tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192095615954358344.post807816708067369591..comments2023-06-14T09:56:54.102-05:00Comments on A Godless Nation: Question even the existence of faithNathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889169796759342598noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192095615954358344.post-85620183056908666662011-11-02T21:34:30.765-05:002011-11-02T21:34:30.765-05:00This is actually a very interesting, and common in...This is actually a very interesting, and common in my experience, phenomenon. An atheist, in attempting to better understand something, will run into a conversation with a theist who recites dogmatic "truths." This is frustrating, because of the inherent disconnect. It isn't that atheists are against Christians in general, but rather the blinkered "Bible-thumpers." And I want to give a distinction, that not all Christians are Bible-thumpers. I don't think that many atheists are a "last bastion of Truth," and I think that those who are have managed to replace dogmatic theism with dogmatic atheism. And, most atheists require proof of everything they think: homeopathy, "natural remedies," and the like are disregarded because of a lack of proof. If given solid proof of a deity, most atheists would adopt the god proven.<br /><br />For your use of Pascal's wager, I offer a counter: How can you know that you have found the right god? There are thousands of gods out there. Yours is one of many. Now, your chances of correctness are far lower, but mine are higher. Either there is, or isn't. For you, you have need of selecting the right one. Not trying a dig, just an alternate view.<br /><br />For myself, I would love to find a god, but I would definitely require solid proof. One who would speak directly to me to offer guidance. Not even often. I don't think that is much to ask for - I get it on a regular basis from human friends. Surely five minutes a month isn't to much for an omnipotent being. Able to do anything, including splitting his consciousness into 7 billion parts, and maintaining coherency. Maybe even 49 billion billion - why take a terra-centric view?Itarionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08603517371026645235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192095615954358344.post-66895390754259762412008-03-06T16:58:00.000-06:002008-03-06T16:58:00.000-06:00I appreciate you describing yourself as thirsting ...I appreciate you describing yourself as thirsting for knowledge, which implies that you are still learning, as we all are. We Christians often consider atheists to be self-appointed, arrogant know-it-all 's, pompously lambasting us "Bible-thumpers" for believing in our 'fairy tales' or 'superstitutions' or whatever other condescending or cheeky turn-of-phrase is used to describe the beliefs of millions of Christians... Christians that have included incredibly astute, learned and intelligent minds. Your comments about what America would be without Christianity (your conjecture that America would be better off if it had existed completely devoid of faith are, I would suggest, amusingly misguided) aside, I find it refreshing to see someone who may possibly be willing to admit that just because you've personally come to the conclusion that you cannot and do not believe in God, that doesn't necessarily mean that He does not and cannot exist... As if you were the last bastien of truth, order and intellect in the universe. Could it be that God does exist, and you have yet to find Him? I hope you someday do...<BR/><BR/>When I weigh out Christianity versus Atheism as the rule for my life, I hear what the Atheists have to say, but I choose faith in God. Pascal's wager clinches it for me... "if I am right, I gain all eternity, but if I am wrong, I've lost nothing." Good deal.<BR/><BR/>- peace, and keep searching, troy (canada)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192095615954358344.post-8981304936700904452008-02-28T11:07:00.000-06:002008-02-28T11:07:00.000-06:00I appriciate your taking the time to express your ...I appriciate your taking the time to express your ideas. I am not well read, and not as articulate as I wish I were. Your efforts will help when I am a loss to explain why I am an atheist. Previously, When asked why I am not a theist I would just say the whole god thing just doesn't make any sense. And to that statement they would inevetabley boast back with.."blah blah blah jesus blah blah blah died blah blah blah my savoir blah blah blah". Then I might ask "what part of the whole god thing doesn't sound genuinely crazy to you"? The conversation doesn't evolve much after that and if we do keep on about the jesus thing I try to point out that jesus has been described as someone who presents with many of the symptoms that are key to diagnosing schizophrenia. That makes then not want to talk to me anymore. I think I am to straight forward and I may be offending them. But I find it offensive when people say god bless you when I sneezeTonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04245355832737651928noreply@blogger.com