Hi I'm Atheist

  • Thread starter Thread starter dredgtone
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
Christian5:
Your right, some questions do not have answers, at least for humans. Some things are better left unsaid as well. Yet “choosing” to believe in Christ is actualy much more than a simple “choice.”

Check out what the Catholic church teaches in their Cathecism on Faith from the Bible and early church history. To become a believer is much more than a “choice,” God plays a magor role in it.

God bless!
Click to expand...
Wise words, thank you for seeing my point =)
 
40.png
dredgtone:
I appreciate the sentiment. I’m very happy in my life’s position as an atheist. I believe that in order for me to want to become a Christian in the first place, I’d probably be complaining about “feeling lost” or that there’s “no purpose in life”. I believe that to be the emotional foundation for faith in the first place. That being said, i feel that i have plenty of purpose in life. The death part does suck though, an afterlife would be nice.
Click to expand...
I don’t think most people convert due to “feeling lost” or “there’s no purpose in life”.

I think a lot of Faith is about the wonder of how the world was made, the glory of all of creation, from the huge elephants to the tiny ants, from the miracle of the sun as it rises each morning, to the beauty of the moonlight as it lights up our night skies.

Yes, science has concluded all of this down to terms like “physics” “metaphysics” “big bang theory” etc.

But surely there is someone guiding us through all of this 😃

There are too many unanswered questions for it just to all be science.

Love Kellie
 
40.png
ralphinal:
Once, I decided to buy a car (a choice). I did not have enough money for a down payment and my credit and income would not allow me to buy it without the money down. So, I saved and worked in order to buy the car I wanted. Many times I could have changed models or makes, but none of them seemed right, so I was always reaffirming my choice. Before I could buy it, the model had changed and the car was not the same. I had to think if this is really what I wanted. I looked to see if the important parts of my decision were still there. In the end, I bought the new car (another choice). Was my choice a one time thing or an ongoing process or both?
Click to expand...
Good point, I’d say your initial choice was a one time thing with an ongoing process as a result. Hoooowever physical reasons in your way are not the same as mental processes in your way. Some people simply cannot get their brains to believe in something that they see as being illogical. It’s simple like that.
 
40.png
dredgtone:
Good point, I’d say your initial choice was a one time thing with an ongoing process as a result. Hoooowever physical reasons in your way are not the same as mental processes in your way. Some people simply cannot get their brains to believe in something that they see as being illogical. It’s simple like that.
Click to expand...
Depressed people can retrain their thoughts. True, if you cannot accept the possibilty as existing, then so be it. But, my question is is the denial of God scientific or not? Did you follow the basic scientific method or is it based on a collection of feelings and thoughts? Start with the hypothisis that God exists and try to disprove it. At this time, we cannot test the hypothesis, so if it properly formed, then it must be accepted as a possibility until disproven. It is up to you to accept it.
 
check out this website, some pretty intersting stuff.

Ex-atheist.com

the person who started this site was atheist for 20 years and tells how he/she? came to know the Lord and also how and what atheists will tell you and how you can actually debate them as from what I was reading on this website they have a reply for everything, so check this site out other Catholic members so you can maybe get some info that might be helpful. Personally I don’t think you can change someone who doesn’t want changing, you can pray for them and their soul and walk away.👍
 
dredgtone,

I don’t want to get too profound or get into real deep waters, please forgive me for this question. Why believe in anything?

John
 
Well, welcome to the Catholic Answers Forum. You’re in the right place.

G.K. Chesterton made a remark about athiests. He said he didn’t think there were really any athiests.

I agree.

God bless.
 
You seem to think background and cultural influences shape a person’s belief system, this is true, but there are countless cases of conversions of Hindus, Buddhists, murderers, atheists, rich people who have everything, etc., etc. Your so called intuition can change tomorrow because God holds your intuition in existence. When God wants you he will get you, unless you actively and willingly choose to reject Him, which by your own admission you can not do because you contend you do not “choose” what you believe or not believe. Today your own intellect is your God. Your false god suppresses your “intuition.” It’s how you find your purpose in life, it’s what you place your confidence in. But it won’t sustain you. And tomorrow is another day. Never say never. You don’t know. Our brains are tiny peas compared to the omnipotence of God. Death doesn’t have to suck. Since you can’t pray for yourself, I’ll pray for you. God in His mercy allows us to love each other as He first loved us. God Bless you
 
John because “he who stands for nothing will fall for anything”

Newsong thanks for the link i’ll definately check it out.
 
