Any other Chritians here?

[Stevewhisk]

I thank God every day, that he has allowed me the freedom of thought to be an atheist.

 

[DirkPitt06]

Commiserating. Though I tend to be rather quiet about it, I consider it a very personal affair.

 

[meop79]

I thank God every day, that he has allowed me the freedom of thought to be an atheist.

Totally agree... freedom of thought is a true gift, without it everything else is meaningless. It's up to us to open our eyes to life, to listen to our hearts, and to decide what kind of life we wish to lead.

 

[Martin709]

Christian but a sinner

I'm Christian, but so addicted to sexual fantasies and masturbating so it's a real struggle to be close to God.

 

[Christopher2012]

I thank God every day, that he has allowed me the freedom of thought to be an atheist.

Give this man a standing ovation.

 

[Solitaryman54]

I thank God every day, that he has allowed me the freedom of thought to be an atheist.

Contradictory, no?

 

[Christopher2012]

Contradictory, no?

He's just being one of the asshole atheists who MUST shit on anything religious. I don't walk around telling everybody I'm Christian and I also don't create inflammatory remarks to threads dedicated to atheism. I'm not pro-censorship but that guy is just a douche.

 

[meop79]

He's just being one of the asshole atheists who MUST shit on anything religious. I don't walk around telling everybody I'm Christian and I also don't create inflammatory remarks to threads dedicated to atheism. I'm not pro-censorship but that guy is just a douche.

More it's that he's threatened by it because of what he feels in his heart. That would be the holy spirits work, IMO. Better not to call a brother, even a confused one, such...

 

[Christopher2012]

More it's that he's threatened by it because of what he feels in his heart. That would be the holy spirits work, IMO. Better not to call a brother, even a confused one, such...

He's not threatened and he doesn't feel threatened. Do you feel threatened by Islam or any other major religion? I would guess not. Do you think people who practice Islam are confused or misguided? I would guess so.

Guess what. They believe the same thing about you.

So who is right? We have the 2 most prominent religions in the world with their followers believing they're right and everybody else is confused. Nobody's confused, not even atheists.

Atheism makes the most logical sense. I am not an atheist, but I know atheists are not confused. That guy, however, was being a douchebag 100% and he has no problem sleeping at night. If you believe otherwise, you're brainwashed or blind.

 

[meop79]

I don't believe that Islamists are confused, misguided, yes, but not confused, not most of them.

But yes, someone who strikes out at others for what they believe for no other reason than that they have a visceral reaction is reacting from fear, even if they are cloaking it in disgust or anger or what have you. Their world view is being threatened by the existence of people who disagree with them. That's not any different than any other bully.

Do some research. This kind of behavior is rooted in fear, not strength. People who feel strong and secure in their beliefs, whatever those beliefs are, typically do not bother to attack others over simply believing differently than they unless they feel they are some type of crusader.

But crusaders don't make snarky comments, they either attack or try to win converts.

 

[FaithWhite]

Christian and fine with it

God made me the way I am. I accept it. I can't change myself.

Sure sometimes my playtime conflicts with what i've learnt but at the end of the day if God didn't want me to have an orgasm why the hell did he make it so easy for me to?

 

[Christopher2012]

I don't believe that Islamists are confused, misguided, yes, but not confused, not most of them.

But yes, someone who strikes out at others for what they believe for no other reason than that they have a visceral reaction is reacting from fear, even if they are cloaking it in disgust or anger or what have you. Their world view is being threatened by the existence of people who disagree with them. That's not any different than any other bully.

Do some research. This kind of behavior is rooted in fear, not strength. People who feel strong and secure in their beliefs, whatever those beliefs are, typically do not bother to attack others over simply believing differently than they unless they feel they are some type of crusader.

But crusaders don't make snarky comments, they either attack or try to win converts.

There's one thing that annoys me. It's when somebody tells me to do some research. If you make a statement and want to back that statement up, provide a primary source. Don't just insult my intelligence by telling me to "do some research."

What's worse, the foundation of this is religious. If there is anything in this world with the least amount of evidence, it's religion. So I find it ironic that I'm being told to search out factual evidence over a topic that has zero. Not even the Bible is a primary source as it has been translated terribly (from what I understand - no evidence to back that up and I don't care to look for any).

I am Christian but ya know... It's really difficult to be Christian with all the signs pointing the exact opposite way. We have churches that are money-driven, followers of the church that are gossip-driven and emtionally-driven, and church leaders who are power-driven.

Oh but surely not your church! Oh there are good churches! No. Through my experience, all people fall into the same trend - they all seek self-actualization. They rely on their friends and church body to provide emotional support.

