I am an Atheist and always have been.

Reading some of the posts about people knocking on the door to evangelise brings back memories of a sweet elderly man (I was a young woman at the time, and an atheist) from the Mormon church. He knocked one very hot day and I invited him in for some cold water.

A conversation began and I listened to him and he also listened to me. We parted after some time, and he returned periodically for further chats. Even though we were never going to agree, the exchanges were very pleasant because we both respected each other.

Moving forward to the present time, my eldest granddaughter* has also been visited by Morman missionaries, but this time they are quite young. They asked her if they could help her in any way and she said that she would like some help to create a garden in front of the house. Not just any garden, a fairy garden.

The young missionaries then came every fortnight and worked on her fairy garden. She offered hospitality and they were pleased to be welcome. Eventually they returned to their homeland and were replaced by another couple who have continued to visit my granddaughter to maintain her fairy garden.

People may have differing beliefs but that should not prevent warm relationships as human beings.

* My granddaughter has a genetic abnormality. She has three X chromosomes instead of two. This condition manifests as a mild disability but she has never let that stop her from living life to the full.
 
I have no idea what is going on here. I believe the original topic was about "I am an Atheist....."
11 pages of comments. All over the place. Some with thought and a lot with gentle sarcastic responses. All well and good and understood, or at least tried to be understood. Athiest believe in no God, correct? But that is their belief.
I believe that God exist and interacts with me.

So why continue posting to this topic? I have my reasons but I don't know what others think or why they post. I want to convince you. You want to convince me? I don't know. The big bang, God is mans imagination, If there is nothing in the beginning, then nothing can happen. If, on the other hand, it is as simple as elements and chemicals then they came from somewhere. (somewhere?)
Where is somewhere.
The earth and all around us has a rhythm, a balance. What are the odds? Go play those odds at a casino and see how far you get. I don't have the answers and I wouldn't even attempt to answer.
I believe that God not only created the universe but all of us who walk this earth. I believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, allows Satan to exist for a verity of reasons that I do not quit comprehend. I believe that satan knows he is doomed unless he can prove God to be wrong just once and then prove that God is not God.
He knows this, God knows this and allows satan free reign to a point. God is the great I AM or he is not. God knows and wants his creation to know. You were created in my image but I want you to obey me. I AM YOUR GOD.
 
astralcat said:
It will be interesting to see how many pages this topic will generate. I will keep checking in. I learned long ago never to wade into conversations about politics and religion (or in this case, no religion). I think most of the responses are well thought out and make good reading.
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I agree. I like to know how people think and how they come up with some of their thoughts. It's an interesting topic for me. It doesn't change how I think, but sometimes it reinforces (and sometimes not) what I believe.
 
The only God I trust is Mars, the God of War. If one reads a lot of history, like I do, one sees war on planet Earth EVERY year. Thus, Mars is the only true God. Jesus was a pacifist yet all of history is written in blood. I do like Christian music and listen to it all the time. However, it appears that Mars really runs things and Jesus just gave us good music.
 
Warrigal said:
People may have differing beliefs but that should not prevent warm relationships as human beings.
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When you say 'differing beliefs' do you mean ONLY religious beliefs, or beliefs in general?

If it's the latter, what do you think of a person being insulted, ridiculed, bashed, and after the person couldn't stand any more of it, kicking the person aside with this expression (which I'm c/p definitions from AI Copilot and Wiki):

"Bye Felicia" is a dismissive slang phrase used to indicate that someone is unimportant, annoying, or irrelevant, often signaling the end of a conversation or interaction.

In American English, the phrase "Bye, Felicia" or "Bye, Felisha" is an informal phrase and internet meme intended as a dismissive send-off, which originated in the 1995 film Friday. According to Ice Cube, who starred in Friday and co-wrote its script, "'Bye, Felicia' [...] is the phrase to get anyone out [of] your face that's saying something stupid".[1][2] Nicole Richie said "Felicia is, like, some random[a] that you just do not even care about."[3]
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Thanks, but I prefer answering my door. I recall once when a person attempted to deliver a pizza and I told him he had the wrong address. He said, "Isn't this [called out my house number]. I told him no, he had the wrong house, and pointed to the house he should be going to. Another time, a man stopped to let me know the City was having a service in the area to trim trees on such-and-such date. I told him I have no trees, and he said they were advising all residents in the event any limbs should fall onto my property from the adjacent property. He left a card and showed me his ID. They did indeed trim trees on that date, and I'm glad I was home.

