Christian "purpose" and "meaning" in life.

[Bad Writer]

Atheist require proof from Christians and I've given mine, all I ask is the atheist do the same as I was willing to do.

All we've ever asked from is for demonstrable evidence that your god is real, as you claim he is. You have never done this. You would know that you have succeeded when the consensus on here becomes "Yes! Godschild's god is real!" But it's not. Not even close.

I've seen all to often that atheist say all claims need proof...

Citation needed. I have never said this. Has anyone else here ever said this? I think not.

Carl Sagan once said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." What do you think qualifies as an extraordinary claim? If I tell you that I had a sandwich for lunch, is that claim extraordinary?

Christopher Hitchens added an extra line to this already famous quote: "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." Since your evidence has not satisfactorily justified your claim that a deity exists, all the atheists that have ever spoken to you here continue to dismiss your claims.

...am I suppose to just ignore the claim that all claims require proof...

Nope. Know why? Because, as I mentioned earlier, nobody says this. Ordinary claims, such as stating that I am married, or that I drive a car to work, or that I am an atheist, can generally be taken at face value. No need for investigation is needed.

But do you know what's great about the examples I listed? I can actually provide demonstrable evidence that all three statements are true. I have a marriage certificate from the state of Arizona, so I am definitely married. I drive a 2013 Ford Mustang, for which I can provide registration to show that it's in my possession and gas receipts to show that I drive it. I'm also an atheist, to which is evidence by the fact that I do not hold a belief in any deity. Since actions speak louder than words, I submit to you my online activities: the way in which I engage theists in discussion whether it's here or on social media and my video history on YouTube, to include the many comments that I have left there. My ideology is decidedly one of non-belief, as evidenced by my very apparent lack of belief in a deity.

I suppose I could ask you the same thing: are you really a Southern Baptist? You may have a membership record, but perhaps it's a front. A sham!

But doesn't it sound very silly of me to suggest something so conspiratorial for no good reason?

...or do atheist believe that only applies to Christians, personally I do not think that was the meaning.

Then why ask if that's what we think? The burden of proof is on anyone making a claim. Not all claims require the same level of proof.

(I feel like we've covered this a few times now, but repeating it never hurts.)

By the way I'm not doing this out of mistrust and the way you answer my posts we get nowhere any way, so if you believe it's mistrust I'm showing it wouldn't matter in our discussion anyway.

So...what? You're doing this to prove a point? I'm actually glad you brought this up. I think you're actually getting a much better handle on what the "burden of proof" is than some other people that grace these forums. Something of us must actually be rubbing off on you, and I likes what I sees.

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So then why do a lot of Christians (theists per se) repeatedly use the no true Scotsman fallacy?

And how do you know this god thing decides on who the 'true' Christians are? Has it told you, personally?

No. The scriptures tell me. They state the criteria.

If they state it so plainly, then why aren't there more True Christians™?

[Lek]

No. The scriptures tell me. They state the criteria.

If they state it so plainly, then why aren't there more True Christians™?

They want to live for themselves rather than for God.

[Bad Writer]

No. The scriptures tell me. They state the criteria.

If they state it so plainly, then why aren't there more True Christians™?

They want to live for themselves rather than for God.

So there really is such a thing as a True Christian™! How would you go about determining that they haven't followed the guidelines in the Bible and are not living the way you think they should, and what should you do about it?

[Lek]

They want to live for themselves rather than for God.

So there really is such a thing as a True Christian™! How would you go about determining that they haven't followed the guidelines in the Bible and are not living the way you think they should, and what should you do about it?

As I stated earlier in the thread - God knows who his followers are and who are not. Nobody else on his earth knows whether I'm a true christian except me. It's between God and us.

[Mystical]

So who are you to say someone else isn't a true Christian if its between you and God? Maybe God revealed more to them than you.

[Faith No More]

As I stated earlier in the thread - God knows who his followers are and who are not. Nobody else on his earth knows whether I'm a true christian except me. It's between God and us.

So, there has never been a person that professed Christian faith but did something so heinous that you knew they weren't a true Christian?

ETA: Oh, and let me guess, God tells you that you are a true Christian?

[Mystical]

What safeguard do you have to make sure you don't mistaken gods will for your own?

[Lek]

So who are you to say someone else isn't a true Christian if its between you and God? Maybe God revealed more to them than you.

I never declare that anybody else is not a true christian. Actions are often a good indicator, but I leave that judgement up to God.

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What safeguard do you have to make sure you don't mistaken gods will for your own?

I try to follow Jesus' teaching in scripture. Sometimes I probably do mistake my will will for God's. It usually shows in the results of my actions.

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As I stated earlier in the thread - God knows who his followers are and who are not. Nobody else on his earth knows whether I'm a true christian except me. It's between God and us.

So, there has never been a person that professed Christian faith but did something so heinous that you knew they weren't a true Christian?

ETA: Oh, and let me guess, God tells you that you are a true Christian?

Sure. I can feel that someone is not a true christian, but the final judgement comes from God. The bible tells me what a true christian is. If it looks like a person is not exhibiting that in his actions it's an indicator that he's not.

[Bad Writer]

So you would never say that Osama Bin Laden wasn't a True Christian? I mean, you would never suggest that of anyone, right?

[Mystical]

So who are you to say someone else isn't a true Christian if its between you and God? Maybe God revealed more to them than you.

I never declare that anybody else is not a true christian. Actions are often a good indicator, but I leave that judgement up to God.

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So you only ascribe the good to Christians, and when they do something you feel is out of the realm of goodness, its not Christian?

What safeguard do you have to make sure you don't mistaken gods will for your own?

I try to follow Jesus' teaching in scripture. Sometimes I probably do mistake my will will for God's. It usually shows in the results of my actions.

I can see how it would, yeah.