A question on faith
 

I don't want to get a preachy topic started, and I know this isn't exactly a great place for a question like this but I have been doing some reflecting tonight, and have been going through some personal troubles with my life for a while now and thought I would just ask and see if anyone had some input.

Here is a pretty serious question for you guys. What does it mean to have faith, and is it enough to want to be part of a faith or religion and have even an ounce of doubt or be even a little bit unsure. I understand part of faith or religion is about strengthening your faith and relationship with god. Despite what I have said here, a part of me really does want to have faith. Its an absolutely beautiful thing no matter what I have said bad about it in the past. To be able to love and be loved by god over all others and to have a personal relationship with him. Though my better judgement tells me there probably isn't a god, there are still so much in life that can't be explained, and doesn't need to be explained to prove their is a god. My problem is I am a person who is either all or nothing, which is why so many things in my life have been wasted, and so many opportunities missed. Its really a curse to be that way I think. Which is what leads me to not seek faith or religion. To me, if you don't devote all of your heart and mind to faith, it shouldn't be done. Its not something to half way believe in. Id say the better part of me doesn't have faith, but there is always a small part of me that does, and wants something more out of life.

I just honestly can't see how its possible to believe with anything less than 100% confidence. That would be like saying you think the checker piece is red, but it might be blue. The better part of you wins over the other.

Actually, let me take out the word religion. One can have faith without being part of a religion can't they? What would that make someone? What I meant by faith was belief in a god, not necessarily any churches teachings. I have studied too much corruption and false teachings in various religions over recorded history to really ever be able to accept any of them. That leads to another problem for me, I don't understand my definition of god. I know there is something in me that is empty, I can only assume its something like faith, but there is no religion I have seen that I can fully agree with. I don't think one needs a religion to have a relationship or understanding of god, or to have some sort of faith in something higher than themselves. Which is maybe why I have always ignored it, I'm too complicated and can't understand myself in this respect.

I know from the evolution topic that a lot of you here consider yourself religious or people with faith. What say you on my dilemma? Please no Christian vs Atheist fighting, and no smart ass comments here, I just want some people with some serious input. I need food for thought and would really appreciate any input, good or bad, as long as its respectful.

That's the human condition man, we all have that empty feeling from time to time. Some people fill it with booze, some with drugs, an awful lot fill it with god. As you say the idea of god is very comforting even to me (militant athiest). But the idea of santa is comfoting too, doesn't make it any more likley to be true. I have always thought, as you do, that even a shred of doubt would make the whole thing null and void for me. Even when I was a kid (Christian privae schooled in the deep south) I thought that, and as I have gotten older the doubts got more and now they far outweigh blind faith for me. Sounds like you may be going the other way, and more power too you you'll be in good company. It's all about what gets you thru the day man.

The trouble arises, again as you have said, with organised religion. If god was invented to comfort man, religion was certainly invented to control him.

Be interested to see where this thread goes, as this forum is very varied.

Well see, that was my question. Can you still be considered a man of faith even if its not unwavering faith, even if you have doubts. I hear stories all the time about people having questions about their faith and have to struggle to keep up their faith. I don't want to commit myself to something knowing that its not a 100% thing for me. On one hand I believe in evolution and nature, on the other hand I think there is possibly a god that had his hands in things from time to time. Its also a very comforting thought to expect a wonderful afterlife. As much as I want to have faith that it exists, its another one of those things I can't truly accept. I'm too much a man of science and thought and look too deeply into everything, which usually leaves things looking worse than they started. I wish I could just accept faith blindly, but I know its not possible like that. So I guess its not possible to have faith and at the same time find faults in it. I'm not sure what I'm going to do to fill that hole in my life. Most people resort to drinking and drug abuse, but I've never been that kind of guy and I hope I'm able to stay strong and continue to be that way. I'm lacking something in my life and I don't know what it is. I'm not exactly depressed, not sad, not all that lonely, nothing really. I'm just not the person I used to be, I don't get any enjoyment out of life. I have good days and bad days, but most days are just days. I've just never felt complete as a person.

Can you picture yourself not existing? Think about it. I'm not talking about your body, I'm talking about your soul. No one in this world can comprehend the feeling of NOT EXISTING. We simply are not made to be able to imagine something like that. Which gets you thinking.

