(June 3, 2021 at 4:22 am)johndoe122931 Wrote:(June 2, 2021 at 3:14 pm)Irreligious Atheist Wrote: Yes, I still have a positive relationship with my parents. My daughter and I even go to church with them often. I told my daughter what I believe (or better put, don't believe), and I told her that she would have to choose for herself what she believes because we all have to go on our own journey. She believed in God for a while, but now she has come to the opposite conclusion, all on her own, and I'm proud.That's awesome to hear. I'm glad you allowed your child to make a choice as to what she wants to believe. I do the same with my children as well. I'm happy to hear to still have a decent relationship with your family and parents, that would mean a lot to me to still talk to my family. I am curious as to what denomination you were. From the things you are saying about your parents still think you are saved because they are and the fact you were not allowed to study subject matters opposite of the belief. The Biblical reference you give to Matthew 7 I personally do not believe that is what it is saying so but in any case, I am happy to hear all the positives in your life. Thank you for sharing that!
Both of my brothers, along with me, turned out to be non-believers. I'm sure that can't be easy for my parents to think about, but we get along just fine. Sometimes my parents say that I'm saved already because they are saved. I'm counted under their names. I don't think it quite works that way lol, but I can understand the mental gymnastics, trying to find a way to get your kids into heaven with you.
What was I free to explore? Lots of stuff. Just things I probably wouldn't have bothered looking into before because I would have been worried about angering or disappointing God. Things about evolution. Things about other religions. Posting on boards like this one, which I would argue the Bible says you're not necessarily supposed to do. "Cast not your pearls before swine" and all.
(June 2, 2021 at 3:20 pm)Angrboda Wrote: So, let's use Zeus for example. I simply believe that Zeus is just one of the Fallen Angels masquerading itself as a god. All the regional gods of the earth are simply that. They are the fallen ones. So, yes I believe in Zeus and Krishna and Ra, etc. They are placing themselves as gods on this earth to be worshipped by humans. I truly believe them to be real entities that roam this planet since they were cast out of heaven.
Then you don't believe in Zeus. You're just playing semantic games. Saying you believe X only if we're willing to accept you redefining X as something it's not is equivocation.
No, not at all. I believe Zeus is a fallen angel. He doesn't have to be Satan perse I only used that name for example. And just for everybody to understand I am only telling you what I believe to be true. I am very much expecting you all to ridicule me and the like, but this is not up for debate nor argument. This is what I believe and that's that. If you want to twist and turn what I say into what makes you feel comfortable to continue the ridicule I am totally cool with that. Go ahead and tell me what I believe, but that is not going to get you any closer to really trying to understand me or my beliefs. Yet, I suspect you all really don't care what I believe and that's fine with me too.
(June 2, 2021 at 5:35 pm)no one Wrote:What question?This guy:
Exactly my point.
What's the point?
I asked a question, you completely evaded answering. Barry Sanders was very good at evading the opposition. Hence, did he train you?
(June 2, 2021 at 11:32 pm)Rahn127 Wrote: I can believe in the concept of a god just like I can believe in the concept of a powerful wizard. Conceptually they are pretty much the same thing. Of course there is no evidence that either exists.Good evening Rahn127,
Believing in the concept of something is not the same as believing that the concept actually exists.
It does boggle my mind that people believe that something exists without any evidence of existence.
Why would I believe that my house is 1000 stories tall, when I can easily view it and confirm with others and through measurements that it's only 1 story tall ?
Why would someone believe something like that ?
A belief that a god exists is the same as believing that my house is 1000 stories tall and it grants wishes when you reach the 1000th floor.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, I really appreciate it!
(June 3, 2021 at 4:18 am)vulcanlogician Wrote: I find agnostic atheism to be the most defensible and rational position based on what I've observed in life and after examining the arguments. I've examined many arguments for theism and (for the most part) found them to be pretty weak. But I still love discussing them. It never gets old. Religion fascinates me.Good evening Vulcanlogician,
The best arguments I've encountered in favor of theism are the pragmatic arguments of William James. He is very sympathetic to the skeptical position, but still manages to muster some solid arguments for belief.
I never really "turned away" from my (Catholic) faith. I more so just explored other points of view and found them more compelling. There was a little bit of drama from my sister (who was fairly devout) when it became obvious I didn't believe. But nothing serious.
Thank you for sharing that story with me. I was wondering, do you still go to church at all? If so how does that go for you? What do you get out of it? Is your sister still Catholic?
[/quote]
The churches I went to growing up were evangelical. The current church doesn't call themselves any denomination, but it's basically Bible literalism. The Pastor is a Jew who became a follower of Christ.
Do my parents really believe that I'm saved under their names? I don't know, but it's something they've said. But they would first say, "why would you want to go to hell?", etc, and then after a while of me saying I wasn't afraid, my mother would give up for the moment and say, "well, you're saved under our names anyways."
I know you, as a Christian, may feel like you are free to explore and discover anything about science and other religions and things like that. I didn't feel that way though. Or maybe I was just too young to really care about that stuff yet, as I became a non-believer in my teen years. I remember in grade one, we were learning about Egyptian gods and Egyptian culture. I sat there and refused to participate because I was worried the Christian God would feel like I betrayed him and I didn't want to anger God.
