Replies

I’m sorry I took so long to get back to you. Sundays are usually pretty full around here.

>>>>>>>>>>>>If you have proof, then;
A) Please provide it<<<<<<<<<

No problem; empirical history good enough for you? How about the historical reality of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Chist. Since the Christian Bible can be termed a “biased source” from a historical standpoint, let’s take a look outside the Bible for empirical evidence:
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/jesus_extrabib.html

Please note that the earlier sources can be described as biased in the opposite direction from supporting Christ and his claims, if not downright hostile.

The link I provided left out a VERY hostile coroboration, from the writers of the Talmud:
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/jesus_extrabib.html

>>>>>>>B) ...since you are gifted with empirical evidence and faith is unnecessary<<<<<<<<<
Well, I would not term faith “unnecessary”. But what is necessary is intellectuaul integrity. If you accept the proposition that Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Roman Senate on March 15, 44 BCE, you base your acceptance of that event as historical reality on a grand total of 4 ancient descriptions:

documented by Nicolaus of Damascus
According to Eutropius
Suetonius reports his last words
Plutarch reports that Caesar said nothing

The interesting part of these accounts is that we have discrepancies between two of the Roman Historians...Could it be that the popularly accepted accounts are some sort of weird myth or fairy tale? I mean those discrepancies really make me wonder...

Further exploration can be found here, including the context of the excerpts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar

Now, what I mean by intellectual integrity is that one event is taught as history in classrooms. The other event is held up as a fairy tale—something that should be left behind with embarrassment and only dicussed with head shaking incredulity as a relic from humanity’s ignorant infancy.

>>>>>>>>I assume you have no faith<<<<<<<<
I got past faith about 10 years ago, FRiend. I KNOW where I’m going. And I know what God has done for me in the “here and now real world”. Of course that is completely subjective knowledge on my part.

Now, my original response to your response came from a variety of sources — mainly, personal experiences. There are certain people I have talked with on this forum over the years that have identified themselves as atheists. And they parallel those that I have met in real life. The ones that I know are hard core atheists and secure in that faith, I never see posting on religious threads.

The true, secure atheist ignores religion as a waste of time. Or can joke around with some one about their spiritual practices/beliefs. The atheists that go out of their way defend their atheism, or even better, negatively psychanalyze some one that makes a profession of faith are the ones that are looking to bolster their beleif in nothing. Or to somehow rationalize that they are better than those mired in superstitution and reinforce the persuasion that they should remain enlightened. The atheists that I talk to that will give me the time of day in terms of religion are either weak in their faith, or...

Want to know what it is like to feel some hope. Especially in the quiet hours of the middle of the night, when sleep is elusive and the mind refuses to stop dwelling on death. That terrible end of all things that takes place when the last breath exits the body.

I know I did.

Now, digest this, then go ahead and reply with a little (or big) moving of the goalposts — you know you want to! Or, pick up a copy of this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=case%20for%20christ%20strobel&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_25830000_1&results-process=default

Just be warned — an atheist even discussing religion is already on a slippery slope.