I was brought up in a church (Salvation Army) from zero to age eighteen.
I heard squillions of sermons, billions of hymns, countless prayers.
In a pain of crippling infant neglect I prayed for help endlessly.
"Dear God, if you exist, please put your loving arms around me - hold me - help me to feel your presence with me in my life - please - please - please - I have nobody - I need you."
There were endless tears - they flowed for ever.
Four years ago I woke up with severe chronic Tinnitus.
Don't you think I prayed.
I prayed my very guts out.
"God - for Christ' sake help me !!!"
At no time did I hear "a small still voice."
At no time did I ever feel a godly presence with me.
Throughout 76 years of trying.........NOTHING.
I do not believe in an all knowing, all powerful, all loving god.
Why would I ??
Occasionally I have queried god's existance on biblical posts on here, and usually been asked to leave.
I quite understand, by the way.
My questioning disbelief seems to threaten the belief of others.
It occurred to me that there should be a thread for doubters, disbelievers, agnostics like me, atheists etc...to debate the issue.
It then occurred to me that the believers may be so 'affronted' by it as to wish to tear it down.
Will this thread be allowed by "the powers that be" to survive?
I do hops so.
We'll have to wait and see.
I'd like to say "Hi" to all the doubters/disbelievers out there.
Don't ever forget - we are all good, courageous, fearless, free thinking people.
Much love,
Dave x
Jazzer