[Basilissa]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

If God sends me to Hell for this, then I don't know whether he's all that perfect really. Please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not trying to insult your beliefs. I only think that you can't punish someone for ignorance. It's basically bullying. What God would damn a heart? You don't get a choice in the matter over whether you're stupid or not so why should you get condemned for it?

And also, just, WHY WOULD HE WANT TO TEST YOUR FAITH? He sounds like an insecure teenage girl when you put it like that. "You guys, you believe in me don't you?"

He is a Jealous God, and he punishes people who don't believe in Him (Exodus 20:5; Joshua 24:19-20; Nahum 1:2). We don't know why; it's for God to know and for us to obey.

[LuceyRiverat]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

Not at all, young lady. Nobody at Landover Baptist Church wants to block you and your foolish opinions, no matter how wrong and ridiculous they may be. It's all about respect.

Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

You see, True Christians™ here respect the Pastors because they are more knowledgable and better than us. They respect Jesus Christ because no one is better than Him. And Unsaved Trash respect all that are better than them. Kindly remember your place as lost scum. At least until you let Jesus inside you to cleanse your stained and corrupt soul.

In Christ

I'm going to get so many people angry by this: but respect is earned.

I can respect Jesus when he proves to us today he deserves it (not based on the Bible, because I could direct you to some interesting works on the Flying Spaghetti Monster) and I respect everyone's religion, under the agreement that they don't insult others in any way. I've read a couple of articles on here ranging from Gerard Way' sinfulness to why Muslims are outdated and none of them respect other views, so why should I respect yours?

[LuceyRiverat]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

He is a Jealous God, and he punishes people who don't believe in Him (Exodus 20:5; Joshua 24:19-20; Nahum 1:2). We don't know why; it's for God to know and for us to obey.

Jealous? Isn't that a bit, dare I say it, pathetic for one who is so great?

[Didymus Much]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

I haven't been fed lies actually, my parents always encouraged me to be open minded and make up my own opinions...

So why are you refusing to read the Bible, and form an EDUCATED opinion?

...I will read the Bible sometime, but I feel like everyone here is using it as an excuse...

"Excuse" = reason you don't agree with, or see the logic behind, because of your refusal to inform yourself. Why should this attitude be applauded?

...'You haven't read the Bible so your opinions don't matter.'...

If the subject is the contents of the Bible, then yes, if you haven't read it, your opinion is based on ignorance, and does not matter. You have the power to change the situation, we don't.

...I don't know whether you've read The God Delusion but I'm sure you feel the same way about that...

Please, stop telling me how I feel about things. If you wish to know, the polite thing to do would be to ask.

...So hey, I'm probably going to get blocked soon for the disgrace of posting a different view?...

The only one disgraced by your posting views based on your own ignorance of the contents of the Bible is you, and as I said above, you and you alone have the power to change that.

...Have you heard of free speech? It's where people are allowed to voice an opinion...

The Constitution (where your idea of free speech comes from) delineates the powers and responsibilities of the government. As this is a privately owned and operated website, the Constitution DOES NOT APPLY HERE.

...This site is laughable really. Basically me being blocked will only go to show that you can't defend your own views well enough.

No, it would mean that the moderators have tired of your repeated refusals to educate yourself, and no longer wish to pay for your bandwidth consumption.

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

I can respect Jesus when he proves to us today he deserves it (not based on the Bible..) etc..

Based on what, then? Where is your evidence other than that?

Can't seem to find your introductory post

[Basilissa]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

I can respect Jesus when he proves to us today he deserves it (not based on the Bible, because I could direct you to some interesting works on the Flying Spaghetti Monster) and I respect everyone's religion, under the agreement that they don't insult others in any way.

How can you "prove" that Jesus "deserves" your respect without the Bible? Just asking, because I don't get it, given that the Bible IS our source of knowledge about Jesus. There are very few mentions of Jesus/early Christianity by non-Christians, but they are very short, and usually, well, anti-Christian (Tacitus comes to my mind, and that's basically it).

I've read a couple of articles on here ranging from Gerard Way' sinfulness to why Muslims are outdated and none of them respect other views, so why should I respect yours?

You don't have to. It's your choice and not our problem, whether you want to go to Heaven or Hell.

Jealous? Isn't that a bit, dare I say it, pathetic for one who is so great?

That's how God describes Himself, and your comment is pure blasphemy.

[LuceyRiverat]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

I recommend that you look at the top of this page... it says "Landover Baptist Church... Christian Church Web Forums," right? So why are you surprised that people cite the Bible here? Just in case you didn't know, the Bible is the sole foundation of Christianity.