40.png
ralphinal:
Depressed people can retrain their thoughts. True, if you cannot accept the possibilty as existing, then so be it. But, my question is is the denial of God scientific or not? Did you follow the basic scientific method or is it based on a collection of feelings and thoughts? Start with the hypothisis that God exists and try to disprove it. At this time, we cannot test the hypothesis, so if it properly formed, then it must be accepted as a possibility until disproven. It is up to you to accept it.
Click to expand...
This is where i disagree, for i have a refutation as to Aristotle’s attempt at using the scientific method to prove God’s existance, if you’d like to hear it.

I cannot disprove the God hypothesis, not can i prove God’s non existance. It is simply my intuition that tells me God doesn’t not exist.

You are arguing the existance of a Creator, not God. God is contingent to the Bible, the Bible in my opinion is full of fallibility and contradiction. If i believed in God, I’d need to accept the Bible.

But yes, the existance of a “creator” is very much plausible but not one that i personally believe in. I think there is so much that is unexplained, why try to explain it?

I’m in a rush, sorry this is a shotty explaination. Please point out anything you’d like me to clarify later on.
 
drredgone,

Is there ever a collorary or theorem, where at the end of constructing such, a person can deduce the existence of God?

Or do skeptics/atheist do all they can to arrive at the conclusion there is no God? That is, is it their personal mission to support their conclusion?

If there is evidence to support God, will an atheist ignore the evidence or not accept it?

Why not, instead of taking God on faith, deduce his existence instead?

For instance, I deduce there is a God because I have studied molecular biology and each living cell, even a simple virus, is so wonderous, a glorious symphony of timed events and complex interactions, that I conclude there must be something very divine behind it’s operation for it to be so complex. Mind you, this isn’t a simple matter of figuring out the tides moving in flow with the moon and stars, something beyond my comprehension at this time in human history, this is the human cell. And there is enough complexity there to last a million years.

The more I understand how complex our world is, the more I become convinced that there is a God.

Improper deduction? Maybe. You could present a counterarguement that complexity (non-entropy) does not automatically mean there is a God. But it is my choice, when forming a theorem to deduce as I choose, however illogical it may be.

I personally admire the people, who in spite of your sound logical arguements against the existence of God, take it on faith, rather than deduction like me. Because that’s where the real test lay - going on faith vs. deduction.

Anyway, no argueing with me, I have known a lot of atheists. It seems to be the “in-thing” when you get to college.
 
This thread is very interesting, given the fact that you are Atheist and writing on a board like this.

You mention many times that you have no choice in the matter but simply believe based on life experiences. I would have to disagree because there are many people in this world who have the same life experiences but CHOOSE to believe differently about things. People are born to poverty. As a result of this life experience, some believe that this is just the way life is and cannot see it any other way, it does not make sense to them because that is all they know. But others learn that there is more to it and learn. With all due respect, it takes more than one day of “opening their heart.”

You state that you adhere to a belief system that must make sense to you, and that is great. We are born with this desire. Science is a wonderful thing. It helps to understand us and our world. What is interesting is that you have “faith” in not believing in God which has just as many missing answers to questions as believing in God does.

The truth is, everything we do is a result of our faith in something. I get up in the morning and have faith that I will be able to walk. I get into my car and have faith that it will start. But one day, I might wake up and find that I cannot walk anymore or that my car will not start. It is at these times that my faith will be questioned.

Everything is a matter of faith. You have just placed your faith in a system where God does not exist. I have put my faith in the fact
that He does.

The way I see it is this…there are too many questions on both sides of this issue. Maybe God does not exist, maybe He does. If He does, that means there is a heaven and hell. If He does not exist, then it means simply that He does not exist. So maybe you’re right. But what if you aren’t…? For the sake of those that don’t believe, quite frankly, I’d rather be wrong.

God Bless
 
dredgtone,

I could be wrong here, but, you say that you’re happy as an atheist. I think that the very fact that you’re here and on these forums is evidence to the fact that you feel that you are missing something, and are in search for it. You might be “happy,” but it doesn’t seem like you’re satisfied. I would say that you’re search (whether it be for education, debate, or spiritual fulfillment) is the grace of God guiding you to “truth,” in Christian terms.

