The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

[Jpsmith1]

Where did those feelings come from? Evolutionary instincts should be telling you to ignore those.

Why does evolution say that?

 

[Jpsmith1]

As an atheist, I like the part in Mark where Jesus identifies certain things that would identify his followers.

Mark 16-17&18 talk about believers drinking poison, being immune to serpents and some other wild stuff.

What I'd really like to focus on is the laying of hands. If this God character is really all he's cracked up to be, why do cancer wards exist? Why do pediatric cancer wards exist? Heck, why do we need hospitals and emergency rooms and a multi-billion dollar medical care industry?

Someone make it make sense

 

[roosterdown]

I look at it as, I can introduce someone to Jesus but I cannot and will not force Jesus on someone. It’s like an alcoholic, an alcoholic can’t get help until they want help, I look at Christianity the same, you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.

I look at it as, I can introduce someone to rational thinking but I cannot and will not force rational thinking on someone. It’s like an alcoholic, an alcoholic can’t get help until they want help, I look at Religion the same, you can’t save someone from it who doesn’t want to be saved.


Just playing devil's advocate.

And I commend you for saying "This is an interesting thread with a lot of different view points and opinions" - very true.

I will add that despite this being the most divisive topic known to humanity (well, second-most divisive behind "is Nutella good or evil"), this has been a pretty civil discussion. Kudos.

 

[roosterdown]

Explain please! I ain't the tallest guy in the room and irony flies over my head!

My point in that statement was that he is living by a code that cant trace it orgins to something with authority. My actions and how I treat others do have basis/authority i.e. God the Bible.

I'l start by apologizing - that was a bit ass-y of me.

My point is that for some hundreds of years, religions - and in this country, many of the flavors of christianity in particular - have held all the power and held all the cards...and have done little else but tell the rest of us what is "just and unjust".

 

[Brontosaurus]

Why does evolution say that?

My bad I should've said survival instincts.
If God doesnt exist then we're no different from animals. It would serve our best interests to be as selfish as possible. Acting no different from the rat in my backyard eating his dead fellow rat. But humans act very differently and don't display animalistic traits. Societies that abandon basic morality collapse rapidly. The law of God is written on our hearts and its played out through history. Rom 2:12-16

I'l start by apologizing - that was a bit ass-y of me.

My point is that for some hundreds of years, religions - and in this country, many of the flavors of christianity in particular - have held all the power and held all the cards...and have done little else but tell the rest of us what is "just and unjust".

All chill! I do agree that forms of organized religion in the hands of an evil state can have awful results.

When talking about Christianity, I ascribe to living as Christ's body and being His hands and feet in a broken world. Often I make a mess of it and misrepresent my Savior. But thats the beauty of His gift. His forgiveness never runs dry. Jesus is always picking me back up and setting me right. More of a relationship than a religion.

 

[Jpsmith1]

My bad I should've said survival instincts.
If God doesnt exist then we're no different from animals. It would serve our best interests to be as selfish as possible. Acting no different from the rat in my backyard eating his dead fellow rat. But humans act very differently and don't display animalistic traits. Societies that abandon basic morality collapse rapidly. The law of God is written on our hearts and its played out through history. Rom 2:12-16

Altruism is seen in many species other than humans, including the rats that you are using as an example.

We aren't "special" in that respect.

This isn't something I made up, either. It is pretty well documented

 

[Brontosaurus]

Altruism is seen in many species other than humans, including the rats that you are using as an example.

We aren't "special" in that respect.

This isn't something I made up, either. It is pretty well documented

Fair enough. But you have to admit that human altruism/conscience is stronger than any animal. If a rat eats another rat none of the rat society cares. When a human eats another human we remove them from our society. The thought of a person devouring another is universally horrifying. Because whether we like it or not the law of God is written on all our hearts. You won't escape it. You can try. But it'll knaw you to the grave.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Thank you Jesus!!

View attachment 896236

This is the original post. The next post that is derailing or trolling will be from a banned member.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO START YOUR OWN THREAD.

 

[Schmo]

@Valsport,
Thanks for starting this thread! As a Christian myself, reading through this thread, I see some people that I wish could come to know the God that I know. To know Him personally. What He is, and what He isn’t.

