Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
(February 2, 2012 at 5:58 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Welcome newbie,
Here is partly why I don't believe. I have suffered throughout my life from different afflictions, and at one point it was so bad that I looked for some sort of higher meaning in life, or God if you will. I found nothing, yet low and behold through hard work and dedication I no longer suffer. I rejected the concept of God while simultaneously improving my entire life through my own means. So god either doesn't exist or doesn't care if you believe, but either way, he is rendered irrelevant.
Hi Faith No More, nice to meet you. I'm happy to hear you were able to overcome your afflictions. You mentioned that you sought out God..how did you seek Him?
When I was saved, I was able to clearly see that in my life, all throughout my life, God had always been there, helping me, protecting me, teaching me, and leading me, even though I didn't believe in Him. I just didn't see it at the time. Do you think it is possible that God was helping you overcome these things even though you don't see it at the moment?
Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
February 2, 2012 at 6:38 pm (This post was last modified: February 2, 2012 at 6:41 pm by brotherlylove.)
(February 2, 2012 at 6:32 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: All these stories of conversion from atheism to Christianity just seem so incredibly lame and total letdowns. I mean, "I decided to give Christianity a try" and all of a sudden you're bathed in the blood of our Lord & savior Jesus Christ Almighty? I'm sure you were searching for a religion to believe in or else a place to feel welcomed, and now that you get warm fuzzies from your new religion you're not going to ever give it up because you don't want to let go of the warm fuzzies.
Hey there. I was searching for the truth, and I decided to test its claims. I had looked to many different religions and philosophies, and I decided that it would be hypocritical to take Christianity off of the table without investigating it. Upon investigating it, I found its claims to be true. If they weren't true, I wouldn't be a Christian today. It isnt about feelings for me, it is about evidence.
(February 2, 2012 at 6:34 pm)Minimalist Wrote:
Quote:I answered an alter call
That would be altar call, genius.
So...you think you have an invisible friend? Isn't that special.
Hello Minimalist. Yep, you're right, it should be altar. Yes, I do think knowing the Creator of the Universe personally is pretty special. A better description would be incomprehensibly amazingly wonderful.
Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
February 2, 2012 at 6:44 pm (This post was last modified: February 2, 2012 at 6:44 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Not quite. It is to admit that you're a sinner, that you've transgressed Gods laws, and to accept Gods offer of forgiveness and eternal life that He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ; to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with your mouth that He is Lord. All who do so will be saved.
Yes, God does punish sin. While a human being may be relatively good, say in comparison to a Hitler, in comparison to Gods standard, which is perfection, we are not very good at all. That's me included. God doesn't want to send anyone to hell, but if you reject His forgiveness then you will be judged for your sins, and the penalty for sin is eternal conscious torment in hell.
I used to think that was ridiculous, but until you believe you have no idea how bad sin really is. It is only when you contrast the love of God against the evil of man that you can actually see how wicked the heart of man can be. Nonbelievers see humanity as generally good, but the opposite is true, it is generally sinful. I can understand that you don't see it that way, but that would take admitting your sin to yourself and knowing that you are accountable for all of it. Until you do that you won't understand how bad it actually is, and how much it influences your life and the way you behave, and how desperately you need forgiveness for it.
No one is a sinner, because there is no such thing. There are no such laws, there is no such offer, there is no such thing as a "son" of god, nor is there any such thing as the god to which you are referring. The heart does not control or manipulate your emotions or beliefs, the resurrection narrative is a myth, and anything you confessed to this fiction would simply float off your lips and into thin air. You won't be "saved" any more than I, for all of the reasons above. The rest of your post is gibberish for all of the reasons above.
Welcome aboard.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
(February 2, 2012 at 6:35 pm)Zen Badger Wrote: Under your theology hitler could easily get into heaven.
Ps hi.
Hello there. Yes, anyone could potentially get to Heaven, because God shows no partiality between persons. It isn't about how bad a person you have been, because Jesus paid the price for all sins. It is about forgiveness and redemption.
Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
(February 2, 2012 at 6:38 pm)brotherlylove Wrote: Hey there. I was searching for the truth, and I decided to test its claims. I had looked to many different religions and philosophies, and I decided that it would be hypocritical to take Christianity off of the table without investigating it. Upon investigating it, I found its claims to be true. If they weren't true, I wouldn't be a Christian today. It isnt about feelings for me, it is about evidence.