Now before I talk too much and have this whole damn forum on my ass talking crap and saying I'm crazy I'll stop. :)

Thats my main concern. I didn't see it likely that I could be of faith and not give it 100%. But if I don't fill it with faith and comfort, that doesn't leave many bright options. I was raised in a family with alcohol and drug abuse and it really rips my heart to pieces thinking about it. I don't think I would ever take that path, too strong willed maybe. It has to be filled with something though. These last few years have been really tough on me. As bad as it sounds, I sometimes find myself staring at my gun thinking bad things. I don't think I would shoot myself, but I do sometimes wish that maybe I could just go away. Its not that I am unhappy or depressed really, its just this lack of whatever it is. I don't feel complete and never have in my short adult life. Last time I felt like myself was probably in high school, maybe 8 or 9 years ago. Since then its like a part of me has fallen off and I just drag through the years, no real bright outlook, just dull. Maybe I just need a change of lifestyle, I dunno. I'm in a pretty pitiful way though. Kind of embarrassed to just drop my problems out on the table like this, but sometimes it helps to see your thoughts and feeling written out.

I don't quite follow. But I think I can imagine it.

Maybe this thread title should read Crisis of Faith lol, it reads a little more fucked up that it sound being typed out. Despite what it might look like, I'm not crazy ;)

How can you possibly imagine yourself not existing if you have NO IDEA of what death is like? WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AFTER YOU DIE? Your mind, your soul. No one has experienced complete death and was able to describe it;). I'm not sure you understand or maybe I'm explaining it wrong.

I may not be understanding. I imagine not existing being blackness. Eternal sleep I guess. It would be my hope that when you die, its like what everyone would want in their perfect afterlife. Love, happiness, being with all of your family who may have passed away, seeing people you missed, people you respected, never having fear, sorrow, doubt, pain...

As much as I want to believe that is what happens, part of me thinks its not that way. I don't think its enough to just hope its that way, you have to know it, you have to have faith that its like that. If there is a god, I guess you have to hope that he forgives your sins and allows you eternal happiness.

I've heard that question a lot about comprehending death. It's hard to imagine, but you basically do it every night while you're not dreaming. Time just disappears to you, but you can't imagine it because there's nothing to imagine. You wake up in the morning and nothing really changed. We can't be conscious while being unconscious.

Back to the real subject, though...faith is necessary for everyone. It doesn't need to be in God if you can't make that work for you. Just have faith in something. Have faith in yourself, your family, friends; strive to be a better person and just give yourself a reason to live. You can certainly have faith in God without being part of a religion and you really don't have to go all out. It's what you believe. In my mind, God is like a father figure. He's a person you want to please and make proud. You don't have to call him every weekend, but he does like to know what you're doing from time to time and he's there for you when you need him.

I'll be worm food.

Crazy as this might sound coming from me, to me faith is the fact that you believe in something. For me, it's the absence of something, but it's a belief nonetheless.

I'll keep my ranting in the other thread. :D

boring. this thread needs more boost.

I grew up in a Baptist Household, but the older I have gotten the more distanced I feel from God. Do I believe in a higher power? Yes, but I have no idea what that is. You have to be careful with organized religion and the doctrines that they teach. They all have different beliefs and faith. No one has all the answers, even though a lot try to tell you that they do, You need to soul search and look at everything and ask yourself what do I believe in. If you don't believe in something, then it will be hard to put your faith in it.

boring. this thread needs more boost.

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/19/cat_010.jpg

Imagine going to sleep, not having a dream and never waking up.

Faith has very little to do with what you believe in as Koto said. it just means that you commit to it and dont have nagging doubts that overpower your belief that something IS.

For what it's worth, my grandmother died because my aunt and uncle believed god would take care of her and that they didn't have to do anything to help her. that is faith. and also why I'm an athiest.

Leave it to Braine to post a pic of a strap-on pussy.

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It is a problem of rational thinking mixing with emotions. Emotions tell you that there must be something more, but rational thinking tells me there isn't. That doesn't really bother me as I really don't look at anything from an emotional standpoint and all from a rational. This is hard to deal with in my marriage, becasue my wife is very emotional and doesn't understand how I calmly anaylze everything based on logic. Drives her insane. She believes in the soul, heaven, god, the whole sha-bang, and trys to tell me that I should too. I don't try to tell her not to believe.

