The difficulty of talking to Atheist

[True Scotsman]

This is the specific answer to your question, If you sincerely wanted to know God and sought God with all if your heart, then he would revel himself to you. That is the method. But you aren't really searching for God with a sincere heart nor an open mind, you are looking to disprove God having already made your mind up. You are at war with the God of the metaphysical world.

I once did. No one could have been more sincere than I was in my early 20's. I used to look for signs in everything. I don't have an open mind or a closed mind, I have an active mind.

I can't be at war with something that doesn't exists.

 

[Deidre32]

I'm a former Christian and faith wasn't enough for me, being honest. I prayed and was filled with zeal for the faith at one time, but there is no objective truth to it all. The Bible is no more proof of a god existing than Greek mythology. It is at best, a collection of stories by men and women who tried to make sense of all they didn't know about themselves and the universe, and at worst...lies. Either way, I departed from Christianity because faith was no longer enough for me. I don't want to spend my life fearing the unknown, and worshipping an entity that may or may not exist.

I'm open to the idea of a god existing. But if one does, I'm thinking it is no "version" that mankind has conjured up in the past or now.

Faith's not enough for some, Colter. If it is for you, that is great. Do what makes you happy.

 

[Aldebaran]

I once did. No one could have been more sincere than I was in my early 20's. I used to look for signs in everything. I don't have an open mind or a closed mind, I have an active mind.

I can't be at war with something that doesn't exists.

The idea that God exists is something that exists. You have to admit that.

 

[True Scotsman]

The idea that God exists is something that exists. You have to admit that.

Yes of course.

 

[Colter]

I once did. No one could have been more sincere than I was in my early 20's. I used to look for signs in everything. I don't have an open mind or a closed mind, I have an active mind.

I can't be at war with something that doesn't exists.

If you ever do find God you still wouldn't be able to explain it to your former self in a satisfacty way.

 

[Colter]

I'm a former Christian and faith wasn't enough for me, being honest. I prayed and was filled with zeal for the faith at one time, but there is no objective truth to it all. The Bible is no more proof of a god existing than Greek mythology. It is at best, a collection of stories by men and women who tried to make sense of all they didn't know about themselves and the universe, and at worst...lies. Either way, I departed from Christianity because faith was no longer enough for me. I don't want to spend my life fearing the unknown, and worshipping an entity that may or may not exist.

I'm open to the idea of a god existing. But if one does, I'm thinking it is no "version" that mankind has conjured up in the past or now.

Faith's not enough for some, Colter. If it is for you, that is great. Do what makes you happy.

Hi Deidre, even Jesus' closest associates fell into grave doubting after all that they had experienced. Our faith struggle is by design. I find it invigorating, challenging. Nicodemus was perplexed by Jesus' explanation that the rebirth is a mystery. Mere faith or trust in a story isn't enough for me either.

 

[Ana the Ist]

This is the specific answer to your question, If you sincerely wanted to know God and sought God with all if your heart, then he would revel himself to you. That is the method. But you aren't really searching for God with a sincere heart nor an open mind, you are looking to disprove God having already made your mind up. You are at war with the God of the metaphysical world.

"The method" produces no consistent or predictable results. As such, it's a rather poor method.

The question that's important here is, if one uses your method....and has some subsequent "experience"....how does one determine that experience was related to god?

If the answer to this is any version of "you just know"...then I'd be forced to conclude that your method is utterly useless. The reason why should be obvious to even a believer.

 

[Aldebaran]

"The method" produces no consistent or predictable results. As such, it's a rather poor method.

The question that's important here is, if one uses your method....and has some subsequent "experience"....how does one determine that experience was related to god?

If the answer to this is any version of "you just know"...then I'd be forced to conclude that your method is utterly useless. The reason why should be obvious to even a believer.

I hope you understand that God (whether you believe in Him or not) is a living being. He's not something that's accessible if you use a particular "method" of talking to Him. He's not an object, or a math equation, or puzzle to solve.

 

[variant]

I hope you understand that God (whether you believe in Him or not) is a living being. He's not something that's accessible if you use a particular "method" of talking to Him. He's not an object, or a math equation, or puzzle to solve.

I use a method to talk to you. Aren't you a living being?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Gods existence is something that can be understood and discussed.

Can it? The OP seems to cast doubt on that.

 

[Deidre32]

Hi Deidre, even Jesus' closest associates fell into grave doubting after all that they had experienced. Our faith struggle is by design. I find it invigorating, challenging. Nicodemus was perplexed by Jesus' explanation that the rebirth is a mystery. Mere faith or trust in a story isn't enough for me either.

Hi Colter

Well, good to know faith 'isn't enough,' but when I was a believer, I was taught that it 'should' be enough. Soooo...it's not enough for you, either. Does this mean you have scads of proof to share?

 

[Ana the Ist]

I hope you understand that God (whether you believe in Him or not) is a living being. He's not something that's accessible if you use a particular "method" of talking to Him. He's not an object, or a math equation, or puzzle to solve.

I didn't say there was a method....that was someone else's claim (and essentially the same one you made on another thread). He even put it in bold type for you.

 

[CabVet]

Gods existence is something that can be understood and discussed.

But not demonstrated.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Gods existence is something that can be understood and discussed.

Are you retracting your earlier claim that both Love and God are beyond human understanding?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[KCfromNC]

Logic is overrated, it's the ready refuge of the materialist. Wisdom is superior.

Thanks for proving my point.

 

[Hetta]

Logic is overrated, it's the ready refuge of the materialist. Wisdom is superior.

Logic is overrated?

How?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Logic is overrated, it's the ready refuge of the materialist. Wisdom is superior.

I agree that logic does not imply wisdom, but wisdom implies logic. Wisdom without logic is foolish conceit.

I am all for wisdom. It's why I am an atheist.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[KCfromNC]

If you ever do find God you still wouldn't be able to explain it to your former self in a satisfacty way.

Let's all make up impossible hypotheticals to try and rationalize our lack of legitimate reasons for believing. That'll be convincing!

 

[KCfromNC]

Logic is overrated?

How?

It doesn't give results that fit with certain people's preconceptions, therefore it must be bad. Kind of like when the evidence contradicts a belief someone else is trying to sell you - who are you going to trust : me or your lying eyes?

 

[lt11]

I'm a former Christian and faith wasn't enough for me, being honest. I prayed and was filled with zeal for the faith at one time, but there is no objective truth to it all. The Bible is no more proof of a god existing than Greek mythology. It is at best, a collection of stories by men and women who tried to make sense of all they didn't know about themselves and the universe, and at worst...lies. Either way, I departed from Christianity because faith was no longer enough for me. I don't want to spend my life fearing the unknown, and worshipping an entity that may or may not exist. I'm open to the idea of a god existing. But if one does, I'm thinking it is no "version" that mankind has conjured up in the past or now. Faith's not enough for some, Colter. If it is for you, that is great. Do what makes you happy.

I am a Christian never really doubted Jesus is the only way to God of the Holy Bible but I have always liked reading different opinions on the Christian faith. The more I research the more I see that The Bible is truth. I'm not sure how deep in the Word you were before you left but I really hope you look into things that are established by Christians and the non believers too whilst looking at the overall message and the words of The Bible.