Questions i always wanted to ask.

[returntosender]

No. 'Soul' is a religious concept. No God = No Soul.

As I said earlier 'spirit' is not something I understand.

If you imagine death as returning to the state you were in before you were born, it may be easier to understand the way I see things. Non-existence is not a scary concept.

Like any kid I was taught whatever my parents viewed as basic right or wrong (I was never hit or spanked). It just wasn't justified by Christianity. This was quite normal. At the time many Australians were indifferent to Christianity. Today most Australians are indifferent to Christianity as a moral arbiter or more generally.

It wasn't until my early teens that I started to think about why some things were defined as right and others not. This is when I discovered that Christianity often defined things as wrong (or right) with no justification apart from Biblical rules. I also discovered that morality is largely subjective. It changes with time, place and culture.

I think I've caught up with all your questions so far. Remember the time difference. Your last two posts arrived after midnight last night (my time) when I was sleeping.

OB

Don't feel you have to hurry to answer. No hurry unless someone decides to report this? I never thought soul and spirit being exclusively christian. I like the fact that you don't believe you were born a sinner. It's hard to overcome. Thanks ob. I hope some are finding this useful if they are finding it at all. I couldn't open a forum on it.

 

[returntosender]

Thanks for reminding me of the time. It's lost on me though. My old brain just can't get it. Are you open for any remarks from others. I'm very surprised they have been quiet unless they haven't found it? Don't feel any pressure to allow remarks. Sleep tight

 

[Occams Barber]

Sleep tight

I'm wide awake. It's 2.00 in the afternoon on Thursday. I just spent the morning doing housework and cooking a peach cobbler for tonight's desert.

Are you open for any remarks from others. I'm very surprised they have been quiet unless they haven't found it?

I have no problem explaining atheism since it seems to be badly misunderstood. The problem is that some people here see explanation as promoting atheism. I think we may be a little threatening to some Christians. I'm really not interested in gaining converts to atheism and I doubt that any explanation I make would convince a Christian to join the club. I suspect that atheism has more to do with self-discovery than being convinced.

My main concern is that misunderstanding leads to prejudice based on ignorance.

I am happy to explain atheism without promoting it - i.e. I won't debate the topic.

OB

 

[returntosender]

Are you satisfied with where you are in life. I noticed you spend time here with other beliefs, my word, just curious? Do you always follow your meal with a dessert?

 

[Occams Barber]

Are you satisfied with where you are in life.

I'm 75. I retired 7 years ago. While I'm not rich I'm reasonably financially secure and I have no health problems. I have two sons and three grandkids.

I've been to many places and done many things. I could, perhaps, have achieved more but I'm not one to dwell on the past.

I would describe myself as 'content'.

I noticed you spend time here with other beliefs, my word, just curious?

What other 'beliefs'? I usually hang around the Science, Politics or Ethics Forums open to non-Christians.

Do you always follow your meal with a dessert?

LOL. I usually, but not always, have dessert after my evening meal. To put that in context, I rarely eat 3 meals a day. I occasionally eat two meals but often eat only one. No particular reason - I just don't get that hungry.

OB

 

[returntosender]

This is funny, i was sitting here thinking about your eating habits and it occurred to me that you are what we are supposed to be in our eating habits as Christians. You're the perfect example to Christians of what our health life should be, lol is that an example of irony?
I've seen you recently in Indian, Muslim and was it AL? Which i don't understand at all. In which you posted you were not a Christian follower but... Something like that so i know it has something to do. with religion you've told me why. I just find it interesting. Another irony, you spend more time in them then i do which i am ashamed to say. I suppose you're sound asleep. Remember it will wait. Whatever you deny some human? set your path in the right direction for you to be so well put together outside of one thing. It's sad that so many don't have that one push start to the rest of their lives. You are blessed.

 

[RileyG]

I wonder what happened to Max Lacado. He hasn't been on TBN for a very long time. I can guess but i won't say. A very godly man. He has a site. Good to know.

I have one of his books I got for my First Communion many years ago. It's the only one I read. I should look more into his work.

 

[returntosender]

I have one of his books I got for my First Communion many years ago. It's the only one I read. I should look more into his work.

He is really special. He has such a godly appearance to me

 

[Occams Barber]

This is funny, i was sitting here thinking about your eating habits and it occurred to me that you are what we are supposed to be in our eating habits as Christians. You're the perfect example to Christians of what our health life should be, lol is that an example of irony?
I've seen you recently in Indian, Muslim and was it AL? Which i don't understand at all. In which you posted you were not a Christian follower but... Something like that so i know it has something to do. with religion you've told me why. I just find it interesting. Another irony, you spend more time in them then i do which i am ashamed to say. I suppose you're sound asleep. Remember it will wait. Whatever you deny some human? set your path in the right direction for you to be so well put together outside of one thing. It's sad that so many don't have that one push start to the rest of their lives. You are blessed.