Also, you say that you’ve engaged in a period of adoration, and emotions were present during this time of prayer. While you attribute that to human nature, we, as Catholics, attribute that to the Holy Spirit, regardless of the emotions that you were feeling. I’ve felt all sort of emotions during prayer. Don’t be turned off if you feel angry or frustrated during these times. Like the old saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” That’s true in spiritual terms as well.

Lastly, instead of trying to attribute your emotions and search to human nature and curiosity, try attributing them to God. This is a leap of faith, I know, but taking this leap just may show you that faith is your decision, and leaps of faith towards God does pay off. Try praying, as all of us on the forums will, for conversion (which many have experienced, I might add), and ask God, or the unknown factor in your life, to continue leading you on, as I believe He is already doing.
 
40.png
Britta:
The way I see it is this…there are too many questions on both sides of this issue. Maybe God does not exist, maybe He does. If He does, that means there is a heaven and hell. If He does not exist, then it means simply that He does not exist. So maybe you’re right. But what if you aren’t…? For the sake of those that don’t believe, quite frankly, I’d rather be wrong.
Click to expand...
Good point. In philosophy, this is known as “Paschal’s Wager.”
 
40.png
scm218:
Good point. In philosophy, this is known as “Paschal’s Wager.”
Click to expand...
Works for me.

Another point was Anselms’ ontological argument that God’s non-existence was inconceivable. Makes sense to me!!!

How can anyone see what a perfect system we have (although we have damaged it greatly and continue to do so) and say that it was created randomly?

Although, my husband still questions simply why He did it in the first place. But that’s where faith comes in. After all, we could question to the point of madness!!!
 
40.png
hawkeye:
Baloney, is Love physcial at first, no !!! Love comes from the heart.

The big bang :yawn: even if there was a big bang, who caused it ?
A number of months ago I happened to look at a science programme, from the US and one of the scientists said" I don’t understand this, but before this world was formed, there was nothing"
Click to expand...
The big bang was one big (hence BIG bang) quantum fluctuation, caused by nothing. Random quantum fluctuations are observed every day. A non-caused universe does not contradict physics.

Please note: Non-caused, not self-caused.

If you insist, that everything needs a cause (classic 1st cause argument), then what caused whatever was the cause for the big bang?
Love actually comes from the *brain*.
 
There are too many unanswered questions yet for it just to all be science.

Science has produced so many answers to so many questions which were formerly the resort of religion, there is no need to think we have reached an end here.

Want some examples:
Lightnings were not produced by an angry Zeus, it’s basic electricity.
Rainbows are not a sign from God to not repeat a flood, it’s basic optics.
Nothing comes from nothing - oh but it does, it’s relativistic quantum mechanics.
 
40.png
jjanderson:
Atheism is a belief. …] Your deciding you are an atheist is a choice just as deciding you believe is a choice.
Click to expand...
NO! Whether atheism requires some kind of “faith” is open to discussion, but clearly atheism is NOT a choice. It is realisation, cognition, awareness.
It is not like you’re in the religion supermarket and you choose between christianity, islam, atheism, hinduism, [thousands of other offers]. At one point in your life you realise, that there is no god. It has nothing to do with a decision.
E.g. you do not decide, that things fall down due to gravity, that rain exists, …
Despite of what Paul has written in Romans, atheists do not deep in their heart know, that your god exists, and they do not stubbornly refuse, reject, or decide to ignore him. You cannot refuse a non-existing thing, is that so hard to grasp?
 
Hi I’m an atheist. Would anybody like to yell at me and tell me I’m going to hell? I’d also like to argue the fact that religious belief is not a choice. Any takers

This link will put you in touch with Vatican Two’s section on atheism.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

There is no need for me to yell at you for unless you repudiate the conceit of atheism you’ll be spending an eternity in Hell cursing yourself and all others, including your Creator.

God Himself has revealed we have Free Will. In denying we do not have a choice in regards to religious belief you are illustrating Free Will in action.

Remember the acronym ASK.

Ask and it shall be given to you.

Seek and ye shall find.

Knock and the door will be opened.

The very last thing you need is an arguement. You need a Divine Person, Jesus.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top