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How to talk to an atheist (and you must)
Townhall.com ^ | January 24, 2005 | Mike S. Adams

Posted on 01/26/2005 9:46:21 AM PST by 7thson

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning, I saw a car covered with sacrilegious bumper stickers. It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention. I’m sure he was also seeking to elicit anger from people of faith. The anger helps the atheist to justify his atheism. And, all too often, the atheist gets exactly what he is looking for.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: atheist; christian; christianity; convertordie; cslewis; god; jesuschrist; mikesadams; religion; wrongforum
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To: RightWingAtheist
Well, people at FR, even the most devout religious folk, mostly speak nicely and respectfully to me. I get criticized more for my sick sense of humor than anything else.

Well, as a devout Christian, I think some of your posts are pretty darn funny.

GOD bless you ! (lol)
741 posted on 01/27/2005 6:35:13 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (Rap - the other Disco)
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To: malakhi
Exactly. You either really believe, forthrightly don't believe, or engage in hypocrisy. You don't "choose" to believe. It's not like ordering off a menu.

Right on. And I am so glad to be living here, in the US, and now, when its become more socially acceptable to be an agnostic or atheist. Though, I rarely discuss my religious beliefs (or lack of belief) with the people around me in my daily life. Its a non-factor and just doesn't come up very often. Only people with misconceptions about atheism would be shocked.

742 posted on 01/27/2005 6:38:29 PM PST by Diverdogz
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To: reagan_fanatic

Thanks!


743 posted on 01/27/2005 6:54:54 PM PST by RightWingAtheist (Marxism-the creationism of the left)
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To: MineralMan

This has been a fast thread. Wasn't sure if you missed these questions or just didn't want to answer...

If God convinced you that He does exist, how would you respond? You already agree with societal rules. Would you agree with God about sin and admit that you are a sinner in need of salvation? Would you accept the salvation offered?

Would you agree to allow God to do whatever it takes to convince you that He exists?


744 posted on 01/27/2005 7:00:08 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: Diverdogz
…As an Agnostic, I don't believe that I can say for certain that there is a god or gods or not. Further, If I were to assume that there were a god (or gods), I have no reason to believe that it, being a supreme being, needs a thing from me in terms of worship or whatever.

Of course! A supreme being would not need anything from you. Nothing at all! However, a supreme being, particularly a benevolent one, may very well want to give you something and that something might just turn out to be something you’re really going to need. He is supreme after all.

I can't see any reason to satisfy its needs as I don't know any of the properties of the supreme being and what it desires, if it even exits in the first place. Hey, if it made everything around me and me as well, it can make whatever it needs to satisfy itself.

Indeed, a supreme being can satisfy itself. No doubt. But what if its needs are not the issue? What if its something else? If the supreme being is supreme, then it would not be its own desires that it would be concerned with.

With all that capability and production capacity, its hard to believe it to so insecure as to require mere worship from mere humans. Oy Vey!

Of course not. Insecurity would have nothing to do with it. A supreme being would not even have insecurities. A supreme being could however require many things, including worship, for reasons other than insecurity.

So, until a supreme being reveals itself and explains its need for human comfort,…

Many know that the supreme being has revealed Himself and has explained a great many things and it isn’t comfort from humans that motivates Him.

I'll worry about what is necessary to carve out an honorable, meaningful, fulfilling life on terms that I, in the spirit of my human nature, desire.

Everybody passes when they grade their own work.

My mate, my friends, my dog, good food, red wine, good books, good health, exercise (swimming and cycling), some scuba diving, a few well deserved atta boy's at work, a modest but well maintained house, good music, the freedom to live as I like (as a direct result of my extremely fortunate circumstance of having been born in the best country on the planet)....and oh yes, a speedy internet connection. Wow, to marvel at the works of others, architcture, inventions, art, music, ideas.... That's about all I need to need to be happy and healthy. At some point, hopefully long and far into the future, I'll die.

