I became an atheist recently

[Deborah_]

9 hours ago, LittleMan123 said:

Because of some videos I watched. The mods removed the link. Search on youtube for the Rationality Rules channel.

There are dozens of them. Why can you not just explain in a sentence or two which of their many arguments you found so convincing?

 

[LittleMan123]

14 hours ago, Deborah_ said:

There are dozens of them. Why can you not just explain in a sentence or two which of their many arguments you found so convincing?

 

I would need to open another thread for that.

[LittleMan123]

20 hours ago, Marathoner said:

Let's consider the matter rationally, @LittleMan123.

You create a topic on a Christian ministry's forum, in which you post a link to a video in a sub-forum where posting links to videos are not permitted, and you take issue with this? 

Instead of articulating a position relying upon your own words, you instead point to a video to speak for you. You write truly, that without the link to this video your OP doesn't make sense. This is reinforced by your post above:
 

So you watched some videos, and these videos converted you to the religion of Atheism. Have you rationally considered your conversion? Without the conviction of belief and the means by which to articulate it, you have been tossed about by the wind. Therefore the issue is not conviction on your part but rather, being persuaded in the mind. 

I understand that. There was a time when I was so low, nihilism seized my mind and tossed me about on the wind in a similar way. Time proved this to be nothing more than an affliction, born of the blindness of this flesh and the futility of the natural mind. So you perceive the end of this flesh and the futility of our labors, truths which are expressed in the scriptures. It can be an overwhelming experience.

This will pass with time.  

Sorry. It's been a long time since I last was here, so I didn't know all the rules.

[Aries2020]

The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy but Jesus comes to give us life and life more abuntantly becuase our foundation is built on the rock and not the sand so when the storms of life come against us we trust in Jesus for victory and not in others or ourselves.

John 10.10  - Mathew 7.24-27 

[angels4u]

On 9/5/2021 at 12:52 PM, LittleMan123 said:

I apologize for not posting in a long time.

Here's my news. A few months ago, I became an atheist. I converted with a heavy heart, but we don't believe what we want to be true; we believe what we are convinced is true.

I believed in God for years. The thought of a better world after this miserable life gave me hope. But now I know everything will end in my grave.

And now, I live with no hope, no joy. Everything seems pointless to me, since I know that the death that awaits me will take everything away from me. It's pointless to get bonded with anyone when I know that I will never see them again when they perish. What does it matter if I love people? I cannot save them from eternal oblivion, just as they cannot save me.

When I said the above to my mom (I don't know about her, but she's probably an atheist too)

But I cannot simply disregard the fact that I'm doomed to oblivion and 'live my life here and now'. I'm depressed. I try to resume my everyday routine as before, but I have nightmares. The thought that there is nothing after death and I'm doomed to be erased from existence comes to my sleep.

People on an atheist forum told me that what I feel is normal, that atheism takes some getting used to. But, having been depressed for months over that, I don't think I will ever reach the fifth stage of grief. They also told me to call suicide hotline if I feel suicidal. The truth is, I don't have any strong suicidal impulses, at least as of yet.

A part of me wishes I had never found out. But another part of me is glad I did. As a Russian saying says, better be slapped with the truth than be kissed with lies. If anyone thinks I'm wrong, feel free to convince me otherwise.

Why would you think it's so great not to believe in God who made you?

Psalm 139:13-16 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

You said you believed in God? 

You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that— and shudder. James 2:19

Little man,what you are missing is a realtionship with Jesus, He's very real and if you start reading your Bible you will find Him as He is waiting for you to come to Him,He's knocking on the door of your heart to let Him in..

Luke 11:9-10
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

Let the King of glory ,the One who died for your sins come in and accept Him as your Savior to live with Him in all eternity 

…Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah 7Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter! 8Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.…Psalm 24:7

We're still living in the age of grace and it's still not too late to come to Jesus ,don't wait or hold off you never know if you see tomorrow.

 2For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation 2 Cor.6:2

Little man ,you need Jesus ,the One who died for your sins and rose again from the grave ,He is coming back someday soon and what will you tell Him when you stand before Him?

Don't hold off and don't listen to the enemy who's trying to keep you away from God so you end up with him in a place you don't want to be...

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! Psalm 14:1

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.

Please and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you and He will..

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

 

 

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, LittleMan123 said:

Sorry. It's been a long time since I last was here, so I didn't know all the rules.

It's quite alright. I was encouraging you to think rationally! Rationality can serve us well when we utilize this tool to examine ourselves in light of our own conduct and those choices we make, for good or ill. Let us examine ourselves, not others. 

The apostle Paul wrote the following in his second letter to the Corinthians.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NKJV)

And in the apostle's first missive to the Corinthians, whom he loved and labored for greatly, we find this:

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:3o-32 NKJV)

A long time ago (I'm not a spring chicken these days) the Lord led me to examine myself just as the apostle writes above, and I fell headlong into a deep and lasting nihilistic depression. What was the point?, I cried. 

What I build collapses into a heap so I can build something else that will likewise fall into ruin. I labor to eat so I can continue with my labors, so I can eat making yet another day of labor possible, all for what? To return to the dust from whence I came? Vanity, everything is vanity! 

