Do you believe in God?

[Scaff]

Yes definately.
My Jesus is Lord. He told me why we were created, why we rebelled, why we brought sin, death and suffering to this world, and most importantly, how we can end this suffering when Jesus comes again.

How did he tell you, how do you know it was him and most importantly what makes your god right and all the others wrong?

 

[JMoney]

Here's another open question to any atheists: What is it about Christianity that you disagree with? Is it the way of life, or the lack of hard evidence for God and other things Christians believe in? I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just curious to know why atheists are atheists.

 

[Dennisch]

No evidence what so ever.
A book full of contradictions.
An old book with borrowed stories.
Silly miracles.
Not the only religion.

And I was young when I realized that it's all just fancy fairytales. I went to a public school and our religion class was about every religion, not just Christianity.

 

[DQuaN]

How did he tell you, how do you know it was him and most importantly what makes your god right and all the others wrong?

I've always said that people that talk to God are religious. People who say God talks to them are probably schizophrenic.

 

[Azuremen]

Here's another open question to any atheists: What is it about Christianity that you disagree with? Is it the way of life, or the lack of hard evidence for God and other things Christians believe in? I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just curious to know why atheists are atheists.

For Christianity, and other faiths of "The Book" (Islam, Judaism) it is the contradictory nature, from a philosophical and theological standpoint, that dissuades me from believing.

More particularly, I've always disliked the notion that God love's humanity absolutely, to the extent he sacrificed his son/self (the Holy Trinity is another issue entirely) to save them when its he himself that put humanity in such a situation. And then after all that, we have to redeem ourselves in his eyes with worship and devotion. For a perfect being, he seems to have an ego and made more than a few mistakes of no insignificance. Then the whole "hey bro, I knocked up your wife before you got to it, no big deal" leaves a sour taste too.

And that is before I get into the historical and scientific issues involved, or translation problems.

Plus, I've always wondered how all these people are 100% certain their faith is correct when they are generally exclusive and so varied. Travelling to India, where religion is on such display the South of the US looks tame, furthered this point with Sikhs, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, and we can't forget all the various Hindu sects being adamant and resolved in their faith.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Here's another open question to any atheists: What is it about Christianity that you disagree with? Is it the way of life, or the lack of hard evidence for God and other things Christians believe in? I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just curious to know why atheists are atheists.

...that didn't take long.

@Azuremen summed it up, same with @Dennisch. I was young when I realized little of the Bible made sense from a perspective based in reality. There were some good lessons on how to live with your fellow man, sure, but there are way too many far-fetched stories to balance that out. I've also found the cyclical response from the average Christian worrisome: if they're asked how they know the Bible is true, they say because God said so. When asked where God said it, they say the Bible. Why otherwise intelligent people can resort to "because" as an acceptable answer on its own, I'll never know.

I don't even have a problem with people wanting to be Christian (or any other religion), as that's entirely up to them, not me. It's the unwavering stance of some that insist it's right, when there is precisely zero evidence to support it. Of my religious friends, most if not all would say that they recognize it's no more than a belief, and don't even try to label it "fact". That's why we don't have any issues despite very different views.

There are dozens of ghost shows on TV at any one time. Not a single one has produced verifiable proof of ghosts, because such a discovery would rock society as we know it. Religion is no different.

 

[Johnnypenso]

I think it was @DCP in the Homosexuality thread earlier today who said he didn't believe in evolution, which would be a literal interpretation of the Bible. Anyone can answer, but assuming for a moment that God created Adam and Eve just a few thousand years ago, and we are all their children, and there's no evolution, how do you explain this?

 

[TenEightyOne]

...assuming for a moment that God created Adam and Eve just a few thousand years ago, and we are all their children, and there's no evolution, how do you explain this?

Haha, that's too easy! They just... erm, well, they just... err... ermm... ah.

 

[Dennisch]

There are dozens of ghost shows on TV at any one time. Not a single one has produced verifiable proof of ghosts, because such a discovery would rock society as we know it.

You would think, I've said it many times before, that with cameras EVERYWHERE, ghosts, creepies and other paranormal activities would have been recorded by now.

how do you explain this?

