I love all of you guys. A strong atheist is no different than a deranged theist. Even if God's existence was proven one day by scientific evidence, the atheist would still rebute it and then argue for days on it what the definition of God really is. Why does it bother an atheist so much if someone believes ? Why do they get so bitter and attack the theist ? In every one of these threads the common theme is the atheist always attacks the theist first, Why is that ? What are they so bitter about ? What does one have to lose by living a life following the 10 commandments ? What are they giving up by believing ?
There might be a few like that sure. But no genuinely rational person would deny a thing proven to be or fail to even seriously consider the evidence. But, well, you know... Salvation is dependent upon faith. So proof of God ultimately won't save anyone anymore. Unless this God sets up a new paradigm where since faith is now impossible given that there is now knowledge, some sort of action is required in order to reap some eternal benefit. Oh that's easy. Because theists cannot live an let live. They have to, in street parlance, "be up in everybody's grill." Questioning what someone believes in is not an attack. Sorry to say, but you got that confused. Perhaps you should look inward to see why you feel it's an attack. Following the 10 commandments, many of which are not unique to the bible and predate the bible, are mostly good for society in general. But what you must understand is that what is given up by believing is a rational mind. A rational God should be able to withstand a rational inquiry, no? But more to the point, explain to me how one goes about making themselves believe something? Try this. For now on, I want you to believe that 2+2=5 or that birds only die on a Wednesday evening. Hopefully from this exercise you'll begin to explore what belief really is and isn't.
Because the universal belief in a higher power has stood there right with them. Even though christianity is no where near the oldest and has faced fierce oppostion it is still the largest religion that is still practiced. The more it is attacked the stronger it becomes.
What is the definition of atheism ? Atheism The doctrine that there is no God or gods doctrine A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
Hardwired propensity to belief in unproven things in the human genome perhaps? Not really. It's becoming by its own standards, more apostate than ever before. Due to both internal and external forces. Not to mention how doctrine is handed down in a nearly "telephone game" manner from generation to generation. Today's Christianity is noticeably different than Christianity just 200 years ago not to mention earlier than that. So, you can put down the pom-poms and confetti.
I'm not going to play dictionary defense with you. If you want to think of atheism as a belief, by all means. If that makes you sleep better at night, go for it. I mean to say that atheists believe there is no god means that there certainly is a god and that they are deluding themselves. All the while there is no proof that said god exists. So, would you think that those who say there is no Santa simply believe there is no Santa? Even though there is no proof that Santa exists. One last question though, would you think of military doctrine as a belief or just a set of principles that guide that institution?
This thread is a perfect example. It was positive for a few pages and no where in those pages was anyone getting up in your grill trying to make you change your BELIEF in non existence when this nice atheist decides to attack.
This goes back to my oxygen or star question. Just because you do not see something does not mean it does not exist. If you are standing on a mountain and someone says there is gold below it, an atheist would argue that there is not because they do not see it.