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Confessions of a Lapsed Atheist
American Thinker ^ | 6/21/2009 | Jenn Q. Public

Posted on 06/22/2009 5:33:32 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

I think if Atheists really, truly believed in their own atheist ideals, they would set up totalitarian regimes to crush religious belief and criminalise dissent.

Oh wait, my bad, they did that already.


41 posted on 06/22/2009 6:18:20 AM PDT by agere_contra
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To: 50sDad
This is the mental barricade that will defeat "Single-Issue-Creationists" from ever sucessfully witnessing to scientific intellectuals. It is better to offer the truth of Christ's sacrifice and show the evidence of an eteranl love than it is to hit people over the head with a six-day creation as the only tool in your tool box.

Which has been done many times on this forum, to no avail.

People don't believe because they choose not to believe, not because they can't.

The excuses they offer are just justifications for that decision.

42 posted on 06/22/2009 6:19:07 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe

>>Your “advice” to Christians comes across like the advice of hardcore Leftist Democrats who keep telling the RNC that they need to be more like them.<<

Ooooooo, spot on!!!!!


43 posted on 06/22/2009 6:19:25 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe

Great analogy -

pushing against a door to keep someone out that you deny is even at the door.

Hmmm... seems that this analogy has been made before...

Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.


44 posted on 06/22/2009 6:19:59 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins
Believers are largely hypocrites who use their faith as a justification tool.

Give an example.

45 posted on 06/22/2009 6:20:14 AM PDT by Tribune7 (Better to convert enemies to allies than to destroy them)
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To: metmom

I’ve concluded the same.

They don’t not believe because of the reasons they give.

They don’t believe first, and come up with “reasons” to justify that rejection of belief.

Kinda like activist leftist judges. Come to the desired conclusion first, then seek justification wherever it can be found.


46 posted on 06/22/2009 6:21:51 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: elcid1970; sandyeggo

>>They are both convinced that they can overthrow the Vatican in less than an hour after their plane lands in Rome.<<

LOL!!!
I’m so sorry. It amazes me that “Christians” like this act so, well, Un-Christlike.

One of the FReepers Sandyeggo, calls it “Slash and Burn Evangelization” I think that fits.


47 posted on 06/22/2009 6:22:06 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: netmilsmom; MyTwoCopperCoins
You are looking at it from an Evangelical POV. They are called to evangelize.

Evangelicals believe that not all are called to go. Some are called to pray, some are called to give. Some are called to go overseas, some are called to go in their workplace, some are called to go in their neighborhoods.

What matters is that one is doing the part God called each one to do.

In my mind, he has been told. I have no need to “convince” him, rather I will live a Holy life and show him. That is my witness and I am about as faithful as you get.

That is also how most evangelicals feel.

48 posted on 06/22/2009 6:23:39 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: netmilsmom
I would risk everything for My Lord. But I have no need to risk everything to save you. You have a choice. Take it or leave it. I will take it and live it.

I thought Christ's instruction was to spread it and risk life and limb so that others may be "saved", too, not just yourself...

Thus far, you have merely declared that you are willing to make an effort for your own "salvation" alone... was Christ that, ahem, selfish?

You just revealed how much you'd be willing to risk for your faith, and as far as it can be measured, it's not much.

49 posted on 06/22/2009 6:23:42 AM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins (I don't have a license to kill; I have a learner's permit.)
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To: agere_contra
set up totalitarian regimes to crush religious belief and criminalise dissent

This happens every time leftists gain power. And leftists tend to be atheists, their god is the State.

50 posted on 06/22/2009 6:24:29 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: metmom

Also, you are to work within your spiritual gifting.
Some are not gifted in evangelism, and attempting to “force” it will not have positive results.


51 posted on 06/22/2009 6:26:31 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: metmom

>>That is also how most evangelicals feel. <<

Seriously?!?
Because we were told by the mod that FReepers are allowed to slam the RCC because it is part of their ministry to do this.

