A question for the believers......

That is the first, and most important, lesson I teach in my evangelism class. People have inherent value in the eyes of God -- so much so that He was willing to die for each and every person on the planet. This was not a selective process based on whether or not we would choose to believe in Him, therefore to have a condescending attitude toward those who do not share a Christian's beliefs -- for whatever reason -- is unbiblical, IMO.

I look at atheists as ignorant, not stupid, in that they don't know what I know, and I mean that in the most benign way possible. I don't for an instant believe that makes me "better" than they are.

I tend to look at atheists as people who are missing out on something wonderful -- something that can turn their lives into something they never dreamed possible. But I also believe wholeheartedly that it cannot be forced on anyone. To answer your other question, I think Christians need to be taught the Bible. Atheists need to be told about Jesus. They need to be told about the incredible, unconditional love God has for them. They need to be told about how great life can be when God's an intimate part of it.

 

so what, we're shifty-eyed now?


when people talk about proof of god, inevitably they ask for proof of things like love. "do you love you mother? prove it." well, the thing is, just like you can't prove love, you can't teach it either. that is, if somebody doesn't love their mother, then i don't see how you can get them to love her. if they do, it will be their own choice and it must come naturally (it seems to me). as such, i have never been inspired to believe in a creator. the idea has never resonated with me, even as a child.

 

That's pretty much my opinion. They aren't bad people, just people who have yet to understand and experience God, and what he can do in their lives. Given the chance everyone can see the light of Jesus. In those cases you can simply say what Jesus has meant to you as an individual. You can't force them to listen. If they want to know more they'll come to you and you can help guide themdown the path to God, but only if they choose to. And as a Christian you pray for the forgiveness of their sins and hope they soon see the grace of God.

 

In their case - their belief is that there is no God or higher power. That's their belief - so they still in fact, believe in something.

 

Nah.

I agree -- you cannot make people love someone else, especially someone they don't know. You can introduce them, you can even ask people to commit to following that person, but a relationship only happens on a one-to-one basis.

I didn't commit myself to God until I began to get to know Him -- the real Him, not God filtered through some denomination's agenda. That process took years, and is still happening. The more I know about Him -- His nature, His character, and how He thinks and works -- the more devoted I am to Him.

That's not to say I know everything there is to know about God. Not hardly! In perspective, I don't know a fraction of anything. But I know enough to know I trust Him, I want to follow Him, and I want Him to be an intimate part of my daily life. That's not something that I was taught, but it is something I learned over time.

 

Many, if not all, atheists I've read about or even spoken with could be labeled as humanists. They tend to believe in the goodness of people, and trust that mankind will continually improve and evolve to higher states of living, both socially and practically.

 

did you read the thread about my wife's friend? that's sort of how i feel about religion. there are so many red flags that i just can't even pretend to be interested. it takes a huge leap of faith to even "get to know god" it seems to me. if i'm missing out on something, then i guess i'll burn in hell for eternity.

 

No, I don't think I did. You got a link or a topic so I can go find it?

 

I went to Catholic school grades K-8 serving as alter boy for a span of time. Church every Sunday & holiday, stations of the cross...the whole 9 yards. 9th grade I went to public school...still attending church but not quite as often as before. By the time I hit 12th grade I had stoped going completely.

While in Catholic school and spending a lot of time at church, either in the audience or on the alter...I found the nuns to be mean, hateful bitter women. I found the priests to be drunks and wierdo's. The corporal punishment the nuns used to dish out in school with their ping-pong paddles with holes or 2 X 4's with holes or rulers or pinching. The priests were the same way. I bucked my mom and dad and refused to continue being a part of these very unhappy, mean, nasty freaks. Since, all this child abuse scandal has broken out and if God doesnt strike those guilty pedofiles down with a bolt of lightning.........my faith wonders even more.

I have personally experienced quite a few miracles in the last 3 or so years. I dont know what to attribute it/them to...karma, luck, :huh: guardian angle. I still pray. It's mixed emotions...I just kinda have my own thing, in my head, going on with the big man and hope to see all the loved ones that have gone before me, someday, again