QUOTE (Jordan @ Mar 8 2009, 10:29 PM)
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Thank you, Christina.Atheism (or my understanding) is simply lack of belief, lack of religion. I don't assert that there IS not God. I just think that there is not. Religion (to me) has ritual, worship, code to follow, often an afterlife or reward, prayer, ect ect ect. Atheism does not fit those criteria, so I would not be so hasty to call Atheism a religion. Also, in regard to disproving God, I don't think that's possible, proving negative existence isn't feasable.I continue my conquest for understanding: In response to Christina's definition, so I need not believe that the bible is accurate, nor that any established churches are correct? What about The Holy Ghost? What's the deal with that? Do I need to believe in resurrection or transubstansiation?My own line of questions continues. I understand that there are many denominations of Christianity. I suppose some are very different than the others. When someone joins a church, do they implicitly agree with all the social implications involved?What about hell? How does one get there? Heaven? Purgutory?Chuck, with all due respect, God did not at all create a religion. All religion is made by humans. To us, God is our Father. God should not be a religion at all... but people makes it that way. We should have a relationship with God and that's what love includes in. It's like you have a relationship with your parents, siblings, friends etc.God wanted us to love Him, but we have Free Will to decide if we will follow Him out of love or not. He does not want us to follow Him out of duty, nor does He want us to follow Him because we have too... He wants our Love.As for some stuff like Purgatory... it doesn't exist in God's Words... It's a lie of men to deceive people... Hell? The staff, I, and some others do not believe anybody will burn forever in Hell, because to be honest with you... That's just cruel and will lead people not come to God.God's Words is real... But again, we have Free Will to choose Him out of love or not.I hope I can help you... because I love you.
Thanks for some clarification. I really appriciate all of the help, you've been very informative. I appriciate the love too, I guess. We share some common ground on the "humans make religion" opinionMy next question is: What is your experience with Atheists in the past?