Ask an Atheist

Brother_Don · Apr 28, 2014

my question to the atheist is. How can't i believe? Here are just a few things that have proven to me that the Almighty exists. one day we was sitting around talking about going out to get some bread, and a van pulled up with all kinds of bread, free. another time was talking about the onion and potato bins getting low, a van pulled up with onions and potato's. Have been out in the wilderness, sleeping under the stars around a fire hearing the bears snorting around us, waking up and staring a coyote in the eye. i don't usually talk about things that the Father has shown me, as to not have others wondering why hasn't God done these things for them. there is much more i have seen, to believe the Almighty is real. He will do the same for all, but i believe we must see the little things first, and they get bigger.

AgeofKnowledge · Apr 28, 2014

False. The one true living God declared in the Bible is real so love and sadness are ultimately meaningful.

zeus, on the other hand, is nothing but a fabrication of a people so ignorant they actually mistook Paul and Barnabas for zeus and hermes at Lystra because Paul exercised the gift of healing bestowed on him by the one true living God declared in the Bible when he healed a lame man (Acts 14:11-12).

Paul and Barnabas were naturally greatly distressed and managed only with difficulty to divert the people from their plan to offer sacrifice to them. The result, of course, is recorded in Acts 14:14-18:

"But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 'Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.' Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them."

The biblical assessment shows no interest in granting a sympathetic hearing to fabricated pagan gods or the nuances of their theologies. The Bible declares these gods are false and worthless.

The one true living creator God of the Bible heals. The fabrication named zeus never could being a mere fabrication.

Repeating your false assertions Cycel never magically makes them come true.

Cycel said:

Angela53510 · Apr 28, 2014

I thought this was kind of cute!

myfriendtiny · Apr 28, 2014

I am just awonderin..SkepticJosh....What is a Antheist? What do they Believe in..Do they know that God is real?

AgeofKnowledge · Apr 28, 2014

Atheists are deceived people whom are separated from God. If they die in their present state, they face eternal separation from God.

Atheism itself is a system of belief that falsely asserts categorically there is no God. Atheism usually affirms as well that the only form of existence is the material universe and that the universe is merely the product of chance or fate.

You, on the other hand, show that you are a letter from Christ written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not on a tablet of stone but on the tablet of your heart so have confidence through Christ before God.

myfriendtiny said:

doseofreality · Apr 28, 2014

AgeofKnowledge said:

Lets be careful with our definitions.

Atheism is NOT a system of belief, it is the rejection of the god claim. It can be applied to a specific god or multiple gods. It does NOT preclude that there is categorically no god. It allows for the possibility of some unknown god or higher being, just that there is not sufficient evidence to believe it is probable.

Anti-theists, however, do state the positive claim that no gods exist. This is rare since it can not be proven.

Many atheists may say that the material is all there is but that is NOT strictly tied to atheism, which is only a position on the belief in god(s).

Sirk · Apr 28, 2014

I'm so tired of this practice of splitting hairs that atheists adhere too. Atheism is a worldview as much as evolution is a world view as much as hari Krishna is a world view as much as everything is a conspiracy is a world view. This practice is nothing more than an attempt to stake the intellectual high ground. It may work in some circles but I for one think it a tired defense/obfuscation tactic.

doseofreality · Apr 28, 2014

Sirk said:

I understand your frustration, and I know what you mean but it is also important that words are represented correctly and that people are not misrepresented simply because of their label.

You would not want to be lumped in with everyone who says they believe in "god" .... or obviously not all theists share the same worldview correct?

Atheism is the position of not believing in gods.
Just as your position is one that you are a theist, you do believe in a god.

More specifically you believe in the Christian God and hold to a biblical worldview.

Well different atheists may believe in many different other things and may hold to different worldviews.
This is why I stress that its not a system of belief, just as "theism" is not a system of belief.

The worldview you are talking about is a "Naturalistic worldview"
Metaphysical naturalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

P.S. evolution is not a worldview because it is widely accepted as a scientific theory....its science
Obviously this science may influence one's worldview which, I think, is what is implied, but the word itself is just science.

Sirk · Apr 28, 2014

doseofreality said:

I understand your frustration, and I know what you mean but it is also important that words are represented correctly and that people are not misrepresented simply because of their label.

You would not want to be lumped in with everyone who says they believe in "god" .... or obviously not all theists share the same worldview correct?

Atheism is the position of not believing in gods.
Just as your position is one that you are a theist, you do believe in a god.

More specifically you believe in the Christian God and hold to a biblical worldview.