As a sidebar, I want to tag @robby denning, and thank him again for the Christmas podcast that he put out this last Christmas. I really appreciated it.

 

[Ten Bears]

I am not a religious fella but find it to be the 2nd most important tenant of a flourishing civilization next to a nuclear family.

The amount of pointless disrespect and immature ramblings of a few on here has been hard to read. It was a simple religious post, don’t like it..move on..

 

[Cwsharer]

Ephesians 2:8-9
​

;For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

[Shortschaf]

Thank you to all those who disagree but don't get angry. If you have a spare 10 minutes, watch this video and see what you think. I'm an atheist but I've spent many, many hours reading the Bible so 10 minutes won't kill you.

I watched. It is nothing new or compelling in my opinion. To name a few points for conversation

• The fact that the new testement was written and compiled decades later is not evidence of falsehood or inaccuracy. The Gospels were still written/dictated by first-hand witnesses.
• Christianity is not a "religion of the Book". Reading the Bible and simply applying one's own interpretations does not mean that is also what Christians believe or do.
• The suggestion that the Bible "demands murder" in any way could only come from someone who does not understand the actual teachings of Christianity
• "logic and reason" are often at the core of athiestic groundwork. I contest that by reason alone, man is capable of knowing there is a Creator. And who is the greater fool at the end of the day, the one who sees the order and beauty of the universe and therefore deduces there must be a Creator, or the one who believes that there was no Creator and the universe has no beginning of any kind? A single example

By reason we can see that there is a Creator

It is by no coincidence that over half of mankind believes in the same Creator--the God of Abraham (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are all "Abrahamic" for those following along)

By reason alone, it is clear there is no draw to athiesm except the false impression that they aren't "chained down by the shackles of religion" etc.

But that is only discovered false when one finds Christ. It is far more freeing to know that this whole world is rubbish -- versus the alternative, that this earthly life is all we have got.

Glad to see the Lord praised on my favorite forum. I hope more respondents know when to use the ignore button vs when to reply

 

[dylanvb]

Happy Sunday Gentlemen.

Our church had a baptism today and it was awesome to see the new and renewed commitments to following Christ. I hope you all have a blessed day.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭

 

[2-Stix]

I posted above about the fear part, but felt led to share this.

I see some back and forth from Christians or followers of the Bible and those who are not leaning that way. I come from parents who are pastors for 50 years, the vast majority of my family and in-laws are followers of Christ, some on staff at churches, my wife is on staff at our church, and I run a few ministries there.

Trying to convince someone one way or another, I find never works. The only way I have watched someone find a relationship with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is that they were open-handed about it and had a tangible experience that they can not explain with a part of the Trinity. My part it in was just praying that they would have that experience. Some have, some have not.

I have been a Christian for almost 45 years...I can't explain it all to you, I don't understand it all, and I dont know anyone that does, and I am ok with that. That is the mystery of God. That is the excitement of a relationship with God. At times it makes no sense, other times it is miraculous upon miraculous.

All I know is if you haven't had a full tangible undeniable experience with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit that is supernatural its hard to argue with us that have and follow God with reckless abandon. It's like explaining hunting to an intercity person that is not that interested in the wild, let alone hunting.

The church is made up of millions of flawed people/believers. I am one. I just do my best to be better each day.

If you're not interested in church, organized religion, Christianity...Just ask God to show himself to you, ask for a supernatural experience...and go from there.

I hope this is not what the moderator was implying would get a ban. If so I am sorry and please delate my post. I have been a positive RokSlider.

 

[Yoder]

If you don't believe in a creator, do you believe in the big bang? So everything in the universe spontaneously came from nothing? This planet and all it's wonders just popped up from nothing. Life started from some goo mixed together in a puddle and evolved into us? Look at the smallest bug to a Blue Whale. How every organism all works together. Every aspect of this planet had to be perfect for this all to exist. What are the statistical odds of that compared to an all knowing creator?

If there is nothing but this life, why don't the majority of people live that way? Why not live a life of pleasure? Do anything your heart desires. Sex, drugs, money, possessions. That's all there is so live it up while you can. Anyone who does live that way usually ends up committing suicide when they realize how empty and pointless their life is.

