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'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.' Matthew 23:12
I extend my arms to you as an offer of a sincere hug, that there is peace between us my brother.
Before he left this life, Samuel had made for me a custom pendant shaped like a stone tablet. And upon that was engraved the simple scriptural chapter reference: Galatians 5.
I wear that to this day, and feel it's presence now as I read your sincere remarks here. It keeps me grounded in my bond with many things. And it brings me back to center when I feel I've veered off course.
It is with sincere and humble heart that I accept your words and offer my own apologies if my remarks regarding the content of your post, and the Wikipedia entry, came across as harsh or as an attack against you personally.
I find in reading myself again in that particular post, that to my own ears at the end especially, I sounded self righteous and perhaps bitter. Perhaps I'm projecting my emotions where they have no place at certain times when I invest my attentions to this particular topic, which I hold to heart having loved dearly an Atheist once upon a time and even still.
Perhaps, if I may be so bold, I can share this passage with you brother. And perhaps it will help you to see Atheists in a softer light, if you will.
1 Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
I think of this scripture and that of Jeremiah, when I write that regardless of whether the Atheist believes in God it does not mean that God does not believe in the Atheist.
I see the community of this Earth as children of God. All people. Even those I see as radicals. Judgment that may be, and still I trust that when there is one God from whence all things sprang then we all are but one family of soul, trying to find our way through life till the day the doors open and call us home.
Having said that in print, I realize I may inspire many Christians to emotion and claiming that is not how a "true" Christian thinks. Projecting that is possible I will say, I have listed my beliefs as Christian seeker. And though I've been quite busy today and not able to peruse the board fully, before I left last time I recall seeing a post that asked something to the effect; Am I a Christian? I have some really strange beliefs.
Though I have not read more than what I recall of the thread title on the "New Posts Menu", maybe this seeker could ask the same thing of herself. Though I do feel and have most of my life, the love and kinship of Christ.
Jeremiah 31:34
For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Again, bless you brother for your sincere introspection and daring to be so honest and share your heart here. There are a great many topics on these forums that can bring emotions to a boil, as we all take things personally.
But that's life, isn't it. And what a blessing it is to journey and learn so much from so many.
God's peace journey with you and all of the CF family.
Mr. Petersen,
I too, used to understand that atheism was the view of not believing in God.
However, from several gentlemen here who have given me a better and deeper understanding of what atheism is today, the position ecompasses a wide ranging and eclectic mixture of ideas, thoughts, beliefs and views.
Most will confirm that atheism is "the lack of belief in gods or God". Now you can better understand the vast amounts of interpretations that may fall under the umbrella of this definition.
The position itself makes no positive assertions as to the existence or non-existence of God. Now assuredly there are some atheists that categorically deny the existence of God. However, I do not think that most atheists here maintain that position though.
I beleive that a good many here simply reserve the right to maintain that they lack a belief in gods or God, and if I may not be presumptuous, I may even say that they do so because they believe that there is no good evidence to believe. This is the position that I believe Belk, and Gadarene hold to, who are two gentlemen I have spoken with at length about this topic.
So if you understand this definition Mr. Petersen, you will be better able to refute it or critique it if you so desire.
If I am mistaken in what I have said, I hope someone will help me to understand better my error.
How are you defining God? Is our family our God? Would you consider our children our God? Please explain what it is that you call God.
Mr. Petersen,
I too, used to understand that atheism was the view of not believing in God.
However, from several gentlemen here who have given me a better and deeper understanding of what atheism is today, the position ecompasses a wide ranging and eclectic mixture of ideas, thoughts, beliefs and views.
Most will confirm that atheism is "the lack of belief in gods or God". Now you can better understand the vast amounts of interpretations that may fall under the umbrella of this definition.
The position itself makes no positive assertions as to the existence or non-existence of God. Now assuredly there are some atheists that categorically deny the existence of God. However, I do not think that most atheists here maintain that position though.
I beleive that a good many here simply reserve the right to maintain that they lack a belief in gods or God, and if I may not be presumptuous, I may even say that they do so because they believe that there is no good evidence to believe. This is the position that I believe Belk, and Gadarene hold to, who are two gentlemen I have spoken with at length about this topic.
So if you understand this definition Mr. Petersen, you will be better able to refute it or critique it if you so desire.
If I am mistaken in what I have said, I hope someone will help me to understand better my error.
