Why I'm Anti-Theistic

[anonymous person]

Given what you said earlier, wouldn't it be God's fault for not drawing them to himself?

"Damnation is rendered to the wicked as a matter of debt, justice and desert, whereas the grace given to those who are delivered is free and unmerited, so that the condemned sinner cannot allege that he is unworthy of his punishment, nor the saint vaunt or boast as if he were worthy of his reward. Thus, in the whole course of this procedure, there is no respect of persons." —Augustine

 

[anonymous person]

You might have missed it the first time I asked, but I'm curious about the answer so I'll ask again...

How do you know the difference? That it's god and not just you?

What my conscience says concurs with what God says in His written word.

 

[anonymous person]

My point was that you don't have a point.

Oh ok. Thanks.

 

[bhsmte]

What my conscience says concurs with what God says in His written word.

I would read up on psychology a bit.

If you have read something, it is now stored in your brain. And guess what, if you need to relate what you read to God talking to you, all you need is the psychological need to make this happen.

 

[Dialogist]

Indeed. The reason I gave you was actually the one that led me to atheism when I was about 11. I didn't know what atheism was at the time...I just thought I figured it all out and needed to tell everyone lol.

I would figure out later that it wasn't actually a very good reason for not believing in god...but as I explored the topic more I grew in my knowledge of religion and my assessment of it hasn't changed too dramatically after all these years.

My atheism and anti-theism are tied together, but not the same.

You might consider looking at a book called Nihilism: The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age. It's author would have called himself an anti-theist, had that term existed. He was a philosopher at Berkeley between the Beatnik and Hippie generations. Although he eventually became an Eastern Orthodox Christian monk, the book is not really a book of Christian apologetics. The introductory chapter, for example, is called "The Question of Truth". The author, Seraphim Rose, always stressed the importance of a desire and a search for truth as the highest priority for all people, whether or not they were consciously seeking God.

You won't find the book at Barnes and Nobles. Orthodox Christian literature seems to be censored there and it seems like they mix up "Christian Theology" with "Christian Fiction". It's available on Amazon or directly from the monastery he founded. I found the book very interesting when I was more or less of the same mindset as I think you are now.

 

[Ana the Ist]

What my conscience says concurs with what God says in His written word.

Ok...

So because the things that your conscious tells you aligns with scripture, you've concluded that it's actually god speaking to you through your conscious?

Or did you not mean that god speaks to you literally...and instead you meant he speaks to you through the scripture which your conscious follows?

 

[anonymous person]

I would read up on psychology a bit.

If you have read something, it is now stored in your brain. And guess what, if you need to relate what you read to God talking to you, all you need is the psychological need to make this happen.

Or God.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

"Damnation is rendered to the wicked as a matter of debt, justice and desert, whereas the grace given to those who are delivered is free and unmerited, so that the condemned sinner cannot allege that he is unworthy of his punishment, nor the saint vaunt or boast as if he were worthy of his reward. Thus, in the whole course of this procedure, there is no respect of persons." —Augustine

Sorry, but what you said earlier places God at fault for the damnation of souls.

 

[bhsmte]

Or God.

Or your own mind.

When you have a means to objectively verify which it is, let us know.

 

[anonymous person]

Or your own mind.

When you have a means to objectively verify which it is, let us know.

I don't really think it matters in my case.

 

[anonymous person]

Sorry, but what you said earlier places God at fault for the damnation of souls.

Don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for that I am aware of.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for that I am aware of.

Oh, you think I was apologising. No. I'm pointing out that your reasoning is inconsistent. What you stated earlier would imply that God is ultimately responsible for the damnation of souls.

 

[Ana the Ist]

You might consider looking at a book called Nihilism: The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age. It's author would have called himself an anti-theist, had that term existed. He was a philosopher at Berkeley between the Beatnik and Hippie generations. Although he eventually became an Eastern Orthodox Christian monk, the book is not really a book of Christian apologetics. The introductory chapter, for example, is called "The Question of Truth". The author, Seraphim Rose, always stressed the importance of a desire and a search for truth as the highest priority for all people, whether or not they were consciously seeking God.

You won't find the book at Barnes and Nobles. Orthodox Christian literature seems to be censored there and it seems like they mix up "Christian Theology" with "Christian Fiction". It's available on Amazon or directly from the monastery he founded. I found the book very interesting when I was more or less of the same mindset as I think you are now.

Seraphim Rose, huh? I'll check it out...I'm not big into reading philosophy though.

If the next book in the Stormlight Archive comes out though, I'll drop anything else I'm reading in a heartbeat.

 

[Davian]

Speaking of men who suppress the truth

I do not accept your religious opinion as truth.

in unrighteousness,

Do you really think me wicked?

Paul says that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

Of course he (or some bible writer) wrote that. Like a Ford product brochure, where they declare "quality is job one", it doesn't necessarily make it true.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,

Invisible things that are clearly seen? Is that like Wonder Woman's jet?

being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Belief is not a conscious choice. I remain unconvinced. No excuse required.

God said it

You believe it is God's word so when you read God's word and it says that it is God's word you know that it is God's word.

Amirite?

that settles it.

It has been my experience here that there is no position, however contrary to another, that someone cannot find support for in the Bible.

You might disagree but that is your problem not ours.

What is this "problem" that you allude to?

Let God be true and every man a liar.

You'll have to first show that your "God" is more than a character in a book.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Speaking of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Paul says that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

God said it that settles it. You might disagree but that is your problem not ours. Let God be true and every man a liar.

Unfortunately, it is potentially lying men that gave us that information. If you believe that they are speaking for God, that is your problem and not ours.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

"Damnation is rendered to the wicked as a matter of debt, justice and desert, whereas the grace given to those who are delivered is free and unmerited, so that the condemned sinner cannot allege that he is unworthy of his punishment, nor the saint vaunt or boast as if he were worthy of his reward. Thus, in the whole course of this procedure, there is no respect of persons." —Augustine

No respect of persons. God might as well pick people by lottery.

While this doctrine was likely created by a human being who decided to use a nuclear deterrent against the vice of boastfulness, it also nukes justice (by arbitrary rewards) and any healthy sense of self-value in the process.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[asherahSamaria]

What my conscience says concurs with what God says in His written word.

Which one and which version and which translation?

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Conscience or bible?

 

[anonymous person]

No respect of persons. God might as well pick people by lottery.

While this doctrine was likely created by a human being who decided to use a nuclear deterrent against the vice of boastfulness, it also nukes justice (by arbitrary rewards) and any healthy sense of self-value in the process.


eudaimonia,

Mark

God does as He wills. To know that there was nothing I could do to merit His mercy and grace yet God still chose to be gracious to me compels me to cry out along with all the redeemed, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.

 

[anonymous person]

Which one and which version and which translation?

For the New Testament,

www.scholarly-bibles.com/products/Original-Texts/New-Testament/Greek/Novum-Testamentum-Graece-Nestle-Aland.html