One final attempt to try and get through to you guys

[ThePinsir]

My parents have told me people choose to reject God and go to hell, atheists really DO believe but are just denying it.

That's simply not true.

In fact, I'd turn it around. I'd bet your parents don't really believe in a talking snake. They pretend to believe it because they're scared.

[Alex K]

I dunno if this is relevant or not, but my parents have thought me that everything that happened in the Bible is 100% true, nothing like say Adam and Eve or Noah are just parables, and everything is the unabashed word of God.

Well there's your problem! Now you can spend the rest of your life fixing it, congratulations.

[Kayenneh]

My parents have told me people choose to reject God and go to hell, atheists really DO believe but are just denying it.

Sure, we do chose to reject Yahweh, but it isn't anything different from you not believing in Allah, Jehova, Ukko, Brahma and Thor. And no, I do not secretly harbor any faith for gods, I just guess it's hard for zealots to figure out how another can live without what they consider to be the most important thing in the universe.

[ThePinsir]

I dunno if this is relevant or not, but my parents have thought me that everything that happened in the Bible is 100% true, nothing like say Adam and Eve or Noah are just parables, and everything is the unabashed word of God.

Look. Form your own opinions. Have you actually read the bible? Read it, think, and analyze for yourself. Don't accept the notion that "my parents say it, so it must be true".

[Kayenneh]

I dunno if this is relevant or not, but my parents have thought me that everything that happened in the Bible is 100% true, nothing like say Adam and Eve or Noah are just parables, and everything is the unabashed word of God.

Look. Form your own opinions. Have you actually read the bible? Read it, think, and analyze for yourself. Don't accept the notion that "my parents say it, so it must be true".

If it strengthens your faith, so be it. At least you gave it an honest shot.

[JesusLover1]

My parents have told me people choose to reject God and go to hell, atheists really DO believe but are just denying it.

Sure, we do chose to reject Yahweh, but it isn't anything different from you not believing in Allah, Jehova, Ukko, Brahma and Thor. And no, I do not secretly harbor any faith for gods, I just guess it's hard for zealots to figure out how another can live without what they consider to be the most important thing in the universe.

When I mention other Gods, he says "what other Gods?". I've mentioned Islam before and he tells me they just worship Mohammed, a dead man.

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I dunno if this is relevant or not, but my parents have thought me that everything that happened in the Bible is 100% true, nothing like say Adam and Eve or Noah are just parables, and everything is the unabashed word of God.

Look. Form your own opinions. Have you actually read the bible? Read it, think, and analyze for yourself. Don't accept the notion that "my parents say it, so it must be true".

My parents say reading the Bible in my current mental state is one of the WORST things I can do right now.

[Mister Agenda]

Okay I have a question. Without a spiritual explination, how is it possible for everything to have begun? Doesn't science teach everything needs a cause?

No. Science does not teach that. Science has discovered that virtual particle pairs come into existence without a cause. Atomic decay occurs without a cause. There are fairly good reasons to think it is impoossible for nothing at all to exist. For instance, there is only one way for nothing at all to exist, and infinite ways for something to exist, what would be the odds that one out of infinity would be the case?

Like the Big Bang, how was something around forever? What was before then?

The singularity that expanded during the Big Bang may have existed forever. Or it may simply be that asking what happened before then (when time began) is like asking what is north of the North Pole.

I'm not saying this is proof of God, but it seems scientifically impossible that there's a natural explanation to it.

Excellent not thinking it's proof of God, because that would be an argument from ignorance (if we don't know the answer, your answer must be true). Scientists in cosmology have rather a problem with too many plausibe natural explanations for it, it's a matter of figuring out how to narrow down the possibilities rather than any issues with impossibilities.

I can't give out personal information. But please, I'm not lying, why would I lie about something like this? It would be horrible! I'm saying everything I've been told.

I don't think you're lying. Your story could have happened, so no need to question your integrity over it. But you're not actually in a position to know for sure that it's true, are you? You were too young understand and remember everything that happened.

But the reason to lie about something like this would be to get us to believe you about the Jesus thing. That's why you told us the story, right? And maybe why your parents emphasized the part of the story that seemed miraculous to them rather than just telling you the doctors thought your brother would die but he got better. A miracle is something that can't happen without divine intervention. People have remissions from serious illnesses all the time. How do you know your brother wasn't lucky?

[TaraJo]

I dunno if this is relevant or not, but my parents have thought me that everything that happened in the Bible is 100% true, nothing like say Adam and Eve or Noah are just parables, and everything is the unabashed word of God.

Then, yes, your parents are wrong. Period. There are no questions about it, if you believe that everything in the Bible is literally true, you are provably wrong.

But that never stops apologists from finding plenty of reasons to justify it anyway. Apologists are like that. If someones religion was dependant on the idea that earth was created last Tuesday, he could probably find plenty of evidence to support that idea and he'd stick to that evidence even after it's completely torn apart by peer reviewed science.

I suggest you go to Youtube and watch Thunderf00ts' series called "Why do people laugh at creationists." You might learn a thing or two. I'll even provide a link.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC3481305829426D

[ThePinsir]

Sure, we do chose to reject Yahweh, but it isn't anything different from you not believing in Allah, Jehova, Ukko, Brahma and Thor. And no, I do not secretly harbor any faith for gods, I just guess it's hard for zealots to figure out how another can live without what they consider to be the most important thing in the universe.

When I mention other Gods, he says "what other Gods?". I've mentioned Islam before and he tells me they just worship Mohammed, a dead man.

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Look. Form your own opinions. Have you actually read the bible? Read it, think, and analyze for yourself. Don't accept the notion that "my parents say it, so it must be true".

My parents say reading the Bible in my current mental state is one of the WORST things I can do right now.

You worship Jesus. A dead man (who we're not even sure if ever existed).

I'm curious. What's wrong with your mental state? Why would reading your holy book be bad?

[Kayenneh]

When I mention other Gods, he says "what other Gods?". I've mentioned Islam before and he tells me they just worship Mohammed, a dead man.

No, Mohammed is their prophet, much like Jesus is yours. Allah is the god. And here is list of deities, if you want to have a look for yourself.

My parents say reading the Bible in my current mental state is one of the WORST things I can do right now.

Really? They deny you reading through the bible? That is ridiculous!

EDIT: Do you suffer from anything else than OCD? (If it's too personal question, feel free to ignore it.)