That sooooo easy.

God did it.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

You answered yourself, Johnny.

assuming... that God created... this?

If the magic-man can create everything in the history of being, liberally dusting some of the generations of offspring with differences should've been a quick job. Or we can just blame the rampant inbreeding?

 

[Joel]

Here's another open question to any atheists: What is it about Christianity that you disagree with? Is it the way of life, or the lack of hard evidence for God and other things Christians believe in? I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just curious to know why atheists are atheists.

I went to Catholic school, I was raised Catholic (my parents weren't devout and we rarely went to church) and believed in God, but when I was a kid I never really could shake the question of "what if someone just made this up". I believed in God until I was around 14/15 but it wasn't a very strong belief. When we really started learning about the Bible in elementary school I found a lot of the "morals" to be very distasteful.

The obvious example is Noah's Ark, that's just a completely unacceptable action and I refuse to worship a God who carries out such acts. Then the sheer number of innocent children dying of disease, war, malnutrition, and dehydration, why doesn't an all powerful and all loving God intervene? How many children in Liberia need to die in excruciating pain from Ebola before upper management gets involved?

Humanity was put on this Earth with free will, but God knew we would sin. He created us with the deck stacked against us right from the start, and then created a disgusting, morally abhorrent punishment for us, should we succumb to the human temptations he created us with. But he only does it because he loves us. In any other context that would be considered an abusive relationship, and a supposedly benevolent God should be able to hold himself to higher standards than what his flawed creations deem abusive.

This kind of stuff combined with the whole gay rights thing, the unhealthy attitudes towards sex in general, (and learning one of the priests at my church molested 12 year old boys) made me stop believing in the Catholic church, while I still held a vague belief in God. That waned over time as I read up on the science and the logical impossibility of the Abrahamic God.

Ultimately I look at it now and it's just stories. There's no objective basis to any of it, and without personal faith I have no reason to think God, Jesus, or Hell are any more real than Gandalf, Zeus, and Valhalla.

 

[Dennisch]

This was another one of those things that cemented me as a atheist.

Hurray for space lessons!

 

[Azuremen]

Ultimately I look at it now and it's just stories. There's no objective basis to any of it, and without personal faith I have no reason to think God, Jesus, or Hell are any more real than Gandalf, Zeus, and Valhalla.

Wow there, watch what you say about Gandalf man or I'll have to send some Hobbitisisisisisseeeees.

 

[JMoney]

I went to Catholic school, I was raised Catholic (my parents weren't devout and we rarely went to church) and believed in God, but when I was a kid I never really could shake the question of "what if someone just made this up". I believed in God until I was around 14/15 but it wasn't a very strong belief. When we really started learning about the Bible in elementary school I found a lot of the "morals" to be very distasteful.

The obvious example is Noah's Ark, that's just a completely unacceptable action and I refuse to worship a God who carries out such acts. Then the sheer number of innocent children dying of disease, war, malnutrition, and dehydration, why doesn't an all powerful and all loving God intervene? How many children in Liberia need to die in excruciating pain from Ebola before upper management gets involved?

Humanity was put on this Earth with free will, but God knew we would sin. He created us with the deck stacked against us right from the start, and then created a disgusting, morally abhorrent punishment for us, should we succumb to the human temptations he created us with. But he only does it because he loves us. In any other context that would be considered an abusive relationship, and a supposedly benevolent God should be able to hold himself to higher standards than what his flawed creations deem abusive.

This kind of stuff combined with the whole gay rights thing, the unhealthy attitudes towards sex in general, (and learning one of the priests at my church molested 12 year old boys) made me stop believing in the Catholic church, while I still held a vague belief in God. That waned over time as I read up on the science and the logical impossibility of the Abrahamic God.

Ultimately I look at it now and it's just stories. There's no objective basis to any of it, and without personal faith I have no reason to think God, Jesus, or Hell are any more real than Gandalf, Zeus, and Valhalla.