You will drive yourself crazy trying to find a definate answer. Nothing can ever be proven 100%, so there will always be some doubt. Commit yourself to something you truely believe in, and not something you have been told to believe in. That is faith.

The way I live my life is through simple goals and my end is my death. I want to better other peoples lives around me, while still providing for myself. My goal is to have as few regrets as possible in my life. That is my faith

I normally don't share much on this subject. I served as a tank commander in Vietnam and on March 26 1969 i was blown out of my turret by a enemy RPG rocket, I fell some twenty feet to the jungle floor and died. I went through a light tunnel,was met by dozens of people dressed in white and felt as if i was wrapped in a blanket of love. My parents arrived but were now only in their late twenties themselves. Then I heard a voice and I knew who it must be, it was warm and welcoming. It asked, "Jack are you ready to come to me?" I felt as if I wanted to stay so much but i sputtered out, "Hell no, I'm only twenty years old!" Instantly I awoke to two Medics beating on my chest. To this day sometimes I wish I had stayed but after being shot twice in the war, COPD and a quad by-pass last year I knew there's still a reason I'm here. And I don't believe in God as most folks do, I believe there's one superior being that is for all people alike.

i was raised catholic. abandoned all religious practices from about age 10. met a girl who is a very faithful catholic (though not preachy) and at about age 25 started going back to church to with her.........and eventually ended up marrying her. so now i attend church every week.

i was (and still am) in the same boat as you. i don't have any grasp on how strong my faith is. i am scientifically minded too.....so a whole lot of stuff in religion just doesn't compute. so you are preaching to the choir (pun intended). and honestly....i'm o.k. with that.

i go with her just to listen to the readings, take what i can from it, and try to clear my mind. it gives me a fresh start every week.

maybe you should just try a few different faiths to see if they are of any benefit. and if they don't seem to be helpful, perhaps some meditation time will give you a different perspective on things.

The past couple of years I have really struggled with my faith...and struggled even more with why I have so many doubts. I am a Catholic convert...but my faith isn't as strong as it was a few years ago.

These doubts in God and my beliefs have turned into self doubt, doubts about my goals, where I am in life, why I'm here etc...

This ^^^ is probably the best thing I've read on the matter in a long time. I may still continue to believe in a higher being...and occasionally doubt it...but I WILL try and have an outlook more like this.



NA6C:

You will always have doubts in anything you set your faith into...whether you're agnostic, atheist or religious. You will even doubt yourself, your SO and your friends, all of which you should have faith in. It's human nature to question...and the only real answer is to keep seeking knowledge.

Although religion is based on emotion...there is a logical side that contains some good reasoning. My uncle has a masters in theology...and the philosophical side of the world's religions is pretty deep. I recommend theological reading before subscribing to any one "style" of faith. This will likely educate you on the human condition, and how we construct and view God.

Find your own answers.

man that is a very good question that most of us come to at some point or even at many points in our lives. To answer it from my POV yeah you can have faith with out an orginization of other people. Its all about belief and trust between you and what ever you choose to look to. Fellowship etc is just a social engenrization designed to further your posistion in the community. Believe or not no one can answer that for you at the end of the day its just you and the omni potent force that steers the universe. Having faith true faith is something few can do. If you have proof of something then you arent running on faith you are running on the proof you have and that is quite different.
Where ever you are in this dilema and what ever you choose, i doubt you will be struck down by lightning or eaten by a chasm in the earth. But to me if there is nothing else past this existance, it kind of freaks me out to the point of a panic attack I need there to be something more becouse this place sucks, and i doubt i can do all i want to do in life even in 100 yrs. + After loosing my mom 15 yrs ago this weekend, it might be naive but i want to see her and be with her at some point.

Jack you made the right choice and i am sure your 2 beutifull children, and wife thank you for it every day. Thx for doing your job all those year ago man.

I appreciate the input guys. It's just an issue I will have to hammer out myself, and deal with over time. Whatever prevails will be.

I honestly don't even know how I feel. I mean, I don't really think that far ahead...about the 'what happens next?' stuff. I've never been into any kinda of organized religion, I wsa not raised in a religious household and I can count on both hands the number of times I have attended a regular church service (funirals not included). Oddly enough, I was baptized Lutheran.
I've been through some shit..some accidents and some instances that really make me question. But I've never really chalked it up to neither faith/God/religion nor luck. But I do know the difference between right and wrong and live by that and to see what tomorrow will bring. When it comes to the whole question of creation....well, the religious side says we came from nothing and the scientific side says we came from nothing...so what does it really matter? Though sciende does prove other things. I've always joked that the Bible could have been written by someone who smoked some good shit (no offense to anyone, it's just a funny "what if").

