Does combat cause anyone to struggle with truly believing or questioning how a God could exist?

SGT(P) Eric L. — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 04:34:08 -0500

In true combat there comes a time when you start to truly believe or question how a God could exist. Anyone else struggle with this?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 19 at 2016 5:55 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 05:55:29 -0500

Some turn to God, and some turn away.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 6:14 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 06:14:14 -0500

Just a knowledge that God is a libertarian and stays out of peoples lives unless requested works for me. Bad things happen and I think that is part of his plan, in the end I'm certain it all works out.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Dec 19 at 2016 7:33 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 07:33:17 -0500

The absolute brutality of man turned me away.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Dec 19 at 2016 8:07 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 08:07:06 -0500

I've heard that some come to the crossroads (during an engagement) of questioning their sense of what is right when faced with a combatant in their sight picture....you rely on your training and fight for those on your flanks, to the left and right, but the main priority is to focus overwhelming & accurate firepower on the target to eliminate that threat! You might thank your God after the engagement is over but for now, your ass and abilities belong to the unit!

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Dec 19 at 2016 8:12 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 08:12:40 -0500

I think he stated in the Bible that war was not his way and that at some future point we would not engage in war. I think war is based on free will to choose. There do seem to be limits on war and human suffering that we have not yet crossed, the question is, is that due to man or diviine intervention?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 9:13 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:13:49 -0500

Just an observation, it seems that most, if not all, of the problems people have with God start and revolve around man.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Dec 19 at 2016 9:24 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:24:27 -0500

In todays world when we say the word "GOD" people look at us in a different way. I don't read the BIBLE much and in combat we were on patrol and raids so much I don't think I ever had time for the BIBLE but I knew that GOD/JESUS was on my side, I think there is higher power that watches over us and there is a guiding light that guides us to victory some us are just in the wrong places at the wrong time and it is not our time yet. I will tell when in or direct fire with enemy example (T-72 Tank) Desert Storm I was just private in a M109A2 and everything was on my chief and that gunner firing direct fire and without that artillery skill and knowledge and over looking of GOD I don't thing our crew would be here today with "TEAM WORK and GOD". I've been in other situation where I've felt like I was in a black hole during combat operations and not thinking I was not coming out of this alive and some how I am here to speak my vision that GOD has let me live to talk and share about it.

Response by SPC David S. made Dec 19 at 2016 10:02 AM

SPC David S. — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:02:24 -0500

Pan out - Our conflicts on our planet are of little consequence in the grand scheme of things. There are 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 planets in our observable Universe.

Response by MSG Jay Jackson made Dec 19 at 2016 10:25 AM

MSG Jay Jackson — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:25:21 -0500

Any way it goes you will not know the right answer till you die. Choose wisely my friends.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 10:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:49:49 -0500

On the religious side, you have those that believe God gave us Free Will and War is one result of Free Will. On the non-religious side, there is no God and War is merely the brutal extension of political and geographical desire and the access/control of natural resources. For me, it's a case of "it is what it is, and only Man can stop war" and until such time happens, I will fight for me and mine until I can't fight anymore.

Response by SFC Jerry Humphries made Dec 19 at 2016 12:11 PM

SFC Jerry Humphries — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:11:48 -0500

G-d has always been there when I needed, reguardless if I ask for him to be there or not. No matter if it was while breaching a minefield during In Iraq During Desert Storm or being Laid off from an employer he has seen me through hard times. I have learned to be humble and trust in him. Blessings often come out of adverse situations in that those situations will often offer a chance to act on opportunities that a person will normally let pass by. Trusting in G-d allows one to stop feeling sorry for ones
Self and and act. That applies to all the battles in our lives not just military combat.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 19 at 2016 12:16 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:16:44 -0500

One of the few things I haven't struggled with. Gods view of just and serious butt whippin' are pretty well documented in the old testament along with some seriously bad assed warriors.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Dec 19 at 2016 12:47 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:47:30 -0500

For a religious person it can either strengthen or diminish their faith. Truthfully, I know that regardless it doesn't matter. There are people that don't care about life and death. These people will always require those who are brave to stand against them.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Dec 19 at 2016 4:29 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:29:52 -0500

Interesting question when we are all born to die!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 20 at 2016 3:27 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:27:40 -0500

I'm a Geek and a Science Freak. I was Raised by Two Lay Ministers in the Catholic Church. My Opinion is just that. I believe in a God but I don't believe in Religious Dogma about him. I'm a Romantic Too. My Worst Life Changing Experience was probably Mt Pinatubo. Something about Watching the Largest Volcanic Eruption in a Century Danger Close is not an Experience I care to Repeat. There is an Old Military Saying "Hell, I've already been there, I'm Not Going Back"

Response by SSG Jeff Beltran made Dec 27 at 2016 7:48 AM

SSG Jeff Beltran — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 07:48:53 -0500

In a human perspective it is easy to question and struggle with God's existence in a fallen world. In a spiritual perspective granting that a person has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it is much more easier to understand the peace of God and understand why we live in a fallen world by reading His Word the Bible. As a Christian, I struggled many a times, because I relied on my own human knowledge, but when I gave it to God, He gave me the peace and understanding. One of the times in my life was dealing with my PTSD and moving to Post Traumatic Growth. I will attach my article here. One of the passages in the Bible that comes to mind is in 1 Samuel 14-18 when an evil spirit troubles Saul. Though it does not state PTSD, I believe that the evil spirit worked at Saul's heart and mind on his past dealings as King and the multiple combat campaigns he had to deal with in developing Israel as a Nation. Dealing with the loss and seeing the violence it's easy to see that he might have reflected on many issues such as survivors guilt, depression, anxiety and other mental and psychological issues. David was one of his comforter's who helped him heal by playing his Harp. Life on this earth will always give us challenges and struggles and if try to solve it ourselves we will fail, but if we ask God to help us and heal us He will be there for us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/post-traumatic-stresss-surprisingly-positive-flip-side.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I've also included "What does the Bible say about PTSD" https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-PTSD.html

SGT (P) Eric Larson, I hope and pray that you find the answers though a Christian Friend or Pastor and that God reveal's himself to you and opens your heart to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Post-Traumatic Stress’s Surprisingly Positive Flip Side

Some soldiers respond to the trauma of combat with a new sense of hope. How crazy is that?

Response by SPC Samantha Stapley made Jun 10 at 2019 1:56 PM

SPC Samantha Stapley — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:56:50 -0400

I "found Jesus" while I was in the military. I was raised a Catholic, but really delved deep into Christianity when I was deployed. That all changed once my second child was born. She was born very sick with a congenital disease that will cause her pain for the rest of her life, however long that may be. I started questioning my faith. I went to my Christian friends I had been studying the bible with, and I thought they would be the ones to help me overcome my grief, but they all turned away from me because my faith was faltering. That caused me to lose it completely. I no longer believe in a Christian God. I am still a spiritual person, but not the God I had once believed in.