Why is belief in a higher power required?

[Esquilax]

Hmm. I think atheists can be happy. I can't reason how an atheist can't see the gains of a just reality. And I do think that's a reality an atheist must face. Reality sans God is unjust.

Seeing the advantages of a perfectly just reality isn't really the point, though. I can think of any number of potential universes that I would prefer to live in, but that's irrelevant, because I live in this one. Whether or not an idea makes you feel good has no bearing on its truth value; I can see the things I would gain in a just reality, yes, but I see no evidence that this universe is that reality.

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.

Could you maybe dial it the fuck back, a little?

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.

Given the sheer number of christian denominations, and the fact that if you followed every commandment in the bible you would be in jail, I submit to you that you pick and choose your morals just as much as we do, you've just got your selection written down.

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.

Doesn't follow. What if you get up there, and Odin just happens to be particularly generous with the seating arrangements in Valhalla? You've got no basis for saying that the only eternal life there can possibly be is the one you've subscribed to.

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.

And once again we have that troubling theistic implication that it's not so much whether an idea is true or not that determines their belief, but whether or not it makes them feel all warm and fuzzy. That's some nice integrity, there.