Why am I not a Christian?

[Matthias]

That's fair point. You very well could be right about that.

You’re a thinking man but you’re presently in the atheist’s camp, and the atheist’s camp is the camp of Satan.

But he has all of these human traits. Fits of rage, jealousy, etc...

Jesus is the exact image of his God and Father. The same Jesus whom you’re gnashing your teeth against in anger now.

Carlin took the path that leads to destruction. Was he wise or foolish? He’s in the grave now, awaiting the judgement.

 

[Riven]

You’re a thinking man but you’re presently in the atheist’s camp, and the atheist’s camp is the camp of Satan.

Well...agnostic atheist, perhaps. Full on atheism is a little too hardcore for me.

Jesus is the exact image of his God and Father. The same Jesus whom you’re gnashing your teeth against in anger now.

Turn the other cheek? Love thy neighbor? The God of the OT was a little more like the Viking god Odin than gentle Jesus, meek and mild. I'm not saying they aren't one in the same, but I do think they have different methods.

Carlin took the path that leads to destruction. Was he wise or foolish? He’s in the grave now, awaiting the judgement.

Well, if you're right, everyone that's ever lived and died is in the grave.

 

[Matthias]

Well...agnostic atheist, perhaps. Full on atheism is a little too hardcore for me.

There’s room in Satan’s camp for both.

Turn the other cheek? Love thy neighbor? The God of the OT was a little more like the Viking god Odin than gentle Jesus, meek and mild. I'm not saying they aren't one in the same ...

They aren’t one in the same. Jesus is the untarnished image of the God of the Old Testament. You stopped reading about Jesus too soon and it sounds like you haven’t read what his God says about himself in the Old Testament.

... but I do think they have different methods.

They don’t.

Well, if you're right, everyone that's ever lived and died is in the grave.

That’s essentially right. (The Messiah lived and died. He isn’t in the grave.) But they aren’t going to stay there.

 

[Riven]

There’s room in Satan’s camp for both.

And what of Satan? What's his role in all this? Does he truly just wish to take as many human souls with him as possible? Why do you think he rebelled against God?

They aren’t one in the same. Jesus is the untarnished image of the God of the Old Testament. You stopped reading about Jesus too soon and it sounds like you haven’t read what his God says about himself in the Old Testament.

Possibly. However, if they're not one in the same, then why do so many Christians say that Jesus is God, as if they are one in the same?

They don’t [have different methods].

Could have fooled me. When did Jesus flood the entire world or tell his followers to wage war on another tribe? He seemed to be all about love and peace when he was here on earth. He did get testy with the Pharisees though. So there's that.

 

[Matthias]

And what of Satan? What's his role in all this?

You don’t know what his role in all of this is?

Does he truly just wish to take as many human souls with him as possible? Why do you think he rebelled against God?

How is it that you know that he rebelled but you don’t know what his role in all of this is?

Possibly. However, if they're not one in the same then why do so many Christians say that Jesus is God, as if they are one in the same?

The answer is found in post-biblical church history. It’s a form of unitarianism.

Could have fooled me.

You have been fooled; by others and by yourself.

When did Jesus flood the entire world or tell his followers to wage war on another tribe?

He hasn’t. His God has.

He seemed to be all about love and peace when he was here on earth.

It sounds like you have a hippie image of Jesus in your mind. You wouldn’t if you had read and remembered the prophesies about him in the Hebrew Bible and the portions of the New Testament which speak about him following his ascension into heaven.

You’re making a life and death decision based on misunderstanding and incomplete information.

He did get testy with the Pharisees though. So there's that.

 

[Riven]

You don’t know what his role in all of this is?

Perhaps I do. But I was curious about your thoughts on the matter.

The answer is found in post-biblical church history. It’s a form of unitarianism.

Ah, I see.

You have been fooled; by others and by yourself.

I could say the same about you.

It sounds like you have a hippie image of Jesus in your mind. You wouldn’t if you had read and remembered the prophesies about him in the Hebrew Bible and the portions of the New Testament which speak about him following his ascension into heaven.

You’re making a life and death decision based on misunderstanding and incomplete information.

Fair enough. What would you recommend I do?

 

[Matthias]

Perhaps I do. But I was curious about your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks. I’m fishing and you’re nibbling.

I could say the same about you.

Of course you could, and worse if you wanted to.

My position is based on the understanding of scripture from the perspective of a Jewish monotheist who believes Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah. (Which the atheist refers to as my “fringe faith” and has repeatedly said he‘s not interested in. That’s helpful.)

Your position is based on the rejection of scripture.

Fair enough. What would you recommend I do?

I recommended that you examine the evidence forensically. I don’t think I need to remind you what your response was to that. I don’t have any other recommendation to offer you at this time.