completelyunbiased
New Member
In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Paul writes this:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
surely 'all things' includes our beliefs. how can anyone who holds any respect for the bible condemn a person for doing this, whether that person calls themself an atheist or not?
i know several people who call themselves 'atheists' or 'agnostics' who are on the same quest for truth as many 'religious' people i've met. on the other hand, i know many atheists/agnostics who are just as doggedly close-minded as the 'christians' that they ridicule. let's call a momentary 'time-out' on labels:
i have more respect for the person who wants something proven to them versus blindly believing because everyone else is or because they're told to. regardless of their biases. obviously, paul did too.
all you can do is the best you can do, as they say. i don't judge or blame you or anyone for the way that you think because i know we've all had such different influences and circumstances.
what i will say is this: always be careful that your stance as an 'atheist' or 'agnostic' is really what you claim it to be: a search for truth and not a blind following of stale ideas. humans love to get into ruts. stay openminded! i've met many an atheist who was so passionate about their ideas and beliefs that their closeminded fervor became twin to that of the 'christian' fundamentalists that they despised.
if you want to hide behind labels and seperations, go for it, but remember that many times they cause more harm than they do good. we often fail to take a good look at the things we become common with. don't let it happen to you.
it may very well be that the only difference between me and Mr. Spinkles is that i've seen proof enough to lead me to believe in the existence of a 'superior being', while he hasn't.
true love (or at least my best attempt),
c.u.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
surely 'all things' includes our beliefs. how can anyone who holds any respect for the bible condemn a person for doing this, whether that person calls themself an atheist or not?
i know several people who call themselves 'atheists' or 'agnostics' who are on the same quest for truth as many 'religious' people i've met. on the other hand, i know many atheists/agnostics who are just as doggedly close-minded as the 'christians' that they ridicule. let's call a momentary 'time-out' on labels:
i have more respect for the person who wants something proven to them versus blindly believing because everyone else is or because they're told to. regardless of their biases. obviously, paul did too.
all you can do is the best you can do, as they say. i don't judge or blame you or anyone for the way that you think because i know we've all had such different influences and circumstances.
what i will say is this: always be careful that your stance as an 'atheist' or 'agnostic' is really what you claim it to be: a search for truth and not a blind following of stale ideas. humans love to get into ruts. stay openminded! i've met many an atheist who was so passionate about their ideas and beliefs that their closeminded fervor became twin to that of the 'christian' fundamentalists that they despised.
if you want to hide behind labels and seperations, go for it, but remember that many times they cause more harm than they do good. we often fail to take a good look at the things we become common with. don't let it happen to you.
it may very well be that the only difference between me and Mr. Spinkles is that i've seen proof enough to lead me to believe in the existence of a 'superior being', while he hasn't.
true love (or at least my best attempt),
c.u.