Meh...FWIW.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see all the posts in here very civilized, truthful, and surprisingly similar to each other. Truly an eye opener that as people, we are very similar in the way we think even if we don't agree with one another.

There had to be at least one post that was fucked up though, I KNEW IT.

THIS POST
:facepalm:

It wouldn't be MT without it though would it. I've been waiting for Hustler to come in and throw down some really nasty pictures or say something off the wall.....waiting..... :giggle:

I know I am late in the conversation but here is my input anyway. I think that if you are 100% faith or 100% atheist then you turn into one of those shitty asshole people. The ones that protest at funerals of homosexuals, or protest that "God" should be removed from money and from the pledge of allegiance. You need that little bit of doubt to keep yourself from turning into a hate monger.

I am an Atheist, have been for 10+ years. Religion just seems silly to me, not to bash, to each his own. But I think, if there really is a God, he isnt going to give two shits if your involved in an organized religion if youre a good person.

this

I think that being "Religious" and "believing in God" are two different things.
I agree: you don't have to be part of some church to believe in God.

Some mild entertainment for you guys. Pull up the popcorn...

faith = the ability to discount fact for ideological convenience

i'm a scientist. i examine the facts, make a hypothesis, and when more evidence emerges, i adjust my hypothesis. i don't believe in God but what do i know, i'm 20 years old. i'll keep an open mind and be polite to both sides

You can believe in God without believing the dogma of religion. You can worship God without buying into a particular faith or sect. My biggest problem with religions in general is the absolute belief that theirs is the only way. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, Judiasm, etc. Every last one believes they have the only answers. Huge turn off to most people. One of the reasons there is a significant rebellion against organized religion.

My personal belief is more agnostic. I believe there may be a higher power in the world but no way for us to truly know or understand it. I view each religion as having value and as an attempt by men to sort out the meaning of life, God, higher powers and give societies morality. All religious writings, if truly inspired by a god, were written by men and are therefore flawed and influenced by the society of the time. Organized religion and their condemnation of other religions is far too small minded.

Have faith, don't have "religion".

God has blessed me far more richly than I deserve or could ever earn on my own.

He is with me even when I am not with him. My needs are met, many times before I realize I even have needs. Sometimes I don't notice his presence for days and sometimes he is constantly making his presence known. I neglect him often and do wrong often, and yet he welcomes my return. He rewards my progress and punishes my weakness as he molds me into the better man that I should be.

I doubt and wonder, but that does not make me weak or faulty. I am expected to question and reason things out. I should explore the world and the word for answers. Being created by God means that he gave us these traits, that we may then choose what to do with them. He wants us to choose him freely, because we wish to, or we wouldn't have been given a choice. Would you want a wife who didn't have a choice to be with you, or one that freely gave herself to you? If we are made in God's image, and we are, wouldn't he want the same freely given love and admiration?

I am not expected to be perfect. I am expected to try.

I am expected to love freely and give generously. Wouldn't that cause me to feel more fulfilled on it's own? Wouldn't that cause those around me to interact with me on a completely different level? I say that it does. I say that even if I were to find no God at the end of my life, that my life would have been enriched very deeply by living his way. An uplifted spirit and an honest smile for those you encounter throughout your day will make you have a better day every day. So will picking on noobs.

I try and fail to be good quite often. That doesn't make me a hypocrite, but it does mean that I suck at following rules. I strive to do a better job sometimes and other times I am a mean, selfish bastard. Afterwards I feel guilty, often privately. Those who see me when I do both good and bad want to know why I am not more consistent. I wish I could say it was anything more than weakness. But we all struggle to achieve. We all have good and bad days. But we soldier onward. And with God's comfort and love that I feel (and yes, I really do feel it), I will be better tomorrow than I am today.

NA6C, I don't want to get all "Wizard of Oz" on you, but what you seek has been with you all the time. "Seek and you shall find." That also conversely means that if you don't seek it, you might not find it.