I’m so sorry if I offended you. Seriously, that’s what I was told.


52 posted on 06/22/2009 6:26:32 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

I would and will risk everything for my God. Risk does not always come in grand ways standing before boards of inquisition, although some are called to do that.
Everyday I risk rejection by friends and family, by co workers and my job, etc for my God.
I risk nor taking that really good business deal because I know it is shady, and wrong. I risk my job by speaking out when necessary. I risk a friendship because I won’t tell that one little lie for them.
Life is risky to a true Christian. We are beset by risk all the time. Sometimes the easier risk is to pack up and go overseas, the harder one is to be true to your Lord right in the community where you are.
But dont get me wrong. If asked with a gun in my face if I were a Christian, with Gods grace I would answer yes. I would hope the rest of my family (and Im pretty sure they would) would do the same.


53 posted on 06/22/2009 6:27:28 AM PDT by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: agere_contra
I think if Atheists really, truly believed in their own atheist ideals, they would set up totalitarian regimes to crush religious belief and criminalise dissent.

You mean, like in the Inquisition? LOL! Just imagine if they had machine-guns, mass-manufacture technology and nuclear weapons at their disposal, instead of single-loading muskets and primitive swords...

54 posted on 06/22/2009 6:28:00 AM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins (I don't have a license to kill; I have a learner's permit.)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

>>I thought Christ’s instruction was to spread it and risk life and limb so that others may be “saved”, too, not just yourself...<<

LOL! Hon, you need to study up more.
We are told to lead by example. We live a Christian life and others see that. You, by free will, chose what you want.

If you ask, I will witness to you. But we were not told to force anything down your throat. That mistake was made hundreds of years ago by the Catholic Church.

Come on into this century.


55 posted on 06/22/2009 6:29:18 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: SeekAndFind
I've felt the incredible rush of intense love and peace that comes with the touch of the holy spirit (also known as ‘being saved’.) It is something that cannot be measured by an oscilloscope, a voltmeter or any other electronic device. It cannot be recreated in a test tube nor be the subject of a controlled experiment.

So, for the atheists out there, know this - I cannot prove what has happened to me by any scientific method known to man, but it was as real as the keyboard I'm typing on or the monitor I am looking at. I know without a doubt the holy spirit, and by extension God, is real - something I am most thankful for.

56 posted on 06/22/2009 6:30:48 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (When you put Democrats in charge, stupid things happen)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

>>You mean, like in the Inquisition? LOL! Just imagine if they had machine-guns, mass-manufacture technology and nuclear weapons at their disposal, instead of single-loading muskets and primitive swords... <<

You mean like in Communist countries?
I belong to a Slovak parish. What you are speaking of happened, only it was the atheists doing it.


57 posted on 06/22/2009 6:31:55 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins; netmilsmom
I thought Christ's instruction was to spread it and risk life and limb so that others may be "saved", too, not just yourself...

A misunderstanding of Scripture seems to come part and parcel with being an atheist.

Again, one is a Christian because of who one believes, not whether or not they fit into your distorted view of what a Christian should be.

58 posted on 06/22/2009 6:33:03 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: netmilsmom

Like I said before, what you are willing to risk for your faith is directly indicative of how much you truly believe in your god-entity.

If you are willing to do only so much as to be able to use faith merely as a psychological salve, then it doesn’t speak much for your faith, or the lack, thereof.


59 posted on 06/22/2009 6:33:10 AM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins (I don't have a license to kill; I have a learner's permit.)
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To: netmilsmom

Atheists continue to mass slaughter people.
Christians? not so much anymore, eh?

It’s funny that the antitheists (like Islamists) _always_ bring up the Inquisition as “proof” that Christianity is false and evil.

It’s as predictable as a leftist bringing up fire/police protection and roads as justification for socialist programs.


60 posted on 06/22/2009 6:34:48 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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