Why I'm Anti-Theistic

[bhsmte]

Not I, but God. Nor does He need to "crawl inside your head".

He formed it. He knows the thoughts you think before you think them.

He is God, remember?

Oh, I'm sorry, God must have told you then why I don't believe scripture is credible.

My bad.

 

[Davian]

Atheists don't imply. They explicitly state that they lack belief in gods. Sure there may be human lawgivers, avengers, judges, etc... But their jurisdiction is severely limited and it's not terribly difficult to obey them or escape their wrath should we disobey. The comforting note is the lack of a cosmic lawgiver, avenger, and judge whom we cannot escape.

For what would we be judged? Is there any action that might preclude one from entering "Heaven", in your theology?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I am not saying this to make myself feel better. I feel great. I am saying it because it is true. How do I know? I know because the reason why you do not find the scriptures credible is because you do not like what they say. Oh sure you may bring up things that you have convinced yourself are indications that they are not credible, but you know that the standard to which you hold them is, at the end of the day, unjustifiable. You set the standard for credibility so high when it comes to the scriptures that there is no way they could ever meet that standard, while any other ancient text you would not subject to near as much scrutiny. This is a common tactic many people use to justify setting aside the scriptures. Such tactics are best recognized when one is pressed to defend their claim of the scriptures being unreliable but are unable to do so.

You know there have been others like you on this forum who claimed to be able to read our minds? They gained a reputation for their "mind reading" skills.

 

[anonymous person]

For what would we be judged? Is there any action that might preclude one from entering "Heaven", in your theology?

Sin.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Sin.

All sins can be forgiven, if you just believe. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is nonbelief. Apparently that sin is worse than all the others combined.

 

[anonymous person]

You know there have been others like you on this forum who claimed to be able to read our minds? They gained a reputation for their "mind reading" skills.

I would be open to debating the issue if any of you cared to attempt to show why, for example, the New Testament documents are not credible.

Prove me wrong. If what I say is not the reason why you find the documents unreliable, then prove me wrong.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I would be open to debating the issue if any of you cared to attempt to show why, for example, the New Testament documents are not credible.

Prove me wrong. If what I say is not the reason why you find the documents unreliable, then prove me wrong.

This challenge is made in bad faith, so no thank-you.

 

[anonymous person]

All sins can be forgiven, if you just believe. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is nonbelief. Apparently that sin is worse than all the others combined.

The demons believe and tremble. Their sins remain unforgiven.

Belief in the sense that men like Jesus and Peter and Paul use it is not some mere intellectual assent to a set of propositions. It is much more than that. I may believe that the medicine prescribed by my doctor will cure what ails me but unless I take it, my belief will be of little use to me.

Jesus told men to deny themselves and to take up their cross daily and follow Him. Effectual belief always results in action. It affects every aspect of one's life. One cannot believe in Christ in the biblical sense and live in sin.

 

[anonymous person]

This challenge is made in bad faith, so no thank-you.

Excuses satisfy them that use them. If someone is hell - bent on telling me that I am wrong about something but when asked repeatedly to tell me why and they come up with a reason not to, I tend to think that they don't because they can't.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I know you don't. You have your reasons. God knows why you really don't put much credibility into His words the same way you would know why a person to whom you have expressed a desire to have a relationship with and whom you love does not put much credibility into the words you wrote to them in a letter expressing said desire and love. The person who you love may say one thing, but you would know better because you have watched the person going out with another person and having fun with them and never giving any indication that you were missed or even on their mind. Though this person whom you love says one thing, their actions reveal the true cause of why they reject you. They love another.

God sees how you live, knows your thoughts, and what you really want in life. Remember that.

And of course you will come back with the tired old line, I do not believe in God so this might apply to you but not to me etc. etc. Your unbelief does not nullify what I said. It just reinforces it.

Ever have a girl pass you a note from someone else? Where the messenger had to explain that it was really her friend who was interested...but was too shy to talk to you herself?

It's not very impressive. All you end up thinking of her is "why didn't she just talk to me herself?". You realize that she lacks any confidence....and you don't want a relationship with her.

That's probably how I'd feel if god existed...but since he doesn't, I'm quite content.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I would be open to debating the issue if any of you cared to attempt to show why, for example, the New Testament documents are not credible.

Prove me wrong. If what I say is not the reason why you find the documents unreliable, then prove me wrong.

Unfortunately, this debate topic almost certainly falls under apologetics.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

The demons believe and tremble. Their sins remain unforgiven.

Belief in the sense that men like Jesus and Peter and Paul use it is not some mere intellectual assent to a set of propositions. It is much more than that. I may believe that the medicine prescribed by my doctor will cure what ails me but unless I take it, my belief will be of little use to me.

Jesus told men to deny themselves and to take up their cross daily and follow Him. Effectual belief always results in action. It affects every aspect of one's life. One cannot believe in Christ in the biblical sense and live in sin.

But for humans a different standard applies: for them, the only sin that cannot be forgiven is nonbelief. It doesn't matter how one lives. All that matters is that one believes.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Excuses satisfy them that use them. If someone is hell - bent on telling me that I am wrong about something but when asked repeatedly to tell me why and they come up with a reason not to, I tend to think that they don't because they can't.

Or could it be because you have previously made such challenges in bad faith? What's different now?

 

[bhsmte]

Excuses satisfy them that use them. If someone is hell - bent on telling me that I am wrong about something but when asked repeatedly to tell me why and they come up with a reason not to, I tend to think that they don't because they can't.

I provided reasons in previous threads why I came to the conclusion, the NT is much more a work of theology, than it is a work of credible history. In my extensive research into the NT, which included reading the works of many NT scholars and historians, many NT historians and scholars have this opinion and when I compare their opinion to the historians and or scholars that will actually claim the NT is all historical, it becomes quite apparent, the one's who claim the NT is reliable from a historical standpoint, are playing fast and loose with the historical method, to protect a belief.

You can believe the NT is completely reliable if you so choose, no one is stopping you.

 

[Tree of Life]

For what would we be judged? Is there any action that might preclude one from entering "Heaven", in your theology?

All of our thoughts, intentions, and actions are liable to judgment. Anything within us that is displeasing to God or rebellious against his sovereignty is liable to judgment.

 

[anonymous person]

But for humans a different standard applies: for them, the only sin that cannot be forgiven is nonbelief. It doesn't matter how one lives. All that matters is that one believes.

The only sin that will not be forgiven is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This is not some instance of someone having doubt or unbelief but rather a persistent and intentional hardening of one's heart against the convicting work of God in one's life. It is a total rejection of God. Such a one cannot be forgiven because they refuse to be.

Your remarks also indicate to me that you are not familiar with the New Testament teachings with regards to how biblical belief is evidenced. See the gospels, see James, see Paul's epistles.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

The only sin that will not be forgiven is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This is not some instance of someone having doubt or unbelief but rather a persistent and intentional hardening of one's heart against the convicting work of God in one's life. It is a total rejection of God. Such a one cannot be forgiven because they refuse to be.

So there are nonbelievers in Heaven?

 

[anonymous person]

Unfortunately, this debate topic almost certainly falls under apologetics.

You do know there is a forum for formal debate, correct?

 

[anonymous person]

So there are nonbelievers in Heaven?

No.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

No.

But you just said that the only unforgivable sin was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which means that honest nonbelief is forgivable.