It's long been my belief that the Catholic church has been particularly ineffective at keeping followers after their childhood. Seems like most atheists I know were former Catholics. It wouldn't surprise me if the Catholics' influence continued to wane over the next few decades, and they'll be forced to reform like they did in the 16th century.

 

[Liquid]

and they'll be forced to reform like they did in the 16th century.

But these places claim to hold the truth, why would any church ever need to reform?

 

[DCP]

How did he tell you, how do you know it was him and most importantly what makes your god right and all the others wrong?

Simple story, and try to understand it simply.
I was born Christian, yet rebelled in my teen years. Sinned, and yet felt guilty "at times", then always hid from family so that they didn't know the things I did. Little did I forget, that God sees all. I went to church on a Sunday as often as I could, but I knew it wasn't for my own good. If you don't know the Lord, church won't help if your heart is in the world.

I got sick at 34, and was at home for 3 months. Before this, I was pre-occupied, and concerned about business and the things of the world, music, movies, lust etc.
It was that time I was at home and was heavily convicted by the Holy Spirit. I twisted my ankles, broke fingers, had tooth aches etc, but never cried. Boy did I tear at home when the Lord showed me just how I was living my life, and how I still thought it was good enough for Him.

It was then He changed me completely. I'm 36 now. Yeah.
In those 3 months, the Lord opened my eyes to things of the bible that I never thought I'd ever come to know.
In those 3 months I was still paid in full, and received a full bonus while still off. I also received about R60 000 (about $6000) in commission, yet I did not an ounce of business. Today I've not been sick, and neither my family since, because I've understood how to put all my trust in Christ. I'm on the verge of starting my own business now.
I started paying tithes since Jan last year, and man, if people could only put Jesus to the test, if ONLY.
I cleaned my home of worldy celebs, Beyoncé, Gaga, Katy Perry etc, horror movies, sex, violence etc. Ask a normal person to do that, they will probably swear you, because they live for these things without even knowing it.

So it's easy to see why other gods don't exist to me. This Jesus told us in his word, why we were created, why we rebelled, why we sin, suffer, thirst, hunger, and die. Why the world is slowing down and why Matthew 24 is crucial in todays happenings, and the return of Jesus for the faithful church, the born again Christians and Jews.

No other god "before" this Jesus can tell us these things. No other God can perform these miracles.
It's so simple. "Jesus, if you are really true, please reveal yourself to me", is all a person needs to do, if they really need a change. Sometimes its too late, because people are already caught up with the things of the world, and refuse to turn back from it. Hearts become hardened, and the defence system takes over. Every new Christian always has a testimony to share. The world is getting worse, yet people think it's getting better. Technology doesn't make things better. The bible mentions this. So yeah, that's my life changing story. I pray for my mockers and scoffers and enemies. it's unthinkable for people to even consider this, yet with Christ, all things become possible. Peace

 

[DCP]

For Christianity, and other faiths of "The Book" (Islam, Judaism) it is the contradictory nature, from a philosophical and theological standpoint, that dissuades me from believing.

More particularly, I've always disliked the notion that God love's humanity absolutely, to the extent he sacrificed his son/self (the Holy Trinity is another issue entirely) to save them when its he himself that put humanity in such a situation. And then after all that, we have to redeem ourselves in his eyes with worship and devotion. For a perfect being, he seems to have an ego and made more than a few mistakes of no insignificance. Then the whole "hey bro, I knocked up your wife before you got to it, no big deal" leaves a sour taste too.

And that is before I get into the historical and scientific issues involved, or translation problems.

Plus, I've always wondered how all these people are 100% certain their faith is correct when they are generally exclusive and so varied. Travelling to India, where religion is on such display the South of the US looks tame, furthered this point with Sikhs, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, and we can't forget all the various Hindu sects being adamant and resolved in their faith.

You know buddy, all the answers are in the bible. God made everything good, perfect in the beginning. God instructed them not to eat of the fruit of good and evil. How can you blame God for mans actions?
If you say, why put that tree there, then what choice does man have. God has then just created humans to forcefully serve and obey Him. No, this Is not the God we serve. He is Holy and just. He has given all of us a choice. Homeless children, is not Gods fault. It's selfish adults. Famine is not Gods fault. It's selfish human beings.

