Merged (edited) General thoughts about Christianity and the bible

[Olmstead]

No, I could handle the alternative just fine. But it's just a BAD decision for me. (given my background and experiences)

What do you mean it's a bad decision for you? Because you will lose hope and meaning in life? Because you will lose a community? Because of Pascal's wager?

 

[JayUtah]

The question was only triggering to evolutionist atheists?

Guess again.

The concept of "triggering" and some intelligent agent to trigger are wholly irrelevant to the Big Bang.

 

[JayUtah]

The alternative is cookie cutter Christianity. I'm not concerned with conformity.

You don't have that option and still claim any sort of divine authority for any of your beliefs. Either divine authority must be obeyed, or disobedience is tolerated. If disobedience is tolerated, then you're in no better position than atheists.

 

[JayUtah]

The choice is always "Anything but God". Seems like an escapism cop-out.

Straw man. It's not "anything but God." It's just "not God." There are plenty of other things besides God to avoid.

Where does that leave you?

With a moral compass whose operation I can clearly articulate and change when evidence suggests I should.

Those with a God have hope in something beyond themselves.

Atheists very much believe in something beyond themselves: their responsibility to family, community, a common sense of justice. What you believe "beyond yourself" is just stuff you made up and pretend to be true.

 

[Mojo]

I'm looking forward to finding out what was there before God created the universe.
No way to know at this point, unless your understanding of the BIG Bang reaches back before that time.

Are you also looking forward to finding out what's North of the North Pole?

 

[theprestige]

The alternative is cookie cutter Christianity. I'm not concerned with conformity.

Absolute conformity to God's plan is a central tenet of Christianity. If you're not interested in conformity, then maybe Christianity isn't for you.

 

[Carrot Flower King]

The choice is always "Anything but God". Seems like an escapism cop-out.


Where does that leave you?
Those with a God have hope in something beyond themselves.

First one is wrong: it's follow the evidence and there is no evidence for a god. No escapism involved.

The second bit is also wrong: there is a universe of things beyond me. Why do I need a god for hope? Sounds like we are back in Pascal's Wager land, which is a cop out in and of itself.

 

[catsmate]

The choice is always "Anything but God". Seems like an escapism cop-out.

No. "God did it" is always a silly fantasy answer. That's escapism.

Where does that leave you?

Reality.

Those with a God have hope in something beyond themselves.

Something that doesn't exist.

 

[Darat]

The choice is always "Anything but God". Seems like an escapism cop-out.


Where does that leave you?
Those with a God have hope in something beyond themselves.

Adolf Hitler repents and gets into heaven.
Anne Frank - doesn't believe in Jesus - goes to hell.

 

[Helen]

Atheism is a very small part of who i am, and how i view the world, it's just a lack of belief in any gods. And having never believed in any of them, they all seem equally fictional and unbelievable to me.

 

[Pixel42]

Good question, but...
That assumes that God is part of a created universe.
God is a creator. He didn't need one.

Either the concept of something existing without having been created is acceptable or it isn't. If it's acceptable to you for God to exist without having been created then it must also be acceptable for the universe to exist without having been created, and God is redundant. If it's not acceptable for the universe to exist without having been created then you must also find it unacceptable for God to do so.

All you're doing is replacing the question "where did the universe come from" with the question "where did God come from" which is a huge step backwards, as the universe is at least something we can observe and hope to learn things about.

 

[Dave Rogers]

Atheism is a very small part of who i am, and how i view the world, it's just a lack of belief in any gods. And having never believed in any of them, they all seem equally fictional and unbelievable to me.

It's not that atheism is a part of who I am, it's that belief in a god isn't.

Dave

 

[Darat]

Atheism is a very small part of who i am, and how i view the world, it's just a lack of belief in any gods. And having never believed in any of them, they all seem equally fictional and unbelievable to me.

It's about as important to me as my a-geocentrisim is.

 

[Darat]

Either the concept of something existing without having been created is acceptable or it isn't. If it's acceptable to you for God to exist without having been created then it must also be acceptable for the universe to exist without having been created, and God is redundant. If it's not acceptable for the universe to exist without having been created then you must also find it unacceptable for God to do so.

All you're doing is replacing the question "where did the universe come from" with the question "where did God come from" which is a huge step backwards, as the universe is at least something we can observe and hope to learn things about.

Turtles all the way down!

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

No one is going to watch your videos, Rusty. Use your words.

It's an old VW ad, possibly with ai slop added.

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

Aw butt out, atheeizt! I wanna talk to a genuine pure honest-to-pete Believere!

Gimme that real-time religion. None of your Ersazt Intelligence, THANK yew.

ETA: Dammit, what do I got to do to find a bleever? Leave a trail of M & Ms?

Sir, the answer to all your questions is; second star to the right and straight on until morning!

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

It may look like he's trying to distract, but what he's actually been doing is confirming his inability to answer difficult moral, ethical, historical, and scientific questions.

I applaud his achievement, even if it wasn't what he was trying to achieve.

Hell, I'd be happy if he could attempt the easy ones.

 

[8enotto]

The choice is always "Anything but God". Seems like an escapism cop-out.


Where does that leave you?
Those with a God have hope in something beyond themselves.

Not everything needs to be understood by or explained to everyone.
We have experts for a reason.

I certainly don't need to know about the probable mechanics of a big bang. What could I do with that information? About as useful as knowing how to rebuild an engine for most.

Some don't fear what comes. We understand the fragility of life and embrace it. Make choices, get rewards or consequences.
Live to the fullest, maintain decent morals and assist society.
No instructions from any gods required.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The alternative is cookie cutter Christianity. I'm not concerned with conformity.

Or coherence.

 

[JayUtah]

It's an old VW ad, possibly with ai slop added.

Does it show VW showrooms under the Euphrates?