How do I determine what God requires of me?

[McCulloch]

I have posted what I think is the single most important issue to debate.

To me, the second most important issue is this. If there is a God, how do I determine what God requires of me? If your answer involves something that is from human agency, a book or an organization, then the question remains, "How do I know that the book's authors or the organization's leaders authoritatively speak for God?"

How do I determine what God requires of me?

[alexiarose]

The truth of Christianity can not be discovered by debate and formal reasoning, it must come as a revelation from God....
I can only tell you that I surrendered, unconditionally, to God and found him to be more than fair.

Then why doesn't God reveal the truth about his will to me. I don't currently believe, but I am willing to be convinced.

Perhaps if you open your heart to meet Him halfway, you might get a taste. But you are the one claiming He doesn't exist. Why shift the burden of proof on Him to prove He does?

[olavisjo]

Then why doesn't God reveal the truth about his will to me. I don't currently believe, but I am willing to be convinced.

God has enough arm chair Christians waiting to be convinced. He is looking for someone to do his will, even though they don't believe in him, this is pleasing to him and will be rewarded.
Though, if you wait long enough you will be convinced, for it is written...

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

[McCulloch]

[W]hy doesn't God reveal the truth about his will to me. I don't currently believe, but I am willing to be convinced.

Perhaps if you open your heart to meet Him halfway, you might get a taste. But you are the one claiming He doesn't exist. Why shift the burden of proof on Him to prove He does?

I don't know what that means. You are obviously not speaking literally, open heart surgery would not help my disbelief. What does it mean to "open my heart"? I'm open to any evidence that God exists. However, I'm not gullible enough to believe without evidence.

[alexiarose]

[W]hy doesn't God reveal the truth about his will to me. I don't currently believe, but I am willing to be convinced.

Perhaps if you open your heart to meet Him halfway, you might get a taste. But you are the one claiming He doesn't exist. Why shift the burden of proof on Him to prove He does?

I don't know what that means. You are obviously not speaking literally, open heart surgery would not help my disbelief. What does it mean to "open my heart"? I'm open to any evidence that God exists. However, I'm not gullible enough to believe without evidence.

You still are a silly billy, huh? That was just a joke people.

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

[McCulloch]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

[alexiarose]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

If you want to know what God requires of you, you must be open enough to hear him. No one can tell you this. Even His book is vague and contradictory.

Why would you associate neuronal synapses to be required for faith?

[OpenedUp]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

If you want to know what God requires of you, you must be open enough to hear him. No one can tell you this. Even His book is vague and contradictory.

Ok I hear that a lot and that answer really bothers me:

"In order to believe, you must first believe"

It makes no sense. It has no foundation.

[alexiarose]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

If you want to know what God requires of you, you must be open enough to hear him. No one can tell you this. Even His book is vague and contradictory.

Ok I hear that a lot and that answer really bothers me:

"In order to believe, you must first believe"

It makes no sense. It has no foundation.

I am sorry if this bothers you. But I would suggest that you don't read into my words. Being open minded doesn't mean you have to believe first.

[OpenedUp]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

If you want to know what God requires of you, you must be open enough to hear him. No one can tell you this. Even His book is vague and contradictory.

Ok I hear that a lot and that answer really bothers me:

"In order to believe, you must first believe"

It makes no sense. It has no foundation.

I am sorry if this bothers you. But I would suggest that you don't read into my words. Being open minded doesn't mean you have to believe first.

I am open minded. This is often another part of that same theist equation: That if you are Atheist, you obviously don't maintain the openness to hear God's words.

I am very open-minded and I have not always disbelieved in God. I asked for years for God to help me to stop doubting. I tried, trust me. But in the end, I couldn't stay open to nothingness.

(Quick note: I don't necessarily mean you personally, I have heard what I said from many theists. I am not trying to read into your words and if I am, i apologize)

[alexiarose]

Is being open minded enough to allow Him a chance to enter your heart being gullible? God requires faith. Yes. This is true. But He doesn't require you to accept Him. You require Him to prove His existence to you. So who has the burden of proof here? God, who is claiming nothing to you, or you who are claiming everything about God?

I require nothing of God. I require evidence from those people who make the claim that God exists. If God wanted me to believe, I'm sure that he could provide the evidence, or lacking that the internal alignment of neurons required for faith. However, to those people who are asking (telling) me to believe in this God, from those, I require evidence.

If you want to know what God requires of you, you must be open enough to hear him. No one can tell you this. Even His book is vague and contradictory.

Ok I hear that a lot and that answer really bothers me:

"In order to believe, you must first believe"

It makes no sense. It has no foundation.

I am sorry if this bothers you. But I would suggest that you don't read into my words. Being open minded doesn't mean you have to believe first.

I am open minded. This is often another part of that same theist equation: That if you are Atheist, you obviously don't maintain the openness to hear God's words.

I am very open-minded and I have not always disbelieved in God. I asked for years for God to help me to stop doubting. I tried, trust me. But in the end, I couldn't stay open to nothingness.

(Quick note: I don't necessarily mean you personally, I have heard what I said from many theists. I am not trying to read into your words and if I am, i apologize)

No worries.
Mom has been trying for years and I know she is at that crucial point where she is going to join you. I don't doubt her honest or open-minded search anymore than I do yours. It just makes me sad.