When you try to understand just what Jesus went through, just because he loved you, forget about the world, think of yourself here. Think of what He offers just you. You would never give your child up for the world. I would never, but God did it, because this was His only way to give you a chance to re-unite with Him. It's great because you are not forced to. You have your own choice and free will to make, and you don't need man to dictate that for you. If you choose not to believe in all of this, it is exactly that, a choice made to live by. Everyone knows about Christ.
Easter and Christmas, to main holidays of each year is one way of knowing, asking, and seeking.

 

[TenEightyOne]

You know buddy, all the answers are in the bible.

Source required. Try answering this question. How does one explain this? And why can we trust some men when they write the stories that we call the Bible (despite those mostly being shown to predate that are by several thousand years) yet we cannot trust others?

Famine is not Gods fault.

Source definitely required.

 

[Jet Badger]

TIL Jesus condemns horror movies and Beyonce.

The world is getting worse, yet people think it's getting better.

People been saying this since the dawn of time, yet we still haven't seen a single apocalypse. If anything, Over the last decades there was only a worldwide decrease in violence, improved life expectancy and easier communication. Funnily none of this was a hand of god but treaties between nations and science-led technological advancing.

You know buddy, all the answers are in the bible. God made everything good, perfect in the beginning. God instructed them not to eat of the fruit of good and evil. How can you blame God for mans actions?
If you say, why put that tree there, then what choice does man have. God has then just created humans to forcefully serve and obey Him. No, this Is not the God we serve. He is Holy and just. He has given all of us a choice. Homeless children, is not Gods fault. It's selfish adults. Famine is not Gods fault. It's selfish human beings.

I'm sure it's been said before but extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. None of this makes any sense to anyone else if you just repeatedly thump the same claims as if they were self-evident, which, apparently, is evident only to you. And if you're the only one that sees them, maybe you shouldn't try so hard to convince others without presenting any argument as to why at all?

Easter and Christmas, to main holidays of each year is one way of knowing, asking, and seeking.

Neither Christmas nor Easter were Christian holidays by any means when Cristianity adopted them.

 

[DCP]

I think it was @DCP in the Homosexuality thread earlier today who said he didn't believe in evolution, which would be a literal interpretation of the Bible. Anyone can answer, but assuming for a moment that God created Adam and Eve just a few thousand years ago, and we are all their children, and there's no evolution, how do you explain this?

View attachment 342104

View attachment 342107

Hi there
Just brush up on Abraham being the father of many nations.

Just like the dog and cat species, humans are just the same. No matter how they breed, they are still dogs, cats and human beings. Skin colour and hair texture all changes with the sun and atmosphere etc. As for different languages, brush up on the tower of Babel.

 

[TenEightyOne]

No matter how they breed, they are still dogs, cats and human beings.

Do you believe that hyenas and cats are related, and, if not, why not?

As for different languages, brush up on the tower of Babel.

If the story of Babel is true then how would you explain stories that were later included in the Bible being in existence thousands of years before... and in different languages?

 

[DCP]

Source required. Try answering this question. How does one explain this? And why can we trust some men when they write the stories that we call the Bible (despite those mostly being shown to predate that are by several thousand years) yet we cannot trust others?



Source definitely required.

Just did. Also, I don't think you read it all. Those other books don't have date stamps on them. They don't tell us of why, what and when things will happen. The prophecies. Israel in the news almost daily. Why, such a small country surrounded by most continents, are so significant? How did they become a nation again, when completely destroyed 2000 years ago. Which other book prophesied about this happening.

When you write a letter, who is writing it, you, or the pen?
In the same way, God used man as an instrument to receive the word, and fulfil the prophecy of spreading it across the world. Some prophecy right. Whether people accept it or not, it's up to them.

 

[Scaff]

Simple story, and try to understand it simply.
I was born Christian, yet rebelled in my teen years. Sinned, and yet felt guilty "at times", then always hid from family so that they didn't know the things I did. Little did I forget, that God sees all. I went to church on a Sunday as often as I could, but I knew it wasn't for my own good. If you don't know the Lord, church won't help if your heart is in the world.