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 

What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
(Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 NKJV)

We are nothing in ourselves, @LittleMan123. Rational thought leads us to this inevitable conclusion but we are neither alone, nor are our days on this on this earth pointless or meaningless. This is the gift of the Lord to us, given to us by His Holy Spirit, that we might come to the end ourselves so we might be filled by Jesus Christ. 

We do indeed have purpose in Jesus Christ because He created us all. You are not condemned, you're merely enduring the darkness of night. The Lord has not abandoned you even though you think you've abandoned Him. If you were truly an atheist, then I would expect you to write according to your own words and lack of belief. That's not what you've shared with us in this topic. 

[OneLight]

On 9/5/2021 at 12:25 PM, Alive said:

I removed the youtube link and cleaned up some language. 

You missed the quote in the 3rd post in this thread submitted by Not Me when he quoted the original OP.

[Bro.Tan]

On 9/5/2021 at 10:52 AM, LittleMan123 said:

I apologize for not posting in a long time.

Here's my news. A few months ago, I became an atheist. I converted with a heavy heart, but we don't believe what we want to be true; we believe what we are convinced is true.

I believed in God for years. The thought of a better world after this miserable life gave me hope. But now I know everything will end in my grave.

And now, I live with no hope, no joy. Everything seems pointless to me, since I know that the death that awaits me will take everything away from me. It's pointless to get bonded with anyone when I know that I will never see them again when they perish. What does it matter if I love people? I cannot save them from eternal oblivion, just as they cannot save me.

When I said the above to my mom (I don't know about her, but she's probably an atheist too)

But I cannot simply disregard the fact that I'm doomed to oblivion and 'live my life here and now'. I'm depressed. I try to resume my everyday routine as before, but I have nightmares. The thought that there is nothing after death and I'm doomed to be erased from existence comes to my sleep.

People on an atheist forum told me that what I feel is normal, that atheism takes some getting used to. But, having been depressed for months over that, I don't think I will ever reach the fifth stage of grief. They also told me to call suicide hotline if I feel suicidal. The truth is, I don't have any strong suicidal impulses, at least as of yet.

A part of me wishes I had never found out. But another part of me is glad I did. As a Russian saying says, better be slapped with the truth than be kissed with lies. If anyone thinks I'm wrong, feel free to convince me otherwise.

Before I read that you said you was depressed, I already knew this what that is. That's an evil spirit that pushes the thoughts of the mind like that. But if you give on Jesus they are winning. Jesus said in (Matt. 16:24-27) (v.24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. That was the Lord’s burden, to die on the cross for the sins of man. Now as we read earlier every man must bear his own burden, and what is your burden? (v.25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. You must give up your life in this world; you must not get caught up in the cares of this world. You must bring forth-good fruits of faith by keeping God’s commandments, statues, and judgments. (v.26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

I'm not convince you atheist yet, but remove the spirit that's causing the the affliction then you see clearer and feel better. But you have to stay in this fight, because that's what it is, a fight. Take a look at what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6: 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

This is how you start getting those spirits off of you and, fighting the good fight. Paul says godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness also keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have do to do these things. Some of the great patriarchs in (Heb.11) gave up a lot, some even their lives in exchange for their soul. You see they had great faith (belief) that their souls (bodies) would be raised at the first resurrection. I hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Willa]

Many people become angry at God while they go through the grief process.  However to deny His existance because you piped and He did not dance (He didn't follow your instructions or wishes) means He might never have really been your Lord to begin with.  You have perhaps expected Him to act like a Santa Claus or to jump through your hoops.  We must eventually acknowledge that He is God and we need to come to Job's conclusion:  The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; Blessed be the Name of the Lord.  We need to accept that it is all His grand plan and He will work everything out for our good when we wait on Him and trust Him.  Had you really known God you would also have known that He is a good and merciful God but there are many times that we don't understand why He allows the things that transpire.  

I am very sorry that you are hurting.  Been there a few times as well.  I am even sorrier that you have made a really rotten decision because even you can see the disillusionment it produces.  It is a simple choice to believe and you are only hurting yourself by choosing to not believe..

[CaptWalker]

Yes i agree that many do believe God should be at our beckon call, and often become offended and angry when He doesn't seem to answer in the way they expected Him to. But to insinuate that He will remain absent and/or silent even when someone is actually trying to reach out to Him is not exactly going to help anyone know Him better and certainly not going to make them feel any better in that situation. I have heard of Atheists becoming Christians and vice-versa, but still not sure which is more likely to occur, and maybe someone who ends up falling away was never really saved to begin with, idk?

Me personally, i am much more offended by Christians who are stand-offish or stuck up, than a God who is or only seems to be. For example, I recently was thinking about starting to attend a small rural church close to where i live, and even sent a couple of emails and prayer requests, since unlike so MANY of these "country churches" this one actually had a website(LOL). But unfortunately i never heard back from them, and i guess maybe i could have just walked right in one Sunday but i was afraid they would see me as an outsider and not be very welcome there, but who knows? Either way if you are a church or group that is offering prayer and/or feedback on an active website but still ignore any comments/questions then i would only ask WHY??? And if someone became an Atheist over being ignored or dissed by any other so-called "believers" then i almost would not even blame them. But in this case it seems to be more of issues with God Himself which is a whole different situation, but at the same time it could much easier to hate God when there are no Christians around who are even offering any help even when you ask, which is a very BAD situation to be in, period!

Edited September 7, 2021 by CaptWalker
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