Christian trigger words

[T0 Th3 M4X]

Thank you, and likewise!

It's not about what everybody else can prove or what others can show you.  It's about you seeking regardless of your own personal biases.

No one is free from internal biases, and I am no exception. That being said, biases don't drive my lack of belief. As a said above, I would actually prefer there to be a god, so if anything, I think my bias would be favor of theism, not in opposition to it. I used to be a Christian, and then I dropped organized religion and was a generic theist. Then, that belief just sort of fell away. I don't continue to seek God despite lack of evidence. That would be biased. I simply look at what is available to me, and make a decision about whether or not there's enough to convince me a god exists. 

I can show you a million things and claim they are evidence, but until you experience God, you will have a reason to say that's not good enough, because that's not God.

It would depend on what it was you were claiming as evidence, and if it met the general standards of evidence.  I'm not sure what would or could convince me that a god exists. It's hard to say. But 'absolutely nothing' isn't going to cut it.  If a god is out there and he wants to make himself known to me without question, he knows where I am.

If our own human determination was the root problem, then how can we assume ourselves to be the solution?

Apologies; I'm not sure what root problem you're referring to here.

Seek the source by the source and its assumed attributes.  That doesn't mean others can't assist you along the way, but as much as someone can be helpful, they can also be hurtful.  Even if someone means well, they can give you misinformation.

Sure, I don't disagree with this.

If I wanted to find you (hypothetically), I would need to assume you have an identity, I would need to be willing to seek, I would need to know what attributes you have to recognize you, and no matter who anybody else says you are or where they say you are, I will only have found you when I matched you with what I know to be you.

But, you're starting with the assumption that I exist.  How do you know I exist?

 At that point, I will have accomplished my mission and you can hit me with a purse or a brick, or even shake my hand, but the latter is always preferred.

Hey, as long as you don't come charging at me with a bible in your hand, we'll be good, friend!

Sure, we all have biases, but sometimes our biases can get in the way of things we should be able to see. 

Here's an example of one of them us guys often make.  He sees the pretty girl and the so-so one.  Their first inclination is to go for broke and chase the prettier one, assuming he's not afraid.  However, sometimes she's the mean one, or just very wrong.  He may get to know her, but all that "cuteness" goes away he can barely look at her.  Her perceived beauty changes once he melts away that original bias.  Likewise, there's the so-so girl, and he gets to know her, but not too seriously.  He's happy just to get to know her as a friend, and without the "puppy love" interfering.  Her qualities speak on their own, and suddenly she goes from so-so, to a shining star.

Anyway, the point I'm attempting to make, sometimes we just need to look at someone for who they are, and not what we presume them to be.  God is said to be "love", and just based on that alone, I can assume that I should be seeking someone who cares for me.  I may not understand all the fine details, but I know to look for someone who's not hostile, but rather waiting with open arms. 

You also asked an important questiion.  How do you know someone is there?  Or how do I know you're there even?  I think it's fair to say we don't know.  You could be a computer program or someone different than you portray, but that's when we can incorporate some of our own bias.  I would be willing to bet my last nickel that you are very similar to who you appear to be on here, which is exactly why we can talk back and forth like this.  Bias isn't always a bad thing.  Sometimes it's there for a reason.

I don't know that I charge at anyone with a Bible.  If someone did that to me, it would probably freak me out too and I would have to hide behind something.  If someone wants to discuss something, I'm happy to do it with our without a Bible in my hands.  The thing is, if what I'm saying to them is spot on, it should ring true regardless.