A Post I found on LDS.net :
Sorry, I don't believe in god. I'm not saying there is a god and I'm not saying there isn't - hence the designation, "agnostic". I may even hope there is one, but I just don't know. I'm not one of the few militant atheist who 'believes' there is no god and fights against any one who is(There are lots of nice atheists too). How can you 'believe' in nothing? In my limited experience if religious people are living their religion's precepts and aren't closed-minded about it they are good people. More power to them. I just really hate closed-minded religionists who shun all but their own and think they are better than everyone else. How many people have been killed or hurt in the name of religion? If you want to put a rock in front of the courthouse with ten good commandments on it, fine. If you want to say "In God We Trust" on your coins that's all right with me.Like I said, there could be a god. I'm open to the concept, convince me. I guess I do have one belief though, evolution. Hey, the evidence is there. How does the vast mountain of evidence of the evolution of Homo sapiens from Neanderthals and Cro-magnon fit into the whole Adam/Eve first man/woman concept? Of course at one time almost all the 'experts' had everyone convinced the Earth was flat too. Maybe we are just part of a huge science experiment from a highly advanced alien species. Maybe those advanced aliens wiped out all the primitive men and started their experiment with Adam/Eve.I'm open to the possibility of a god. So why am I, an agnostic, on an LDS site? I like Mormons. I actually know a lot of them and most of them are really decent, good and even outstanding people. Why? Maybe there is something to their religion. They intrigue me. In fact, I've studied a lot of religions and in my mind the Mormon church is about the only one that has any possibility of being true. That, or there is a god and no true church, he/she/it leaves us mostly to ourselves, or there is no god. The non-Jesus religions just don't cut it. I don't see how any of them could be from the god of this world. I like the idea of a Jesus. All the other Jesus-based churches seem to be just a bunch of people who think they are smart saying here is our interpretation of the 'truth' and we are right. What makes you right? Did god come down and tell you so like Mormons claimed he did to Joseph Smith? If there is a god why would he/she/it talk to us in the past (revelation, visions, etc) and then stop thousands of years ago? From what I see we need it now more than ever. (I don't mean to offend anyone who belongs to any religion - more power to you - see above on people who honestly live any religion seem better than those who don't) The Mormon idea that there was a true church of Jesus and that it was lost through apostasy and then god came to a young prophet to bring it back sounds good. It could happen. The Mormons dare to make some claims, some are good and some seem a little far-fetched. Then there is that little thing about Mormons who live their religion being so darn good. Hmmm. I'm not here to just socialize with Mormons, who I admit I like. I want to try and understand what makes them tick and why they are special. Anyway, if you are one of the two people who read my ramblings this far, thanks.
I wrote :
Hello, it's interesting to read your comments. I wish you all the best. If you are wanting to hear about how all of us Mormons really believe, here are some of my thoughts.
All I can say is that I believe in the LDS church with all my heart. I was born and raised in it, but I have had my own experiences that have led me to believe the things I do. For me, I love believing in a God. I love thinking that there is some great Almighty Being that created me, loves me. answers my prayers, and has this great plan for all of his children. Yes, it is comforting to think those things, but I don't believe them just because it seems nice.
I have studied the scriptures, I'm not the most scholarly person and certainly don't know everything, but when I read the scriptures I feel a sense of peace and confirmation that their teachings are true. I have attended church meetings and felt that the teachings are good and true. I have asked questions, struggled, and gotten answers. And most importantly I have prayed to God to know what's true. I wanted to know for myself, not just becuase everyone around me did. When I did pray, and so many times since, I have felt His healing spirit in my life. I actually kept a journal when I was praying to know the truth. It didn't happen all at once for me like I hear it does from so many others. It took a long time and it was hard for me. But I really, really wanted to know. Then one day I was just overwhelmed by the sweet spirit of the Lord and in my heart I knew that it was Him telling me that He was there and that He lives and answers my prayers. He is really aware of me! I felt the spirit testify that the gospel was true, and I couldn't deny it. I look around and see that the people that are really living it's teaching are deeply happy, despite the current trials they face. There are those that seem too happy to me also. Maybe they are, I don't profess that by living in the gospel nothing bad will ever happen. But I do believe that with it, you can get through it. You may think that it's strange to believe somthing based on these "feelings", but when you feel them, you can't deny them. I have seen miracles in my life and in those around me. I know they are from God. I don't understand God's reasoning for everything, but I am a simple human being and God is great. I probably won't ever understand everything in this life, but I'm all right with that. Because I know God is good and He wants what's best for me.
Anyway, just some of my thoughts.
He responded:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and beliefs with me. I respect them. I don't know, if it's true why do the heavens open up to you and not me. Am I not worth it? I am a scholarly person. My studies only convince me how little I know, how little any of my intellectual friends know, though they would say otherwise. I never feel any spirit messages you describe, but I can't help but wonder if there is more to it all. If maybe, there is a divine source. I hope so. It would explain a lot.
I found another post from him and it mentioned that he couldn't pray, he just felt to weird. I wrote back:
I wanted to start out by thanking you for your kindness. There are so many people that are just looking to debate, that it's so nice to actually chat with someone that just wants to discuss things. I love the Gospel, and love to share it because I want everyone else to experience the same joy it brings to my life. So thanks!
Onto your comments.... "Why do the heavens open up to you and not me?"
Because I showed a little faith. I prayed for answers, and I received them.
Here's my two sense. If you aren't sure there's a God, but you want to know, how do you expect Him to help you to know truth if you don't show Him just a little bit of faith? That spiritual confirmation that you receive through prayer is the only way you will really know, no amount of reading or study alone will ever be enough. (By the way, I am very impressed with how much you do read and study, all books) .... now my little mind is working, lol...... It's like when you have a friend and you want to ask him a personal question..... Do you go ask others for his perspective? Do you wait for him to miraculously just know you want to know, and give you the answer before you even ask? Or do you go and ask him directly?
"Faith preceedes the miracle." It starts with a little faith, and that's all. It really changes things up when I read that you don't pray, because to me, that's the most promising way to recieve those religious answers.... I can study all I want, and think it sounds good, but until I actually feel the spirit testify to my soul that it's right, I have no witness. I guess it's hard for me to understand that you don't pray, because I'v always grown up with it. But I can see your point that it might seem a bit strange or silly if it's not something you're accustomed to. Prayer, for me, changed when I started viewing Heavenly Father as, literally, My Heavenly Father. When I pray, it's like a conversation I'm having with my dad, (with added respect). Though I think actually talking to God is Great, most of my personal prayers are just me kneeling down by the side of my bed sending my thoughts to God, not actually verbalizing them. I tell him about my day, my worries and concerns, express my thanks for blessings in my life, and just pour my heart out. I think that's the great thing about prayer ... It's between me and God, so I don't have to worry about feeling silly because no one else is around. So here's my point, you won't get those "spirit messages" until you a willing to show that bit of faith.
Next, "Am I not worth it?"
Yes, YOU ARE WORTH IT!! God is no respector of persons. He doesn't answer one person's sincere prayers and not the others. And YES, there is a divine source! He loves all of His children and he wants them to know the truth. But like I said before, I don't know how to get the Heavens to open up to me unless I pray.
I'm curious... but how do you (personally) expect to get answers when you don't pray? Do you rely on your own knowledge and your studies to conclude things, or do you wait for something else? just wondering...
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