Atheist Matt Answers Questions!

[451ffan]

Thread deleted

 

[Lisa0315]

Hi Everyone,

I started this new thread for the purpose of getting rid of six simultaneous dialogues on the other "Ask the Atheist" thread. I will do my best to respond to all questions, and I request that all non-believers/critics of those Christians who choose to respond DO NOT POST.

If anyone causes a rucus, I will inform the moderators of misconduct and see to it that those persons are disciplined properly.

Ask away!

Sincerely,
MSB

Hi Matt,
I have many questions. To start, were you raised in a Christian church, and if so, at what age did you stop believing? Most atheists I have talked with fit into this kind of group and began questioning at a young age.

Lisa

 

[451ffan]

Hi Matt,
I have many questions. To start, were you raised in a Christian church, and if so, at what age did you stop believing? Most atheists I have talked with fit into this kind of group and began questioning at a young age.

Lisa

Hi Lisa0315,

First, tell me if you wouldn't mind being called Lisa for ease of memory?

I was raised in a Catholic household my entire life. From age fourteen to sixteen, I was truly devout, and set myself to become a priest.

Then came the worst year of my life, age eighteen. I tried to keep a long-distance relationship going, but despite all my praying and hoping, I could not get her to continue with me. I did not hear from her for a few months, and fell into a very deep depression. I lost almost all my friends, became irritated at the drop of a pin, and started using drugs and alcohol.

I prayed to god...but prayers were unanswered. This lasted for around a year or so, of just praying and suffering, until the first day of my second year at college. I won't go into specifics, but I wound up in the hospital and from that day on I saw the "light," in Atheism. I've been an Atheist ever since.

Sorry if that's kind of down...I'm much happier now!!

Sincerely,
MSB

 

[Lisa0315]

Hi Lisa0315,

First, tell me if you wouldn't mind being called Lisa for ease of memory?

I was raised in a Catholic household my entire life. From age fourteen to sixteen, I was truly devout, and set myself to become a priest.

Then came the worst year of my life, age eighteen. I tried to keep a long-distance relationship going, but despite all my praying and hoping, I could not get her to continue with me. I did not hear from her for a few months, and fell into a very deep depression. I lost almost all my friends, became irritated at the drop of a pin, and started using drugs and alcohol.

I prayed to god...but prayers were unanswered. This lasted for around a year or so, of just praying and suffering, until the first day of my second year at college. I won't go into specifics, but I wound up in the hospital and from that day on I saw the "light," in Atheism. I've been an Atheist ever since.

Sorry if that's kind of down...I'm much happier now!!

Sincerely,
MSB

Lisa is my given name. March 15th is the day I became a Christian. (Beware!)

I understand depression. I have dealt with it my whole life but I always thought only "weak" people couldn't get over it. I finally had to seek treatment myself, and it was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

Question # 2: How do you know that your prayer was not answered? Perhaps the answer was "no", and you were unwilling to accept this. I am sure I am not the first to tell you this, so I will go on to Question #3. Can you go into more detail about your enlightenment and your decision to stop believing in/on God? See, you were at a very weak point of your life emotionally and mentally, so why was this the best time to make such a monumental decision?

Lisa

 

[451ffan]

Lisa,

Well, the answer was "no" to my woman coming back, God or no god. My prayer was directed at that time to getting some "answer" to my shaky faith and relieving my suffering with doubt and lots of painful life events.

I made a decision at my "weak" point that I had never really believed in god at all. It's pretty hard to believe in something that lends no scientific or sensory evidence!

As far as evidence to support my decision, that was one of the reasons. Another was...which god would I believe in? There's a thousand different conceptions of god, each could be right, but none lends itself to examination by a scientific lense. The debate about god just ends when someone says "god did it."

Is this the type of answer you are looking for, Lisa? I can go on, if so. Thanks!

-MSB

 

[Lisa0315]

Lisa,

Well, the answer was "no" to my woman coming back, God or no god. My prayer was directed at that time to getting some "answer" to my shaky faith and relieving my suffering with doubt and lots of painful life events.

