I am an Atheist and always have been.

[Lara]

What???!!!...Vida May, what in the world are you talking about in post #900 ??? I never posted anything about the Koran! I never ever even mentioned it! I have only discussed Atheism and Christianity in this entire thread.

And then you go on to accuse me of a war in Iran. That's some serious stuff and a total lie and political which is not allowed here. And, no, I have not judged anyone. I have only posted the differences between Atheists and Christians. Delete your thread about me immediately.

 

[January]

What???!!!...Vida May, what in the world are you talking about in post #900 ??? I never posted anything about the Koran! I never ever even mentioned it! I have only discussed Atheism and Christianity in this entire thread.

my bold.
well that was her point really - the thread started about atheism - yet people have only posted about christianity vs atheism - as if all other religions don't exist - people have only read the texts of their own religion and then decided it is THE one without knowing anything about the others.

 

[VaughanJB]

It takes a lot more faith to believe in Atheism than it takes to believe in Christianity. To say “God does not exist” is to make a claim of knowing absolutely everything there is to know about everything and of having been everywhere in the universe and having witnessed everything there is to be seen.

I think that's a rather odd assessment. How does not believing in a God mean an atheist knows absolutely everything there is to know about everything? It's actually the very opposite, whereas a belief in a God is far closer to acting as though believers know everything.

Christianity is based on faith of completely trusting God through His words in the Bible. Not just believing that God exists, but relying on His character and actions. And faith in Jesus' life teachings and His death and resurrection that provides salvation through forgiveness of sins.
It's not blind belief.

But it is blind faith. There is no evidence of there being a God. And the God of Christianity apparently had no beginning. That takes blind faith too, since there is no evidence that anything exists that had no beginning - other than your faith it is so.

Christians believe their faith is grounded in historical events like eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life and the evidence of his resurrection as recorded in the Bible with the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It shapes how a person lives, with true faith naturally resulting in actions, love, and obedience.

And yet we have claimed Christians who are starting wars. We have a holy war in the middle east. There isn't anywhere near enough love in this world. The Old Testament is full of a vengeful God killing people and creatures. I don't think history is on the side of Christians, to be honest. What is the evidence that the belief has brought about love?

 

[VaughanJB]

This is not true, although I think I understand why you believe it. Faith is big in Christianity. Get Christians together and some will shameless brag about the strength of their faith. Not all of course.

But there is no faith in atheism, and there doesn't need to be because certainty is not necessary to hold a belief space empty. Certainty plays a much bigger role in Christian thought. And since faith and certainty dominate theist philosophy so much, Christians can easily project such a necessity onto others, even those who have zero faith and require no certainty.

It seems to me that blind faith is what is used in the absence of evidence. Forget the scientific process, forget discounting things for which there is no way to measure/test/examine. Instead, insert a void and fill it with "faith". Christians won't know the truth until they're dead. So it's a neat little trick where, if they're wrong, there are no consequences for having lived a delusion.

 

[rbtvgo]

Yes, we know you don't want to think about what we are saying. Why did you think it was a good idea to tell us that?

I think about what you are saying. I think about it all. Not sure what you are quoting or what I said that upsets you. Please explain.

It seems to me that blind faith is what is used in the absence of evidence. Forget the scientific process, forget discounting things for which there is no way to measure/test/examine. Instead, insert a void and fill it with "faith". Christians won't know the truth until they're dead. So it's a neat little trick where, if they're wrong, there are no consequences for having lived a delusion.

the problem is that there is no evidence. no facts to support faith. You can't even prove, via evidence anything you believe. You just believe and that my friend is simply faith. So what could we possibly debate?????????

 

[VaughanJB]

the problem is that there is no evidence. no facts to support faith. You can't even prove, via evidence anything you believe. You just believe and that my friend is simply faith. So what could we possibly debate?????????

I can prove that an apple falls from a tree. I can prove that if you walk into the sea naked, you get wet. I can prove how little humans are made. I can explain what that bright light in the sky is. But when it comes to religious faith, suddenly the absence of any evidence for the existence of such a being is proof enough?

If one can't prove the existence of a God, then there is no basis for Christianity.

So no, it's not faith. It's a belief based on evidence. Not believing in God requires zero faith. It's simply a conclusion based on the lack of anything else to go on.

I think we need to be careful with the words we choose to use, since it just leads to confusion.