Main Reason For Atheism

[Monarchy]

Singinbeauty:

When I think of the need to PROVE God exists I just love the analogy of wind. You can’t see the wind physically but you see the effects of the wind, right? That is the same with God. You may not be able to see Him physically (yet ) but we see His effects everywhere.

You can measure the effects of wind, you can see the damage it causes in extreme cases. you can feel on your face. You can do none of these with god.

 

[Monarchy]

Fox:

Atheists are frightened that something is bigger then themselves in the universe, so they simply dismiss it. Still it doesn’t change the fact that there is.

It is not a ‘fact’ that there is a god.

 

[Singinbeauty]

cheddarsox:

And technically, this is not true. If you don’t believe a thing exists, then it is not a choice. If you don’t believe in God, or Hell, then there is no choice.

But you make a CHOICE to believe that there is no God right? So in essence IF there really is a God and you choose to believe that He doesn’t exist then you are, in essence, rejecting Him and making that choice to do so. Whether you choose to believe He does exist or not doesn’t make it so. It is YOUR choice to believe that.

 

[Singinbeauty]

Monarchy:

You can measure the effects of wind, you can see the damage it causes in extreme cases. you can feel on your face. You can do none of these with god.

I soooooooooooooooooooooo beg to differ. You have not been in my shoes. I HAVE felt the very presence of God. If it weren’t for Him and my experiences with Him… I wouldn’t be alive today. And no, I have never taken drugs or anything of that nature.

 

[Monarchy]

cheddarsox:

And technically, this is not true. If you don’t believe a thing exists, then it is not a choice. If you don’t believe in God, or Hell, then there is no choice.

When discussing with people of other life perspectives, sometimes it is useful to step outside of your own, at least enough to see how they might see things, just for the sake of understanding.

Atheists “get” that theist really believe in their gods. But often, in discussion, theists fail to “get” that atheists really don’t believe. They keep thinking that they believe, but are angry, or in denial, or being contradictory for the heck of it. Try to “get” that they really don’t believe there is a god. To them, god is like the boogie monster, a concept some people think is real, but not something taken seriously by those who know it is not real.

They know there is no god with the same certainty that you know there is one. Their godless universe is as real to them as your god filled one.

cheddar

I would disagree with this statement in that I don’t ‘Know’ that god isn’t real anymore than theists ‘know’ god is real. You can’t prove it either way. I am an atheist in that I am without a belief in God.

a = without theist = godbelief ergo atheist = wihout god belief

only a strong atheist (i.e. There is no god) believesd as you stated.

 

[Monarchy]

Singinbeauty:

But you make a CHOICE to believe that there is no God right? So in essence IF there really is a God and you choose to believe that He doesn’t exist then you are, in essence, rejecting Him and making that choice to do so. Whether you choose to believe He does exist or not doesn’t make it so. It is YOUR choice to believe that.

Do you make a choice not to believe in santa claus? could you choose to believe in him again?

 

[Monarchy]

Singinbeauty:

I soooooooooooooooooooooo beg to differ. You have not been in my shoes. I HAVE felt the very presence of God. If it weren’t for Him and my experiences with Him… I wouldn’t be alive today. And no, I have never taken drugs or anything of that nature.

Put it this way, I can scientificaly show that wind ‘exists’. You cannot do that for god.

 

[blackfish152]

Second Vatican Council Dealt with the topic of atheism in sections 19-21 of a document called, Gaudium et spes.

I am sure it has many insights into this area.

m

 

[blackfish152]

Also if anyone gets *The sacred Heart Messenger . *they dealt with Atheism in Sept 2005 edition, in an article by Fr M. P. Gallagher, S.J. called Witness to the world.

It was most interesting.

God Bless.

m

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

MONARCHY

Do you make a choice not to believe in santa claus? could you choose to believe in him again?

Yes, that choice is made not to believe. Are you equating Santa with God? Why? Apples and oranges. Theoretically, one could always prove that Santa does not exist just by searching every inch of the planet. We could never prove that God does not exist.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether you accept or reject Santa. It matters a whole lot whether you reject or accept God. It even matters a whole lot to some of those who reject God, or they wouldn’t be in this forum crusading against Him.

 

[Monarchy]

Gilbert Keith:

MONARCHY

Do you make a choice not to believe in santa claus? could you choose to believe in him again?

Yes, that choice is made not to believe.

I ask again could you honestly choose to believe in him again now?

Are you equating Santa with God?

Yes

Why?

Because you can’t prove the existance or non existance of either one.