I made a decision at my "weak" point that I had never really believed in god at all. It's pretty hard to believe in something that lends no scientific or sensory evidence!

As far as evidence to support my decision, that was one of the reasons. Another was...which god would I believe in? There's a thousand different conceptions of god, each could be right, but none lends itself to examination by a scientific lense. The debate about god just ends when someone says "god did it."

Is this the type of answer you are looking for, Lisa? I can go on, if so. Thanks!

-MSB

So, you had already begun questioning your belief due to lack of "proof" of God, and the hard times were a catalyst to your de-conversion? Or, was it the other way around? I guess I am just trying to find out when the seed of doubt was planted.

Lisa

 

[451ffan]

Looking back on my former beliefs, the doubt was always there...I thought every "believer" dealt with it, so I wasn't especially concerned until I realized there was more doubt in my mind than belief.

Specifically, I guess the doubt was "planted" around the age of ten, and I finally said "enough" to religion after my second year at college. It's a hazy line when people start dealing with beliefs, so that's kind of an arbitrary cutoff for things, but that's when I was open about it: "I'm an atheist." I'd be glad to field any more questions.

-MSB

 

[Mr. 5020]

Hi Everyone,

I started this new thread for the purpose of getting rid of six simultaneous dialogues on the other "Ask the Atheist" thread. I will do my best to respond to all questions, and I request that all non-believers/critics of those Christians who choose to respond DO NOT POST.

If anyone causes a rucus, I will inform the moderators of misconduct and see to it that those persons are disciplined properly.

Ask away!

Sincerely,
MSB

Sweet. Kudos to you for bravery!

Anyways, I have some standard questions, and will move on from there. I'll format my question with the last part of my username (5020) followed by the question number. For example, my first question will be 5020Q1. You can respond by saying MA-5020Q1, just to make it easier. Or you can not.

5020Q1: Would you say that you know absolutely that there is no supernatural entity anywhere?

I noticed in your dialog with Lisa that you said that your primary reason for your "falling away" was unanswered prayer. This leads me to...

5020Q2: Would you say that you were "seeking a sign" in your prayers?

I figure this will be a good place to start.

Respectfully,
Mr. 5020

 

[thatsmrjason]

How Doyou Explain the Dreams People Have of G-d and The Like?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by mattseanbachman
Hi Lisa0315,

First, tell me if you wouldn't mind being called Lisa for ease of memory?

I was raised in a Catholic household my entire life. From age fourteen to sixteen, I was truly devout, and set myself to become a priest.

Hi. I was also raised Catholic, an altar boy, choir etc.
I entered Regina Cleri Seminary in '66 to be a priest but didn't make it to the next year. I entered the military in '68 and just left God for good.
Family was praying for me but it wasn't until 2003 that the LORD came to me and I am now non-denominational, so you can see it could be quite awhile before prayers are answered, and sometimes it may not turn out the way or in the time you or the others expect it to
Thanks for the testimony.

1 Peter 4:7 But the End [teloV] of ALL things is Nigh at Hand; therefore be sober-minded and watchful in your prayers.

 

[451ffan]

Hi. I was also raised Catholic, an altar boy, choir etc.
I entered Regina Cleri Seminary in '66 to be a priest but didn't make it to the next year. I entered the military in '68 and just left God for good.
Family was praying for me but it wasn't until 2003 that the LORD came to me and I am now non-denominational, so you can see it could be quite awhile before prayers are answered, and sometimes it may not turn out the way or in the time you or the others expect it to
Thanks for the testimony.

1 Peter 4:7 But the End [teloV] of ALL things is Nigh at Hand; therefore be sober-minded and watchful in your prayers.

You are very welcome...even though there was no question!

Thanks,
MSB

 

[451ffan]

Sweet. Kudos to you for bravery!

Anyways, I have some standard questions, and will move on from there. I'll format my question with the last part of my username (5020) followed by the question number. For example, my first question will be 5020Q1. You can respond by saying MA-5020Q1, just to make it easier. Or you can not.

