God Questions are Good Questions

These questions were written by the youth and leaders of Fourth Church Rising, the 8^th grade confirmation program at Fourth Presbyterian Church. The questions are not listed in any particular order, but have been loosely grouped together by topic. The questions could be further subdivided into more specific topics, but this would begin to suggest answers, which we will explore together as we go along…

God

• If God was angry with people who didn't believe in him in biblical times, why isn't he mad now that there are so many Atheists?
  
• Why would you spend your whole life worshiping God when you have your own life to live and explore?
  
• If God really looks out for us why is our world so bad? Because if there's a god he's not doing a very good job helping us.
  
• Is there a god looking over me?
  
• Why do we worship God so much and he doesn't do anything for us. He's not helping us out? Is he?
  
• Who really knows if God exist? And what if we are just wasting our time worshiping something that's not true?
  
• If God loves us, where was he on 9/11?
  
• Is god/God capitalized?
  
• Can God hear us?
  
• Why should I believe in God?
  
• Can God change your life?
  
• What's Gods Name?
  
• Is God an animal or is some other form to be one element?
  
• Is there a god?
  
• Can god hear your prayers if you say them in your head?
  
• Is god perfect?
  
• Did god make things happen for a reason?
  
• God?
  
• Do we ever see god?
  
• Is god always there for me?
  
• Is there really a God?
  
• Is God really playing dice with the world?
  
• If God created the whole world and everything in it, why can't he stop all of the wars people are in?
  
• Did God get drunk before he did 9/11?
  
• Is God playing Sim-Universe with us?
  
• Can god hear you through your thoughts?
  
• How does god look over us?
  
• Does god control every good and bad?
  

Creation

• How did the world come to be?
  
• Did god really make the world?
  
• Did God create evolution?
  

The Human Condition

• Will god help me make the right decisions?
  
• Why did God let people make things like drugs and guns?
  
• How will I know to make the right decision?
  
• Why does life suck sometimes?
  
• Why are there wars?
  
• Will god let me enjoy my life?
  
• Is it ok to be so angry you lose faith in God?
  

Jesus Christ

• Is Jesus really with god by his side?
  

The Bible

• Should I know more bible stories then I do?
  
• Are all stories supposed to be true in the bible?
  
• Are all the stories in the Bible true?
  
• Is every thing in the Bible true?
  

Christianity

• Can we believe Karma? Do we (people of our religion) believe in Karma?
  
• Are we Presbyterian or Christian?
  
• What are the real faiths? Catholic? Protestant? Baptist? Satanist?
  

Other Religions

• Is it bad to like Buddha even if I don't worship him?
  

After Life

• Is there really a heaven?
  
• What happens when you die?
  
• Will we see God in heaven?
  
• What happens when you die?
  
• Is there a Hell?
  
• Is there a devil in Hell?
  
• How bad do you have to be to go to Hell?
  
• Does anyone want to go to HELL?
  
• What happens if you don't believe in heaven or hell?
  
• Will I see my grandfather?
  
• Am I really going to heaven?
  
• Where do you go when you die?
  
• Is there really a heaven?
  
• Is hell a massive, fiery strip club for Satanists?
  
• Do you get reincarnated?
  
• Do agnostics get an answer when they die?
  
• Is resurrection possible?
  
• Do you go to heaven by judge mentor or by luck?
  

Confirmation

• Should I confirm to the church?
  
• Why do I have to get confirmed?
  
• What happens if you don't get confirmed?
  
• What if your parents want you to be a Presbyterian but you're not sure it there is a God?
  

September Highlights

Look what Fourth Church Youth were up to this past September!

U2charist

On September 5, the U2 tribute band, Elevation joined us for a special U2charist worship. U2charist is a worship service with communion that is based on social justice and poverty themes with music by the rock band U2.

Senior High Retreat: Camp Manitoqua

Shortly after the U2charist, Senior Highs hit the road to Camp Manitoqua for their fall retreat. We had a full weekend of games, Bible discussions, swimming and worship. We discussed uses of the Bible and different voices in the Bible. Sebastian took the title in our Night Crossing competition and Kurt was humbled by Joann in a game of HORSE at the pool basketball hoop.

Children and Youth Kick-Off

Right after the Senior Highs returned from the fall retreat on September 7, we all kicked off the new year of church school and youth programs at Fourth Church. Each youth group opened their Sunday morning gatherings in fine style. For lunch we celebrated with finger-lickin' fried chicken and all sorts of sides. Outside, the bouncy-castle kept things hopping while the water balloon busting chair soaked various victims including Joann Lee, Donna Gray, Kurt Esslinger and John Vest.

Fourth Church Rising Retreat: Saugatuck

The confirmation class had their fall reatreat to Saugatuck, Michigan on September 12 - 14. Despite non-stop rain the ENTIRE weekend, everyone involved had oodles of fun. We began our year by thinking about questions we've always wanted to ask about God. Plus, after hiking up a very wet Mount Baldy, the group did a great job of dropping John during trust falls!

Elvevation: Lock-In

On the night of September 19, Elevation stayed awake into the wee hours for some late night fun. Joyous sounds of Guitar Hero filled the Crows Nest and its surrounding staircases, we read the Bible, we discussed the importance of community, we found Ghosts In the Graveyard, and names were put to motions... "Shelter."

A BIG THANKS TO ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE SEPTEMBER SO AWESOME!!!