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January 12, 2016 at 5:57 am (This post was last modified: January 12, 2016 at 5:59 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Nothing even remotely close, no. I've had an inexplicable experience or two, but nothing on the periphery of the divine.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
January 12, 2016 at 6:38 am (This post was last modified: January 12, 2016 at 6:38 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Christians -are- fruits.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
January 12, 2016 at 7:23 am (This post was last modified: January 12, 2016 at 7:25 am by MTL.)
(January 11, 2016 at 10:06 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Sometimes I feel cheated. We've got folks on these boards that have had -two- fantastic "born again" style experiences (one on the way in, one on the way out)......and I get nada.
Still better than what I got, Rhythm:
When I was at my lowest, I flung myself of God's mercy, confessed my wretchedness and waning faith,
and begged for His mercy, forgiveness and guidance. I cried myself to sleep.
Near dawn, my dreams shifted and became visceral; I dreamt I was in my own bed,
and I dreamt that my chest was cut open from within and an ephemeral luminous mist escaped upwards like steam,
with Jesus' face in the midst of it, looking at me, expressionlessly and emotionlessly.
I had begged for His mercy and guidance,
and He looked right at me and turned His back on me,
leaving my heart a gaping, dark, charred shell.
If a person wants a sign, how is that for one???
(Now, in retrospect: Do I believe it was really Jesus? Unlikely. Possible, but unlikely.
....And if Jesus really exists, and that WAS really Him,
then He is either not really the Son of God,
or He does not really love me as He claims to...
More likely it was my own subconscious telling me that I knew that Religion couldn't save me
and I didn't need it anymore).
To Christians who tell me I am not watching for "signs",
or that I am failing to listen for that "still, small voice",
I ask this:
If that awful dream was only my own subconscious,
or perhaps even the machinations of the Devil,
...why, when I have hit rock bottom and am flinging pride to the winds, confessing my unworthiness
and begging God's forgiveness and mercy...
...WHY, THEN, would Jesus allow me to have such a dream?
If it was my own subconscious...why would Jesus allow my subconscious to create that lie,
just after I had flung myself of His mercy?
If it was the Devil's illusion...same question?
That dream made it impossible for me to ever have faith that Jesus is the Son of God, ever again.
January 12, 2016 at 7:29 am (This post was last modified: January 12, 2016 at 7:37 am by MTL.)
(January 11, 2016 at 7:15 pm)Godschild Wrote: I'm finished answering the post of others because they are being hostile and I want let a gang butt into this conversation.
(January 6, 2016 at 10:28 pm)Old Baby Wrote: I "came out" to one of my best friends last Sunday about my non-belief. She seemed understanding but very concerned. We talked for about 3 hours and then parted ways. Tonight I called her because I was concerned about how she was taking the news. She became emotional and started preaching to me about how I was like Adam in the Garden of Eden, who didn't want to submit to God, so I've been thrown out of the Garden and now I can no longer hear God's voice. She said that Jesus Christ is my only answer now, and that I would never have my questions answered until I submitted to Jesus Christ because he's the only way back to God. I calmly listened and then said, "Ok well thanks for the witnessing", then politely said goodnight.
I know she means well but it still hurts because I feel like our relationship is irrevocably broken. I explained in depth why I began to struggle and question my beliefs, but she did not acknowledge the rationality behind this. The idea is that I'm completely to blame for my failure to believe, that I'm unreasonable for asking God to show himself to me, and now I'm the only one who can repair my relationship with God by throwing myself at Jesus' feet. I told her that I didn't want anything to change between us but she said that she couldn't promise it wouldn't, but she's praying for me.
She told me that she had always looked up to me, but now I only feel the judgment.
I wouldn't be all that suprised that she i having a crisis of fsith, and that she was looking at you as an example to pull through. Now finding that you've given up god for reason, it may look like her world is broken, and she may be retreating into fundamentalism as a result.
(January 6, 2016 at 10:28 pm)Old Baby Wrote: I "came out" to one of my best friends last Sunday about my non-belief. She seemed understanding but very concerned. We talked for about 3 hours and then parted ways. Tonight I called her because I was concerned about how she was taking the news. She became emotional and started preaching to me about how I was like Adam in the Garden of Eden, who didn't want to submit to God, so I've been thrown out of the Garden and now I can no longer hear God's voice. She said that Jesus Christ is my only answer now, and that I would never have my questions answered until I submitted to Jesus Christ because he's the only way back to God. I calmly listened and then said, "Ok well thanks for the witnessing", then politely said goodnight.
I know she means well but it still hurts because I feel like our relationship is irrevocably broken. I explained in depth why I began to struggle and question my beliefs, but she did not acknowledge the rationality behind this. The idea is that I'm completely to blame for my failure to believe, that I'm unreasonable for asking God to show himself to me, and now I'm the only one who can repair my relationship with God by throwing myself at Jesus' feet. I told her that I didn't want anything to change between us but she said that she couldn't promise it wouldn't, but she's praying for me.
She told me that she had always looked up to me, but now I only feel the judgment.
Maybe your feeling of judgement from her is actually guilt on your part. You are the one who chose to change not her, so why wouldn't you expect her to react differently towards you, it's only natural.
GC
Oh, blame the victim.
Great strategy gc. Didn't your invisible friend say something about not judging others?
January 12, 2016 at 9:49 am (This post was last modified: January 12, 2016 at 9:52 am by robvalue.)
(January 12, 2016 at 5:57 am)Rhythm Wrote: Nothing even remotely close, no. I've had an inexplicable experience or two, but nothing on the periphery of the divine.
That's what I mean though. Inexplicable is enough. There is no "divine", there is just people misinterpreting events or making up explanations.
Obviously hallucinations are easier to assign bullshit to, and I've only had a few. I suppose not everyone will ever have any.
I had one incredibly detailed and vivid one, but I can't quite rule out it being a dream. I really don't know if I was awake or not. It would be very easy to persuade myself I was awake if I wanted it to have significance. Real easy.
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.
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