jetson

if a doctor just told you, your heart is so weak, you have only a few days to live. What will you be thinking? Will you reconsider your beliefs in God? Will you finally repent and ask God to forgive you? Or will you be filled, with your p***e and just lay there and die? Will you just lay there, with a chance you might be wrong? How many of you on here will give an honest answer, I also wonder. I don't think there is really any such thing as an Atheist. I think a better name for them would be: Refusal's of Christ and His gifts.

MrEd Loc: Georgia

You can't convince atheist that God is real. To them, bright lights flashing in front of their eyes are real from all that pot they have been smoking..........

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I believe there are people who do not believe in God as presented by Christians. These are people who are not Christians - that doesn't mean they don't believe in God. I believe many say they are atheists because that's what they think is the "cool" thing to be, an atheist. I see that as the supreme narcissist - putting self above its own Creator. I also think many say they are atheists because of the way Christianity is put forth: that one can only reside with God through Christ.

I WANT to be a Christian, but am not one. I don't feel the same way Christians feel. I definitely believe in God, my Creator, and I live as best I can by Christian principles. I cannot imagine pretending that I am atheist, no matter how "neat" some people think that is. I talk to my God, but I feel like a hypocrite to pray in the name of Christ. My God answers my requests. I am comfortable in my own skin, I am comfortable in my views, but I feel some guilt for not being able to be a real Christian. Being one isn't as simple as some people seem to think.

jetson

Tasmine, being a Christian is very easy to do. Ask God the Father, to forgive your sins, as you ask forgiveness of them. Confess them to Him and believe in Him and do it in the name of Jesus Christ. God sent Him here, for this reason. I guess this is to simple for most people. They just insist that, they have to do something(work) to accomplish salvation. The Bible states, it is a free gift to everyone that believes it. The Bible states, if you have no part of Christ you have no part of God. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit are all one in accord, thus making up the Godhead. Belief is the key to a relationship with the creator. Hebrews Chp. 1: verse 1 states Christ created it all. Col. Chapter 1 states, Christ is the visible image of God, and by Him all things was created by Him. The gospel of John states. In the beginning was the word, was with God, was God and became flesh and came to earth. If you don't believe in Christ, it doesn't matter how good, one thinks he is, he is still lost just as the worst sinner is and will never see the gates of heaven unless he wakes up, to the words of the Almighty..

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Tasine, you totally had me until this part which I don't understand. I'm curious as to what you meant exactly. Could you elaborate a little? Thanks.

jetson

I would like to know also.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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This is the only way to approach a non-Christian honestly by a Christian, and this is why many people call themselves "atheists", I believe. If I KNOW I question the Bible, written and interpreted by men, many times over, how can I possibly and honestly believe your last sentence? The answer is: I cannot.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Tasine, I'm still trying to understand you. Why should you feel guilty about what you believe if that's what you're saying?

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I"ll try to explain, but it's difficult to do.
I was raised in the Methodist Church. Was never commanded by family to attend, and my family didn't ever pray aloud, or do anything I would consider "Christian" except they had a strong set or morals and independence. They took my sis and me to church because they obviously felt we would benefit. After we grew up, they quit going to church. Once I grew up I quit going to church.

I became the church organist at age 16 and played for services 3 times a week, funerals, and weddings. There were some incidences I'd rather not go into here, that led me to seriously wonder if my preacher was even a Christian. I was never comfortable saying prayers, and at home was never encouraged to. I was not stupid, but never could get much understanding from the Bible nor from duller than dishwater preachers, and I always doubted the words recorded as FACTS in the Bible, and as an adult I doubted them even more. I had what I thought was an epiphany one day, just out of the blue. I'm not going to talk about it here, but I KNEW, KNEW I knew something that Christians cannot accept. I talked with my pastor about 5 years ago (I had returned to church at the age of 70, a Baptist Church, hoping I could connect), but he was vehement about my "epiphany" being untrue and not possible. I later talked with him about doubting my "faith". He was a bit abrupt and merely said I was a Christian, to stop worrying about it. I didn't stop worrying about it, but I quit the church again. I felt I had taken the last step and that now God was not hearing me. Once again, now, I feel God IS hearing me. I'm not crazy.

This is the best way I know to explain what I meant.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Please read what I just wrote to Phil.

Kevyn

For most people blind faith is a gift, for it relieves them of the burden of reason. Shouldn't people constantly, and as objectively as possible question their faith? The world would be a much better place if guys like Timothy Mcveigh and Nidal Malik Hasan were not so dev**ed and faithful to their beliefs. No end of life mulling over beliefs for them they go out knowing in all their hearts that they are righteous, what a shame for humanity there are so many like them.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I am REALLY curious to know what that epiphany was, but if you don't want to go into it that's up to you.

jetson

The Bible was not interpreted by man. The Bible states, It was inspired by God to Holy Men of God, who were just the writers of it. It is truly God's words not mans.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

I believe it is because it was so ingrained into me, starting at a very early age, and as I matured, I came to doubt it, and I feel guilty by the doubt, yet can't believe what I can't believe.

How can one explain that when it is only my surmising? I don't feel guilty, like I've been consigned to hell or something, but Christians would feel I'm consigning myself to hell. I don't feel guilty that THEY may feel that. I am well aware that I am explaining this poorly. Suffice to say that I wish I believed now as I thought I believed as a child. Do I sit around and worry about it? No, I don't. Does it give me bad dreams? No, it doesn't. Perhaps I merely feel I should offer some sort of absolution for myself for having grown away from the faith in Christianity though I still have the faith in God? If you have a suggestion, I'm open to it.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I'll PM you. I see this is all very personal and I also find it very stimulating to talk about. Give me a few minutes.