I got sick at 34, and was at home for 3 months. Before this, I was pre-occupied, and concerned about business and the things of the world, music, movies, lust etc.
It was that time I was at home and was heavily convicted by the Holy Spirit. I twisted my ankles, broke fingers, had tooth aches etc, but never cried. Boy did I tear at home when the Lord showed me just how I was living my life, and how I still thought it was good enough for Him.

It was then He changed me completely. I'm 36 now. Yeah.
In those 3 months, the Lord opened my eyes to things of the bible that I never thought I'd ever come to know.
In those 3 months I was still paid in full, and received a full bonus while still off. I also received about R60 000 (about $6000) in commission, yet I did not an ounce of business. Today I've not been sick, and neither my family since, because I've understood how to put all my trust in Christ. I'm on the verge of starting my own business now.
I started paying tithes since Jan last year, and man, if people could only put Jesus to the test, if ONLY.
I cleaned my home of worldy celebs, Beyoncé, Gaga, Katy Perry etc, horror movies, sex, violence etc. Ask a normal person to do that, they will probably swear you, because they live for these things without even knowing it.

So it's easy to see why other gods don't exist to me. This Jesus told us in his word, why we were created, why we rebelled, why we sin, suffer, thirst, hunger, and die. Why the world is slowing down and why Matthew 24 is crucial in todays happenings, and the return of Jesus for the faithful church, the born again Christians and Jews.

No other god "before" this Jesus can tell us these things. No other God can perform these miracles.
It's so simple. "Jesus, if you are really true, please reveal yourself to me", is all a person needs to do, if they really need a change. Sometimes its too late, because people are already caught up with the things of the world, and refuse to turn back from it. Hearts become hardened, and the defence system takes over. Every new Christian always has a testimony to share. The world is getting worse, yet people think it's getting better. Technology doesn't make things better. The bible mentions this. So yeah, that's my life changing story. I pray for my mockers and scoffers and enemies. it's unthinkable for people to even consider this, yet with Christ, all things become possible. Peace

So you're unable to answer the question and instead preach in the hope it will serve as an answer.

It doesn't.

Hi there
Just brush up on Abraham being the father of many nations.

Doesn't actually answer the question (again).

Just like the dog and cat species, humans are just the same. No matter how they breed, they are still dogs, cats and human beings. Skin colour and hair texture all changes with the sun and atmosphere etc.

The problem with your claim here is that it is demonstrable untrue, you have to ignore quite literally hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence (all of which support this).

As for different languages, brush up on the tower of Babel.

Ah using the Bible as proof again. Slight problem with this is that the building its most likely based upon (the Etemenanki) was a whole 91m / 300ft high. I've been on taller rollercosters.

Now that's aside from the total and utter lack of evidence to support your claim, and the rather large body of evidence to support the actual evolution of language.

That is the key difference you see, you are unable to provide any form of independent, repeatable peer reviewed evidence for you claims.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Just did. Also, I don't think you read it all. Those other books don't have date stamps on them.

Actually, they do.

They don't tell us of why, what and when things will happen.

Why should they?

Israel in the news almost daily. Why, such a small country surrounded by most continents, are so significant? How did they become a nation again, when completely destroyed 2000 years ago. Which other book prophesied about this happening.

Brush up on "self-fulfilling prophecies", and why do you think that a country created in the midst of other peoples' land (and stealing more) might be a focus of attention right now?

Try not to miss out these questions next time around, please;

Do you believe that hyenas and cats are related, and, if not, why not?

If the story of Babel is true then how would you explain stories that were later included in the Bible being in existence thousands of years before... and in different languages?

 

[DCP]

TIL Jesus condemns horror movies and Beyonce.


People been saying this since the dawn of time, yet we still haven't seen a single apocalypse. If anything, Over the last decades there was only a worldwide decrease in violence, improved life expectancy and easier communication. Funnily none of this was a hand of god but treaties between nations and science-led technological advancing.

