Britain bends the knee

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm just responding to questions.
And no, there is no belief system.
That really seems to be a tough one for theists to grasp.

Atheists have as big of a problem as religion. Religious folks believe in intelligent design. I don't buy it but you believe that everything came from nothing? How can that be?

[Copier Addict]

Atheists have as big of a problem as religion. Religious folks believe in intelligent design. I don't buy it but you believe that everything came from nothing? How can that be?

In that sense theists and atheists both believe something came from nothing. But instead of using critical thinking, theists choose to attribute the universe to a mighty man in the sky who conjured it into existence.

[BillyCarpenter]

In that sense theists and atheists both believe something came from nothing. But instead of using critical thinking, theists choose to attribute the universe to a mighty man in the sky who conjured it into existence.

Just try supporting your stance that everything came from nothing. Sounds just as ridiculous to me.

[Copier Addict]

Just try supporting your stance that everything came from nothing. Sounds just as ridiculous to me.

Okay. I'll tell you what, I'm not going to try to debate a topic I don't fully understand. But feel free to debate amongst yourself.

[BillyCarpenter]

Okay. I'll tell you what, I'm not going to try to debate a topic I don't fully understand. But feel free to debate amongst yourself.

No, I actually agree with you. Nobody knows. However, you can't get something from nothing. I'm pretty sure that's true.

[BillyCarpenter]

Okay. I'll tell you what, I'm not going to try to debate a topic I don't fully understand. But feel free to debate amongst yourself.

The next time someone asks this question, I would simply say that I don't need to prove how the world came to be to prove that God isn't real.

[Copier Addict]

No, I actually agree with you. Nobody knows. However, you can't get something from nothing. I'm pretty sure that's true.

Wow! Is that a consensus? Could this be a breakthrough?

[BillyCarpenter]

Wow! Is that a consensus? Could this be a breakthrough?

As a kid, young man and adult, I did everything to make myself believe in God. Went to church and saw folks talk in tongues. Had many conversations with believers. They always told me that they knew god was real because they could feel him. I never felt shit and tried. Finally I had to be honest with myself based on my experience.

[BillyCarpenter]

By the way, I'm not trying to convince anyone that God isn't real.

[Copier Addict]

As a kid, young man and adult, I did everything to make myself believe in God. Went to church and saw folks talk in tongues. Had many conversations with believers. They always told me that they knew god was real because they could feel him. I never felt shit and tried. Finally I had to be honest with myself based on my experience.

What got me is how people insist on using the Bible to prove the Bible. And nobody ever had an answer to what happens to the all the people and civilisations that predate the old and new Testament. Do they all go to hell simply because they were born before Christ?

[BillyCarpenter]

What got me is how people insist on using the Bible to prove the Bible. And nobody ever had an answer to what happens to the all the people and civilisations that predate the old and new Testament. Do they all go to hell simply because they were born before Christ?

I also looked at it from another angle. They say all sin is equal. And you'll burn in hell for eternity for any of them if you don't ask for forgiveness. That seems totally unreasonable to me and not someone I want to worship.

[Copier Addict]

I also looked at it from another angle. They say all sin is equal. And you'll burn in hell for eternity for any of them if you don't ask for forgiveness. That seems totally unreasonable to me and not someone I want to worship.

But the get out of jail free card is simply accepting on your deathbed. So one could do the most horrific things and still go to heaven as long as they accepted Jesus before they die.

[BillyCarpenter]

But the get out of jail free card is simply accepting on your deathbed. So one could do the most horrific things and still go to heaven as long as they accepted Jesus before they die.

I've had that conversation with a believer when I was much younger. I won't bother going over it but lets just say I wasn't satisfied with their answer. I think if someone is going to believe in God that they should go into very skeptical and ask the toughest of questions. Hell, I grew up in the bible belt and finally realized that I was holding on to God out of fear. That ain't no way to live.

[nullskull]

I use my critical thinking abilities to decide between good or bad. It's really that simple. I don't need an almighty deity to decide that for me.

So your decisions are based solely upon your own judgement? That's a flimsy thing you know. It's subject to the broader culture, your tendency to be pessimistic or optimistic, whether you woke up on the wrong side of bed...

[nullskull]

I've had that conversation with a believer when I was much younger. I won't bother going over it but lets just say I wasn't satisfied with their answer. I think if someone is going to believe in God that they should go into very skeptical and ask the toughest of questions. Hell, I grew up in the bible belt and finally realized that I was holding on to God out of fear. That ain't no way to live.

People reject the true God because he isn't who they want him to be. And no someone simply can't pull out salvation at the last second. That's disingenuous at best. Not that it'd be impossible for someone to turn to faith before they died. But to think it's as simple as saying a few words no. I believe the Holy Spirit is what touches our hearts and minds.