Why is God so stuck on belief?

[Blackdog22]

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Act 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Now that I have gotten the Biblical proof out of the way I have to wonder. Why does this God being seem to request belief in him? Does he not know he exists? Does he need to be reaffirmed that he exists?

I can't quite figure out why any being would need people to believe he exists so badly whilst giving no evidence for his existence.

Is their anyone else out their that may feel like they need to have people they have never exposed themselves to believe in them? Do you feel like someone in Africa should just believe in you? If they didn't know who you were, because you never showed yourself to them, would you be offended? Wouldn't that seem rather silly?

For me it not only seems silly it seems rather childish for such a God to behave in this manner.

This is one of the many reasons why I can't believe in God.

[horizon_mj1]

Let me first say that I am in no way defending the Bible, but am just going to give my opinion on how I understand. The Bible was written by man, some say inspired by God, who themselves held "beliefs" of their own and wrote accordingly. I agree that if being unknown to someone and expecting them to believe in you is quite ridiculous, but at the same time if some kind of communication transpired, it would be just as ridiculous to deny existence of that person. Isn't it a bit more silly of someone who glorifies God or any being they claim to be Divine, would make them look like this? I never understood why people feel the need to make any claims for any such being. I was always taught that being omnipotent meant that there was no necessity for "help" and don't understand why restrictions are placed on God/Gods such as sex, religion of choice, what they can do and when they can do it, etc.

[JLord]

The thing is, maybe others are not like me but I don't have a choice over what I believe. My life circumstances and education and upbringing and so on have all caused me to hold certain beliefs based on the evidence available and my brain's capacity to analyze that evidence.

I cannot just tell myself to believe 2+2=5 even if doing so meant some great reward. I could say 2+2=5 and proclaim this as my belief but if god presumably can read our thoughts he would know that I don't actually believe 2+2=5. So if it is on this basis that I go to hell or whatever then it wasn't ever something that has been within my control.

[petewentz]

To play Devil's advocate, I would assume that if God did exist, and he did want our love for him(which is in itself an entirely vain premise) he would want his existence to appear vague to his "subjects" so that their belief in him, while illogical, affirms their love for him.

He would know they love him because he knows they don't know he doesn't exist...as convoluted as that sounds. If we knew God existed in all certainty, then it would be stupid not to believe in him, not to love him. Yet, if we don't know he exists absolutely, then our belief in him confirms our love for him.

[Father Heathen]

Apparently the abrahamic god has a fragile ego and is very insecure, thus needs constant praise and reassurance.

[lunamoth]

Because up until recently (last few hundred years), religious belief was a heart thing, not a head thing. To believe was to belove, to give one's heart to ...

[Abuser]

Originally Posted by Father Heathen

Apparently the abrahamic god has a fragile ego and is very insecure, thus needs constant praise and reassurance.

Dogmatically speaking it's very easy to understand. If we open ourselves to God and His love, we allow our selves to be Godly people. God doesn't need us. We need Him.

[PolyHedral]

Originally Posted by Abuser

Dogmatically speaking it's very easy to understand. If we open ourselves to God and His love, we allow our selves to be Godly people. God doesn't need us. We need Him.

So why doesn't He make it clearer?

[Abuser]

Originally Posted by PolyHedral

So why doesn't He make it clearer?

I'm sorry. I need you to be more specific. What doesn't He make clearer?

[sojourner]

The relationship's the thing. As Luna said, it wasn't meant to be a head thing -- it's a heart thing.