Good luck.

what if what some people call "god" is just some really smart alien engineer who designs shit we can't conceive of as designed?? like sentient organic life forms and self-sustaining balls of dirt floating in space?

If you have faith you hope for things which are not seen, which are true. That is my definition of faith. Key point being that you are hoping on things that are true. If you see something, you no longer need faith, you have knowledge.

Everyone has to work out their own salvation.

But for my .02cents...

I really don't care if people think I am crazy.

I know there have been several times that I have prayed, and things that seemed impossible are changed.

I've been healed a few times, and have had two friends that should of never walked again, walk. We've had people in our church get healed of cancer. Etc. Etc.

People can believe it or choose otherwise. But I have experiencd it myself.


There is so much more than people give credit for.

As far as, all in or all out, thatis the right Ideal. But keep in mind....You grow in god. You can't just be perfect. Apostal Paul said he died daily. Even apostal Paul had struggles everyday he had to over come.

Through Jesus dying on the cross his blood was the ultimate sacrifice. And only through him can we be saved. The Lord said our rightousness is as filthy raggs. But if we love him with all our heart and do he best we can. and ask Jesus for forgiveness. Or sins are washed away. And we shall be white as snow. He will go before us on the day of judgment.

There is a joy and peace through serving god.

There is a longing and void in each and everyone of us that we try to fill in many different ways (drinking, partying, sex, cars etc.). But always seem to come full circle back to bla. That longing is the carnal desire for us to get close to god. And can only be quinched by getting closer to him.

It isn't rocket science or chance. It was the make up and stature of our design.

We we designed to serve god. And it only takes seconds to get ourselves in motion to path we need to go. We all fall short. That doesn't mean we should halveway try. That just means we pickup the pieces try harder next time, and get stronger through his grace.

The thing I love about this country is the religous freedom.

I'm not trying to start a war.

But if I'm asked, I feel i would be accountable if I didn't answer.

If people pray to god, and earnestly seek his direction. He will show the path!

I don't think any religion will argue with that.

Faith is simply believing in something you have no reason to believe in.

It's the the definition of faith.

Also, protesting the inclusion of god on money is not equivilant to protesting homosexuals. Those protesting homosexual marriage/funerals/ect are against inclusion, and protesting the inclusion of church and state, the affermation of one group over another by the government...

One is a protest of how people use the money that has been taken from them, and another is a protest of how others live.

NA6C, all I have to say is to go find a quiet place away from distractions, then get down on your knees and pray for answers. Even if you aren't sure of how to pray, just talk to God and pour out your heart to Him, even if your innermost thoughts bring you to tears. He may not answer right away, but He will answer. I don't have perfect faith, but I try to live a good life with every day that He gives me.

Here is His most recent reminder that He exists and protects me. This Thursday will be 4 weeks since it happened, hit a 1989 Rodeo hard enough to break his rear axle and total both vehicles after he turned in front of me when I was going about 55. Only injury on me was some busted knuckles on my right hand from where my hand smashed the windshield. I watched the airbag go off and felt the impact of hitting, yet the airbag nor the seat belt ever touched me.

If anyone on here can explain how my hand and body were far enough forward for my hand to smash the windshield but remained untouched by the airbag and seat belt, please feel free to try.

And yes, that's the radiator pushed back into the inlet pipe, and the wheel/tire was pushed back enough to prevent turning. One good thing is the car starts right up and everything but the radiator was undamaged as far as aftermarket parts are concerned. My Cibie h4 housing wasn't even cracked!!

Well, we made it a page and a half at least.......

As far as I am concerned, surviving an accident does not constitute the presence, or assistence thereof, of god or a higher power.
I mean, there is always the argument about "god preventing the accident in the first place". You may have suffered no bodily harm, but your wallet will surely be sore for a while.
Not to mention all the trouble, effort, energy, and resources you have put into modifying your car.

I am an atheist.
Not just the reactionary variety, but a hard core, methodical one.

There are several important, yet basic rules to follow to live a decent and full life.

* Taking responsibility for your actions.
* Taking all that happens around you within the realm of "cause and effect"
* Brutal honesty to yourself.
* Doing good for the sake of doing good - to yourself, others, animals, and the world you live in.
* Not expecting anything to be served you on a silver platter, and learning and working for what you want.

We are all carbon based life forms. We die, all circuits go dead, that's it. The rest is decomposition.