Church makes people feel good. Some people find that they need church for happiness. Do you know what that's called? It's called an addiction. Just like cocaine, churches can hook you and make you wanting more. It's easy to give money to something when you are so emotionally engrossed in it.

And when you find that special someone, that amazing girl who wears those gorgeous sundresses, you just hit the addiction jackpot. Her family invites you over for Sunday evening dinner, and you are having the time of your life. Dopamine is being released, endorphins are being released, the world is amazing.

It is addiction.

 

[ConflictedOne]

There's one thing that annoys me. It's when somebody tells me to do some research. If you make a statement and want to back that statement up, provide a primary source. Don't just insult my intelligence by telling me to "do some research."

What's worse, the foundation of this is religious. If there is anything in this world with the least amount of evidence, it's religion. So I find it ironic that I'm being told to search out factual evidence over a topic that has zero. Not even the Bible is a primary source as it has been translated terribly (from what I understand - no evidence to back that up and I don't care to look for any).

I am Christian but ya know... It's really difficult to be Christian with all the signs pointing the exact opposite way. We have churches that are money-driven, followers of the church that are gossip-driven and emtionally-driven, and church leaders who are power-driven.

Oh but surely not your church! Oh there are good churches! No. Through my experience, all people fall into the same trend - they all seek self-actualization. They rely on their friends and church body to provide emotional support.

Church makes people feel good. Some people find that they need church for happiness. Do you know what that's called? It's called an addiction. Just like cocaine, churches can hook you and make you wanting more. It's easy to give money to something when you are so emotionally engrossed in it.

And when you find that special someone, that amazing girl who wears those gorgeous sundresses, you just hit the addiction jackpot. Her family invites you over for Sunday evening dinner, and you are having the time of your life. Dopamine is being released, endorphins are being released, the world is amazing.

It is addiction.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...

FAITH, not facts or proof, please God...

 

[Christopher2012]

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...

FAITH, not facts or proof, please God...

Then why am I being told to do research on factual evidence for claims made out of "things not seen"?

 

[DrMelonCollie]

Looking at the bible as a historical document increases my belief. Who knew about STD's and Blood borne diseases, and uncooked food dangers? who knew to circumcise on the 8th day when antibodies are the highest?

Many religious beliefs contain a "flood" story.

Many archeologists have uncovered biblical cities.

haven't they found evidence of Noah's arc?

While I could spout something about what more proof do you need, but the truth is, proof is never going to be enough for those who want it. Doubting Thomas had to stick his fingers through the stigmata holes in the resurrected Christ to believe it was him. I do not demand proof, God does not respond to demands. Belief is Santa Claus, you don't see him but you know he's been there. Santa was real, my mother is/was/always will be Santa Claus for me.

Am I disappointed there is no fat jolly white man tracking my every move and rewarding me for it yearly? No, I'm glad I had a parent who loved me and gave me priceless Christmas memories.

Will I be disappointed that God is not who/what I think he/she/it is? No I will be overwhelmed by their presence and be thankful to be in heaven.

Nuff said

 

[MisterDark]

Doc of Melons and Collies.....

Agree with everything you wrote. I've read The Case For Faith (Stroebel) as well as other documents written by scientists, attempting to disprove the Bible, only to find faith. All of our world is FAITH. We have to "take on faith" that they will find the missing link to 'prove' the THEORY of evolution. The Big Bang is a THEORY (a belief - you need faith that it's right). Since the dawn of civilization, man has attempted to know what "God" knows - Adam & Eve ate the apple to have the knowledge that God had. The citizens of Babble built a tower to talk to God. Even Norse, Greek and Roman "gods" were made in "man's image" to allow them to be comprehended.

Yes - I play around on Lit - I write stories - I've had a lot of fun taking the dark side of humanity and using it to argue with people that thought they were dark. I believe I worship a God of love and forgiveness. Why else would we have been taught to pray, Our Father (Abba) Who art in Heaven? Would your earthly father not forgive all, and love in spite of yourself? As humans, we get so caught up in judging others and rebuking others. We forget the greatest commandment, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul, and the second is like unto the first; You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If we honestly got busy loving and helping, we wouldn't have time to judge and rebuke.

Just my opinion, I may be right.

 

[Christopher2012]

Scientific theory is not the same as the general word "theory." Scientific theory is not considered to be any less nor more true than a scientific law. They have different definitions and uses. Christians make this mistake all the time and refuse to differentiate between the general definition of the word "theory" and the definition of "scientific theory."

 

[KUJACK]

Evolution is a scientific fact.

