A Christian is someone who believes that the Abrahamic God exists, who believes that the Bible is God's word. Who believes that Jesus is God's son who was born of the virgin Mary, crucified for the sins of men, and resurrected. A Christian also believes in the Holy Ghost and in Heaven. Some, though not all, Christians believe that there is also a Hell that people who are not Christians and/or do not ask for forgiveness for their sins go to.
I'm an atheist. Ask me anything!
- Thread starter Renate
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
- Status
L
This is academic, or head knowledge. Many people would say this is not actual Christianity.
It is like the difference between knowing all about George Washington and actually knowing George Washington.
Converted Christians do not just know about Jesus, we know Jesus.
What do you think about people who say they have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
It is like the difference between knowing all about George Washington and actually knowing George Washington.
Converted Christians do not just know about Jesus, we know Jesus.
What do you think about people who say they have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
-
1
- Show all
For example, someone close to me sometimes says that God gave her a verse just when she needed it, and then she sees that verse in various places. When in reality, she is reading the Bible with a certain concern in her mind. Anything that applies even remotely to that concern is then amplified as it were. AKA confirmation bias.
Another thing I often hear is that people encounter Jesus in dreams. Or that they are attacked by demons at night. That is consistent with the symptoms of sleep paralysis.
Another thing I often hear is that people encounter Jesus in dreams. Or that they are attacked by demons at night. That is consistent with the symptoms of sleep paralysis.
-
1
- Show all
Hmm... Wondering how I would be received if I went to an Atheist chat site and started a thread titled "I'm a Christian, ask me Anything!"
But let's examine this post of yours. CHRISTIANS are the ones "pushing" huh?
We could discuss for weeks why the THEORY of evolution is wrong and never get anywhere. I could spend DECADES telling you why Intelligent design is the ONLY possible explanation for the Universe's existence and you wouldn't believe. The point is YOU want to "push" what I believe is the evolution lie to my kids, and then have the nerve to be upset when I "push' back!
"Prevent gay (homosexual) couples from getting married". Really? So a word and an institution that has had a SPECIFIC definition since human records began is changed so that those who have been recognized throughout history as deviants can force others to recognize their deviancy as normal, and WE'RE the intolerant ones? Further, homosexuals can call themselves married, Martians, or duck-billed Platypuses for all Christians care. It is the FORCED recognition AND abetting that Christians can't accept.
Abortions. Ending a life in the womb through various, tortuous, methods. Yeah. Guilty as charged. We don't like that. The cold hard truth is that an atheist doesn't value life. Life is one big cosmic accident. So the life of a human has no more value than that of a worm. But in an attempt to argue scientifically, from an atheist's point of view, there should be no difference in taking a life at 70, or 20 or 2 or.... in the womb, because a human life is determined by it's DNA, and a person will have no more DNA at 50 yrs old than they do at conception. So although an egg or sperm will CONTAIN human DNA, they DO NOT CONTAIN ALL the necessary DNA to classify them as an individual human.
So this all brings me to "asking you anything". Where does YOUR morality come from, and why does it TRUMP my morality when it comes to issues like teaching my kids, or forced homosexual union recognition, or unborn baby murder?
Thank you
But let's examine this post of yours. CHRISTIANS are the ones "pushing" huh?
We could discuss for weeks why the THEORY of evolution is wrong and never get anywhere. I could spend DECADES telling you why Intelligent design is the ONLY possible explanation for the Universe's existence and you wouldn't believe. The point is YOU want to "push" what I believe is the evolution lie to my kids, and then have the nerve to be upset when I "push' back!
"Prevent gay (homosexual) couples from getting married". Really? So a word and an institution that has had a SPECIFIC definition since human records began is changed so that those who have been recognized throughout history as deviants can force others to recognize their deviancy as normal, and WE'RE the intolerant ones? Further, homosexuals can call themselves married, Martians, or duck-billed Platypuses for all Christians care. It is the FORCED recognition AND abetting that Christians can't accept.
Abortions. Ending a life in the womb through various, tortuous, methods. Yeah. Guilty as charged. We don't like that. The cold hard truth is that an atheist doesn't value life. Life is one big cosmic accident. So the life of a human has no more value than that of a worm. But in an attempt to argue scientifically, from an atheist's point of view, there should be no difference in taking a life at 70, or 20 or 2 or.... in the womb, because a human life is determined by it's DNA, and a person will have no more DNA at 50 yrs old than they do at conception. So although an egg or sperm will CONTAIN human DNA, they DO NOT CONTAIN ALL the necessary DNA to classify them as an individual human.
