes atheist to seriously question beliefs

Atheist dies, goes to hell and then heaven - shares testimony

From Porn to Purpose: Ex atheist porn star narrates her ordeal

Atheist doctor converts to christianity, shares testimony

Ex atheist College professor shares testimony in near death experience

How a frence atheist became a theologian

Fox news highly reluctant Jesus follower

Scientific atheism to Christ- Jennifer fulwiler

How God messed up my happy atheist life-Nicole cliffe

Born to atheist parents, leads her parents to Christ

Atheist professor holly ordway becomes christian

Atheist professor of Biology converts to christianity

Shelly hundley - an atheist turns to God

and hundreds of unrecorded testimonies.

God is good.

4everGod:



Your time will come.....eventually. ...


winner01 I may be tired today from hard work but not too tired to express my appreciation to you for this Testimony.

keep on riding on our Fathers wings. Bless you.

Thanks Bro. God bless you too. Amen.
How's the family?

winner01:
Thanks Bro. God bless you too. Amen.
How's the family?

we bless God. They are fine. Showing me no mercy as always as they refuse to recognise recession same as I refuse to recognise it. lol

There is always a lifting up for us.

I have been waiting for this...

ifenes:


Conclusion without verification.

From someone who believes the Anunaki actually exists How did you verify their existence ?

Nice thread bro winner01

Too much nonsense on Nairaland's religion section lately , time for some "cleansing"

winner01:
cc: KingEbukasBlog, Richirich713, thoniameek, anas09, Tufanja, elantraceey, OLAADEGBU, KingEbukaNaija, ceeted, Chidexter, lezz, analice107, bxcode, Topeakintola, UyiIredia, Tellemall, vooks, Ishilove, sukkot, gatiano, mrpresident1, Drefan2, Strawman, dazzle101, lalasticlala, Dejideji1, Farmerforlife, muafrika2, 4evergod2, udysweet, Edelweiss44, naijadeyhia, honourhim, kilo4sure, lordnicklaus, mabea, AlphaDex, felixomor, pidggin, 4evergod, Adrenaline123, Kaycee7, frank317, Edek27, Jokerman, Contact17, naijababe, Ranchhoddas, Omooba77

Always present Sir

4everGod:



we bless God. They are fine. Showing me no mercy as always as they refuse to recognise recession same as I refuse to recognise it. lol

There is always a lifting up for us.

Amen. There will always be a lifting up for us no matter what.
Happy Sunday Bro.

I wonder what this guy wanna achieve from all these. One day you might break down.
Take a chill pill bro, it will help you cure the obsession.

This theist tire me sef. Anytime I see a post like this about an atheist turning to a theist or a post about the undeniable existence of God. All they point to is the fact that the universe is too complex to not be just random chance. They point to DNA sequencing and various other feats of nature, but as i will continue to argue over and over again, this doesn't prove that your God exist, it only enhances the possibility of a creator. Creator and God are not the same. You can just point to the universe and claim your God did it, since anyone can you use that line. From the Egyptians to the Greeks and Mayans.

Lennycool:
This theist tire me sef. Anytime I see a post like this about an atheist turning to a theist or a post about the undeniable existence of God. All they point to is the fact that the universe is too complex to not be just random chance. They point to DNA sequencing and various other feats of nature, but as i will continue to argue over and over again, this doesn't prove that your God exist, it only enhances the possibility of a creator. Creator and God are not the same. You can just point to the universe and claim your God did it, since anyone can you use that line. From the Egyptians to the Greeks and Mayans.

but you need to believe the Christian god is the true god or burn in hell forever

salvation blackmail

that fear of hell was one of the hurdles I had to
overcome on my journey to atheism

Four Types of fear I faced on my journey to atheism

but may people have also woken up from that delusion and have left that blackmail behind


Nathan Pratt: My Journey From the delusion of Christianity To Atheism


Why A Preacher who preached for over 20 years Gave Up On Jesus And Became an Atheist Activist; Jerry DeWitt

Teresa Mcbain; From 20 years as Christian Minister To Full Atheist, Her Story

From Christianity To Atheism, My Explanation


we even have Nairaland accounts that have also extricated themselves from those archaic tales

https://www.nairaland.com/3292061/christian-atheist

https://www.nairaland.com/3353173/losing-fear-death-unbeliever-christianity

even gave advice to Christians

all these are off the top of my head

there are many more I don't remember presently

dblackninja:
I wonder what this guy wanna achieve from all these. One day you might break down.
Take a chill pill bro, it will help you cure the obsession.

I should take a chill pill to cure me of the obsession of sharing testimonies
lol
God's goodness will always be on our lips man.