No question that evolution is true. But no science can explain how life and its mysteries still unfolding, started. Something this complicated from nothing? Explain how opposing forces caused life to suddenly explode to the variation we have now. Something from nothing? Discuss.

 

[Christopher2012]

No question that evolution is true. But no science can explain how life and its mysteries still unfolding, started. Something this complicated from nothing? Explain how opposing forces caused life to suddenly explode to the variation we have now. Something from nothing? Discuss.

You must have missed my first post on this thread. I said "I am a Christian." That is true, but that does not mean that I can't think for myself and see what doesn't make sense. God did give us a brain for a reason. Unless you believe that God gave us a brain but doesn't want us to use it.

Well... That's quite a paradox.

I went from being an 18-year-old destined to become a pastor/missionary to a 27-year-old man who has very little hope. After graduate achool and learning about neurotransmitters and the brain's reward system and then associating it with the concepts of church, I can see why it makes sense that people don't believe in God.

I used to believe that God had a will for my life. I believed that God would guide me. I also believed that God would send me one single girl to be my love. I now know how silly and naive I was.

 

[craiger58]

You must have missed my first post on this thread. I said "I am a Christian." That is true, but that does not mean that I can't think for myself and see what doesn't make sense. God did give us a brain for a reason. Unless you believe that God gave us a brain but doesn't want us to use it.

Well... That's quite a paradox.

I went from being an 18-year-old destined to become a pastor/missionary to a 27-year-old man who has very little hope. After graduate achool and learning about neurotransmitters and the brain's reward system and then associating it with the concepts of church, I can see why it makes sense that people don't believe in God.

I used to believe that God had a will for my life. I believed that God would guide me. I also believed that God would send me one single girl to be my love. I now know how silly and naive I was.

Just playing Devil's Advocate (yeah, I get the irony) here but isn't faith in the unseen and unproven equal to "silly and naive"?

 

[Christopher2012]

Just playing Devil's Advocate (yeah, I get the irony) here but isn't faith in the unseen and unproven equal to "silly and naive"?

Touche

But it's easy to have faith when life is golden. Much harder to have faith when you're at rock bottom and have been there for years.

 

[craiger58]

Touche

But it's easy to have faith when life is golden. Much harder to have faith when you're at rock bottom and have been there for years.

And here I thought the faith based strength pedalled by organized religion was aimed at those at rock bottom. When "life is golden", who needs a deity to share the credit?

 

[Christopher2012]

And here I thought the faith based strength pedalled by organized religion was aimed at those at rock bottom. When "life is golden", who needs a deity to share the credit?

How would the church make any money if their target audience was those at rock bottom?

 

[MisterDark]

How would the church make any money if their target audience was those at rock bottom?

I fear you really have missed the point. Was Jesus "target market" the rich. The woman at the well certainly wasn't wealthy. Mary Magdalene certainly was not the upper echelon of society. The poor, the blind the lame the downtrodden, those were Jesus' peeps. Remember anything of the beatitudes? "The meek shall inherit the earth...." Sound familiar? "It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven....."

Scientific Theory is no more FACT than an observation of the world through a Christian's eyes is accepted as FACT. It is still an observation based on a hypothesis. Even Darwin, with his limited resources and scientific methods said, "iF IT COULD BE DEMONSTRATED THAT ANY COMPLEX ORGAN EXISTED, WHICH COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN FORMED BY NUMEROUS, SUCCESSIVE, SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, MY THEORY WOULD ABSOLUTELY BREAK DOWN." We choose to extoll the virtues of science and its infallibility. Yet, physical science cannot wholly PROVE evolution nor creation. It can only attempt to EXPLAIN in a manner that people find convenient.

 

[ConflictedOne]

I fear you really have missed the point. Was Jesus "target market" the rich. The woman at the well certainly wasn't wealthy. Mary Magdalene certainly was not the upper echelon of society. The poor, the blind the lame the downtrodden, those were Jesus' peeps. Remember anything of the beatitudes? "The meek shall inherit the earth...." Sound familiar? "It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven....."

Scientific Theory is no more FACT than an observation of the world through a Christian's eyes is accepted as FACT. It is still an observation based on a hypothesis. Even Darwin, with his limited resources and scientific methods said, "iF IT COULD BE DEMONSTRATED THAT ANY COMPLEX ORGAN EXISTED, WHICH COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN FORMED BY NUMEROUS, SUCCESSIVE, SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, MY THEORY WOULD ABSOLUTELY BREAK DOWN." We choose to extoll the virtues of science and its infallibility. Yet, physical science cannot wholly PROVE evolution nor creation. It can only attempt to EXPLAIN in a manner that people find convenient.

GREAT post MisterDark...