5020Q1: Would you say that you know absolutely that there is no supernatural entity anywhere?

I noticed in your dialog with Lisa that you said that your primary reason for your "falling away" was unanswered prayer. This leads me to...

5020Q2: Would you say that you were "seeking a sign" in your prayers?

I figure this will be a good place to start.

Respectfully,
Mr. 5020

MA-5020Q1: Absolutely not. I would have to know everything there is to know about the universe and beyond it to conclude that there is no god...beyond a shadow of a doubt. But since we are talking about certainty, as a matter of practicality, noone knows anything for absolutely certain.

This line of logic has been applied to try to get "atheists to see that they are really agnostics"...which is really offensive to us, btw! So, while I do not know everything to conclude for certain that there is nothing supernatural about the universe (and "beyond"), I do know that it is not reasonable to say that there is.

If I was to say to you "are you absolutely sure that there is not a teapot orbiting Jupiter," you would have to say "no," because you don't know everything about Jupiter. Are you an agnostic when it comes to teapots and Jupiter? Heck no! There is no evidence to support the case that there is, and so it is very reasonable to conclude that there is not.

MA-5020Q2: No, I was looking for the pain to stop in my life. I didn't handle that period very well, and tried to let god know that I was in over my head with pain. He never answered. I wasn't looking for a sign, I was looking to get out of the "hell" that I was in; it wasn't until I realized that god was not going to get me out, that I started improving my life for the better.

 

[TrevorKamal]

I prayed to god...but prayers were unanswered.

What do you mean?

 

[0rion]

What do you mean?

That he prayed, but there was no one on the other side.

 

[raffster]

I prayed to god...but prayers were unanswered. This lasted for around a year or so, of just praying and suffering, until the first day of my second year at college. I won't go into specifics, but I wound up in the hospital and from that day on I saw the "light," in Atheism. I've been an Atheist ever since.

MSB

Hi Matt, so many believers (at least the ones I know) stop believing when the important prayers in their lives aren't answered. So let me ask you a simple question: Would you have become an atheist if God answered your prayers?

I prayed to God for 10 months so that my ex-wife would change her mind about our marriage but she wants a divorce and it's final. I've never believed in God more than ever in my life right now. God didn't answer my prayer but I believe that something better is out there.

BTW, I became atheist for about a year (check my profile). I think we'll have an interesting chat here.

Take care.

 

[TrevorKamal]

That he prayed, but there was no one on the other side.

How is it supposed to work? Other side of what?

 

[arunma]

Hi Everyone,

I started this new thread for the purpose of getting rid of six simultaneous dialogues on the other "Ask the Atheist" thread. I will do my best to respond to all questions, and I request that all non-believers/critics of those Christians who choose to respond DO NOT POST.

If anyone causes a rucus, I will inform the moderators of misconduct and see to it that those persons are disciplined properly.

Ask away!

Sincerely,
MSB

Just wondering: are you an evangelistic atheist (à la Richard Dawkins), or an apathetic atheist?

 

[9Harmony]

MA-5020Q1: I was looking to get out of the "hell" that I was in; it wasn't until I realized that god was not going to get me out, that I started improving my life for the better.

hmmm....perhaps that was the answer to your prayer?

In the "Dynamics of Prayer" by Shoghi Effendi, there are 5 steps of prayer...the fifth step is to act.

Dynamics of Prayer.

While in Haifa, the beloved Guardian of the Cause gave to the writer (Mrs Ruth Moffat), the most concise, complete, and effective formula she has ever seen, for the Dynamics of Prayer. After saying to stress the need of more prayers and meditation among the friends, he said to use these five steps if we had a problem of any kind for which we desired a solution or wished help.


First Step. - Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.

Second Step. - Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.

Third Step. - Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step. 91

Fourth Step. - Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the
fifth step.

Fifth Step. - Then, he said, lastly, ACT; Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel
for the Divine power to flow through you. Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the
right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true are those words - "Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered" and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out.

(Compilations, Principles of Bahai Administration, p. 90)