Yep, you’ll die. And so will your mate and your friends, and your dog. And the good food will be gone and the wine and the books and your health and the scuba and your work and your house and your freedom and your country and the buildings and the inventions and the art and the music and the ideas… it will all eventually turn to dust. Zip. Nada. Zero. Nothing. It will all be for naught because there is nothing else. Nothing higher, nothing beyond, nothing else. Nothing.

Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy it while you can, but just in case there is a supreme being. You might want to seek Him. He just might have something for you beyond the nothing.

Peace,
jweaks

745 posted on 01/27/2005 7:10:47 PM PST by JWinNC (www.webgent.com)
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To: missyme
they have Chosen to die and become a patch of dirt where insects live...

It's not a choice like that.

The choice as you are describing it, is like asking Why I'm choosing to drive a Ford instead of choosing to fly the Millennium Falcon?

It's not really a choice because while of course I would choose heaven or the Millennium Falcon over what I have now, the problem is no matter how much I want them, they don't exists, so it's not really a choice.

Actually, If it was a choice like that, I would pick Mormonism because they beat "regular" (For lack of a better word) Christianity hands down in who has the better afterlife, After they die they get to be God of their own planet. Now that's cool, I really wish that was a choice I could pick.

746 posted on 01/27/2005 7:14:30 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: qam1
Why I'm choosing to drive a Ford instead of choosing to fly the Millennium Falcon?

It's not for sale, but how good are you at playing cards? ;o)

After they die they get to be God of their own planet. Now that's cool, I really wish that was a choice I could pick.

Nah, too much responsibility, and besides, I need my coffee in the morning! :o)

747 posted on 01/27/2005 7:22:33 PM PST by malakhi
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To: malakhi
It's not for sale, but how good are you at playing cards? ;o)

My 80 year old grandma at the nursing home says I'm pretty good. Does a straight beat a flush and do they beat a 3 of a kind again? And what's this "raise" thingy again. Hold on, let me go cash in some of my stocks and bonds and I'll be right over.

Nah, too much responsibility, and besides, I need my coffee in the morning!

Yeah, You are probably right. So I choose Purgatory!!! Yes Purgatory!! I think it gets a bad rap. All the goodie two-shoes will go to heaven so it sounds boring, while the truly evil bastards will end up in hell, so I obviously don't want to go there and be with them. So all that's left is purgatory where the people there aren't really bad but they ain't totally good either, or in other words the cool-fun people end up in Purgatory. So if I got to spend eternity somewhere, I might as well spend it with the cool-fun people.

748 posted on 01/27/2005 8:07:51 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: qam1; Stone Mountain
The monument for Atheist would have been a sculpture of an Atom

I was wondering why no one has suggested that all this time. The Soviet Union was filled with those "atoms", and also space rockets, and it was thought that science is in some opposition to religion. Gagarin -- the first man in space, -- supposedly was asked if he saw God up there and he reported that he didn't. Case closed.

The truth is that a monument to science is a monument to science. We all can celebrate human knowledge. Monks invented scientific method and the Church sustained science up till the point when the big government got into the picture. The Vatican to this day maintains an astrophysics lab. The notion that science somehow disturbs religion is conceit second-rate scientists have. Galileo and Newton were religious men (Newton considered his commentary on the Revelation, not the Principae, his greatest achievement). Einstein expressed his views on the quantum mechanics in religious terms. The notion that atheism has any intrinsic connection to science is a 20 century superstition.

749 posted on 01/27/2005 8:44:02 PM PST by annalex
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To: qam1

Holy cow-----I didn't know athiests got their own symbol. Not a bad choice, either.


750 posted on 01/27/2005 8:50:18 PM PST by Junior_G
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To: DannyTN
Post 621 was to you

Sorry, I wasn't dodging you, I have to take care of business every now and then.
In post 621, your link isn't showing. Post me the link and I'll be happy to check it out.