Once, I locked myself out of my house and didn't have my phone. I rang my neighbor's doorbell and asked her to please call the locksmith. I'm thankful she answered her door, even though she doesn't know me.

I could go on, but this is already longer than necessary and is off topic.

I would like an apartment, maybe one like you have, but based on the cost of rent and the uncertainty of how much more rent may be in the future, I prefer keeping my home.
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I get it. Not saying never of course. I've answered my door through the years or needed help even way back when young and had to knock on someone's door. Far more so this happened with people either needing help and knocking on our own, or like when I needed help and knocking on someone's before cell phones though. However, right now in my case, I know no one will be knocking on my door for help or to advise of anything unless it is someone from the building needing help on my same floor which has never happened but I guess could. I've opened the door to firemen when there was a gas leak at a neighboring property. That's what the peephole is also for.

When it comes to certain religions however, it's obvious when it's them when they pull in in brand new vehicles and are dressed pretty formally, back when I owned a home. No thanks.

So in bringing it back to religions or lack of, it brings it back on topic :)

Yes, there are benefits and drawbacks definitely to owning or renting. Rent does increase every year. So do property taxes in most areas though as well. My mom with it broken down monthly, pays as much for property taxes as I paid on my mortgage payment. I also owned my last home free and clear and yet taxes still had to be paid. And improve it? Oh definitely they are going up.

And now I'm off topic again :)
 
RambleTamble said:
That one is easy. He came from man's imagination.
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Well that I guess is your view on it but it isn't mine.

I'm talking about no beginning, no matter what the theory.

I've seen too much that shows me there's something bigger than us but I don't need to convince anyone else of that as I don't push my beliefs on others so I'll leave that there.

It's also much more comforting to have such a belief. I go through and get through losses by believing I will see those people again one day and I will die believing that. If I'm wrong, I won't find that out will I? :)

The atheists I've known don't seem to be people that are very positive types. Of course I can't say all, but the ones I've known.

Do you disagree that most if not all of the Ten Commandments are bad principles to live by? I do think the world is better when people abide by some kinds of morals or principles.

Again, I'm not pushing my beliefs on anyone and would never, I'm just discussing it all.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Oh, don't you know? The "theories" (and there are several) are all in the scientific literature.

Some of those theories suggest the universe originated from a quantum vacuum fluctuation, where energy arose from nothingness through random quantum events. Other theories suggest "The Big Bang" may have been a continuation of a previous, collapsing universe or may be part of a larger multiverse where a black hole in a parent universe "birthed" ours. [Is that clear so far?]

In other words, scientists speculate instead of providing answers, making sure they include words like "suggest," "may", and "maybe".
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Nothingness is a human concept though.

There cannot have been nothingness as all had to start from something, then that something had to come from something. It's hard to put into words.

A previous collapsing universe had to be created or has to have come from something. A black hole came from something lol.

There is NO beginning to anything. Even God if one believes in Him has to have come from something or somewhere. And then whatever created such had to have as well. No beginning.

I get yes, instead of providing answers they include those words lol.

I don't consider all science accurate. Lol.

Mankind doesn't have all the answers. Never will imo.
 
Warrigal said:
Reading some of the posts about people knocking on the door to evangelise brings back memories of a sweet elderly man (I was a young woman at the time, and an atheist) from the Mormon church. He knocked one very hot day and I invited him in for some cold water.

A conversation began and I listened to him and he also listened to me. We parted after some time, and he returned periodically for further chats. Even though we were never going to agree, the exchanges were very pleasant because we both respected each other.

Moving forward to the present time, my eldest granddaughter* has also been visited by Morman missionaries, but this time they are quite young. They asked her if they could help her in any way and she said that she would like some help to create a garden in front of the house. Not just any garden, a fairy garden.

The young missionaries then came every fortnight and worked on her fairy garden. She offered hospitality and they were pleased to be welcome. Eventually they returned to their homeland and were replaced by another couple who have continued to visit my granddaughter to maintain her fairy garden.

People may have differing beliefs but that should not prevent warm relationships as human beings.

* My granddaughter has a genetic abnormality. She has three X chromosomes instead of two. This condition manifests as a mild disability but she has never let that stop her from living life to the full.
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In our area it isn't Mormons that come around and knock on doors.

I will say I've had very good conversations with others with different beliefs. Isn't that a bit what this thread even is? Discussion on different beliefs?

Back when I was younger, I often did answer the door and it did end up in a discussion but with me firmly letting them know they were not going to turn my opinion and ONE time I said okay, sure you tell me what you want to say for this long and then you will listen to me for this long lol on what I believe and think and are you going to donate to me? And then start attending my church instead?