I didn't know there was such a thing as good Christian eating habits. US Christians, particularly from the South, tend to be depicted as grossly obese overeaters who subsist on a diet of over-processed junk food and calorie crammed potluck dinners. It's probably an unfair exaggeration based on a small truth. Perhaps I could visit the US on a mission to bring healthy eating to Christians.

You may have picked up the Indian, Muslim, Sikh comment from a post a few days back where I talked about living in a place where Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs are common as a result of generations of migration (to Australia) from India and SE Asia.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/IndianDiaspora

OB

 

[returntosender]

It's okay,but just the way it looked to me doesn't mean I'm right.
Corin 6:19-20
Your body is the temple of God. meaning God dwells in us we need to keep it clean and healthy. To the glory of God. i ruined my health by what i ate so i suffer now as a result. We pay for our indiscretions. People pick and choose what they want to follow, what they know, what's easy, etc. As in the people you mentioned. It's what is impressed upon them in church. There are hundreds of things to follow in the word, we are not super human. I wish we were like Jesus and it all was easy to get it right. I don't mean it was easy for him but he got it right. Christians are fallible. For me a lot is guess work because i have not studied to make myself worthy. Anyone else could do a better job telling you all of this . You set an example for us with what you say about your eating and your successes in your life. You listen and learn from us despite your non belief. The potlucks at the church doesn't happen everyday and it has a much more important meaning. Fellowship with other believers. What brings people together faster then food?lol

 

[returntosender]

Catch-up on,
What fictional character am I?. And.

Gatorade

- These also work good for getting off tops.

www.christianforums.com

 

[returntosender]

Where are you today?

 

[returntosender]

With all your attributes i have a feeling you keep a spotless house and you don't watch tv. You're the perfect Christian with one exception.

 

[returntosender]

Did you get your 2 cents in on this one?

Hello, some very serious questions from an Athiest - absolutely NO mocking inside.

It's ... nothing was offensive in there! Mike While you are a non-believer you don't sound like an unbeliever to me. Unbelievers are the insincere cynical mockers / manipulators who undermine religion from positions of influence within.

www.christianforums.com

Do you consider yourself an atheist?

 

[returntosender]

Are your children godless? Is that usually the case in similar situations?

 

[MehGuy]

Questions for non believers:
Do you have a belief in any spiritual institution?

I am not sure what you mean by spiritual institution?

Do you believe in a higher being?

No.

Do you believe in heaven, hell?

No.

Do you believe any part of the word?

Nothing that pertains the supernatural.

Will you change your mind if thousands are taken up in what we call the rapture?

That'll at least get the ball rolling, lol. Although I'll probably wonder if I'm hallucinating at first.

Have you ever wanted to believe in our God or any god?

I grew up believing in God, and I do appreciate how much spirituality can brighten up life. Given that, I do wish I could believe in some sort of God again. In my mind I view spirituality as a practice of manipulating empathy... and that believing in supernatural beings is needed to do that. At the end of the day.. that's all I think theists really care about... is the universe conscious or not? Is it something we can input empathy into?

Do you ever feel a little fearful if doubt creeps in?

Doubt? I'm a weak atheist, meaning I don't make a positive claim that God doesn't exist. I'm open to the possibility of one existing, even hell. As someone who suffers from OCD and anxiety, sometimes the old fear of Hell I had when I was a Christian creeps up. I even still sometimes have spiritualty moments. I can even engage in them at will if I try hard enough, but in my mind they're just strong empathetic emotions..

At the end of the day though... these fears can't really amount to much if I don't have any evidence to base them on. I don't see myself ever becoming a theist again.

 

[returntosender]

Thanks mehguy,. What does it mean a thiest? Probably should just say spiritual,or religious drop the institution.

 

[Pommer]

Doubt? I'm a weak atheist, meaning I don't make a positive claim that God doesn't exist. I'm open to the possibility of one existing, even hell. As someone who suffers from OCD and anxiety, sometimes the old fear of Hell I had when I was a Christian creeps up. I even still sometimes have spiritualty moments. I can even engage in them at will if I try hard enough, but in my mind they're just strong empathetic emotions..

This is why I go with “Deist”; I jokingly “worship” Sol, (if only as the only thing that we know of) that actually drives life on our planet.

 

[RileyG]

Question for older atheists/non theists (70s+)

Anything you regret?

 

[Occams Barber]

Question for older atheists/non theists (70s+)

Anything you regret?

Nothing connected to atheism.

Remember that being an atheist is a non-belief. There are no atheist ideologies or dogma or rules or observances or sacred books. There's no such thing as behaving like an atheist. Unlike Christianity, atheism has no real impact on day-to-day life.

In my case I've never had a belief in a god, so I don't miss it.

OB