I know, guilty as charged. Firmbeliever is a wonderful woman, she has a great outlook on life. :)

Sorry. I won't do it again - 3 strikes and I'm out! :D

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I know, guilty as charged. Firmbeliever is a wonderful woman, she has a great outlook on life. :)

Sorry. I won't do it again - 3 strikes and I'm out! :D

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:D
Now that I have no problems with...

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Originally Posted by cal823

thats the one! thanks for reminding me where in the bible it is :)
karma, you have a valid point :)
and also, the atheists here are right about the whole "this question is about the views of atheists"
and seeing as how i am not an atheist, and not some kind of expert on what atheists think, i admit i do not really belong in this thread :)

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I think the presence of people of all faiths really helps this thread. It helps to take care of misconceptions about atheists and gives people a place to ask questions. I say welcome to anyone who is curious.

Besides, the original question was answered a looooonnnnnggg time ago - we're just off on tangents now! :)

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Originally Posted by jillianleab

I think the presence of people of all faiths really helps this thread. It helps to take care of misconceptions about atheists and gives people a place to ask questions. I say welcome to anyone who is curious.

Besides, the original question was answered a looooonnnnnggg time ago - we're just off on tangents now! :)

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You are right on target Jillian,
I like to hear both sides, even though it does not really effect my firm belief in my own faith.:)

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Originally Posted by firmbeliever

even though it does not really effect my firm belief in my own faith.:)

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And THAT, right there, is the reason this thread has been able to go on without turning into a flame war. You have been respectful and curious about the beliefs of others, and seem to have no ill feelings towards those not like you, nor do you appear to have plans to convert everyone you come in contact with (unless you are an evil genius waiting to spring your attack on us once we all come to like you!). Right there, that's the fundamental difference between yourself and a lot (not all... ) of other religious people on this board. You seem to be able to accept not everyone is your religion and that's OK. You also do not appear to be threatened by those with different beliefs. I won't name any names of the people who do not fit this mold, but you know who you are.

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Originally Posted by jillianleab

And THAT, right there, is the reason this thread has been able to go on without turning into a flame war. You have been respectful and curious about the beliefs of others, and seem to have no ill feelings towards those not like you, nor do you appear to have plans to convert everyone you come in contact with (unless you are an evil genius waiting to spring your attack on us once we all come to like you!). Right there, that's the fundamental difference between yourself and a lot (not all...) of other religious people on this board. You seem to be able to accept not everyone is your religion and that's ok. You also do not appear to be threatened by those with different beliefs. I won't name any names of the people who do not fit this mold, but you know who you are.

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I couldn't give you a greenie:D ,says to spread the reputation... :)

Its true... I am firm in my belief and I believe that it is not me who converts the hearts of so many,but it is in the hands of the Almighty.

But it is my duty to inform those who wish to know about my faith.
And my duty is to learn and understand the universe I live in even if I cannot accept certain things,it is going to exist.

Thank you Jillian...

Its good how this thread, despite the nature of the question and opposing views, has not turned ugly, when a question about santa can turn into a brawl.
Good on you people
It is interesting to learn about other beliefs, though personally, I need to learn more about god, I need to grow in understanding of myself and god as well as grow in my understanding of others, firm is a very good person, (and a lovely lady, even though we didn't realise it!) and is a credit to this site with her firm belief, and her curiosity and respect of others beliefs.

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Originally Posted by cal823

its good how this thread, despite the nature of the question and opposing views, has not turned ugly, when a question about santa can turn into a brawl.
good on ya people
it is interesting to learn about other beliefs, though personally, i need to learn more about god, i need to grow in understanding of myself and god as well as grow in my understanding of others, firm is a very good person, (and a lovely lady, even though we didnt realise it!) and is a credit to this site with her firm belief, and her curiosity and respect of others beliefs.

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Awwwwwwwwww
:cool:
Thank you Cal...

And Talaniman,
Thank you too

I always thought firm was a lady, you guys are so slow.

I never realised she was until recently lolz :)

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Originally Posted by inthebox

What sins has mankind NOT committed to deserve what He's done to us - sent His only Son to die for our sins?

If you do not sin, does that mean you think you are perfect? Never lied, or lusted, or gotten angry, always followed your parents, etc...?

Consider this, there are three major religions probably accounting for the majority of the world's population [ I don't have the exact figure on hand ] that believe in ONE GOD. At the beginning, all those religions started with people who were not brought up to believe
in what they believe now.

Also notice that on this thread on 'what atheists believe,' God dominates.

If atheists common denominator is that they don't believe in God, why do they spend all this time "proving" there is no God and wanting believers to prove their faith?