Well different atheists may believe in many different other things and may hold to different worldviews.
This is why I stress that its not a system of belief, just as "theism" is not a system of belief.

The worldview you are talking about is a "Naturalistic worldview"
Metaphysical naturalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

P.S. evolution is not a worldview because it is widely accepted as a scientific theory....its science
Obviously this science may influence one's worldview which, I think, is what is implied, but the word itself is just science.

I appreciate your honest response. Most adherents to the worldview of atheism or any of its variants often use this and claim victory. It's truly intellectually dishonest.

Deadtosin · Apr 28, 2014

"Well I don't believe Satan actually exists so that isn't persuasive to me at all." (Skeptic Josh)

　
We are talking about logic. If you were to attempt to find out if God and satan were real then you first need to look at it's claim, the claim is that satan manipulates the world with mass amounts of lies and deception. If you don't really look at it from that possibility to begin with then you can't really think that you have given it a fair logical shake-down to begin with.

　
"And if that's true wouldn't that mean it's possible satan wrote or altered the bible to lead you away from the truer god?" (Skeptic Josh)

　
Yes that is what it means and he has. He has altered many scriptures. He has created many bibles. Some of these even remove Lucifers name from the bible and replace it with one of Jesus' names. Satan has definitely infiltrated, however God trumps satan, he has provided thousands of ancient manuscripts some dating clear into the first century that validate the authenticity of the thousands. (In other words, through research you can discern Gods Word from satans counterfeit.- God did that, and we've had it all along.)

　
"Jesus on the other hand has only the bible to support his existence and not much else. Maybe just enough to support the idea that a man named Jesus may have existed but certainly not that he did what he did." (Skeptic Josh)

　
Emperor Nero's decision to blame the Christians for the fire that had destroyed Rome in A.D. 64, the Roman historian Tacitus wrote:
Nero fastened the guilt . . . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of . . . Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome. . . .
{5}
in the letters of Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan. Pliny was the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor. In one of his letters, dated around A.D. 112, he asks Trajan's advice about the appropriate way to conduct legal proceedings against those accused of being Christians.{8} Pliny says that he needed to consult the emperor about this issue because a great multitude of every age, class, and sex stood accused of Christianity.{9}
At one point in his letter, Pliny relates some of the information he has learned about these Christians:
They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.
{10}
　
Josephus, a first century Jewish historian. On two occasions, in his Jewish Antiquities, he mentions Jesus.
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he . . . wrought surprising feats. . . . He was the Christ. When Pilate . . .condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared . . . restored to life. . . . And the tribe of Christians . . . has . . . not disappeared.
{17}
　

Babylonian Talmud, a collection of Jewish rabbinical writings.
On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald . . . cried, "He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy."
　

Lucian of Samosata was a second century Greek satirist. In one of his works, he wrote of the early Christians as follows:
The Christians . . . worship a man to this day--the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . [It] was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws.
{27}
　
"I don't follow. Can you clarify what you mean here? Thanks" (SkepticJosh)

　
If someone made a book right now that said. "John F Kennedy was shot in a movie theatre as you all know and as you all have seen." How well do you think that book would catch on?

Nancyer · Apr 28, 2014

I appreciate your honest answers as well. Here's my questions for you;

Who do you turn to when tragedy strikes, something sad happens or things go wrong? I don't want to get into "If there was a God He wouldn't let tragedy strike". I mean how do you get through it or past it? I NEED the comfort of prayer because I KNOW God is listening and will bring good out of whatever has happened. Not coincidence but God's sovereignty.

Have you ever said Oh my God? If so, why would you say that if there is no God?

penknight · Apr 28, 2014

Skepticjosh, will you please answer my questions?

doseofreality · Apr 28, 2014

Nancyer said:

Haha well its just an expression, people hardly pay attention to what they are actually saying.
Actually I find myself still saying "Oh my gosh" being raised not to take the Lords name in vain

To your point, If and when tragedy occurs I will have to turn to other humans for comfort and help. Just as you I'm sure would also turn to family, friends, and the church. The comfort from God is more internal so as an atheist I will have to console myself through optimism, and in the knowledge that things do typically get better.
Some may tell you that you can get through it on your own through self-sufficiency, I know that is seen as weak and prideful in the bible where it teaches to rely on God not on our own strength.
However, my view now is that relying on God is in a way using your own strength, your faith is a tool your mind uses to cope with problems.
Thus I imagine my mind is capable of finding another way of coping without invoking Gods promises.

There are plenty worse-off people in the world than me that I'm sure do not see it the same way.
But that is my honest answer to your question.