So this all brings me to "asking you anything". Where does YOUR morality come from, and why does it TRUMP my morality when it comes to issues like teaching my kids, or forced homosexual union recognition, or unborn baby murder?
Thank you
-
1
- Show all
Wow okay.. First of all, I was not referring to myself. I personally do not think Christians are pushing their beliefs on me. But then again, I live in a secular country. In my country, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, but you do not get to push them onto others. In my country, children are taught the creation story AND evolution, and decide for themselves what they choose to believe. You don't like homosexual marriage? That's okay, no one is forcing you to marry someone of your same gender. You don't like abortions? That's okay, no one is forcing you to get one. I'm not going to go into the debate about the morality of these things here, because we clearly disagree on that.
It is similar to when vegans tell meat eaters that they are murderers and that meat should be illegal. That's annoying and they aren't going to convince anyone because they clearly disagree on the underlying principles. (Assuming you are a meat eater) If vegans made it illegal to eat meat, would you be okay with that? You would probably feel like they pushed their beliefs on you. Of course to vegans, eating meat is an atrocity, but you disagree. The diplomatic thing to do is to let vegans eat vegan food, and let meat eaters eat meat, not make meat illegal or force vegans to eat meat.
That is how many atheists feel about Christians.
As for your question, my morality comes from my genetics, culture and upbringing. It does not trump your morality, nor does yours trump mine.
It is similar to when vegans tell meat eaters that they are murderers and that meat should be illegal. That's annoying and they aren't going to convince anyone because they clearly disagree on the underlying principles. (Assuming you are a meat eater) If vegans made it illegal to eat meat, would you be okay with that? You would probably feel like they pushed their beliefs on you. Of course to vegans, eating meat is an atrocity, but you disagree. The diplomatic thing to do is to let vegans eat vegan food, and let meat eaters eat meat, not make meat illegal or force vegans to eat meat.
That is how many atheists feel about Christians.
As for your question, my morality comes from my genetics, culture and upbringing. It does not trump your morality, nor does yours trump mine.
T
Do you ever get anxious? That the Christianity you left was right after all?
And how do you motivate yourself through life. If you have no purpose in life but to eat, drink, produce babies and die?
If the goal is to decomposte and "be one with nature" as you might think is beautiful, don't you then believe in a Mother Earth, and isn't that also a religion of sort?
What caused you to walk away from faith? I know when I came an atheist I can point at one traumatic experience and one thought I felt was impossible to blend with Christianity.
Why do you come here on CC to promote your atheist point of view? Do you think you will make our lives better, or make the world better? Or is this an attempt to convince yourself that you made the right decision?
And how do you motivate yourself through life. If you have no purpose in life but to eat, drink, produce babies and die?
If the goal is to decomposte and "be one with nature" as you might think is beautiful, don't you then believe in a Mother Earth, and isn't that also a religion of sort?
What caused you to walk away from faith? I know when I came an atheist I can point at one traumatic experience and one thought I felt was impossible to blend with Christianity.
Why do you come here on CC to promote your atheist point of view? Do you think you will make our lives better, or make the world better? Or is this an attempt to convince yourself that you made the right decision?
-
1
- Show all
L
Would it be safe to say you are a Materialist? (As in philosophy, not as in you like to own many things).
Materialists believe there is no spiritual component to the world, and everything is “material”.
Conversion experiences are rather hard to describe if you have never experienced conversion. It is something unlike anything else in the world. I wonder what your naturalistic explanation would be.
Materialists believe there is no spiritual component to the world, and everything is “material”.
Conversion experiences are rather hard to describe if you have never experienced conversion. It is something unlike anything else in the world. I wonder what your naturalistic explanation would be.
Not really. One verse that has always stuck by me is Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." I grew up with the Dutch translation of the Bible. In the Dutch translation the word for mind is "verstand" which is more like ratio or reasoning. Even if the Christian God is real, I cannot love him with all my ratio because my ratio leads me to believe there is no God. I also cannot believe that a loving God would give people ratio, but then punish them for using it to conclude there is no God.
Basically I get to choose my own purpose. For me that is helping people in need, and just enjoying life with friends and family while it lasts.
I don't believe in Mother Earth. I just think that my atoms are recycled to sustain other life.
