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I.O.U

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and so you’re ok with going to hell?? Wow.
Hell is usually enough to make a person want to change in order to avoid it.
That's what she said to herself everytime her husband inflicted pain on her for not being the wife he wanted.
 

Stumpmaster

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I am not an Atheist as of today's Atheism movement. I am Atheistic as in the traditional meaning towards not believing in a supernatural creator. I don't live a lifestyle in accordance with holding that view of God(s)

Can you understand the difference?
Yeah, but I have noticed atheists of every stripe lapse into criticising the God they don't believe in, hence my comment about you being inconsistent.

Also, no atheist can coherently explain how it is they and the Universe exist without suppressing the truth of God being the Supreme Creator.


Rom 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
 

lforrest

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That's what she said to herself everytime her husband inflicted pain on her for not being the wife he wanted.
Not how I picture the relationship between man and God. God could surely act openly in ways that flaunt his power leaving no room for doubt in anyone's mind. But God shows his love for even the lost by concealing his works. That those who seek him will find him, and those who don't can at least not despair while they live according to their will.

So it is rational in my mind that one can complain about God's silence or his commands but not both.
 

I.O.U

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Not how I picture the relationship between man and God. God could surely act openly in ways that flaunt his power leaving no room for doubt in anyone's mind. But God shows his love for even the lost by concealing his works. That those who seek him will find him, and those who don't can at least not despair while they live according to their will.

So it is rational in my mind that one can complain about God's silence or his commands but not both.
So you will be fine with hell if you end up there? Because you'll never know until that day you meet Jesus in all his glory.
 

lforrest

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So you will be fine with hell if you end up there? Because you'll never know until that day you meet Jesus in all his glory.

Most people who don't want to obey God will refuse to believe there is a hell or that God exists. It may not be rational but that is human nature.
 
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I.O.U

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Most people who don't want to obey God will refuse to believe there is a hell or that God exists. It may not be rational but that is human nature.
It's normal and natural to refuse to believe thing's :)
 

I.O.U

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Yeah, but I have noticed atheists of every stripe lapse into criticising the God they don't believe in, hence my comment about you being inconsistent.

Also, no atheist can coherently explain how it is they and the Universe exist without suppressing the truth of God being the Supreme Creator.


Rom 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Now you mention Atheists criticizing Christianity for a God they do not believe in. Don't Christian's do the same thing in regards to Allah and his prophet?
 

lforrest

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It's normal and natural to refuse to believe thing's :)
Normal and natural isnt necessarily a good thing. The normal path is to take the broad road that leads to destruction. The natural man is like a brute beast, made to be taken and destroyed.
 

I.O.U

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Normal and natural isnt necessarily a good thing. The normal path is to take the broad road that leads to destruction. The natural man is like a brute beast, made to be taken and destroyed.
We can't remove our connection to the natural world around us, and we can't deny our inborn instincts either.
 

lforrest

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We can't remove our connection to the natural world around us, and we can't deny our inborn instincts either.
We are not to be just beasts driven by the flesh, but should live by the Spirit. The desires of the flesh exist for sure, but why do they not remain primitive but become corrupted?
 

Stumpmaster

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Now you mention Atheists criticizing Christianity for a God they do not believe in. Don't Christian's do the same thing in regards to Allah and his prophet?
Part of being a Christian is renouncing all other religions, philosophies and worldviews, but I have noticed a tendency for atheists to apply a logical fallacy that blames God for all the bad things that happen because He could stop them from happening, and then reason that because bad things happen there can't be a God because if there was He wouldn't allow bad things to happen.

The Christian worldview on why bad things happen is found in this Bible passage. Basically Adam and Eve had the opportunity to sin and took it after being tempted to disobey God by Satan, and the result is that corruption entered Creation which had previously been perfect and free of sin.

Rom 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
 

Berserk

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THE HEAVENLY MALL IN THE SKY

Several years ago, I attended a wedding reception in Buffalo, NY. I sat next to Phyllis, a 40ish female physician who was eager to share her 2 NDEs with me. Her first NDE resulted from a serious car accident during which she ascended in spirit to "a mall that wasn't really a mall; it was a mall of white light (her words)." As she meandered by the "shops" (apparently intended to serve new arrivals), she arrived at an open court area with several tables and unearthly music playing in the background. To her astonishment, her late mother was seated at one of the tables! Her Mom began to scold her for suppressing her emotions and thus avoiding the grief process over her passing. Her Mom added, "Your unwillingness to grieve my passing is holding back my progress over here!" Phyllis was an icy blond whose way of dealing with unpleasant emotions was to detach from them, though I suspected there was other emotional baggage involving her Mom that she was withholding from me. In any case, Phyllis was finally relieved from her Mom's harangue and eventually recovered from her accident injuries.

A couple of years later, she had a 2nd NDE, this time the result of life-threatening illness. Once again, she floated up to "a mall that wasn't really a mall; it was a mall of white light." Phyllis shuddered as she again found herself confronted by her mother at the same open court area. Again, her Mom harangued her, "I asked you to grieve my loss but you have again refused to do so. Don't you care that you are impeding my progress over here?" Phyllis just sat there, sulking; she hadn't expected this 2nd confrontation. Finally, she sighed, saying, "Well, I guess I'll try to get back into my body now." Her Mom replied, "No, you're not ready to return to your body yet; you need to go with these 2 gentlemen." 2 white-robed men (angels?) suddenly appeared and escorted her into "an elevator that wasn't really an elevator; it was an elevator of white light (her words)."

Phyllis was taken up to what seemed like a spirit hospital and some kind of surgery was performed on her spirit body that she didn't understand, and then she was returned to her body, healed! I never saw Phyllis after that and have often wondered if she was ever able to unleash true grief over her Mom's loss. Her healing miracle vindicated the authenticity of her NDEs and led to her prompt release from the hospital.
 

Oceanprayers

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This is the thing that I think leads people to the impression that Christians are pretentious.
When we think we have a right to tell others how to think, live, and behave according to our values.

We don't have that right.
In point of fact, we don't require the world to confirm to our values. If we're not in the world why concern ourselves with the world's thoughts and behaviors?
 

I.O.U

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Part of being a Christian is renouncing all other religions, philosophies and worldviews, but I have noticed a tendency for atheists to apply a logical fallacy that blames God for all the bad things that happen because He could stop them from happening, and then reason that because bad things happen there can't be a God because if there was He wouldn't allow bad things to happen.

The Christian worldview on why bad things happen is found in this Bible passage. Basically Adam and Eve had the opportunity to sin and took it after being tempted to disobey God by Satan, and the result is that corruption entered Creation which had previously been perfect and free of sin.

Rom 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
How can that which was made perfect be made corrupted?
 

I.O.U

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Mind you. and me. Genesis does not say God made creation immortally perfect.
Then again. Unless the concept of "It was good" "He saw it was good" must be rendered into perfection.
 

amadeus

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This is the thing that I think leads people to the impression that Christians are pretentious.
When we think we have a right to tell others how to think, live, and behave according to our values.

We don't have that right.
In point of fact, we don't require the world to confirm to our values. If we're not in the world why concern ourselves with the world's thoughts and behaviors?
Indeed!

"And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" Luke 12:13-14
 
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