Lennycool:
This theist tire me sef. Anytime I see a post like this about an atheist turning to a theist or a post about the undeniable existence of God. All they point to is the fact that the universe is too complex to not be just random chance. They point to DNA sequencing and various other feats of nature, but as i will continue to argue over and over again, this doesn't prove that your God exist, it only enhances the possibility of a creator. Creator and God are not the same. You can just point to the universe and claim your God did it, since anyone can you use that line. From the Egyptians to the Greeks and Mayans.

Its simple, there is only one rational conclusion you can reach, when you eventually decide on the possibility of a Creator God. Thats why the greeks arent of much concern to you. Thats why christianity drives you and your friends crazy.
For once you conquer christianity in your mind, it becomes easy to discard the reality and coherence of your Creator.

Keep arguing that you are all there is.
Good luck too.

hopefulLandlord:

but you need to believe the Christian god is the true god or burn in hell forever

And so I should join you in disbelieving God because of the existence of hell?
lol.
I dont know where billions of people who never heard about Jesus are, I dont know if God has a provision for them. What i do know is that God will not coerce our freewill.

You choose hell by rejecting the love of God the same way you choose failure by refusing to study for your exams.
The best you can do is to wish it away, it does not change reality.

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son - that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16


God has given us what we need to succeed. We can decide to accept or reject it.

What we can't do, is to reject it and wish failure away. We would be deluding ourselves.

Winner you and all these your post. Any one can stand up and say there God created the universe. So this is not proof of anything. Your bias simply doesn't let you see pass the Christian God.
"I contend that we are both atheist, I just believe in one less God than you do. When you understand why you don't believe in any of the other possible Gods, you will understand why I don't believe in yours"

Lennycool:
Winner you and all these your post. Any one can stand up and say there God created the universe. So this is not proof of anything. Your bias simply doesn't let you see pass the Christian God.
"I contend that we are both atheist, I just believe in one less God than you do. When you understand why you don't believe in any of the other possible Gods, you will understand why I don't believe in yours"

Lol.
I've heard that a million times.
I'm not an atheists to idols or gods. I believe they all exist. I believe that there are evil spirits.
I do not close my eyes to such realities. I'm not tryingvto prove anything to you either.

When you understand why you loose your mind over the Christian God alone, then you would understand that He is the only stumbling block against the selfish wills of man.

Thanks my brother. While the oyibo atheists are Sincerely searching for an encounter with God Nigerian atheists are fools who are not sincere to have a personal encounter with God.
While this oyibo atheist decided to know if God exist and followed it personaly, the nairaland atheists are running like mad dogs and screaming- "there is no God".. Quite a shame.

winner01:
Lol.
I've heard that a million times.
I'm not an atheists to idols or gods. I believe they all exist. I believe that there are evil spirits.
I do not close my eyes to such realities. I'm not tryingvto prove anything to you either.

When you understand why you loose your mind over the Christian God alone, then you would understand that He is the only stumbling block against the selfish wills of man.

Good response to that fool. God bless you bro.

.

winner01:
Lol.
I've heard that a million times.D I'm not an atheists to idols or gods. I believe they all exist. I believe that there are evil spirits.
I do not close my eyes to such realities. I'm not tryingvto prove anything to you either.

When you understand why you loose your mind over the Christian God alone, then you would understand that He is the only stumbling block against the selfish wills of man.

See your life. Look at the bolded. So you believe the other Gods exist too. I hope you know they all have different creation stories. Like the Norse believe in surt. The first world to exist was Muspell, a place of light and heat whose flames are so hot that those who are not native to that land cannot endure it. Surt sits at Muspell's border, guarding the land with a flaming sword. [That's interesting!] At the end of the world he will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire.I hope you believe he exist too.

Lennycool:

See your life. Look at the bolded. So you believe the other Gods exist too. I hope you know they all have different creation stories. Like the Norse believe in surt. The first world to exist was Muspell, a place of light and heat whose flames are so hot that those who are not native to that land cannot endure it. Surt sits at Muspell's border, guarding the land with a flaming sword. [That's interesting!] At the end of the world he will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire.I hope you believe he exist too.

I believe those gods exist.
You have no grounds to justify your lack of belief. This attempt is lame.
The Bible mentioned several gods of men made potent by demonic spirits.
They all exist.

You have no reason.

winner01:

I believe those gods exist.
You have no grounds to justify your lack of belief. This attempt is lame.
The Bible mentioned several gods of men made potent by demonic spirits.
They all exist.

You have no reason.

Now i known you are simply deluded winner01 please tell me, who are you waiting on to start endtime? Surt or Jesus? Forget demonic spirits.

Congrats to her, it feels good to discover that feeling of connection to a higher power, my only problem with religion' is the 'unhealthy' competition and blind 'sentiment'..............