Why does science always upstage God?

[Spongebob]

So can I tell you that condescending is not my goal, rather it's the opposite. I actually came to tell you that you sent me thinking for two weeks and I returned, having settled on my original position. And then I wanted to explain why.

If we are being honest, though, we all frequently doubt what people say about their own lives and experience. don't we? We skeptically listen to what people say about themselves. That's not odd, I don't think. I could argue there's an entire counseling profession monetizing that very thing. The reason is I don't believe the first thing people tell me about themselves is because I know I lie about myself. Frequently my lies about myself are challenged to me by people or the Bible and then I'm like "Dang it, God, you're right" and I try to change. So I value that challenge in my life. One recent example of a lie the Bible challenged me on (because of our conversation) was why am I seeking out atheists to talk to them? To glorify God by sharing about Him? Or to glorify myself by winning an argument. Honestly, it was the second answer. I came to win arguments. And it back fired and I was sent packing with my tail between my legs. I was wrong and immature and sent the train off the cliff in a fiery blaze because I started by lobbing grenades at you, essentially calling you a liar (about yourself). I apologize, that was wrong. Lesson learned.



Suppression of truth is important to me because the suppression is fundamental to the worldview. It's the foundation that any belief the suppressor has is built on. I feel like, or was feeling like, until we address that we won't get anywhere. I was also wrong about that, haha. I get that you reject that and for that reason I will respectfully table that idea in our conversation.

Well, if you are being honest now, that means you've at least admitted to one failing and humbled yourself to a degree.  This is good.  If your intention is to learn, you first have to be humble enough to admit you don't know.  If your intention is to convert people; you will have a difficult time.  Your best bet here is to enjoy discussing issues and hope to learn a thing or two and perhaps pass on some useful information as well.

Regarding your admission of lying on this/other forums.  Although I'm not surprised, it still amazes me.  I don't really get why someone would do that unless perhaps in your real life you don't have the fulfillment and actualization that you need, so you seek out a different version of yourself online where it's "safe".  I'm fortunate enough to say that I don't have to deal with that.  I feel no need to misrepresent myself in any way.  Clearly there are others on this forum who are equally dishonest and believe me, it comes through loud and clear and it is certainly not pleasant.  I have always felt that any conversation taken honestly will be far more gratifying than one taken with dishonesty.

But this "suppression" thing you keep mentioning is odd.  Atheists aren't suppressing anything and we have no such power.  We often argue and debate and reject all sorts of information as false, but don't confuse that with suppression.  If we reject something you say is true, its because we know there is something lacking or corrupt about the information.  If you say there were religious fanatics walking around Mesopotamia in the year 100, that's not debatable.  But if you say Jesus flew to the moon and brought back moon rocks, then we can argue the validity of that assertion.