(June 19, 2013 at 4:36 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote:(June 19, 2013 at 3:01 pm)Maelstrom Wrote: Considering that people are perfectly capable of living happy, moral lives without a belief in a higher power
That's just it. Christians often think that we atheists don't live happy, moral lives without belief in a higher power. That's why so many of them claim that we're all unhappy and if we do happen to have morals, they came from God.
I do not say nonbelievers can't live a happy life, what I say is they better because what's to come will be anything but happy. Christians shouldn't brag they live totally happy lives, because they don't, it just can't be we are asked by Christ to sacrifice and I know I've not always been happy with what I've had to give up, yet I know it was for the good of others and good for my relationship with Christ. Being human doesn't always allow us to be happy with everything, Christian or not.
As far as a moral life goes Christians have a tougher standard to live by than nonbelievers our morals are who God is, nonbelievers get to choose theirs as long as they're not outside the laws where they live.
We (Christians) live for an eternal future, nonbelievers live for the here and now, so our lives are very much different and we know without God the eternal future is not possible. For the nonbeliever whether there is a God or not they live to be worm food, no wonder we Christians choose to believe in Christ our savior.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.