A friendly Christian sent me a message

[SteelCurtain]

Y'know it's not outright just my parents. I mean like everyone I know is a Christian. If I wasn't a Christian, I'd be saying close to 95% of the people in the area I live in are wrong. Heck, the city I want to live in (the only large one here, by large I mean like over 100,000 people) has a 3.9% non-religious population from the stats I've seen.

And if you did some searching and found that you don't believe in god, how would that change your life at all? It's all about deconstructing these fears. What would change, supposing you let go of religion? Would your values change? Would you love your parents and friends less? Would you find any less joy in the things you love to do? If you didn't want anyone to know, how would they know? I know plenty of atheists that go through the motions for the benefit of their families. Maybe you searched out and found some new friends in your area that you would never have had a chance to meet before.

Again, it's about finding your own truth. As J Smooth has said, what you believe, what your parents believe, what your town believes---none of it changes reality. The goal is to get as close to reality as possible. THAT part's up to you.

[JesusLover1]

Y'know it's not outright just my parents. I mean like everyone I know is a Christian. If I wasn't a Christian, I'd be saying close to 95% of the people in the area I live in are wrong. Heck, the city I want to live in (the only large one here, by large I mean like over 100,000 people) has a 3.9% non-religious population from the stats I've seen.

And if you did some searching and found that you don't believe in god, how would that change your life at all? It's all about deconstructing these fears. What would change, supposing you let go of religion? Would your values change? Would you love your parents and friends less? Would you find any less joy in the things you love to do? If you didn't want anyone to know, how would they know? I know plenty of atheists that go through the motions for the benefit of their families. Maybe you searched out and found some new friends in your area that you would never have had a chance to meet before.

Again, it's about finding your own truth. As J Smooth has said, what you believe, what your parents believe, what your town believes---none of it changes reality. The goal is to get as close to reality as possible. THAT part's up to you.

But if I'm wrong I'll go to hell...

[tommynba]

Evolution is the greatest hoax in history and it is clung to because the only alternative is Creation.

It's like saying that alternative for women giving birth to babies is that storks bring babies to the parents. Creation or creationism is not an alternative because it isn't science.

[Esquilax]

But if I'm wrong I'll go to hell...

There are an infinite number of hells you could be headed to right now as a result of you being a christian, you know. I mean, if we're accepting things as possible without evidence, then any hell you care to imagine, that drags you down to it for any reason, is a potential worry. There could be a hell for you that's there because you're worried about hell.

The odds are the same, whether you're christian or not.

[Simon Moon]

Atheist's what if God's just trying to make it seem like he doesn't exist to test our faith? :S

And what if god created Christianity to test the gullible?


"I don't want to be around anyone that is gullible enough to believe this crap. I'm only letting skeptics into heaven", God

[TaraJo]

You're allowed to disagree with people, though. So what, they're wrong about one thing? The things you like about them will still be present. Just maybe don't discuss religion with them if you think it'll end up in a fight.

But from what I've heard though atheists are one of the most hated groups of people out there.

You REALLY seem to be stuck on that appeal to popularity.

Yep, I'll admit, people don't like atheists. A hundred years ago, most Americans didn't like black people, either. Did that change anthing? Did that make black people lesser or inferior, just for being black? Or does it point out that some prejudices are society wide?

Again, you're intelligent enough to figure this out on your own. You don't have to turn to sources who are obviously biased (I mean, you don't get much more biased than a freakin' pastor).

I don't doubt that your parents of family or friends or the people in your church are nice people. Nice people can still be mistaken. I don't doubt they're intelligent, either. Intelligent people can be mistaken. In fact, I've found that the most intelligent people out there are the ones who are most aware of when they're wrong. Socrates himself based his intelligence on not knowing things and therefore asking questions (creating what we now know of as the socratic method). I'll even admit, we may be mistaken when we tell you there is no god or that the Christian god is make believe. Go out there and learn for yourself. Think about it. Study the Bible and science and never NEVER EVER just blindly believe something just because other people tell you to. Faith isn't always a bad thing, but blind faith can lead to some very bad places.

[JesusLover1]

But if I'm wrong I'll go to hell...

There are an infinite number of hells you could be headed to right now as a result of you being a christian, you know. I mean, if we're accepting things as possible without evidence, then any hell you care to imagine, that drags you down to it for any reason, is a potential worry. There could be a hell for you that's there because you're worried about hell.

The odds are the same, whether you're christian or not.

But so many people believe in this hell. How could so many people believe in it if it's completely false? And please don't just say "Muslims or Hindus would be wrong in that case, what about them?". I guess I wonder that too. How are so many people convinced of something that's apparently wrong? How could it become such a strong force?

[Chas]

[Whateverist]

Atheist's what if God's just trying to make it seem like he doesn't exist to test our faith? :S

You may be giving Him too much credit. Maybe He's just fucking with us.

[JesusLover1]

You are an uneducated, credulous, delusional twit.

Again I'd just like to remind that the first post isn't my words.