It doesn't help the image when the ones I am talking of show up in brand new expensive vehicles and clothing. To me, that makes them pretty clueless... Perhaps they think we will join so we too can drive a brand new pricey vehicle...

I'm not talking Mormons though. However, I have seen enough of such, just not personally...
 
rbtvgo said:
I have no idea what is going on here. I believe the original topic was about "I am an Atheist....."
11 pages of comments. All over the place. Some with thought and a lot with gentle sarcastic responses. All well and good and understood, or at least tried to be understood. Athiest believe in no God, correct? But that is their belief.
I believe that God exist and interacts with me.

So why continue posting to this topic? I have my reasons but I don't know what others think or why they post. I want to convince you. You want to convince me? I don't know. The big bang, God is mans imagination, If there is nothing in the beginning, then nothing can happen. If, on the other hand, it is as simple as elements and chemicals then they came from somewhere. (somewhere?)
Where is somewhere.
The earth and all around us has a rhythm, a balance. What are the odds? Go play those odds at a casino and see how far you get. I don't have the answers and I wouldn't even attempt to answer.
I believe that God not only created the universe but all of us who walk this earth. I believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, allows Satan to exist for a verity of reasons that I do not quit comprehend. I believe that satan knows he is doomed unless he can prove God to be wrong just once and then prove that God is not God.
He knows this, God knows this and allows satan free reign to a point. God is the great I AM or he is not. God knows and wants his creation to know. You were created in my image but I want you to obey me. I AM YOUR GOD.
Click to expand...
I'm fairly new but I think it's a pretty interesting discussion about beliefs. I dived right in, maybe not wise when new, but I like discussion so it I'm always tempted to discuss. :)
 
I've mentioned before how I spent a lot of years trying to convince myself their is a God but could never do it so label myself and atheist.

Here's the thing though, I wasn't necessarily looking for tangible proof, but something that at least seemed possible. Nothing about God the creator has ever made any sense to me, even if I let my imagination run wild the God people talk lacks credible sense to me.

I understand how religion came to be, and why it still is a power, heck I even believe there was a Yeshua, not Gods son but an evangelist of sorts. I could even believe in God as a metaphor, as the first spark of life or possibly the subconscious of our minds, but the entity of God the creator is a no for me.
 
Mitch86 said:
The only God I trust is Mars, the God of War. If one reads a lot of history, like I do, one sees war on planet Earth EVERY year. Thus, Mars is the only true God. Jesus was a pacifist yet all of history is written in blood. I do like Christian music and listen to it all the time. However, it appears that Mars really runs things and Jesus just gave us good music.
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Well I have to say that's interesting lol.

I do believe Mars, a/k/a Ares God of War, does influence things, as does the planet Mars.

While Mars and Ares are both counterparts of war and come from mythology, they represent different aspects of war. Ares being the Greek counterpart to the Roman Mars.

I believe more in the influence of the planet Mars than the gods though. :)
 
Rakaia said:
No it's not like that,one person's terrorist is another's freedom, fighter, so it depends on how you're grinding your axe.
I can think of terrorism/freedom fighting done in the name of four religions. It's not the world's most exclusive club.
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Okay.

Depends on the times one is talking and the ways as well imo.

I consider Al Qaeda and Christianity very not even apples to oranges but oranges to onions, these days for sure. Islam itself is very different than Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda is very fringe extremism and uses Islam. So in talking Christianity, what group is like that in Christianity? A cult? Usually not a huge group or beheading or terrorizing all like Al Qaeda and other countries either, but mostly just on its own soil controlling its own followers. That's not mainsream Christianity either.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Property taxes are frozen in Texas for those over age 65.

Edited to add: However, property taxes do increase for apartment owners, and when that happens, they necessarily pass those costs on to tennants.
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Rent goes up every year. That is a fact. Especially if in corporate owned complexes. Privately owned one might not have that. I'm not saying it doesn't, but just was saying one can be outpriced of an owned home too just with property taxes. Some areas have very big increases on such when seniors or others are on a fixed income. I've done both and see the benefits and detriments of both. Sounds like you know both as well. Or at least about such.

I don't think property taxes get frozen here, well I know they don't actually, at age 65. That's a huge benefit, did not know TX or any state did such things. I need to look it up and see if other states do. That is the first I've heard of that.

It's a good example of why I enjoy discussions with people online from other states, other countries. We all can compare and find out things we never might have known before.
 
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