(January 22, 2011 at 8:23 am)Captain Scarlet Wrote:That is not an answer. If the truth is what I am missing than what is 'the truth'?(January 21, 2011 at 11:03 pm)Watson Wrote: So tell me. What is it that you now see in life, as an atheist, that you did not see before as a believer? And on the flip side, what is it that I(as a believer) must be missing now?That'll be the truth.
Quote:The world is so much more awe-inspiring and incredible just the way it is, without supernatural myths.What supernatural myths are we talking about here, hm? At what point in my argument did I bring up anything supernatural and/or mythical? Please point me in the direction of where I suggested such things so I can elaborate upon them.
Quote:The idea of God 'poofing' everything into existence just to please himself is an insult to the universe.Who said anything about God 'poofing' anything into existence for His own 'pleasure'?
Quote:I was a Christian in my teens, when I was depressed and confused. But my unhappiness wasn't because of being religious. I sought out religion because at the time, it was comforting, and I wanted easy answers to complex questions. Simple as that.None of my answers have been easy, and some have been the exact opposite of comforting. In fact, were it not for my faith, I would never have faced some hard choices that were quite painful at the time. I would never have known the importance of making those choices because of my lack of faith.
I have pondered these things deeply. You seem to make the assumption, OnlyNatural, that I have given very little thought to my ideas and beliefs. On the contrary. I have thought long and hard, faced some difficult questions, and emerged on the other side to see that there was a point to seeking these things afterall.
Quote:... nothing comforting about a massive ... the bloody evolutionary struggle to survive.I think there's quite a lot comforting in that struggle, thank you very much. I'm sorry you can't see it that way.
Quote:The real 'truth' is out there for you to learn, not hidden away in some ancient book. Becoming an atheist opened my eyes; I've never been happier and I've never looked back.You've never looked back? Not once? Interesting and worthy of note. Because perhaps it might be worth it to look back at least one time, and see if maybe you missed something.
I know the truth is out there. I've seen it, beheld it, felt it in my very being...and it is fantastic. I must say, OnlyNatural, the only reason I responded to you was because I felt the need to word my thoughts properly for my own sake. I enjoy getting my thoughts down in words because I am a writer at heart. Were it not for that, I would not have bothered, because your's is honestly an argument and mindset that I have seen regurgitated again and again on this forum. It is, frankly, pathetic.
(January 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm)DoubtVsFaith Wrote:I'm not talking about consolation here, I'm talking about understanding.(January 21, 2011 at 1:01 pm)Watson Wrote: A lot. [to do with truth]
No. Having truth in the consolation that faith gives you doesn't equate to having truth in what you have faith in.
Quote:It's not at all incredulity. It's an application of that thing a lot of you atheists claim to hold so dear, called 'logic' with a healthy dose of 'understanding'.Quote:Why not?It's not an argument because it's credulity/incredulity at an alternative.
Quote:There was more to it than those two points. Apply your understanding and see the big picture of what I said. Don't just answer what's been answered a million times before.Quote: How about you also refute the rest of my argument, instead of small portions of it that you are capable of picking at?
Everything else in your post depended on the two points that I criticized.