That's fine, I wouldn't say surprised, THE FIRST TIME. The thing is, what you fail to see is that to anyone who isn't a Christian the Bible is just a book. Surely you can think of other ways to argue about why God exists.

And to all the people who doubt I've read the Bible at all. I have. It's like reading a dictionary, to me (which people do ) I've used it often and have a good grasp of a lot of it, but that doesn't mean I've actually sat down one day and read it all the way through. Still, I can tell you what most of it means. I've looked at quotes and read verses enough to understand the fundamental concepts.

Also, why don't you guys read some more books which don't support Christianity? Isn't of pinning yourself down to just that? I mean, God can't blame you for at least experimenting with other ideas. Can he? Really? There's a line between being strict and being psycho.

[James Hutchins]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

Ok yeah, to be fair, I've read bits of the Bible but not cover to cover.

But anyway, I don't think that matters? Nothing in there could explain why someone ignorant could have to suffer for eternity for something which they can't be blamed for. And yeah, explain to me why God created atheists again before you make yourself seem like even more of a narrow-minded bigot...

Right you are. Not having a clue about something makes you an instant expert. Please, share more of your infallible insights.

[Didymus Much]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

...I mean, God can't blame you for at least experimenting with other ideas. Can he? Really?...

Yes, He can.

Ezekiel 23: 28-30 "28 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated: 29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms. 30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols."

[LuceyRiverat]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

If the subject is the contents of the Bible, then yes, if you haven't read it, your opinion is based on ignorance, and does not matter. You have the power to change the situation, we don't.


The only one disgraced by your posting views based on your own ignorance of the contents of the Bible is you, and as I said above, you and you alone have the power to change that.

-It's not just the Bible though, this is the issue I have. You could argue teleologically or cosmologically which I understand much more than basing it on a book. You could delve into the many different points through rationalism which was my first post, actually.

Although Christianity may be based on the Bible, what about a belief in a deity more generally? Why do you believe that there has to be something and the Bible isn't just a book? You could feel that, I don't know, Harry Potter is real but basing your 'evidence' on the series wouldn't convince me.

And how could God or Jesus prove himself? Well he could appear to me. And before someone says he has better things to do, he can do them at the same time. By virtue of being omnipotent and omnipresent.

[LuceyRiverat]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

Yes, He can.

Well that's rude of him.

[James Hutchins]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

-It's not just the Bible though, this is the issue I have. You could argue teleologically or cosmologically which I understand much more than basing it on a book. You could delve into the many different points through rationalism which was my first post, actually.

Although Christianity may be based on the Bible, what about a belief in a deity more generally? Why do you believe that there has to be something and the Bible isn't just a book? You could feel that, I don't know, Harry Potter is real but basing your 'evidence' on the series wouldn't convince me.

And how could God or Jesus prove himself? Well he could appear to me. And before someone says he has better things to do, he can do them at the same time. By virtue of being omnipotent and omnipresent.

I am sure God presents Himself to you every day but it appears you ignore Him. We cannot make you acknowledge His Perfection. We have the common decency to be aware of Him.

[Basilissa]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

That's fine, I wouldn't say surprised, THE FIRST TIME. The thing is, what you fail to see is that to anyone who isn't a Christian the Bible is just a book. Surely you can think of other ways to argue about why God exists.

I said that at least twice within two weeks on this forum, I think I'll end up adding it to my signature:
Christianity is a religion that follows the Bible. Hence, the definition of a Christian is "a person who has read and follows the teachings of the Bible." Therefore, you either are a Christian, follow the Bible, and go to Heaven, or you are not a Christian, you think that the Bible is "just a book,"and go to Hell.

And to all the people who doubt I've read the Bible at all. I have. It's like reading a dictionary, to me (which people do )

Then you haven't read it. A dictionary is a list of relatively short entries. If you ever try to read the Bible, you will realize that it is a long narrative recounting lives of people and their relations with God, with many surprising plot twists. Even from an atheist's stand point, Bible still is a good example of literature (maybe except for Leviticus and Deuteronomy, these two are a little bit heavy to read). Have you ever seen a dictionary like that?

Also, why don't you guys read some more books which don't support Christianity? Isn't of pinning yourself down to just that? I mean, God can't blame you for at least experimenting with other ideas.

Two words: why bother?

[James Hutchins]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

Well that's rude of him.

What makes you think you are in a position to be the Judge of Jesus?

[Didymus Much]

Re: What is it like to be an atheist?

...And how could God or Jesus prove himself? Well he could appear to me...

But then you'd have knowledge. God doesn't want your knowledge, He wants your faith (which is belief WITHOUT proof).

Of course, if you'd read the Bible, you'd know that already.

Are you sensing a pattern here?