Thoughts On Atheism and Faith

[Thumpalumpacus]

I have respect for all those who seek truth.
I may disagree with atheists, but I can still respect them as people regardless. I do not see how disrespect will accelerate our arrival at absolute truth and understanding of the universe, if that is your greater purpose.

With that said, having read all of your responses, I would like to finish with expressing my stance on any form of skepticism in a God, or atheism.
(Knowing full well it will be mocked and picked apart, I accept the critical analysis, but do not understand the necessity of disrespect.
I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it. Some may not care, and that's fine by me, but I personally think everyone's belief has some value as we are all going through the experience of being human and existing in the universe.)

God exists and is truth itself. Moreover, not just any God, but only God as referred to in the bible.
Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

That's nice.

I think the Christian god is despicable, and look forward to the day faith in him is regarded as an eccentricity.

[KevinM1]

I have respect for all those who seek truth.
I may disagree with atheists, but I can still respect them as people regardless. I do not see how disrespect will accelerate our arrival at absolute truth and understanding of the universe, if that is your greater purpose.

With that said, having read all of your responses, I would like to finish with expressing my stance on any form of skepticism in a God, or atheism.
(Knowing full well it will be mocked and picked apart, I accept the critical analysis, but do not understand the necessity of disrespect.
I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it. Some may not care, and that's fine by me, but I personally think everyone's belief has some value as we are all going through the experience of being human and existing in the universe.)

God exists and is truth itself. Moreover, not just any God, but only God as referred to in the bible.
Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

I call bullshit on "I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it."  What's the point of going onto an atheist forum, when you know you'll encounter varying forms of resistance to your belief, if you're not, at the very least, trying to have a discussion about the veracity of that belief?  Especially when the OP was specifically about trying to paint atheists as being just as faithful as theists?

No, you wanted to dazzle us with your 'argument' and instead got schooled on exactly how vacuous it was, and now you're trying to backpedal.  Because we atheists?  We've heard all this before.  Many times.  And it's just as stupid now as it was the first time we heard it.  If you're gonna try your hand at apologetics, you need to bring more to the table than the kindergarten level stuff.

Beyond that, you've merely illustrated that you:

1. Don't know what atheism even is
2. Don't grasp basic logic (lol at your assessment of what the burden of proof is/is used for/why it must be met)
3. Apparently believe in nothing but wild assertions

And, no, sorry, not everyone's belief holds value.  If it's based on irrationality, or cannot be supported by evidence, or leads to actions that harm people, then it's junk, and deserves all the derision it gets.  All ideas are not equal.

[Jesster]

I have respect for all those who seek truth.
I may disagree with atheists, but I can still respect them as people regardless. I do not see how disrespect will accelerate our arrival at absolute truth and understanding of the universe, if that is your greater purpose.

With that said, having read all of your responses, I would like to finish with expressing my stance on any form of skepticism in a God, or atheism.
(Knowing full well it will be mocked and picked apart, I accept the critical analysis, but do not understand the necessity of disrespect.
I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it. Some may not care, and that's fine by me, but I personally think everyone's belief has some value as we are all going through the experience of being human and existing in the universe.)

God exists and is truth itself. Moreover, not just any God, but only God as referred to in the bible.
Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

There's some big claims in there. Would you mind providing some evidence to back them up?

[Whateverist]

I have respect for all those who seek truth.
I may disagree with atheists, but I can still respect them as people regardless. I do not see how disrespect will accelerate our arrival at absolute truth and understanding of the universe, if that is your greater purpose.

With that said, having read all of your responses, I would like to finish with expressing my stance on any form of skepticism in a God, or atheism.
(Knowing full well it will be mocked and picked apart, I accept the critical analysis, but do not understand the necessity of disrespect.
I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it. Some may not care, and that's fine by me, but I personally think everyone's belief has some value as we are all going through the experience of being human and existing in the universe.)

God exists and is truth itself. Moreover, not just any God, but only God as referred to in the bible.
Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

That's nice.

I think the Christian god is despicable, and look forward to the day faith in him is regarded as an eccentricity.

Had dinner with two couples in their 80's whose jewish parents were born in either Poland or Russia.  None was a believer and only one had a parent who was.  But even that parent was only quixotically observant.  That one's son, our host, didn't resent being barmixtzfah'd (okay, I'll trust spell check on this - no fucking idea) and is glad now to be able to read yiddish (sp?).  Under the right circumstances, a religious background can just be an interesting cultural heirloom.  If only xtians in the US were less invasively strict toward their kids.

[Iroscato]

I have respect for all those who seek truth.
I may disagree with atheists, but I can still respect them as people regardless. I do not see how disrespect will accelerate our arrival at absolute truth and understanding of the universe, if that is your greater purpose.

With that said, having read all of your responses, I would like to finish with expressing my stance on any form of skepticism in a God, or atheism.
(Knowing full well it will be mocked and picked apart, I accept the critical analysis, but do not understand the necessity of disrespect.
I am simply doing this to express my belief, not to prove it. Some may not care, and that's fine by me, but I personally think everyone's belief has some value as we are all going through the experience of being human and existing in the universe.)

God exists and is truth itself. Moreover, not just any God, but only God as referred to in the bible.
Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

Prove it.

[ray3400]

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."

[The Grand Nudger]

I think the Christian god is despicable, and look forward to the day faith in him is regarded as an eccentricity.

So, pretty much every day but sunday, right?  

@Ray. I'm sorry, what was that again...? I couldn't hear anything over your throbbing desire to profess unto the heathens. Something something something, "believe in me or I'll do shitty things to you" was it?

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

Those who seek truth and find truth, whether by means of skepticism, science, or faith, will ultimately arrive at the Christian God.
And thus, if the atheist was successful in finding truth, they would find the Christian God.
If the scientist was to one day know all, they would come to the conclusion of the Christian God.

Ray, I respect the fact that your beliefs are a core aspect of your identity: they make you individually unique. However, out of curiosity, is it any less valid for a scientist to say the following: those who seek truth and find truth, regardless of whether it be through skepticism, science, or faith,  will ultimately arrive at some scientific fact or observation? Or, put another way, if the theist succeeded in finding truth and became all-knowing, then he would ultimately find science?

[LostLocke]

So, he went from actually trying to talk and have a discussion, to just straight out preaching?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Oh, hey, we didn't gather here for your convenience, just to hear you deliver a sermon.