As Maynard* says,
"This is necessary.
Life feeds on life feeds on life feeds on life"



*Maynard James Keenan - Tool

I kinda prefer...

"Over-thinking, over-analyzing seperates the body from the mind."

Apply that to anything and it will become either a rational thought process with the ability to make sense or something unbelieveably and utterly insane.

Someone asked what faith was. This is the true definition of faith. A challenge was raised "If anyone on here can explain how my hand and body were...", but I somehow doubt that any explanation would be sufficient to convince you that God did not intervene here. I have no faith and only see a car wreck. You have faith and you see a miracle. I could argue with you for hours about this one event but neither of our minds would be changed. Interesting...



Oh, here's mine. I hit an F250 that pulled out in front of me. I had no injuries at all but my wedding band was bent so badly that I had to wear it on my pinkie:

Coming to the thread late and reading all the responses, Cueball summed up my thoughts and saved some typing.

A few years a back a newer Monte Carlo turned infront of me. I was doing about 55 in a 98 Hyundai Elantra. Airbag deployed, spun me around about 90 degrees. I walked away unscathed. Few scratchs, small bump on my knee. The airbag didnt even bend my glasses. As I said before I have been an Atheist for more then 10 years, there was nothing there that made me believe God was involved. But I am damn sure if I know Im going to be in a car accident again I want to be in a Hyundai.

I had bent the Monte to the point where they couldnt open the doors to get the driver out. The front license plate on my car had become one piece with the bumper. (but the CD player survived and is in my Miata)

I'm an athiest and my car is not smashed at all. I have faith in my ability to drive defensively.

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<true story> I was pulling away from a stoplight in my '90 when an 18 wheeler ran through his redlight going 55+ mph. I slammed the brakes on and he swerved slightly running over the front of my car, peeling the hood and front fender off, smashing up the radiator and flatspotting both front wheels from impact. Car spun around twice and I banged my head on the the hardtop. Walked away with 10 stitches to my head and that's it.</true story>

God was nowhere to be seen. I think Jesus might have been driving the truck though. Probably talking to God on his cell phone.

"Jesus Christ! Get the Escalade, we're outta here!"

Exactly. I say "amen" to that.

On another note, is an athiest the same as an atheist?

As Above, so Below. http://smiliesftw.com/x/dd2rea_th.gif

Further evidence that their is a god. Your 6UL's look to have come out ok in the wreck! I would be thanking god when I saw that afterward.

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When it comes to religion I like to pray to the Constitution, and pray that it protects me from the religious zealots who've adapted the interpretation of their fairy tale into convenience to form an army of financier-voters who want to rope me in to their horse-shit lives for a sense of accomplishment to convert me into financing their debauchery. Sadly, the psycho Muslims have it "right" with the literal interpretation of their religious documents. If you're watering it down by not stoning each other, killing non-christians, and discounting the old-testament because its inconvenient then well, you belong in your incantation of hell.

Which literal interpretation would you use. The bible is chocked full of contradictions. My favorite question to ask bible thumpers is how many of each animal were taken onto the ark (since everyone has heard that story). I love the blank stare they give you when you tell them there were SEVEN (well, SIX plus ONE to sacrifice) and not TWO. I've found that most Christians don't read the bible either <G>.

As far as stoning of non-Christians, the bible also says you should be stoned to death for working on Sunday. It will be interesting when we start that practice again. Wonder what would happen if you used that in court as an excuse for murder. I'm currently serving (have almost finished up my first year - hopefully will not have to serve the second year) on my county's grand jury. They make it quite a big deal if you put the wrong hand on the bible when they swear you in. I doubt they would agree if people actually started following what it says in that book.

My wallet is actually smiling, I have a good relationship with my insurance company and they gave me more than the car is worth, enough to buy another decent Miata with some left over. The modifications can be swapped over in a weekend in my garage with air tools, plus I enjoy tinkering with my cars.

You still didn't explain how my face/upper torso could be inches from the steering wheel, yet the airbag didn't even touch me?? But holy crap, that is one funky smell when it goes off!!

This recent accident was simply His guiding hand helping me out. My greatest miracle happened 10.5 years ago when I rolled a Talon 6.5 times over a stretch of 534 feet and am still alive even after the doctors said I shouldn't be.

Are you LDS?