I'm sure it's been said before but extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. None of this makes any sense to anyone else if you just repeatedly thump the same claims as if they were self-evident, which, apparently, is evident only to you. And if you're the only one that sees them, maybe you shouldn't try so hard to convince others without presenting any argument as to why at all?


Neither Christmas nor Easter were Christian holidays by any means when Cristianity adopted them.

If they are messing up teenagers lives, putting lustful eyes of boys, who then end up raping girls who dress up trying to look like Beyoncé and them, yet the parents won't change the tv channel, but blame God if something happens to their loved ones.

I don't know what news you watch, but I'm shocked at what's happening in Missouri, Middle East, Africa, France etc.
The amount of natural disasters in the last 3 years is hectic. Saw on the news that a typhoon is ready to hit again soon.
Next blood moon is approaching. I believe something is about to change, AGAIN.

Yeah, the Romans made them holidays, trying to take away the significance of Christ.

 

[TenEightyOne]

If they are messing up teenagers lives, putting lustful eyes of boys...

Your true colours are showing, rape is inevitable. Oh dear. And there were no Romans as you speak of them at the time that Yule was celebrated. Do you genuinely think Jesus was born in December (the festival of Yule was appropriated for his birth by Pope Julius, in Rome, in 350 ACE) when there were shepherds tending flocks? In Judea, in winter?

Moving on, do you believe that cats and hyenas are related and, if not, why not?

 

[DK]

If they are messing up teenagers lives, putting lustful eyes of boys, who then end up raping girls who dress up trying to look like Beyoncé and them, yet the parents won't change the tv channel, but blame God if something happens to their loved ones.

And then God will force the rape victims to marry their attackers.

 

[DCP]

Actually, they do.



Why should they?



Brush up on "self-fulfilling prophecies", and why do you think that a country created in the midst of other peoples' land (and stealing more) might be a focus of attention right now?

Try not to miss out these questions next time around, please;

Well, it was always their land to begin with.
How is that a self filfulling prophecy? Why wait for 1948 years to self fillful it. It was supposed to happen.
Look how small that land is, yet you say it's the focus of attention...? Why is the US and Co getting involved?
Don't they have their own debts to pay, and issues to deal with.

No matter what you follow, you will stand in judgment for your crimes. It's the way we chose. It cannot be stopped.

Your true colours are showing, rape is inevitable. Oh dear. And there were no Romans as you speak of them at the time that Yule was celebrated. Do you genuinely think Jesus was born in December (the festival of Yule was appropriated for his birth by Pope Julius, in Rome, in 350 ACE) when there were shepherds tending flocks? In Judea, in winter?

Moving on, do you believe that cats and hyenas are related and, if not, why not?

No He wasn't, because you'd have to follow the Jewish calendar.
Now we follow the Gregorian calendar, hence the changes.
You still miss the significance unsurprisingly though. Like I say, your free will. You not forced to believe anything of Christ, but perhaps try to humble yourself one day.

And then God will force the rape victims to marry their attackers.

Would you prefer God kill them both, and the baby if there was one? Read further, you will see that it is the father that must decide if they wed or not.
The bible says children inherit the Kingdom of God. Every child on earth is in the kingdom of God today.
it's man that has allowed them to suffer in the flesh on earth. People are too proud to shoulder this responsibility.
Abortion. Yeah, all those legalizing it. The bible said there will be a great falling away, and lawlessness will come.

 

[squadops]

A child's innocence is mesmerizing, I'd get lost in mine for hours if not days on end. At some point you realize you have to teach them the ways of the earth and how to survive here, more than that actually and then some more just for good measure. The responsibility can be overwhelming for some but where does the proud part come in?

 

[Carbonox]

Would you prefer God kill them both, and the baby if there was one? Read further, you will see that it is the father that must decide if they wed or not.

There's also the option of punishing the rapist, and cutting him off the victim's life for good. I prefer that.

Oh, and I don't like being a mini-mod, but I'm rather sure certain users with badges aren't going to appreciate you showing how much you care about the rules by triple posting after you got all those warnings earlier...