(January 8, 2015 at 4:27 pm)Fendon Wrote:(January 8, 2015 at 4:24 pm)alpha male Wrote: Yep...it is called a faith, you know.
I did some kind of drug every day for fifteen years. I was completely addicted, in the end having blackouts even during my relatively sober hours. Then I stopped. I credit God with that. You would likely call it spontaneous recovery and credit some as yet unknown natural cause.
If someone's struggling with drugs, I tell them my story. Maybe they hear similar stories, maybe they don't. Maybe they agree with me, maybe they think as you do. Doesn't really matter to me. I'm sober and I'm happy. When I get resentful about something in my life, I remember that God has forgiven me, and I become grateful and forgiving again, which makes me happier. My life is really good. So you think my standards of evidence aren't high enough? BFD
I'm not looking to become an active contributor to this thread, but I think you'll find that most Atheists will credit your drug addiction recovery (congratulations, by the way) to you and you alone. There's more beauty in that, in my opinion; having the shred of independence to make that decision on your own is a beautiful thing.
Not nearly as beautiful as the loving God of creation, coming into ones life to rescue them from something they could never do, I've been there also and know that great love. Anyone can love themselves that's the easiest thing in the world, it's the love of others that's to be cherished.
GC
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.