Belief in God 1
A young baby can experience intense anxiety in a stressful situation. Such a situation may include being hungry or being uncomfortable in a soiled diaper. Its natural response is to cry, probably expecting that its stressful situation would be relieved by the intervention of its mother or someone else.I think that very young children are guided to view God as a super parent, especially as a father, who loves them and is there to help and protect them. This is a source of great psychological comfort to the child. Children are encouraged to communicate with God through prayer and to rely on him. At this stage, which I believe most of us have undergone, I do not think children question the existence of God, but simply accept it.
And yet, as we grow older, for a lot of people, this scenario changes drastically. Some abandon this belief in God and declare that they are atheists, agnostics, etc. Others may still hold on to some idea of God, but which is very different from their original view. Some say they are spiritual but not religious. Some remain faithful to their belief, and grow stronger in their faith.
I have always wondered what are the underlying reasons, responsible for these changes.
What do you think?
Comments (15)
I was always a Christian since birth. Through my teenage years, I cannot say I even ever thought about God. When I was in my early 20's, I had a synchronistic event that made me think. I posted it before, the experience I had with my dream and my teacher dying. From any logical thinking position, I could not explain how that had happen to me. My only conclusion was that a spiritual world does exist. Ever since then, I have become very interested in learning more. I am one of those people that does not fully understand something, until I can explain it.
One last thing, that really does not pertain to this particular question, but might fit somewhere in there to somebody. I believe experiences that happen to people, are meant for that person only. I can describe an incredible event that happen to me, as goosebumps appear on my skin. The person I am telling it to, do not develop those goosebumps. To them, it is just a story. In their minds, it is a story that could be true or could be false. Something to think about, I think. :)
Great blog Soc.
If, as you say, children perceive supreme(I assume this refers to God), the question I am asking is why do some of them become atheists, agnostics, etc., later, as they grow up?
When did you realise that it was all made up? Was it when you were still a young child? Or was it later when you had grown up? If you did not realise it as a young child, but only after you had grown up, what was responsible for the change in your view?
Yes, we are expected to develop our thinking as we grow older and become more open-minded. This may have an affect on how we viewed things in childhood.
I recall the experience you mentioned, and which certainly can be said to have a spiritual perspective to it.
I suggested a somewhat scientific perspective on it involving neurochemical activity and waves or vibrations transmission and reception.
I do not view the two perspectives as being mutually exclusive of each other.
The experience impacted on your consciousness in a unique way, exclusive to you alone, affecting your feelings and thoughts at a deeper level.
It is unlikely that your attempt at a verbal description of the incident would permeate the consciousness of others at the deeper level that you experienced so it is no wonder that they simply view it as a story.
If a child is told about God then those words do not return void. There is power in our words.
If you train a child in the way that he should go then when he is old he will not depart from it.
Many people may teach their children about God yet not even have faith themselves. When children come of age they no longer accept what their parents have told them as truth without testing. As adults experience God in their lives and establish a close relationship with Him their faith, trust, and belief grows. Having the faith of a child is what we should aspire to.
I hope this helps.
Interesting topic. I believe some people abandon their belief that God exists, because their pride gets in the way, in seeing their need to humble themselves to a divine authority.
Jesus used a little child to make his point, in regards, to having a childlike trust (faith) in God, as a condition for salvation.
Jesus said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whosoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2).
God bless!
Thanks for your input, which I welcome. I mentioned that some persons remain faithful to their belief, and grow stronger in their faith, so I appreciate your perspective.
And yet, some persons who were deeply involved in practising their faith, who must have been very strong in the belief as children, and who even preached to others as ministers and missionaries, have moved away from those beliefs and openly declare themselves as atheists.
Some of them are:
(1) Dan Barker
(2) Jerry DeWitt
(3) Teresa MacBain
(4) Anthony Pinn
(5) Andrew Johnson
Of course, on the other side, there have been atheists who have converted back to their original religious beliefs or that of some other faith.
Perhaps, this can be examined in another blog.
Welcome!
Thanks for your input which I appreciate very much.
See my response to 444joy's comments since I think there is some common ground in your comment to her comment.
Do you think that abandonment of belief in God is mainly due to pride?
See the link I posted in my response to 444joy's comment.
I always love your writing ...
Saskia
saskiag@yahoo.com