There isn't one specific moment when I became an atheist, it was a gradual process that took years. I started asking myself why I believed what I believed, besides growing up with it. I wondered if I had grown up in India, if I would be a Hindu. Since religions contradict eachother, they can't all be true. I wondered how an outsider would go about determining which religion was true, if any. I started reading the bible cover to cover. In the Dutch protestant church we have this thing called catechesatie, I'm not sure if there is an English equivalent. Basically it is advanced sunday school for adults. During catechesatie I would ask questions that the preacher did not have answers for besides basically "because the bible says so". I read a lot of apologetics and counterapologetics, and during that time I kind of went back and forth from believing and not believing. Eventually I realized I did not have good reasons to believe in God.
During the time when I was struggling with existential questions myself, I would have liked having someone with a different perspective to talk to. I'm hoping to provide that. And just to anyone who is curious. I'm not trying to deconvert anyone, just providing my viewpoint.
Basically I get to choose my own purpose. For me that is helping people in need, and just enjoying life with friends and family while it lasts.
I don't believe in Mother Earth. I just think that my atoms are recycled to sustain other life.
There isn't one specific moment when I became an atheist, it was a gradual process that took years. I started asking myself why I believed what I believed, besides growing up with it. I wondered if I had grown up in India, if I would be a Hindu. Since religions contradict eachother, they can't all be true. I wondered how an outsider would go about determining which religion was true, if any. I started reading the bible cover to cover. In the Dutch protestant church we have this thing called catechesatie, I'm not sure if there is an English equivalent. Basically it is advanced sunday school for adults. During catechesatie I would ask questions that the preacher did not have answers for besides basically "because the bible says so". I read a lot of apologetics and counterapologetics, and during that time I kind of went back and forth from believing and not believing. Eventually I realized I did not have good reasons to believe in God.
During the time when I was struggling with existential questions myself, I would have liked having someone with a different perspective to talk to. I'm hoping to provide that. And just to anyone who is curious. I'm not trying to deconvert anyone, just providing my viewpoint.
T
Thank you for your reply. I understand you might come from a Calvinist tradition as I haven't heard about the Catechism course in our Lutheran church. We have it to some degree during confirmation.
We use the same word in Norwegian as well. Verstand/forstand the newest translation is using the word fornuft, that I suspect is vernuft in Dutch or as you wisely said ratio. Sensibility. This is interesting.
If you have faith you lose the sensibility of the matter. The logic of God is different than ours. And you can only see that through receiving the gift of faith. To understand that verse, you can't think and reason yourself through it. You have to believe it. And that is not something you can be born into but it is an act of God through his spirit so you may receive that.
It is first when you turn off your own thinking and reasoning for a while that you can receive this. I pray you give it a try.
We use the same word in Norwegian as well. Verstand/forstand the newest translation is using the word fornuft, that I suspect is vernuft in Dutch or as you wisely said ratio. Sensibility. This is interesting.
If you have faith you lose the sensibility of the matter. The logic of God is different than ours. And you can only see that through receiving the gift of faith. To understand that verse, you can't think and reason yourself through it. You have to believe it. And that is not something you can be born into but it is an act of God through his spirit so you may receive that.
It is first when you turn off your own thinking and reasoning for a while that you can receive this. I pray you give it a try.
I would say yes but I'm not sure I fit the definition. I don't know for certain that there are no supernatural things, but if there are, I don't think we can ever know about them.
I have a very vivid memory that one night, I woke up hearing very loud sirens. I went to the window to check, but I didn't see anything. I went to the bathroom to look out the window on the other side of the house, and I saw two fire trucks with flashing lights at the neighbors house. Since the sound of the sirens was so loud, I couldn't sleep, so I decided to look out the window for a while. I didn't see any fire, and I didn't see any people, so after looking for a few minutes I decided to go back to bed. This memory is very vivid, clear as day... except it never happened. I asked my neighbors about the fire the next day, and they said "what fire?". I still feel convinced that it happened, and yet it didn't, it was just a very vivid dream. I have also experimented with drugs at some point in my life. On one of them I felt absolutely euphoric. I felt that everything was right with the world, and that I would never feel sad again. This was caused by just a few miligrams of a substance. My point is that personal experience is very unreliable and can very easily be fooled.