Nancyer · Apr 28, 2014

I agree. Very interesting. Welcome.

Nancyer · Apr 28, 2014

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it. I'll tell you I used to get so VERY upset when things went wrong. I mean, screaming, crying cursing upset. Only when no one else was around. I can remember screaming for an hour in my room when I didn't get a job I thought I should get. Had to fake being sick when my husband came home and I had no voice. I found Christ 5 years ago, so did my kids (now 19 & 14). I don't get upset anymore. I know God has a bigger, better plan. I'm doing things now because I know God will be pleased if I do them. I find such calm, peace and love when I study my Bible.

I've been without a car since Jan. A couple at my church have been picking me and my son (19) up every Friday morning, taking him to church to do his Custodial job, and then spending the day with me., running errands, working on projects, or just talking. The wife and I have become the very best of friends. We are very alike and can sit and talk for hours. We are working on starting a business together. If I hadn't been without a car this wouldn't have happened., we wouldn't be this close. I brought up this very observation the other day and her husband said he'd been thinking the very same thing. God works good through all things for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

This is another way I know God is real, God is there, and God loves me.

Nancyer · Apr 28, 2014

Nancyer said:

I meant for this to post under the post complimenting you on being an interesting person.

doseofreality · Apr 28, 2014

penknight said:

That is a lot of questions... many I feel may be unanswerable, either because there simply is no answer or I'm not smart enough to know the answer.

Love is a feeling you get when interacting with someone you care about, love is a combination of chemicals in the brain (the release of pheromones), love is showing empathy, love is being selfless, love is commitment.
For any society to grow and prosper, for relationships to flourish, love is necessary.

Sadness is a feeling you get, sadness is the release of chemicals in the brain, sadness is a byproduct of love in many aspects.
Sadness is a negative human feeling that tells us to strive not to be sad.

Life is the energy in our brain, that powers our body, that enables our consciousness.
The act of living is the meaning of life itself.
To live is better to not live.

Our purpose at the most basic level is to live, to survive, and have more good moments than bad.
A grander purpose is to learn and pass on that learning so that more people can benefit and then more people will have more good moments than bad.

The fact that things may hold no value after death is irrelevant to the present. We should do things for the merit they give us in this life. Its not pointless, it just may seem pointless when looking at it from an eternal perspective.
Also we don't live in a vacuum, the things we do may have merit to others even after we die. This is true selflessness, working to benefit those who remain even though it does us no good when we are dead.

As far as why do anything...well try not doing anything for any period of time. We are active beings with an active mind, simply do things for the sake of doing things if there is no better reason.

I will not get into free-will here because its highly controversial and debated among both religious and non-religious.

Please dont over scrutinize these answers, they are just my honest opinions off top of my head.

breno785au · Apr 28, 2014

I have a question to the athiest. Do you believe it could be possible that your current mindsets could be blocking you knowing God?

PennEd · Apr 28, 2014

SkepticJosh said:

I really do not wish to insult, but I find atheists incredibly ignorant, breathtakingly stupid, and unbelievably narrow-minded. Think about it, you took the time out of your day to make an account, start a thread, and respond to people who KNOW there is a God. Why would we want to question YOU? We would certainly love nothing more than for you to come to Jesus Christ and be saved. Your name says "skeptic" which would seem to imply that you are an agnostic and not an atheist. Are you really here to understand the incredible hope WE have? I could literally be here for days on end giving ridiculous amounts of "proof" that there is a God, who loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, but to what end? Romans 1:20 says it all: For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are WITHOUT EXCUSE.

I posted this on the other atheist thread that went unanswered. Perhaps you could fare better:One of the easiest ways to know there is a God, and He is in control, is to see the 100% accuracy of His prophecies. How does an atheist explain away the specificity of the whole mark of the beast!? How could a 1st century man predict that there would be a cashless society using a "mark" to buy and sell? You would have to be a fool not to believe that is exactly where we're almost at:
[video]http://media.theage.com.au/technology/tech-talk/human-microchips-5354618.html[/video]

doseofreality · Apr 28, 2014

Nancyer said:

I am happy things are looking up for you.

I do not wish to discourage you, but would like to make a subtle point.

Your faith and belief in God and that God causes everything leads you to the conclusion that your bad situation which led to a better situation was God's plan. In a practical sense, is this any different than someone in a bad situation being optimistic and because of this looking for random opportunities which are bound to arise in the future which then coincidentally lead to a better situation.

I would argue that the actual actions in either case are the same, only the mechanism/motivation in the person's mind differed.

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