Firstly, all the other atheists will shun them, and secondly, they'll be faced with the knowledge that they're probably going to Hell, as I said, and thirdly, their worldview will be inconsistent and sadly lacking any option for theories of origins. For the Christian, they are regarded as idiots by the general public and called "unscientific," but at least a belief in creationism is consistent with their worldview (some would say evolution is as well) and they can still keep most of their Christian friends (though some of them will beg and plead with the Christian not to stray from "the true way" of belief in evolution because they are influenced by our culture.) So, the Christian does have at least the option to believe that evolution occurred or not, and still have a philosophically consistent worldview.
Can you name one secular alternative theory for the origin of life? Don't talk to me of aliens, who also must have evolved, because that just pushes everything back one step.
How do you know that? Prove it. Prove that it's wrong for the strong to destroy the weak, which is only natural instinct, according to evolution. If we all really wanted to focus on evolving the human race, prove to me that we would not need to consider letting the weak, sick, and old die, or dispense of them so that they would not drain our vital resources and ability to produce viable offspring. Prove that Hitler violated some rule he shouldn't have broken, and then show me how to arrive at that rule while assuming nothing at all that has not been proven with science.
Since we have to prove everything we say, now, why don't you prove atheists don't have to believe in Hell? Prove that your definition of the word "proof" is required to believe in things. Prove you exist. Prove we aren't just imagining all this. See how productive this sort of "reasoning" is?
Okay, I will, if you show me evidence for every single belief you have.
1. "I believe only in things I have evidence for."
2. "I have no evidence that Hell exists.
"Therefore, I do not believe in Hell."
If that's your reasoning, then premise 1. is clearly false. Nobody has proof for everything they believe. In fact, some would say that there actually is no such thing as "proof," if you define it as only a posteriori knowledge, because all logical or even empirical "proof" is based on some a priori assumptions, such as that the physical world is real (something the ancient Greeks, such as Nicomachus, did not believe). Add to that the fact that every epistemology is either circular reasoning or unsupported, and you are going to have a very hard time showing that you have the kind of proof you require to believe in Hell or God for *every*one* your beliefs. And no, it's not "extraordinary," because worldwide, throughout history, almost everyone has believed in some kind of god, so the claim that God exists is not out of the ordinary. It is exceedingly banal.
ex·traor·di·nar·y
ikˈstrôrd(ə)nˌerē,ˌekstrəˈôrdnˌerē/
adjective
- 1.
very unusual or remarkable.
Another thing I find sort of banal are discussions wherein, "prove it! prove it! prove it!" is demanded, when all kinds of statements are made and implied, with not only no proof, but not even falsifiability. You can't prove that it was wrong for social Darwinists to commit atrocities unless you resort to making up rules based on ideas that are not at all "proven" by science, but least you, Paolos23, acknowledge that it's not so much that you *can't* believe in God, but that even if God's existence were "proven," (though I'm pretty sure even you can't say what you really mean by "proof") you would still openly oppose God almighty who made you, and gave you all the people and things you love. God even enables you to openly oppose Him, and has mercy on you at this very moment, because he can allow anyone's life to end at any time. He is very merciful, and gives us *time* to repent.
Some people, even Christians, are offended by the idea of Hell, but what else is God supposed to do with people who spit in his face in spite of Him giving them life, relationships, computers, communication ability, and intelligence? Would you allow someone in your house who treated you that way? I wouldn't. So, God provides Hell as an escape route for those who hate him, and would not be happy in Heaven, worshiping Him forever. I think it probably burns less to be thrown in Hell than it would to stand in the full presence of the Ancient of Days with your sins still on you, in full rebellion and disobedience, and to be burned by the full force of God's anger. You should hope that Hell does, indeed exist, because it's actually God's mercy.
If you can believe in love, you can believe in God. We can't prove love exists, either, in fact, Penn & Teller did a show about how love is "BS," so I think they have the right idea, if logic is important at all to the atheist. In the secular worldview, you have no more proof for any specific instance of love, even if you're the one feeling that love, than you do for God's existence. According to evolution, it's all just chemicals. By the way, 1 John 4:8 says that "God is love."
And, I'm sort of at a stopping point, here, because I've had these types of discussions many times, and they're all pretty much the same thing, rehashed ad infinitum. My policy is not to debate evolution with atheists, because for them it's basically theology, so I try to respect other people's beliefs, even if I can't agree with them. I realized that natural history had become dogma when I noticed the similarity between carm.org and talk.origins. You can tell when something is dogma by the reaction of the believers when you challenge it.
I think I've made my point. Have a nice day, it's been engaging, and I certainly hope you repent of your sins, someday. Would love to praise the Lord with you in Heaven.
May the Lord bless you with light and knowledge of the Truth, who is Jesus, the Son of God.