Apples and oranges. Theoretically, one could always prove that Santa does not exist just by searching every inch of the planet

Ah, except santa has magic that protects his area from being seen by people looking for it!

We could never prove that God does not exist.

Actualy you cannot physicaly prove any existencial claim.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether you accept or reject Santa. It matters a whole lot whether you reject or accept God.

Because he loves me soooooooo much that he’ll happily let me burn in torture forever.

It even matters a whole lot to some of those who reject God, or they wouldn’t be in this forum crusading against Him.

I am not crusading against anything, I’m just representing atheists on this board.

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

I am not crusading against anything, I’m just representing atheists on this board.

And so the issue must be of importance to you or you wouldn’t be here every day as a champion (crusader) for your cause.

So it does matter, doesn’t it?

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

Because he loves me soooooooo much that he’ll happily let me burn in torture forever.

Nope. That’s your choice, not His. He died for you … but do you throw his death back in his face? That’s your choice, not His. He chooses togetherness. You choose eternal separation. Be careful what you ask for.

You may get it.

 

[coyote]

I considered atheism at one time. Or dabble in the concept that is. I did it because I wanted to have my own truth, to do and be what I wanted to without repercussion. I thought at the time that it was a real option and that choosing atheism equated to moral freedom. I found spiritual speculation to be fascinating and entertaining. I was also self-medicating, so to speak.

In retrospect, it wasn’t that I lacked faith. I lacked trust. I did not trust that God had my best interests at heart. I was convinced that I could take over for myself, create my own version of truth and be satisfied with that. Didn’t work out. In spite of what I thought, God did not just let me go off on my own. He kept inviting me back.

Then later, when I felt God for the first time in my life, I couldn’t deny his existence or sovereignity. I can’t manage the world, I can’t manage life, I can’t manage other people. What a relief that turns out to be!

 

[coyote]

Gilbert Keith:

MONARCHY

I’ve never come across anything that proves to me that God exists.

And if you are talking about proof positive, you never will.

GRACE. Grace is what made God real for me.

 

[cheddarsox]

Singinbeauty:

But you make a CHOICE to believe that there is no God right? So in essence IF there really is a God and you choose to believe that He doesn’t exist then you are, in essence, rejecting Him and making that choice to do so. Whether you choose to believe He does exist or not doesn’t make it so. It is YOUR choice to believe that.

Choice…hmmm…not sure that is accurate, more a case of living life, not seeing any of the things folks said about God as being true, coming to pass, and seeing some other things that I could not deny. I didn’t consciously one day say, I don’t think I’ll believe in God anymore, anymore than I one day decided not to believe in the boogey man. I came to recognize a fuller truth, and untruth fell away.

I am not an atheist, so perhaps my experience is different.

cheddar

 

[cheddarsox]

Monarchy:

I would disagree with this statement in that I don’t ‘Know’ that god isn’t real anymore than theists ‘know’ god is real. You can’t prove it either way. I am an atheist in that I am without a belief in God.

a = without theist = godbelief ergo atheist = wihout god belief

only a strong atheist (i.e. There is no god) believesd as you stated.

Point taken, sorry to have misrepresented you.

cheddar

 

[coyote]

I was a registered member of an interactive forum that answered pet care and other pet related questions. An interesting phenomenon occurred. In some of my posts I would end with “God Bless” or offer to pray for the pet or the person. I was soundly lambasted with great hostility from the Moderators, I was told that I could not make any references to God or anything religious because atheists, wiccans and satanists using the forum might be offended!?:banghead:

 

[coyote]

Gilbert Keith:

Originally Posted by Shadowcry
Could you explain to me what the xian perspective is ?

MONARCHY ANSWERED:

That god will punish you with hell for unbelief.

---

Technically, this is not true. The atheist chooses separation from God, not the other way around. The atheist chooses Hell over God.

…this is not stricly Catholic doctrine.
If a person has had no access to or opportunity to know the Truth about Christ, but seeks his/her creator, s/he is Not forsaken by God, but can be saved.

 

[cheddarsox]

coyote:

I was a registered member of an interactive forum that answered pet care and other pet related questions. An interesting phenomenon occurred. In some of my posts I would end with “God Bless” or offer to pray for the pet or the person. I was soundly lambasted with great hostility from the Moderators, I was told that I could not make any references to God or anything religious because atheists, wiccans and satanists using the forum might be offended!?:banghead:

I belong to a number of atheist and pagan forums, and mostly they are cool with people being who they are. There are lots of christians who hang out there, just like there are non christians here, and pretty much folks get along fine. I think the mods were being more PC than they needed to.

cheddar