I'm not sure why you would say that, as nothing could be further from the truth. I found myself in a familiar environment (specifically, a beach that I seemed intimately familiar with), "talking" with... some... thing? One? My own higher self? A spirit guide? Yes to all the above? I don't know. But what/whoever it was, they had answers for me to questions that have intrigued me my whole life, the most impactful (I think) of which was the existence and sheer commonness of reincarnation. Unlike many other NDE experiencers, I did not get (that I remember at least, but there is more I do NOT remember than what I DO, and I'm hoping that will change over time) a present life review, but I was shown snippets of my own past lives, at least one of which occurred on or near the beach I found myself on. I am glad I returned, but not because moving on and finalizing the death of this body frightens me... To the extent it ever did, and I'm not sure it did, this event erased that. But, I was not ready and it would not have been fair to my poor wife, who suffered right along with me through so much, and to whom I give credit for my very survival, and to whom you can blame for my being here to question your "truth". See, when you were but a babe, your parents essentially brainwashed you with these rigid beliefs about the nature of reality and spirituality, and saddled you with all your religious dogma that is, frankly, holding you back. You seem the type who thinks that our societal laws ought conform to what your "holy" book says, but your book was written and assembled by mere mortals, who had no more insight than anyone else. But the 'Council of Nicaea' decided what would and would not be included in said book, and thus, you are incapable of growing beyond your superstitions and your authoritative church. The same church, or a root at least, that nearly burned Galileo at the stake for figuring out the Earth actually revolved around the Sun, and not the other way around. You need to expand your horizons, and get out from behind your comfortable myths. Nonbelievers and homosexuals do not get boiled in oil for all of eternity, for the very idea of 'hell' is completely manmade. It doesn't exist. Sorry.
No one has brainwashed me, I've come to my beliefs on my own, as have thousands, even millions, or others many of whom had been dedicated atheists. I think it you who is being held back. “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Lets hope the constitution and the USSC uphold religious freedoms and won't force A religion onto the country. This country was founded on freedom of choice.
I don't merely believe that God lives. I know he does. But I can't know for you. You have to discover that for yourself. FWIW, it is also factual that there are far more Church's filled with people who are fed on Gods words than there are Popeyes chicken places. The Bible is also filled with testimonies of men, great and small, who actually knew God in spirit and in person. Even Americas own founding document declaring our Independence, states that it is self evident that there is one God from whom all men spring, who is the source of our freedom, rights, and equality by our common heritage in freedom. In my religion, the Book of Mormon also contains many first hand testimonies of God. So it isn't like there is a dearth of knowledge of God. The reason that God doesn't live here is because this is a probationary proving ground, which couldn't be possible with his presence.
If God were real you could prove it. You can't prove it therefore, at best, the question of God's existence is not settled. Given that people have been trying for thousands of years to prove the existence of God and are now no closer than they were 2,000 years ago strongly implies a god does not exist.
But the only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing! Does this mean I have faith in nothing?
More Christians become atheists than atheists become Christians. The number of people who believe in God in this country is shrinking. Regular church attendance has fallen below 50% for the first time since polling has been done.
Actually it was founded on the self evident truth that there is one God from whom we all spring and is the essence of our equality of divine rights in freedom. So religious liberty isn't whether or not God is real, but what we as individuals choose to do with the fact that he is, in our own personal lives. So "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
And with me. It's sad so many here think we're nothing more than flesh and blood animals with a big brain. We are also spiritual beings who know how to live God's will.
I'm a six armed being from a star orbiting Proxima Centauri, but until I can prove it no one has any reason to believe me.
True. I think they want a world wide consensus on who is God. But with that, they'll always follow the deviation or most amiable, accommodating, easy way.
I don't want a consensus. I want EVIDENCE I have been an atheist for over 30 years and it is the only thing I ask for from a theist. EVIDENCE I don't believe because there is no evidence, show me sufficient evidence and I will believe (again). It is really that simple.
I would settle for a convincing line of reasoning. @Injeun : you receive personal visits from God so you have everyone else at a disadvantage. The evidence is insurmountable for you. Try to imagine that no one ever answers that phone when you call. How long do you keep dialing before you conclude that no one is home?
Maybe that's because you limit yourself in what you consider evidence. If you look in only one place for evidence then you will find only what is in that one place.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html ""Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination." " the founders wanted religious freedom in this country, not a government pushing their flavor of religion on the people
or maybe there is no evidence... and mean the bible does have it's flaws, so definite not made by a perfect God
If you start with a conclusion that there is no God and don't look for evidence of God you will never find it.
if you start with the conclusion that the bible is the word of a God, you will never find the truth if the bible were the truth, when someone read it, they would just go... duh, why didn't I see that before, there would be no need to defend the bible, it would just make sense, why doesn't the bible do this, because obviously man wrote the bible, not a god I would say most that still believes in the Bible God... have not actually read the Bible
The Bible does do that, sorry you don't see it. No one has to defend the Bible, the Bible speaks for itself. I frequently quote the Bible but there is no need for me to defend it. If you don't believe in the Bible that's on you.
nope it doesn't, I was a Christian and I read the bible... cover to cover it's easy to see the bible was written by man and not a God
Well, I'm a Christian, I've read the Bible and studied with groups of interested friends, and it does speak for itself. Of course the Bible was written down by men, God did not physically put pen to paper or parchment. The Bible is compossed of different forms of writings including creation stories, history, wisdom writings, Gospels etc. But I see God's inspiration and revelation throughout the Bible. I have no doubt that is the work of God.
