I am an atheist with questions

I have no interest in being converted or "saved". I also have no interest in attempting to convert other people. I had a fair amount of questions about the Christian faith that I view as confusing or somewhat paradoxical. I mean to offend no one and I apologize if anything I say appears as pompous or ignorant.

1. I would like to know why such a high percent of people who supposedly follow the teachings of the new testament and of Jesus have a conservative political lean. It seems that if Jesus was trying to do anything he was trying to teach everyone to love, help and respect each other through any means possible. If say, an upped tax rate could benefit more people then why would so many people who consider themselves new testament Christians be against it. You might say that Jesus was the original communist. In the basic all for one and one for all sense.

2. Secondly I am slightly confused as to why God would have any use for making people. It seems that as a divine "person" he would have no reason to make a whole bunch of animals, plact etc. and put them all on a big rock together. It seems to me that he might as well conjure up some people to have a drink with all his heavenly neighbors at the pool block party.

3. Over the years millions of people have died or been killed in the name of God or Gods of various religions. It seems safe to say that over the course of human history religion could only have started more wars than it possibly could have ended. Could that truly be the will of God?

4. I do not understand heaven. The concept to me of any eternal life seems like it could be more hell than any infinite death. The concept of heaven as a paradice provides the implication that you are essentially free to do whatever you would like, when you would like. I assume you are expected to follow basic fundamental rules of Christianity... but. I can't imagine a more terrible torture that always having what I wanted to have or having an infinite life. Assume that I need to get something done, why shouldn't I wait? What negative aspects could there be to procrastination in the kingdom of heaven, the paradice? Who would be willing to punish you? The loss of desire to do anything would be quick, no time period in which things must be done because it eventually won't matter. My basic point is that in life people feel the need to do things because they are not sure if today is their last day. Any series of random events could end your life in a snap. In heaven there would be no pressure to do anything which would take any personal meaning in life you would have away.

5. Why is it that homosexuality is a sin? There are many biologists who have observed that there are many animals that take place in homosexual activity. Animals have no religion or faith (at least there has never been a reliable witness account of it being seen. I am not about to accept that squirrels have outsmarted humans and have secret tree-churches all over the world.) and they engage in homosexual behaviors. It is my guess that animals in general could not even comrehend the existance of a God. So... animals thrive off primal urge, think of your dog/cat. They live in the moment, food now, maybe lay in the sun later. I highly doubt that any animal would make it their mission to go out and have a homosexual relationship with another animal by "choice". So is it impossible to accept that homosexuality is in fact, a naturally occuring thing localized in a gene, or multiple genes?

6. Finally I would like to inquire about why what is believed is believed. This is where the final note of my disclaimer I feel would mostly apply. Why is it that there are thousands upon thousands of commonly agreed upon biological facts that Christians accept. A huge majority of scientists agree on how children are conceived, on how cars work, why lightning exists. The "theory" of evolution seems to have a solid scientific backing. Over ninety percent of biologists in the world agree that this is an extremley valid theory and based entirely in fact. Many of the same scientists would agree on the theory of how gravity works. The mass of an object pressing down on the space-time continuum. There is a large percentage of Christians who would agree with that theory, even though it has less proof associated with it than that of evolution. There is no silly theory that it is God's Love that keeps us from floating into space. So why is it that so many Christians are willing to believe a five-thousand year old manuscript that has been translated however many times. As opposed to the sciences of the generation that brought us the light bulb and steam engine?

Once again I mean no offense in anything I say. I'm confused and looking for answers and not for guidance. I thouroughly respect the opinions that anyone who may read this has because, God or not, there is no reason for ridicule or hate for each other.

NOTE TO OTHERS READING THIS THREAD: As stated here, only Christian Forum Chaplains or the original poster may respond to the opening post. Thanks!

The Ask a Chaplain forum is not set up for lengthy discussions of these topics. I recommend you post each of your questions as separate threads in other appropriate CF forums where they can be discussed at length.

A few short answers is all that I will offer here:

1. Christians come in all stripes, so I don't think your assumption about the political leanings of the majority of Christians will withstand careful scrutiny.

2. God did not have to create anything, as He needed nothing to complete His eternal existence within the eternal Trinity. It simply pleased God to create for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness.

3. On the contrary, when one examines the history of war, the millions killed by the godless regimes of the likes of Stalin or Mao far exceed whatever claims of "bloody Christianity" that are often tossed about by the misinformed.

4. If your views of heaven are humanistic you will always fail to understand why Heaven represents the perfection of the saints of God and why these saints would not want anything more than this eternal blessed state.

5. Homosexuality is a sin because God declared it so clearly in His special revelation, the Bible. Homosexuality represents a choice, that perverts God's intentions for creating man and woman.

6. There is no conflict between science and Scripture, for wherever truth is being discovered it is God's truth.

You write:

Once again I mean no offense in anything I say.

But you also write:

It seems to me that he might as well conjure up some people to have a drink with all his heavenly neighbors at the pool block party.

There is no silly theory that it is God's Love that keeps us from floating into space. So why is it that so many Christians are willing to believe a five-thousand year old manuscript that has been translated however many times

You may be free to LOL about God, but if you are genuinely seeking answers to your questions, you will likely need to adopt a far more irenic posture if you decide to take my suggestion to post your questions in other threads for serious discussion.

AMR

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

(a.k.a., Patrick)