Is there such a thing as an atheist?

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Jan 18, 2014
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I submit they are simply liars - to themselves and to those they tell that to. We have all heard the saying "there are no atheists in foxholes", well I believe that is true. I believe when facing death every man knows he is facing a meeting with his maker. People simply want to be the man in charge. They don't want to answer to anyone, or anything else. They want to believe they are the ultimate authority in their life, that they run the show. I had a thought a couple of days ago - how long would it take an atheist in a space ship, after being jettisoned out the door like so much flotsam, to call on God? That thought alone makes one feel quite insignificant.
So to you sir. Can you accept this resolution?
 
Mar 19, 2014
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I go back and forth between atheism, agnosticism and universalism. I'm not lying to myself when I say "this God stuff makes absolutely no sense"
 

nl

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Jun 26, 2011
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I go back and forth between atheism, agnosticism and universalism. I'm not lying to myself when I say "this God stuff makes absolutely no sense"
I think these questions make sense:

  • Where did we come from?
  • Where are we going?

The answers are important, particularly if we will live forever.
 
Sep 14, 2013
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But if we ain't going to live forever then we have wasted our lives wondering about 'what ifs, whens and whys'
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
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I go back and forth between atheism, agnosticism and universalism. I'm not lying to myself when I say "this God stuff makes absolutely no sense"

I would agree with you that self righteous condemning Christians, wars in the name of religion, money misused by religious organizations, children harmed by religious leaders, Christians misrepresenting God and the like do not make sense.

But what does make sense to me is John 3:16 & 17 which states. For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.

Please reconsider your position towards God... It is we humans who do the misrepresenting not God Himself. God is a God of Love and He has more than proven that fact in sending His Son to save a sin sick world. Make no mistake GOD LOVES ALL OF YOU.
 

nl

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2011
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God is a God of Love and He has more than proven that fact in sending His Son to save a sin sick world. Make no mistake GOD LOVES ALL OF YOU.
Almighty God is a God of Love but also a God of Justice. Excellence of character requires that He be full of both love and justice.

God loves righteousness and hates iniquity (sin, wickedness, etc.). See Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 1:9. Almighty God has many excellent attributes and love is one but justice is another. It is good to communicate the whole story and all the attributes of God.
 
Feb 16, 2014
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But what does make sense to me is John 3:16 & 17 which states. For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.
You have to already believe there's a God to believe John 3:16 to be true.
 
Jan 18, 2014
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And that is how we all, learn, especially when it does not get heated and dogmatic trying to force rather just love each other and their opinions, giving food for thought to each other. I mean all of us here are here, and getting along, planning harm to another is plain wrong and if one reads the story of Noah, one sees what God was angry at.
With the people that, planned wrong against others for their own gain

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Fast forward, to do wrong to others is what God is not well about, and if I were God I understand this, and you?
So with free choice and to not take that away, what if God gave a way to Love all, as that video points to

So through God's Mercy to all through Son Christ at the cross is for you and all, to come to life and love, as what I see you have been doing in the debate and I thank you

This is looking worryingly like a resolution!! ;)

Then by this account, can we accept that Atheists do exist and do no harm to others of faith-whatever by the decision or existence? If they do no intentional ill unto others, and we are wrong and there is a god, he would love them and as such so should those who believe, and if there is not it wouldn't matter to anyone apart from the society within which they exist. Good grief, peace in our times! :D

So to you sir. Can you accept this resolution?
What are you asking? What "resolution" are you referring to?
This resolution Phil :)
 
D

danschance

Guest
But if we ain't going to live forever then we have wasted our lives wondering about 'what ifs, whens and whys'
We all will "live" forever. Some in Heaven and some in hell.
 
D

danschance

Guest
Atheists claim to disbelieve in God yet they hang out at Christian venues all the time. Its like a hobby for them.

If politics meant nothing to you then you would not hang out in political forums, right?
If they really disbelieved in God they would not care to post here or debate with Christians.
 
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Timeline

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2014
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An atheist that actively attacks Christians seems pretty close to a satanist. Why would care if we are wasting our time? What does it matter to an atheist if I waste my time? If you are not a satanist, then you are trying to find someone to convince you of something.
 
Jan 18, 2014
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An atheist that actively attacks Christians seems pretty close to a satanist. Why would care if we are wasting our time? What does it matter to an atheist if I waste my time? If you are not a satanist, then you are trying to find someone to convince you of something.
I think this is an invalid comment. This topic has come up time and time again but here we go again:

There are people on both sides of the belief divide who investigate and ask questions. From Scientists (both christian and atheist) and biblical scholars and archaeologists. Further more, these people tend to have a very human desire to understand the world around them. Whether this is within the worlds of mythology or science the motivations are the same. To accept something without asking any questions is not faith, it is walking blind. Now I had a religious upbringing and education. Religion, it never made sense to me, even though for those early years, the education I had implied there was no choice. Needless to say I discovered there was a choice that made more sense to me. To be a part of a community where questioning things is not regarded as a sin was beyond liberating. So, to this day, that need to understand maintains. I can;t understand why people can't see clearly the logical universe that I and many others perceive. Ho you do not need religion or faith to be a good person. So to attempt to understand, here I am.
 
