quote:Originally posted by O No!:
I have been an atheist at one point in my life, and am now a Christian.
What changed your mind?
What changed your mind?
What changed your mind?
Semi, I thought I told you before. My life wasn't going very well. Then it started getting better. Then it started getting even better. I felt there HAD to be a God because I had to thank Him.
The improvements in my life were through no effort or decisions of my own. But I was so full of joy, I decided one day to go to church. That day, the pastor gave a sermon about how beautiful the Earth is, and how wonderful it is to be alive. He looked right at me while he was preaching. It felt to me that God was confirming what I felt through the words of this pastor.
I surprised myself when I went up for the altar call. And ever since then, even though some pretty bad things have happened to me (losing my sweet husband to cancer at the age of 58 was probably the worst), I have trusted God, and I am full of peace and joy.
Yes, I prayed that He would spare my husband. And His answer was no. But I didn't lose faith in God. My faith grew stronger. We don't get everything we ask for in this life, but one of the things God promises the true believer is comfort in times of grief. He gave me comfort, and I realized that the gift of perfect love that my husband and I had is a very rare thing. Instead of raging about losing him, I thanked God that he gave him to me for the years we were together. Then I asked Him to guide me to what is next in my life.
And He has.
The improvements in my life were through no effort or decisions of my own. But I was so full of joy, I decided one day to go to church. That day, the pastor gave a sermon about how beautiful the Earth is, and how wonderful it is to be alive. He looked right at me while he was preaching. It felt to me that God was confirming what I felt through the words of this pastor.
I surprised myself when I went up for the altar call. And ever since then, even though some pretty bad things have happened to me (losing my sweet husband to cancer at the age of 58 was probably the worst), I have trusted God, and I am full of peace and joy.
Yes, I prayed that He would spare my husband. And His answer was no. But I didn't lose faith in God. My faith grew stronger. We don't get everything we ask for in this life, but one of the things God promises the true believer is comfort in times of grief. He gave me comfort, and I realized that the gift of perfect love that my husband and I had is a very rare thing. Instead of raging about losing him, I thanked God that he gave him to me for the years we were together. Then I asked Him to guide me to what is next in my life.
And He has.
quote:Originally posted by O No!:
Nagel, I disagree with you there. I have been an atheist at one point in my life, and am now a Christian. I can only speak for myself, but when I was an atheist, I truly believed, as the atheists on this board love to point out, that belief in God stems from fear, weakness of character, and weakness of understanding.
As a Christian, instead of believing that *I* have the answers, I know that only God has the answers, and that ALL of us are sinners, none of us are better than others, and that kindness is the only way to treat each other.
(But as a sinner, I admit I don't always react with kindness toward people like Jennifer and Opie.
)
i also noted that there were exceptions..
you and veep are exceptional.
quote:Originally posted by O No!:
Semi, I thought I told you before. My life wasn't going very well. Then it started getting better. Then it started getting even better. I felt there HAD to be a God because I had to thank Him. The improvements in my life were through no effort or decisions of my own. But I was so full of joy, I decided one day to go to church. That day, the pastor gave a sermon about how beautiful the Earth is, and how wonderful it is to be alive. He looked right at me while he was preaching. It felt to me that God was confirming what I felt through the words of this pastor.
so you were an atheist who went to church looking for god and found Him.
ono, that doesn't sound like an atheist, ma'am. agnostic would probably better describe you state of mind at the time. you had "doubts." ALL of us beleivers (and former believers) have some measure of doubt. they may not admit to it but it is there. sounds like perhaps you had more "doubt" than perhaps the average believer? that doesn't not an atheist make.
but i admit i am going on scant info here. there was evidently a moment when you went from "doubter" to "full on belief." what was that experience?
Unob, I was an ATHEIST. I was disgusted with people who believed in God. I knew them to be weak minded. I knew they needed the "crutch" of religion. I pointed out to them that there was no evidence for a God. I ridiculed them and all that they believed in. (Sound familiar?)
The joy that led me to church that day was God knocking on the door of my heart. I had no idea I was even GOING to church until my car pulled in to the parking lot as I was driving by on my way to a friend's house. I was NOT dressed for the ocasion, but nevertheless, there I was, and I went in.
If you've never experienced it, you'll never understand. But that's OK. I KNOW.
The joy that led me to church that day was God knocking on the door of my heart. I had no idea I was even GOING to church until my car pulled in to the parking lot as I was driving by on my way to a friend's house. I was NOT dressed for the ocasion, but nevertheless, there I was, and I went in.
If you've never experienced it, you'll never understand. But that's OK. I KNOW.
quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:
Honest answers please. How do you think we atheists live? Not how you think we should live our lives, but your ideas about how we actually function in society on a day to day basis. And bill, you are welcome to respond, but I want peoples thoughts, not what your bible tells you.
