My pastor also brought up an interesting point: even if an Atheist were to get into Heaven, it would actually be torture to him! While we don't know exactly the nature of Heaven, we know that Heaven is a place where you can be with God. And God is love. So if you don't love others, you are going to have a miserable time. Wait, wait you say. Can't an Atheist be capable of love? Love is meant to be eternal, to last forever. That's why we say "I love you forever." But atheists believe there is no such thing as forever, when you die you die, you cease to exist. Second of all, atheists do not recognize their own sin, because to them, there is no such thing as sin. When you don't recognize your sin, you are incapable of truly loving others. Let me give you a personal example. When I was in HS (before I became Christian) I treated one of my friends very well. I respected him a lot, and trusted him. It turns out the reason I liked him so much was because I was so envious of his good looks (he got all the girls ok) Since I couldn't have what he had, I did the next best thing: worship him. Now, can you honestly say that I liked/loved him? No way, it was tainted with envy (sin). That's what I mean when I say, a person who does not recognize his own sin cannot truly be capable of loving others.
ah, gg, i don't think so. his world view is just different from yours--- this certainly does not mean delusional in any definition. the dude is trying to explain his experience, there is nothing wrong with that, and it should be encouraged. you are acting like the religious intolerant you so deeply despise. wonder why ?? best, surfer
I was educated, as I suspect many others were, for nearly 20 years in the public education system. In all that time the predominent teaching was secular humanism, evolution, and atheism. For me and all those likewise educated how can anyone say we as children were not brainwashed in those questionable religions? To say we were not is truly dellusional.
_______________________________________ Change evolution to evolutionism and they are most certainly religions by any definition including worldview. Wake up and smell the roses.
_________________________________________ What a perfect example of the brainwashing of the public education system.
Yes, and another very important point along these lines: many theists (and of course nontheists) have supernatural experiences that cannot be explained away lightly. In spite of all the brain stimulation studies, it is difficult, if one looks at the evidence, to dismiss all supernatural experiences using natural, ordinary understandings. Imo one supernatural experience will challenge even the most ardent skeptic's neutrality. And growth in most religions - animistic, theistic, occult, Hindu, etc. - occurs very often through the supernatural. Try to tell a Christian in Communist China or a Lama in Tibet or a skinwalker on the Navajo reservation that there is no spiritual side of life! These people see the miraculous and unexplainable frequently.