Jan 18, 2014
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I think this is an invalid comment. This topic has come up time and time again but here we go again:

There are people on both sides of the belief divide who investigate and ask questions. From Scientists (both christian and atheist) and biblical scholars and archaeologists. Further more, these people tend to have a very human desire to understand the world around them. Whether this is within the worlds of mythology or science the motivations are the same. To accept something without asking any questions is not faith, it is walking blind. Now I had a religious upbringing and education. Religion, it never made sense to me, even though for those early years, the education I had implied there was no choice. Needless to say I discovered there was a choice that made more sense to me. To be a part of a community where questioning things is not regarded as a sin was beyond liberating. So, to this day, that need to understand maintains. I can;t understand why people can't see clearly the logical universe that I and many others perceive. Ho you do not need religion or faith to be a good person. So to attempt to understand, here I am.
Sorry for the repost but I ran out of time to edit my original post:

The question is invalid but a philosophical debate is not an attack. It is merely an invitation to question the things around you and confirm your confidence in the topic. Debate is a democratic process and any system which puts itself beyond debate is acting as an intellectual, social and spiritual dictatorship. Secondly, to accuse a group of people who do not believe in a mythological deity of being followers of another is a bit silly! Finally, the topic of why we are on here has come up many times before.
 
Jan 18, 2014
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We all will "live" forever. Some in Heaven and some in hell.
I think here is a classic example of the unobtainable absolute and borderline arrogance which causes people to want to debate. There is no way that this can be known by any human. Hoped? Yes of course. Desired? Very much so. But known? No. As a result, should it be questioned? In my eyes, of course. Furthermore, this frequesntly quoted sentiment implies that the faith relies upon bribery or fear approach to establish and maintain it's following. Do what I say....live forever. Don't do what I say.... suffer forever.

Considering the beautiful sentiment by the young lady in the video it's a shame more of you don't follow her lead.
 

nl

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2011
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Then by this account, can we accept that Atheists do exist and do no harm to others of faith-whatever by the decision or existence? If they do no intentional ill unto others, and we are wrong and there is a god, he would love them and as such so should those who believe, and if there is not it wouldn't matter to anyone apart from the society within which they exist. Good grief, peace in our times! :D | This resolution
deepthought, thank you for your resolution. I think that it's honest and helpful and brave that you shared it.

It's brave to take a position and offer a resolution because you expose yourself to the risk of being critiqued. In my observation, many will critique the position of others readily while offering little or none of their own position to be open to being critiqued.

critique verb transitive
cri•tiqued; cri•tiqu•ing 1751 : to examine critically : REVIEW 〈critique the plan)

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.


As some have said: the only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing and be nothing.
 
Aug 25, 2013
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Again I repeat EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM and that has not happened yet.
How, exactly, do you imagine this will happen? My great grandmother, the Jehovah's Witness, shared this same belief and my aunt remembered her father teasing his mother about this. Once, at the supper table, he suggested Jesus was waiting till everyone owned their own TV before returning. Her indignant reply was that Jesus wouldn't need televisions for everyone to see his return. Was she right? How will Jesus make himself known to all the world?

Of course I know how both of you came to this belief, for it is written, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye shall see him, and among them those who pierced him; and all peoples of the world shall lament in remorse. So it shall be. Amen” (Rev. 1:7 NEB).

I recognize that most versions translate ‘peoples’ as ‘tribes’. So possibly tribes is closer to the original meaning, though now-a-days there are not so many tribes anymore. I would point out that the author of Revelation includes ‘those who pierced him’ among future witnesses of his return. I suspect this may mean those who drove in the nails as well as he who thrust his spear in Christ’s side. I believe this shows the author expected Christ would return during the lifetime of those who placed him on the cross, unless you prefer to demonstrate otherwise?

I would ask you to explain how, “Every eye shall see him, and among them those who pierced him” if this event occurs two thousand years after their deaths?
 
Jan 18, 2014
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deepthought, thank you for your resolution. I think that it's honest and helpful and brave that you shared it.

It's brave to take a position and offer a resolution because you expose yourself to the risk of being critiqued. In my observation, many will critique the position of others readily while offering little or none of their own position to be open to being critiqued.

critique verb transitive
cri•tiqued; cri•tiqu•ing 1751 : to examine critically : REVIEW 〈critique the plan)

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.


As some have said: the only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing and be nothing.
Thank you for your kind reply. I would consider myself a pretty poor (nay hypocritical!) skeptic were I not willing to open myself to the position of criticism. I make no offer of absolute, but merely an opinion to be shared or refuted. On a personal level, though I do deny conflict between people of our differing stances, I prefer a possibility of a peaceful coexistence :). A simple being that I am ;)
 
Aug 25, 2013
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Deepthought, thin king deeply as I see you do. He god is here living forever in the order of Melchizedek, through believers not the ones that just say they believe, and act it out with dogma,actually with tihs type of love as in this video below:
[video=youtube;3YXINEYdnkY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YXINEYdnkY&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
Love you just as you are
Homewardbound, thanks for posting this girl's confessional. It is a message worth spreading.

Cycel
 
Jan 18, 2014
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Thank you for your kind reply. I would consider myself a pretty poor (nay hypocritical!) skeptic were I not willing to open myself to the position of criticism. I make no offer of absolute, but merely an opinion to be shared or refuted. On a personal level, though I do deny conflict between people of our differing stances, I prefer a possibility of a peaceful coexistence :). A simple being that I am ;)
Sorry that should have read 'Do Not Deny'. I really should get a proof reader on my posts :p