Atheists, you're welcome to comment on your daily life.
Sitting home on Sunday in your underwear, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer??
(just kidding)
quote:Sitting home on Sunday in your underwear, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer??
(just kidding)
I don't drink or smoke, but I do have my Sunday's free to "ramble".
quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:
Peter I'm truly interested in your answer to this question, do you not see all the contradictions in the bible? Did you know that those contradictions are one thing that gets a lot of people thinking about things and coming to the realization that it's bunk? As young as I was when I was reading the bible all the time I noticed the contradictions.
Isn't this proof that "Jennifer" never REALLY believed? If she was noticing "contradictions" as a child, then she was questioning. If she was questioning the Bible, she didn't truly believe in it.
quote:Originally posted by O No!:quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:
Peter I'm truly interested in your answer to this question, do you not see all the contradictions in the bible? Did you know that those contradictions are one thing that gets a lot of people thinking about things and coming to the realization that it's bunk? As young as I was when I was reading the bible all the time I noticed the contradictions.
Isn't this proof that "Jennifer" never REALLY believed? If she was noticing "contradictions" as a child, then she was questioning. If she was questioning the Bible, she didn't truly believe in it.
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jen is like all atheist, its not that they don't believe, but
they don't want to believe.
So they turn to the Christians to convince them of no god.
Thats why the years of the same questions are asked repeatedly.
.
quote:jen is like all atheist, its not that they don't believe, but
they don't want to believe.
So they turn to the Christians to convince them of no god.
Thats why the years of the same questions are asked repeatedly.
Not all atheists are alike, and it's true that some never believed. I don't believe, I did at one time but no more. I don't need so called christians to know the god myth is not true. I think christians fear atheists because deep in christians minds where their common sense lives, they know atheists are right. Since christians want that common sense repressed they lash out at atheists. Atheists are not the reason for your distress, it's your own mind fighting to make you understand that a belief in a god, any gods, is just a wish on your part, and wishing it so will not make it so.
quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:quote:jen is like all atheist, its not that they don't believe, but
they don't want to believe.
So they turn to the Christians to convince them of no god.
Thats why the years of the same questions are asked repeatedly.
Not all atheists are alike, and it's true that some never believed. I don't believe, I did at one time but no more. I don't need so called christians to know the god myth is not true. I think christians fear atheists because deep in christians minds where their common sense lives, they know atheists are right. Since christians want that common sense repressed they lash out at atheists. Atheists are not the reason for your distress, it's your own mind fighting to make you understand that a belief in a god, any gods, is just a wish on your part, and wishing it so will not make it so.
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Never in your wildest dreams do I fear so called atheist or your silly beliefs.
I don't believe your missing links or the big bang of nothing and the spider
that turned into a horse a million years later.
You don't believe what I believe so don't tell me what I believe.
.
quote:Originally posted by INVICTUS:quote:Originally posted by O No!:quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:
Peter I'm truly interested in your answer to this question, do you not see all the contradictions in the bible? Did you know that those contradictions are one thing that gets a lot of people thinking about things and coming to the realization that it's bunk? As young as I was when I was reading the bible all the time I noticed the contradictions.
Isn't this proof that "Jennifer" never REALLY believed? If she was noticing "contradictions" as a child, then she was questioning. If she was questioning the Bible, she didn't truly believe in it.
------------------------------
jen is like all atheist, its not that they don't believe, but
they don't want to believe.
So they turn to the Christians to convince them of no god.
Thats why the years of the same questions are asked repeatedly.
.
I didn't, nor do I, turn to Christians to convince me of anything. The only thing I have ever learned from a Christian is how NOT to think. I was born and raised atheist. I studied religion and other philosophies in school, but that is the extent of my query into Gods. I had to for the credits.
I mostly find it fascinating that so many seemingly intelligent people (not you Invictus) so whole heartedly believe in this stuff.
I have been stuck at home due to illness for the past couple of weeks and this has been a great way to entertain myself. Much better than TV.
Please continue.
quote:Never in your wildest dreams do I fear so called atheist or your silly beliefs.
I don't believe your missing links or the big bang of nothing and the spider
that turned into a horse a million years later.
You don't believe what I believe so don't tell me what I believe.
Then why are you so afraid of atheists?
quote:Originally posted by Jennifer:quote:Never in your wildest dreams do I fear so called atheist or your silly beliefs.
I don't believe your missing links or the big bang of nothing and the spider
that turned into a horse a million years later.
You don't believe what I believe so don't tell me what I believe.
Then why are you so afraid of atheists?
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OK OK, Your back in the line up with Opie.
.
quote:OK OK, Your back in the line up with Opie.
That's fine. At least that line is moving and going somewhere. You on the other hand are stuck in one that isn't going anywhere.