Now, the links to the religious affiliations...
Those compilations just don't pan out. First of all, the original records do not show religious affiliations. If you follow the references to the compilers notes you find:

"Episcopalianism can be inferred from his prominence"

"His funeral oration was delivered by"

"his associations were Episcopalian"

"A native of Connecticut, is usually taken to be a Congregationalist". There were no Congregational churches in Connecticut.

"Was buried in a Quaker churchyard"

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera all the way down the list.
Not one name, not one, is referenced to any historical document or quote that shows religious affiliation.
...
751 posted on 01/27/2005 8:57:15 PM PST by mugs99 (Restore the Constitution)
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To: DannyTN
There is absolutely no reason to believe that was written by St. Ignatious.
Paul described the gnostics and warned of such in his writings


Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. You said "I am not limited to the King James Version either". I took you at your word when I posted that second century quote. Your seventeenth century reply shows that your mind is closed to anything other than official King James dogma. That's ok though, I understand how strongly many feel about their beliefs.
...
752 posted on 01/27/2005 9:20:54 PM PST by mugs99 (Restore the Constitution)
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To: Selkie

ROFL....
Are we having fun yet?
Seriously, I'm getting way too far from my original point on this thread, and I sure don't want to get into a copy and paste quote war or come off looking like an anti Christian zealot.

We are fighting a just war for the survival of our Rebublic. We are not religious crusaders out to conquer the world. All this clamor to proclaim America a Christian country causes fear in non Christians. A man who fears you will fight you.

Atheists are just as important to our survival as Christians. We need to put America first, IMHO.
...


753 posted on 01/27/2005 9:37:53 PM PST by mugs99 (Restore the Constitution)
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To: js1138
Thank you for your reply!

I find it interesting that Jesus rebuked Thomas for his doubt but wound up providing the evidence that thomas required. There are lots of interpretations concerning the need for faith. I have faith that curiosity and skepticism are not mortal sins.

Right after giving Thomas the proof he required:

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed. - John 20:29

So there is a blessing in faith that doesn't seek any proof. Nevertheless, doubting Thomas was an Apostle, too.

754 posted on 01/27/2005 11:38:36 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: RadioAstronomer
What a beautiful, beautiful movie!!! Thank you so very much!
755 posted on 01/27/2005 11:45:23 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: mugs99
Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. You said "I am not limited to the King James Version either". I took you at your word when I posted that second century quote. Your seventeenth century reply shows that your mind is closed to anything other than official King James dogma.

You didn't upset met. But you keep throwing out assertions that are so dramatically contradictory to accepted and verifiable history, that you just have no credibility.

Usually the story about Jesus being in India comes from the "missing years" between 12 and the start of His missionary. Of course that has been debunked no less than 3 times.

To come up with yet another Jesus/India story and attribute it to Ignatious, when that is completely contradictory to Ignatious's known writings, just strikes me as hogwash.

What do you do? Stay up late at night reading alternative Internet sites and assume that they are gospel?

756 posted on 01/28/2005 3:25:52 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: steve-b

Are you calling me a Drama Queen for a quote in an article written by someone other than I?


757 posted on 01/28/2005 3:29:29 AM PST by 7thson (I think it takes a big dog to weigh a hundred pounds!)
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To: Semper Paratus
I do not believe in God.

I believe in men.

That's the most beautiful religion I can image.
758 posted on 01/28/2005 3:40:15 AM PST by an italian (We are proud B countries: Bush, Berlusconi and Blair!!!!)
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To: mugs99
"There were no Congregational churches in Connecticut."

LOL It was the state religion!!!

Connecticut - Congregationist Church was state religion

759 posted on 01/28/2005 3:52:18 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: DannyTN
LOL It was the state religion!!!

ROFL!
The source you provided, in the compilers notes states that Congregation churches were only in New England, none were in Connecticut. I was quoting from your source!
...
760 posted on 01/28/2005 7:58:47 AM PST by mugs99 (Restore the Constitution)
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