For example, I don't believe in witches. If you want to believe in them, fine, does not matter to me, because I don't believe they exist. I'm not going to waste my time researching them trying to prove they don't exist or demanding that those who believe in witches show me proof.


Grace and Peace ---- these we don't deserve, but for Him.;)

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You can believe whatever you want, I respect your beliefs. It's just hard for me to grasp that you are a "slave" to someone that might not exist. I went to church last week and it was basically a cult... we have to join together to help those who do not believe and save them from hell. Churches do a lot of great things in communities, but it is possible to do that without being a slave to God. But, that was only one church. To answer the main question, I have no reason to believe in God, there's no proof that he actually exists. The one thing that I HATE about religion is how they're preventing gay couples to get married because that's what the bible says.

I think that atheist, religious people, and everyone in between share more common beliefs that most seem to realize.

Call it science, call it logic, call it God, call it what you want... Its here, it's there, its everywhere... it was, it is, and it will be.

To many people here are comparing science to a god. Don't try to compare the two. Science is simply what is observable and repeatable and the most reasonable cause of what is going on. Science is not an agenda or a belief. The only reason why people trust what scientist say is because they can back it up with observation and experiments that can be repeated by anyone and anyone who doesn't agree with what they say can put out their own observations and experiments.

On a side note the more I read what the religious people on this site say the more I'm certain that I have made the right decision in being an atheists. I use to have doubts about it, about how billions of people can follow something that was made up. After reading what most of the religious people have to say they don't follow because they did the research they follow blindly without question.

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” Stephen Roberts

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Originally Posted by michealb

To many people here are comparing science to a god. Don't try to compare the two. Science is simply what is observable and repeatable and the most reasonable cause of what is going on. Science is not an agenda or a belief. The only reason why people trust what scientist say is because they can back it up with observation and experiments that can be repeated by anyone and anyone who doesn't agree with what they say can put out their own observations and experiments.

On a side note the more I read what the religious people on this site say the more I'm certain that I have made the right decision in being an atheists. I use to have doubts about it, about how billions of people can follow something that was made up. After reading what most of the religious people have to say they don't follow because they did the research they follow blindly without question.

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” Stephen Roberts

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I agree science can be looked into by both sides,atheists and religion followers as well.
The problem arises when each holds only to one and not the other.

As for me I believe in an Almighty One God, and I follow scientific discoveries in all its forms, archeology,biology,zoology etc.

I too have eliminated Gods and believe in Only One.:)

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I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do.

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I too have eliminated Gods and believe in Only One.

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An excellent point to keep in mind. Whatever number of Gods we believe in--zero, one, three, a dozen--in settling on that number we have had to eliminate and reject all the legion of other possibilities, so we are all nonbelievers.

The point I've come to is one of nobelief, which is different than unbelief or disbelief. Basically, it amounts to a sense that the whole issue is overblown and far less important than is commonly supposed. It is quite possible to live this material life "in the spirit" without being very specific at all about the particular beings and personalities that populate the spiritual realms. Anyone who sincerely desires, in their heart of hearts, to enter the life of the spirit while still in the body, will find that the way opens for them without having to show proof of belief in anyone at all (I know, it's heretical).

Of course, there are those who insist that there is no spiritual realm at all, that even the notion of "living in the spirit" is an illusion. They might be right, but if not, their disbelief is just a choice to wait until their body dissolves to become a conscious participant in it. I think disbelief of this sort is limiting, and causes people who cling to it to miss some wonderful experiences while in the body, but I don't think it's a "sin" and I don't think it changes what happens after they die very much.

I tried to say that from the beginning... we are all non-believers in a sense... that is how I stay open in others beliefs...

“I contend that we are all atheists. I just believe in one fewer God than you do. Once you understand why you've dismissed all other gods, you'll understand why I've dismissed yours” - Stephen Roberts

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Originally Posted by Capuchin

“I contend that we are all atheists. I just believe in one fewer God than you do. Once you understand why you've dismissed all other gods, you'll understand why I've dismissed yours” - Stephen Roberts

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If you could explain why/how you dismissed all other gods?:)
I know it is a quote,but it seems to be cropping up very often, so maybe you have your own explanation of why/how you dismissed them...

Thanks

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Originally Posted by firmbeliever

If you could explain why/how you dismissed all other gods?

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Actually it's a question for everyone including yourself. For instance why do you dismiss Zeus as the origin of all thunder on earth?

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Actually it's a question for everyone including yourself. For instance why do you dismiss Zeus as the origin of all thunder on earth?

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Thunder is the crash or boom sound produced by rapidly expanding air along the path of the electrical discharge of lightning, one reason I do not believe in Zeus.:)