Why do humans sacrifice themselves for people they don't even know? What animal does that? Men run into burning buildings to save strangers. That goes against every natural law. Animals are about self preservation. We supposedly evolved into this?

These are just some things I consider when I struggle with faith.

I also don't understand the hate. People deliberately trying to turn people away from God. Why? What if you're wrong? If you aren't with him you're against him and who's side does that put you on? This isn't something most people take lightly. I've spent so much time studying and reflecting and wrestling with this to come to the conclusion that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I hope all the atheists here have done the same. Time goes by quickly. Really make sure you've made the right decision. I believe this is the most important decision in your entire life.

 

[JStadler]

Amen


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bowhuntercoop]

If you don't believe in a creator, do you believe in the big bang? So everything in the universe spontaneously came from nothing? This planet and all it's wonders just popped up from nothing. Life started from some goo mixed together in a puddle and evolved into us? Look at the smallest bug to a Blue Whale. How every organism all works together. Every aspect of this planet had to be perfect for this all to exist. What are the statistical odds of that compared to an all knowing creator?

If there is nothing but this life, why don't the majority of people live that way? Why not live a life of pleasure? Do anything your heart desires. Sex, drugs, money, possessions. That's all there is so live it up while you can. Anyone who does live that way usually ends up committing suicide when they realize how empty and pointless their life is.

Why do humans sacrifice themselves for people they don't even know? What animal does that? Men run into burning buildings to save strangers. That goes against every natural law. Animals are about self preservation. We supposedly evolved into this?

These are just some things I consider when I struggle with faith.

I also don't understand the hate. People deliberately trying to turn people away from God. Why? What if you're wrong? If you aren't with him you're against him and who's side does that put you on? This isn't something most people take lightly. I've spent so much time studying and reflecting and wrestling with this to come to the conclusion that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I hope all the atheists here have done the same. Time goes by quickly. Really make sure you've made the right decision. I believe this is the most important decision in your entire life.

I helped with a Clemson campus ministry hunting retreat last fall. One of the speakers said something that really stuck with me and some of the college kids.

Your actions in this ever so short human life on earth dictate you’re eternal life. 100,1000,10,000 years after your human flesh is gone you will either be in heaven with Jesus or hell with satan.

I know for myself I would hate to not believe in god and be wrong.

 

[TSAMP]

Believe or not, your choice. But the dudes who feel compelled to share their "knowledge" on here as if they will somehow unravel the whole religion thing with their post are just dragging this thread down and its annoying.

Im not a particularly religious person either.

 

[Beagle1]

Just some thoughts.

Strength of belief has nothing to do with whether a belief is true.

Why can a salamander regenerate a missing limb but the power of prayer has never worked for amputees.

A person’s religion is primarily determined by his parents and where the person was born.

Billions of people follow religions whose beliefs are for the most part contradictory.

To have a serious discussion on whether God exists each side must be willing to move the needle on their beliefs when presented with evidence which indicates their positions are more or less likely to be true. I have found atheists are much more open minded about this than believers.

 

[Farmer9770]

My beautiful wife, my best friend died suddenly and unexpectedly today from complications from surgery. She spent the last 6 months developing a non profit ministry where she would take her service dogs into dr offices to pray with people who were facing the same challenges she was. I am devastated by this loss and I’ll be honest I’m angry with God for taking away the love of my life, and I have questions about why he would do that. But I know she is in heaven with him, he created her and she belonged to him before she belonged to me, she’s no longer in pain, but man she left a huge hole in our lives that will never be filled. From her helping special needs kids to the archery ministry her and I had a church all she wanted to do was help other people and bring glory to Jesus. So it makes life seem really really unfair tonight.
I don’t have answers to those who don’t want to believe, there is an element of faith requirement. I understand doubts, why would a God of love allow 10 of the apostles to be martyred? Those guys were his first and most loyal followers, his friends, how did they deserve that death? We can only hope and pray that our reward will be in heaven. All we know is life on this earth, whereas our reason for living is to bring glory to him but we get so caught up in making a living and chasing dreams we rarely truly put him first. I think in the new heaven when sin doesn’t exist we will be blown away at what he has in store for us. And I can’t wait for the day I get to hug my beautiful angel again. I can’t imagine going through life without the hope of eternity.