I have a better idea.........

no, you didn't. you spoke to christianity in general, then you had to add a condemnation to the non-believers at the end.

this is threatening in its tone, and dismissive of the opinions of others.

and "buddy" was condescending and unnecessary.

not a good way to start out a conversation with someone who may not be of exactly the same opinion as you. your religion is merely your opinion to many, and carries about as much weight as your recommendation for toppings on a pizza. yes, i just compared your religion to pepperoni.

 

Well, not having a dog in this fight, I can only say that those who feel that you have just insulted their beliefs now think of you as a heathen non believer or, dare I use the Arabic term, infidel...but with good pizza etiquette.

 

I learned long ago that what people thought about me was not for me to worry so much about. All I did was try to explain it. The "buddy" comment was explained earlier as well. Not to say tha non-believers were bad and they's get theirs. It was meant to say that one day someone may be down so low that the only way to look is up. And how looking up to God can be considered strange or pushy nis beyond me. And it was very non-threatening to say the least.

I find that no matter what I say or how I say it in regards to this subject, SOMEONE will take offense..... I apologize if I upset anyone..........so lighten up now and kind of reread and understand that I was coming from a whole different angle then others portrayed. So let's just drop this before we all say things to make us abrasive ellsewhere in these forums.

 

and yet, i still have not expressed whether i'm a believer or not. it's not germane to the conversation.

even though the *** **** germans got nothin to do with this!

 

Just too funny, DB..too funny....
and yet your point is..on point...

 

sorry, i can't use or hear the word "germane" and not hear that line in my head

 

My 2 cents...

As 'Godschild' stated in her original post to this thread, this is my own personal expression from my heart and my own experience on this subject. Some background: I became a Christian at age 9 and truly felt the power and joy of God's touch on my life. (When one truly experiences the Holy Spirit, it is as real as the joy one might feel at the birth of a child, or being re-united with a long lost loved one). However, in my college years and some time beyond, I allowed myself to be open to other ideas on the existence of God and how this world came about. I studied Life Sciences at NCSU and many of my professors were either agnostics, or even atheists. At such a young age this caused alot of conflict in my life growing up in a God-fearing home. I felt that these professors, with the letters behind their names (PHD) must have really figured something out that I did not know in all their years of study. In all my years of study and through my own life experiences, however, it is my own belief that this universe that we live in, governed by its laws of the various sciences; physics, chemistry, biological rhythyms, E=mc2, quantum physics, etc. must have an author. For examples: the billions of cells in our bodies performing billions of reactions for the purpose of our own survival, the millions of plants on the planet that work to convert our CO2 waste into oxygen, the atmosphere around our planet that keeps the good gases in and the bad light rays out and our planet being just far enough from the sun to maintain our planet's temp within a minute spectrum to maintain life, I could go on & on. Einstein himself admitted to trying to mathmatically attain the "mind of God" through his work on his unfinished theory of everything, after the quantum physicists disproved his e=mc2 as the way q particles move.
I have also read of a physicist (cannot recall name) who was an atheist until he began to delve deeper into his science. He concluded before his death that the chances of this planet and all of its life coming into existence just by chance was 1 in 10 to the 10th power to the 34th power.(not sure how to type that here, but try to write it out on paper-alot alot of zeros). This physicist likened it to a monkey sitting at a typewriter and randomly typing and ending up with Shakespeare's 'Hamlet.'
Through my own powers of reasoning, I know there is a God. But apart from that, through my spirit I have felt God on a personal level. It is hard for me to understand that people doubt there to be an evil force in this world and a good force. I am bombarded with battles of good and evil everyday. I have seen how my life has been out of control when I am seperated from God and how my life is in near perfect harmony when I am in God's will.
Please do not misunderstand people like 'Godschild' and myself when we attempt to debate this subject. Actually, it is not a subject that should be debated. God created us, I believe, with our own free will. No other creature, He created, has a free will. That is what sets us apart from all other animals in God's eyes...we are created in His image. But God does allow us to use our own experiences, our five senses, and our spiritual sense to make up our own minds. He also gives us the input of other believers to try and sway us to be one with Him, because He is most happy and we are most happy when we are one with Him. So forgive us if we do not always 'sway' in the right way. We really are not trying to win a debate, but we do it out of a caring and respectful nature for you-or at least we should. Godspeed!

 

If anyone is interested in the name of the physicist I mentioned let me know and I will find the article. It is very powerful and persuasive. He explains what I tried to paraphrase much better than I.

By the way, have you tried to figure 10 to the 10 to the 34th power...it is 10 to the power of 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

 

very nice. you did that whole thing without telling anyone else that if they don't believe they are just lost and going to hell. well done, imho....

and very rare. it's not often that it happens that way

 

When I read discussions such as this, I am reminded of a fella I used to work for, one of the smartest men I had ever met. I can't remember exactly how we got on the subject, but he told me that he was raised as an atheist, his father was a geologist and did not believe in God. This man said as he grew and learned, and went on to college himself, he came to believe in God, that science couldn't possibly explain all the miracles he saw every single day. What a testimony.

 

Just a tiny bit of advice, Celebr8Him: Your post presents itself as a massive wall of text. It would be more inviting, and easier to read, with a little "white space" in it - say, an extra line between paragraphs, and maybe break that first paragraph into two shorter ones. As DB pointed out, you did a good job of expressing your ideas, I'm just thinking more people would read it if it didn't look quite so dense.

 

I cannot believe I am going to type this but...I agree with Ken (ugh).

Grace

 

That won't happen until we keep all people in churches and in homes and out of public life.

 

We go out because we were sent out........... :neutral: Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. :neutral: Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

If Christianity had been kept in churches and in homes, the pilgrims would have stayed in England and quite possibly, the entire landscape of the United States might look very different.

 

Christians do care that none Christians don't believe. Not because of any ego etc, But (We), at lease I care about lost souls. And I pray for the non Christian whether they want me to or not. I was once one of the none believers and I know where the non believer is coming from. And some Christians are pushy and stiffnecked. But you know Christians are not perfect by no means, We still have that sin nature that we have to resist each and every day. The only difference is that we try to serve the Lord, but when we slip, we are by grace forgiven. And Not that we deserve anything but because Of God's mercy.

 

... where'd I leave that 10' pole ....

 

Does this mean you would not have a problem with another religion doing the same for you? I know a number of Jews are highly offended that the Mormons are doing this to them.

 

Hugh, that's where most Christians and nonChristians go wrong in their thinking. It's not about denomination or sect. It's about Jesus Christ, It's not for me to judge anothers actions. All I know is that I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and that one day every knee shall bow before Him and every tongue confess Him as the Lord. ----Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. & Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

me too!