Hm... Since you insist, actually I have. I was brought up in an atheistic family, my parents are atheists, I've lived many years without religion and then rejected it, true.
But this is a purely eristic stratagem: shifting the focus of the debate, nothing more. If you're really interested in...
Ah, I see. So, judging from the number of responses, who gets ridiculed for their beliefs is a more valid argument than what I presented. I see... Well, have fun
It is, to any belief system that does not acknowledge the existence of deity. Yes, I sure do miss a lot on other religions, I never said I didn't - on the contrary - but I still fail to see how this makes my argument less reliable.
Hypocritical? How? It would be, if I claimed to know something I don't. I am not, I'm simply trying to participate in a debate about atheism. Again, not Christianity.
The fact that I haven't experienced other religions does not diminish the fact that atheists deny themselves this experience...
I beg your pardon? How am I attacking anyone's personal experiences? Someone made an interesting thread - it wasn't even you unless you own that other screen name as well - and I replied. I thought it was a debate, not a kindergarten sandbox?
In case you are really interested, I was raised in...
Ah I see. An interesting notion, I'm not very familiar with it. So, in a way, God and Satan are, for you, just manifestations of ourselves? The good and the bad side of our psyche?
LOL! Another one attacking me in return...
Again, how my personal experience is relevant to the topic, please? I thought we were debating atheism in this thread, not Christianity. Or myself.
Well, good for you.
No I haven't. Nor do I claim to have. What I am missing is not the point of this thread, the title is "Any Downside to Atheism." I simply gave one.
And I still doubt that every atheists has experienced many or all of the religions and even if they have, they must have...
Not very elaborate... but okay. So, you think I only assume that you don't know the religions you are rejecting? Am I now to conclude that you know them all intimately, that you have experienced them all deeply so that you know what you are missing? Okaaaaay. Sorry, I don't buy it.
If that's the case, I'd love to hear about it in the right part of the forum. I started a thread asking about various denominations, I hope to see you there some time.
If that's what you believe in, it's your choice. To me it's not love, it's slavery and I don't consider myself a slave. Hope you will find peace of mind, though. God bless.
LOL! By the faith? No, I don't consider myself damaged, really. What I refuse to accept is some of this church teachings and its policy, for the most part. Thanks for the concern, though. Being here should prove interesting. :D
You got me wrong. I don't wish for anyone to be condemned, I never said that. I'm only saying that a man has the ability to turn away from God's Love. Not because it is imperfect but because it is not that imposing.
And I never said it's because it's impossible for Him but because I think...
Again, I'm not denying that we're all included in His Love. What I'm saying is that we still can turn him down, despite His dying for us. If I reject that truth, He will still love me, I'm sure. But I doubt He will save me against my will... Well, He did. I am saved. But I can still refuse to...
That's not what I meant, please, don't twist my words. Let me explain what I think, if I was unclear.
Everyone someone challenges me or hurts me, they are themselves, doing it (purposely or otherwise) out of their own free will. God and Satan are above us. They only use these incidents to...
Well, linwood, if you put it this way, I can only tell you that you are missing the presence of a Friend in your "nurturing thoughts, emotions, words and actions that are in harmony with the idea that the entire universe is, in some way, connected".
I wish I could describe it...
Thanks for the welcome but you seem to actually agree with me in a sense.
Challenge and adversity are good because they have the potential to strengthen you and, to me, that's God's doing or allowing Satan to do it to us in certain circumstances. (that's how I agree with your statement that...