Faith No More

[Guest gavin]

My faith been faltering for years, but now it's truly gone. I don't believe in God or the Devil, Heaven or Hell. Not to say that I dont believe in some God or Gods, or some form of afterlife, I do believe in that, I just no longer believe in the Christian views. I don't believe in any religion really. I believe something created this universe, I believe there is some sort of God or Gods, some form of afterlife, but that's where it ends. Why is my faith gone? A few reasons. The world is the main reason. We have death, disease, famine, war, all sorts of horrible things. Good people die, the corrupt live on. Things are also inconsistent. Everyone says God is a loving being but he sure doesn't seem like it. He gets ticked off and people die. In The Bible anyway. If you tick him off, you're going to Hell. He does not want you to worship ANY other God but him. He demands love.... These are just a few things. The Bible is also full of contradictions. Like the free will thing I mentioned in my "Inquiries" topic and the whole "He loves you but you're going to Hell" thing in the same topic.

[Guest gavin]

I have been a Christian for many years, I had a great job and a beautiful home near the ocean, a few years ago I suffered a brain tumor, lost my job, my house and lastly my wife, I have found my self questioning why? What did I do? I worked so hard to make a nice living for us I was married for 30+ yrs but when we lost everything it was too much for my wife to deal with and we ended up divorcing, I still do believe In God, but I always question why? what did I do to dererve that, I just get so bummed sometimes, I was blessed to have a good job so I was able to retire, just hadn't planned on that now aslo being alone in my retirement.

[Guest Lord of Shadows]

It sounds like you've become a deist. It sounds as though you understand why you've rejected Christianity, so all I'll say is: remeber to always look at things critically and honestly. It sounds as though you've done that with the Bible, but it's sound advice for anything. (Although you will get a bit depressed when you listen to politicians speeches and realise that most of what they're saying is "Blah-di-blah-di-blah, the other guy sucks. )

And why can't God stand sin? If it wasn't for him it would have never existed. He created Satan, whom was the first sinner as far as I know. If God hated sin so much why not get rid of it? Snap his finger and Satan and sin never existed, and we would all be happy and sinless.

fun fact: if you look at the death toll in the bible, you'll find that the score reads: God: lots, Satan: not that many, really.

Deist? I thought I was agnostic. What's the difference? And no worries on how I look at things, I do that already.

As for your fun fact, that is interesting, I did not know that.

EDIT: I'm not ignoring anyone else's posts, I just dont have time at the moment to respond to them all. I'll edit this again later with my responses.

Edited January 24, 2008 by Lord of Shadows

[Trusting Jesus]

You are bitter, aren't you. Can I ask why you are on a Christian board? I'm not trying to tell you not to be here, but are you seeking truth or just trying to prove to us that we are wrong? Well, I hope that you are seeking truth.

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Nathele

I can't speak for Shadow, but I'm an atheist, and I came here because to be honest, Christianity makes absolutely no sense, and I find a good portion of its teachings to be rather creepy. Now, I could just pretend that it doesn't exist, but since there are approximately 2 billion Christians on Earth, I chose instead to go to a Christian board so that I gain some insight into what the hell Christians are thinking.

Also, although I'm Australian, it disturbs me that atheists are the least trusted minority group in America, and I've heard enough stories about atheists in America who are afraid to reveal their religious beliefs that I feel that I should try to show at least some Christians how some atheists think so that fewer atheists need to suffer religious discrimination.

That, and I saw people asking for advice on this board, and then the first ten replies were "God will provide", which I don't consider to be particularly useful. I thought that maybe if I could offer some different advice, then I could be helping some people out.

You have been misinformed. There is no reason for an athiest in America to be afraid to reveal their beliefs. I know many who deny Christ. It's sad that they are so deceived, but they make their choice and are not suffering "religious discrimination". I don't know where you have heard this, but it is wrong.

You don't believe that "God will provide" because you do not know Him. Whether or not you accept Him, you do benefit from His provision. It is God who created all things - sun, moon, stars, the air you breath, the water you drink. I don't expect you to believe this, but it is a fact.

As far as "helping some people out", remember they are here on a Christian board asking for Christian answers. Nobody is forcing them to be here, but they are earnestly seeking answers. From a Christian point of view - of which you have no understanding, but may in time come to understand - we want everyone to see God's love and seek His direction. We do have quite a few athiests, agnostics, etc., on this board, and hopefully we are opening their eyes to God's truth. You can deny it all you want, but that doesn't mean you are correct.

One word of caution, though. Please watch your language. You might want to read the TOS.

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Nathele

[jc49]

My faith been faltering for years, but now it's truly gone. I don't believe in God or the Devil, Heaven or Hell. Not to say that I dont believe in some God or Gods, or some form of afterlife, I do believe in that, I just no longer believe in the Christian views. I don't believe in any religion really. I believe something created this universe, I believe there is some sort of God or Gods, some form of afterlife, but that's where it ends. Why is my faith gone? A few reasons. The world is the main reason. We have death, disease, famine, war, all sorts of horrible things. Good people die, the corrupt live on. Things are also inconsistent. Everyone says God is a loving being but he sure doesn't seem like it. He gets ticked off and people die. In The Bible anyway. If you tick him off, you're going to Hell. He does not want you to worship ANY other God but him. He demands love.... These are just a few things. The Bible is also full of contradictions. Like the free will thing I mentioned in my "Inquiries" topic and the whole "He loves you but you're going to Hell" thing in the same topic.

