Is God dead? Atheism finds a market in U.S

Reuters ^ | 10/18/06 | Michael Conlon

[PrepareToLeave]

...I am honestly glad for you. Thank you, I really believe you mean it. Whatever happened to push you away, that "personal" thing, I am sorry. I hesitantly made a step of faith and my life has been filled with wonder, for now as I read the Bible, it's not just words but life to me. So, I pray I won't go back as well. If you ever want to email me please do. Peace.

[Junior]

From the Treaty of Tripoli, which was ratified by the United States on 1797-06-10:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

[Junior]

Beyond the question of the Golden Rule's source, then its all just a matter of self-preservation for atheists? I won't hurt you if you won't hurt me? What if the other fellow just doesn't Believe the same as you?

The "Golden Rule" is so simple that more than one pre-Christian culture came up with a version. It's not so much "self-preservation" as "enlightened self interest." Human beings, being social critters, have to get along to survive. The Golden Rule is simply the the distilled-down essence of what it takes to live together.

Now, as for what happens when the other guy doesn't hold to the Golden Rule? Exactly what happens now -- he is dealt with by those around him. God doesn't come down on His magic cloud and smite the fellow. The bad guy's fellow human beings do it.

[Junior]

Your interpretation is "knee-jerk fundamentalism."

I never called God a liar. I simply pointed out what was said in the Bible. Not my interpretation of what was in the Bible, but exactly what was said therein. Jesus' death was temporary, like a video game death. His suffering was not all that great compared with the sufferings of others back then, or even nowadays. He died relatively quickly (a few hours), when the method of execution (crucifixion) was reknowned for allowing people to linger for days. Three days later he's up and hanging with his buds, and forty days later he inherits the whole shebang. Not bad for what amounts to a short period of mild discomfort.

[Elsie]

NO I am not LDS, don't know much about LDS...

They have a similar idea that our souls are pre existant somewhere, and just WAITING for some humans to copulate so they'll have a body to enter.

[Elsie]

Think it a bit odd that Christianity for the most part are confused about these two brothers?

What 'confusion'? Esau saw no value in what was rightfully his.

Today's people, for the most part, see no value in their souls.

[Elsie]

Huh?

[Just mythoughts]

Where exactly in the Bible is the description given about the creation of the souls. What does soul mean? Do you think that heaven is a factory producing souls every time an egg is fertilized????

What exactly is the message given in the very very short book of Jude???

[Elsie]

Do you think there is a 'soul' factory in heaven?

No, I do not.

Think is QUITE specific...

Genesis 2

1. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

[tacticalogic]

Today's people, for the most part, see no value in their souls.

You're comfortable leveling that charge against the majority of you fellow man?

[Elsie]

Isn't there a reference to do not bow down to me I am a fellow messenger???

Not that I can find.

There are references to men talking to angels and not realizing it til later.

In the NT there's a verse containing... 'entertaining angels unaware'.

[Elsie]

I don't know.

[antiRepublicrat]

I believe in Christ. You can gamble your eternal destiny on the claim He is a liar.

Meanwhile, Joe over here is a Buddhist. We both gamble our eternal destinies on the claim the Buddha was a liar.

[Elsie]

They are ideas I got from reading things like Kierkegaard, Hobbes, Locke, Plato, Aristotle, Voltaire, etc...

I sure miss him and Calvin...

[Elsie]

50 heads in a row equals odds of 1 to 5.63 times 10 to the 14th power. (I hope I figured that correctly.)

Try 2⁵⁰ instead.

[Elsie]

Treaty of Tripoli,You REALLY need to GOOGLE® this and see the truth about what you've posted here.

[TN4Liberty]

So the end question is, where is the sacrifice?

I believe I am going to heaven, but that doesn't mean I want to be tortured to death.

Even atheists who look at death as just a big sleep wouldn't want to be tortured, even though they believe that they ultimately will not feel anymore pain.

He endured more than a simple death by lethal injection.

[Elsie]

Yes I am.

[Junior]

You need to read the plain words of that paragraph.

[Elsie]

Buddha never claimed to be able to forgive sins, so Joe is still stuck with that little problem.