So, like I said, you were out religion shopping and bought Christianity. More likely you found the claims to be true because you wanted them to be true. No, hey, it's cool man, if you've found a religion you like and enjoy and if it gives your life meaning, then great for you. Just don't come here and try to convince everyone else that they'll get the same warm fuzzies from your religion that you do. We just have higher standards of proof for religious claims than you do.
(February 2, 2012 at 6:34 pm)brotherlylove Wrote: When I was saved,
Oh great, not just a Christian, but a "saved" Christian. Who now apparently believes it's not only his right, but his duty to come here and save all the evil heathens.
Christian apologetics is the art of rolling a dog turd in sugar and selling it as a donut.
February 2, 2012 at 6:46 pm (This post was last modified: February 2, 2012 at 6:46 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
No such price was agreed upon or payed, nor is there anyone to do the books at the end of the day.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
February 2, 2012 at 7:23 pm (This post was last modified: February 2, 2012 at 7:26 pm by brotherlylove.)
(February 2, 2012 at 6:45 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: So, like I said, you were out religion shopping and bought Christianity. More likely you found the claims to be true because you wanted them to be true. No, hey, it's cool man, if you've found a religion you like and enjoy and if it gives your life meaning, then great for you. Just don't come here and try to convince everyone else that they'll get the same warm fuzzies from your religion that you do. We just have higher standards of proof for religious claims than you do.
So, do you think every path is valid? Do you believe in absolute truth or relative truth?
(February 2, 2012 at 6:45 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: Oh great, not just a Christian, but a "saved" Christian. Who now apparently believes it's not only his right, but his duty to come here and save all the evil heathens.
All Christians are saved, but not all Christians are Christians. Christians are commanded by God to preach the gospel, so, if a Christian isn't doing that they are in fact disobeying what God told them to do.
(February 2, 2012 at 6:44 pm)Rhythm Wrote: No one is a sinner, because there is no such thing. There are no such laws, there is no such offer, there is no such thing as a "son" of god, nor is there any such thing as the god to which you are referring. The heart does not control or manipulate your emotions or beliefs, the resurrection narrative is a myth, and anything you confessed to this fiction would simply float off your lips and into thin air. You won't be "saved" any more than I, for all of the reasons above. The rest of your post is gibberish for all of the reasons above.
Welcome aboard.
Hey Rhythm. Do you have any evidence that God does not exist?
(February 2, 2012 at 6:55 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: Yeah, why am I on the hook for what someone supposedly did for me a couple thousand years before I was born?
And if Jesus really did pay for our sins, let's get his money's worth!
You're on the hook for your own sins. Jesus made a way for everyone to be forgiven for their sins and have eternal life. If you reject that, you're on your own.
Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
(February 2, 2012 at 7:23 pm)brotherlylove Wrote: All Christians are saved, but not all Christians are Christians. Christians are commanded by God to preach the gospel, so, if a Christian isn't doing that they are in fact disobeying what God told them to do.
Ah, the "no true Scotsman" fallacy - nice.
Quote:Hey Rhythm. Do you have any evidence that God does not exist?
The burden of proof is not on us, it's on the person claiming the fact to prove it. Do you have proof god exists? (other than "I feel it, so I know he does" That's not proof)
Quote:You're on the hook for your own sins. Jesus made a way for everyone to be forgiven for their sins and have eternal life. If you reject that, you're on your own.
That doesn't account for original sin. How is it fair or just that we are sinners before we've even taken our first breath? I don't know about you, but I had no say on whether I was born or not. Assuming what you say is true and god does exist, why wasn't I given the option of participating in his fucked up experiment of whether I end up believing or not?
"No-one who decides that scientific evidence is not for him and that his own experience or the stories of others is the be all and end all of deciding what's true ever has the right to call people searching for reliable, repeatable evidence narrow-minded. That is hypocrisy of the most laughable kind." Derren Brown - Tricks of the Mind.
![[Image: mybannerglitter06eee094.gif]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i118.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo112%2Fpussinboots_photos%2FBikes%2Fmybannerglitter06eee094.gif)
I was searching for the truth, and I decided to test its claims. I had looked to many different religions and philosophies, and I decided that it would be hypocritical to take Christianity off of the table without investigating it. Upon investigating it, I found its claims to be true. If they weren't true, I wouldn't be a Christian today. It isnt about feelings for me, it is about evidence.