There was a man called Barabbas....

He was a "zealot" ....fighting the Roman occupation of Palestine....so he turned bandit,terrorist,he killed some Roman soldiers and got arrested...there he was in the Roman prison in Jerusalem waiting to be executed...

Barabbas knew that he was guilty..he had become a murderer,an outlaw...

He knew that rebelling to the Roman authority and killing a Roman soldier would bring death to him if caught...

He did it anyway....He lived life his way...after all it was his life and he decided to do what seemed right in his own eyes..and he killed....he was a criminal deserving death and there he was in the dark cell waiting to be taken out and crucified...he was a terrorist...he knew that there was no hope whatsoever to escape that prison and his fate was sealed..waiting death...deserving death...

oh,he could tell himself that he didn't accept the Roman authority,that Caesar was a tyrant and that he would never submit to Caesar rule....but ...but there he was GUILTY ,waiting DEATH,a SURE CRUEL DEATH BY CRuCIFIXION...

When,suddenly,the door of his cell opened and the Roman Centurion said to him:"Barabbas,you are free,free to go,you have received GRACE,go out from this cell,you are FREE and PARDONED,GO FREE...."

WHAT???

Can you imagine Barabbas reaction?

How could that be possible?

He could have said: "Wait a minute Centurion,I don't believe you..."....but the Roman soldier told him that SOMEONE ELSE HAD TAKEN his place...SOMEONE ELSE was going to DIE on THE CROSS in his stead...and this SOMEONE ELSE was a young man called JESUS ,innocent,NOT GUILTY,INNOCENT and SINLESS..."

Barabbas could have gone in a lenghty discussion of sort,could have refused to leave the prison...the door was wide open,ALL HE HAD TO DO was TO ACCEPT THE GRACE and BE A FREE PARDONED MAN....or like a stubborn idiot reject the grace and stay in the cell and DEMAND TO BE KILLED.....but..we know that BARABBAS went OUT FREE and PARDONED and that THE INNOCENT and SINLESS SON OF GOD GAVE HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS....

NOW,what ARE YOU GOING TO DO BARABBAS??

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH JESUS OF NAZARETH and HIS FREE GIFT OF LIFE TO YOU?????

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO???

DISCUSS and PLAY PHILOSOPHER and DIE,or SIMPLY ACCEPT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE and LIVE????

YOUR IS THE DECISION,YOU HEARD IT,

DECIDE WELL,IT IS "YOUR" ETERNAL DESTINY at STAKE...

CHOOSE LIFE because THIS IS THW WILL OF GOD that YOU MIGHT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE,YOU and ALL THE BARABBAS of THE WORLD,just like ME....

CHOOSE TODAY and DON'T PROCASTINATEmiy is YOUR LIFE.

[Rick-Parker]

Sorry to go off topic but:

There is no such place as Palestine. There is no such ethnicity as Palestinian. The land belongs to God and He gave it to the sons of Israel and Jacob.

[stan4257]

I have been a Christian for many years, I had a great job and a beautiful home near the ocean, a few years ago I suffered a brain tumor, lost my job, my house and lastly my wife, I have found my self questioning why? What did I do? I worked so hard to make a nice living for us I was married for 30+ yrs but when we lost everything it was too much for my wife to deal with and we ended up divorcing, I still do believe In God, but I always question why? what did I do to dererve that, I just get so bummed sometimes, I was blessed to have a good job so I was able to retire, just hadn't planned on that now aslo being alone in my retirement.

Good to have you here, Gavin.

There is a lot of love in Worthy Boards which is waiting to share with you as you go through all the challenges you face.

Loneliness is one of the biggest challenges and I sincerely hope that in some way your presence here will help.

[Guest Lord of Shadows]

It interests me how many newcomers to Worthy Boards start off with a carefully constructed argument against Christianity, almost as if they are using this forum to gain support for their ideas. It is as if there are legions out there looking for some avenue to strengthen what they have already decided is truth for themselves..

Might not be the situation with you, but it sure sounds as if it might be.

I'm merely trying to figure out why people believe what they do, and the way they think.

The only challenge is in your court. You either stay in darkness or move into the light. Nothing you say will persuade me to walk in the darkness with you.

I'm not trying to get anyone to follow me, I have no need of it. And walk in the darkness? Well I make no claims to walk any path but I have to say darkness has always interested me more than the light.

[Guest Immortalis Obscurum]

Good Lord, what did this Lord of Shadows fellow do to get banned in a day?

[Rick-Parker]

Good Lord, what did this Lord of Shadows fellow do to get banned in a day?

Can you look in the mirror and ask him?