I have a very vivid memory that one night, I woke up hearing very loud sirens. I went to the window to check, but I didn't see anything. I went to the bathroom to look out the window on the other side of the house, and I saw two fire trucks with flashing lights at the neighbors house. Since the sound of the sirens was so loud, I couldn't sleep, so I decided to look out the window for a while. I didn't see any fire, and I didn't see any people, so after looking for a few minutes I decided to go back to bed. This memory is very vivid, clear as day... except it never happened. I asked my neighbors about the fire the next day, and they said "what fire?". I still feel convinced that it happened, and yet it didn't, it was just a very vivid dream. I have also experimented with drugs at some point in my life. On one of them I felt absolutely euphoric. I felt that everything was right with the world, and that I would never feel sad again. This was caused by just a few miligrams of a substance. My point is that personal experience is very unreliable and can very easily be fooled.
You really can't "convert" to Christianity. What can happen, is that God can save you! He saved me out of atheism, I know another man on this site, who went to bed an atheist, woke up saved. No one convinced him, but the Spirit of God did save him.
I was an atheist for a number of years. I feel very sorry you have rejected your upbringing, for the sake of liberal propaganda. Evolution is a scientific lie. There has been so much scientific evidence to support creation! And a number of good threads on the topic. Yet, evolution, is taught as fact. It's not a fact! It is a paradigm or model.
Did you know that?
You cannot prove something which cannot be seen or modelled in a lab. Which would be non-living materials spontaneously becoming living. This comes from the Middle Ages, where meat that was lying out hatched flies. Now, we know that flies are hatched from eggs that cannot be seen, of course. Life coming from life. Evolution is not a fact, but a model, which cannot be proved, unless someone invents a viable time machine, and we could go back and see either God creating, or life being formed. If you could find it, of course!
And that ridiculous notion, that unborn babies do not have the right to live, because you can't see them. Except you can! I have video ultra sounds of my newest grand baby from 2 months or 8 weeks, and 3 months or 12 weeks. All the moving parts functioning! So, if you want to believe in murdering unborn babies, because you have no moral compass, then stay away from unborn babies! After having 4 children, I know for a fact that unborn babies are unique and special individuals, and an abortion kills them.
With regards to gay couples getting married, that is unfortunately water under the bridge in most countries. I have gay friends, they know where I stand on this. It is a cause célèbre for the left. Little realizing that it is a fad, for the most part, just like transgenderism. If you have no standards of right from wrong, this is another thing you get. (In my church, we have a flamboyant man, God led him out of the gay lifestyle, and he has been happily married for 28 years. So yes, gays can change, contrary to the propaganda you have been fed!)
Well, I hope your visit here means that the Spirit of God is working on your heart. If you want to ask me any questions about Christianity, please feel free to post here, or send me a PM. God saved me in a miraculous way! I have been a Christian for 38 years, and I would not be here if God had not changed my life so radically!
I was an atheist for a number of years. I feel very sorry you have rejected your upbringing, for the sake of liberal propaganda. Evolution is a scientific lie. There has been so much scientific evidence to support creation! And a number of good threads on the topic. Yet, evolution, is taught as fact. It's not a fact! It is a paradigm or model.
Did you know that?
You cannot prove something which cannot be seen or modelled in a lab. Which would be non-living materials spontaneously becoming living. This comes from the Middle Ages, where meat that was lying out hatched flies. Now, we know that flies are hatched from eggs that cannot be seen, of course. Life coming from life. Evolution is not a fact, but a model, which cannot be proved, unless someone invents a viable time machine, and we could go back and see either God creating, or life being formed. If you could find it, of course!
And that ridiculous notion, that unborn babies do not have the right to live, because you can't see them. Except you can! I have video ultra sounds of my newest grand baby from 2 months or 8 weeks, and 3 months or 12 weeks. All the moving parts functioning! So, if you want to believe in murdering unborn babies, because you have no moral compass, then stay away from unborn babies! After having 4 children, I know for a fact that unborn babies are unique and special individuals, and an abortion kills them.
With regards to gay couples getting married, that is unfortunately water under the bridge in most countries. I have gay friends, they know where I stand on this. It is a cause célèbre for the left. Little realizing that it is a fad, for the most part, just like transgenderism. If you have no standards of right from wrong, this is another thing you get. (In my church, we have a flamboyant man, God led him out of the gay lifestyle, and he has been happily married for 28 years. So yes, gays can change, contrary to the propaganda you have been fed!)
Well, I hope your visit here means that the Spirit of God is working on your heart. If you want to ask me any questions about Christianity, please feel free to post here, or send me a PM. God saved me in a miraculous way! I have been a Christian for 38 years, and I would not be here if God had not changed my life so radically!
-
2
-
1
-
1
- Show all
- Status