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Atheism
God
Christianity
Religion
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 4
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Capt Gregory Prickett, thank you for sharing this. I am a strong believer in God and Christ, but I also believe that is a choice, and should not be "forced" on anyone.
In this portion of the debate, there is one thing that does not get brought out.
Understanding that you will most likely disagree with what I'm about to say in the sense of saying that God is still cruel, I would still like to offer it up simply as a counterpoint, and not to get into an angry or heated debate. I speak with many atheists on these issues, and they do not agree with me either, but we always maintain a friendship because while I believe in God and that I should be a witness to others, I also understand that I do not have the right to judge anyone. Lesbians, gays, transgender and bi-sexuals; these are all people who many Christians will say are going to hell, and to me that is a greater sin than these peoples lifestyles because they do not know, because as a Christian, I believe God is the only judge in matters of a persons soul.
This is how I keep my atheists and other friends, by understanding that everyone has been given free will, and therefor your decision to not believe in God is just as personal and valid to you as is my belief in God personal and valid to me.
On these tragedies (and as I said, I'm almost certain will not be valid reasoning, but I still feel the desire to present it, and hope you will take this comment as simply an open dialogue), they are a direct result of man's disobedience to God in the original sin of Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden had another tree in it, and this was the tree of eternal life. As Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin and death completely entered the world full steam. It is this original sin which brought things like deadly weather and death into the world.
As I said, I know that this will hold no truth to you, and therefor I am simply offering this up as a simple response with no ill intent to provoke you.
As I said, I am not the judge, and your thoughts and beliefs on life are just as valid as thoughts and beliefs of mine.
You will still look at my belief in God as a crutch or a flawed belief system, but it does not anger or insult me at all.
As I know you do not adhere to my beliefs and prayers, I will simply say that I hope you are having a great day.
Take care and stay strong my brother in arms, and have a great Armed Forces Day.
In this portion of the debate, there is one thing that does not get brought out.
Understanding that you will most likely disagree with what I'm about to say in the sense of saying that God is still cruel, I would still like to offer it up simply as a counterpoint, and not to get into an angry or heated debate. I speak with many atheists on these issues, and they do not agree with me either, but we always maintain a friendship because while I believe in God and that I should be a witness to others, I also understand that I do not have the right to judge anyone. Lesbians, gays, transgender and bi-sexuals; these are all people who many Christians will say are going to hell, and to me that is a greater sin than these peoples lifestyles because they do not know, because as a Christian, I believe God is the only judge in matters of a persons soul.
This is how I keep my atheists and other friends, by understanding that everyone has been given free will, and therefor your decision to not believe in God is just as personal and valid to you as is my belief in God personal and valid to me.
On these tragedies (and as I said, I'm almost certain will not be valid reasoning, but I still feel the desire to present it, and hope you will take this comment as simply an open dialogue), they are a direct result of man's disobedience to God in the original sin of Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden had another tree in it, and this was the tree of eternal life. As Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin and death completely entered the world full steam. It is this original sin which brought things like deadly weather and death into the world.
As I said, I know that this will hold no truth to you, and therefor I am simply offering this up as a simple response with no ill intent to provoke you.
As I said, I am not the judge, and your thoughts and beliefs on life are just as valid as thoughts and beliefs of mine.
You will still look at my belief in God as a crutch or a flawed belief system, but it does not anger or insult me at all.
As I know you do not adhere to my beliefs and prayers, I will simply say that I hope you are having a great day.
Take care and stay strong my brother in arms, and have a great Armed Forces Day.
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Maj John Bell
Capt Gregory Prickett - Has your position in some way changed? "... I don't see your belief as either a crutch or flawed." The last seems at variance from the numerous occasions you have referred to people of faith as "delusional."
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Maj John Bell - when you're driving down a highway in the summer, one will often see "water" on the road ahead. It's a mirage, a delusion. That doesn't mean that the person seeing it is insane, needs a crutch, or is somehow flawed.
Besides, I have better conversations with people who want a dialogue rather than saying that I'm attacking their religion and faith, but who don't mind doing the same to non-believers.
Besides, I have better conversations with people who want a dialogue rather than saying that I'm attacking their religion and faith, but who don't mind doing the same to non-believers.
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CAPT Michael W. Langston, PhD, DMin
SGT Michael Thorin - well said SGT Thorin. I could not have said it better or with any more compassion and love than you have stated. Love still abounds, even when hate continues to push forward. Faith is a matter of belief even when all else, to include family, friends and colleagues, choose not to believe. Good posts, good dialogue and good brothers and sisters of the military services. With no malice intended, I still pray God's blessings to be with each of you always. Peace. Chaplain Langston.
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SGT Michael Thorin
I appreciate that comment greatly Chaplain Langston. Brennen Manning once said "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
It hurts me to say this, but when it comes to displaying Christ's love, many Christians get so caught up in judging what others are doing that they neglect to check their attitudes while doing it.
When a Christian deals with conflicts, it should always be done so with love and respect. This is the way Jesus lived his life, and it is how we should strive to lead ours.
We can judge a sin, but we are not the judge of the sinner, nor should we try to be.
Thank you for the input sir, it is very much appreciated.
It hurts me to say this, but when it comes to displaying Christ's love, many Christians get so caught up in judging what others are doing that they neglect to check their attitudes while doing it.
When a Christian deals with conflicts, it should always be done so with love and respect. This is the way Jesus lived his life, and it is how we should strive to lead ours.
We can judge a sin, but we are not the judge of the sinner, nor should we try to be.
Thank you for the input sir, it is very much appreciated.
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Remember Me
I trudge along life's darkened road
My path is plagued with doubt
breath crackles within throats charcoal coat
Lost, my soul cries out.
I have no solid alibis
The ground I tread is ripping
My guilt is clear and undenied
Dim hope through hands is slipping
Sans scapegoat sufficient to heal my soul
Guilty must be my plea
Justice demands price paid in full
Heart breaks me to my knees
Nothing can change my sordid tale
The wrongs I can't outrun
I thought good deeds would tip life's scale
Sins cost's fatal, I'm undone
Head falls to knees as all strength fades
No worthiness to mention
But memory sparks from bygone days
A story of redemption
A tale of hope, of lowly babe
Who came for all mankind
wrapped a swaddling manger laid
God incarnate stepped into time
Shepherds and angels awed equally
Witnesses to His birth
King of kings come so meekly
Good will to men on earth
Humble life lived perfectly
Grace' love my sins He bore
My place He took on calvary
Death's sting to fear no more
A broken soul I've always known
I can never save myself
My head lifts toward heavens Holy throne
And feeble words bleed out
My ancient prayer, a sinners theme
"Forgive me Lord, all I've done"
Pierced hands reach out lost soul redeemed
His victory mine! New life begun
(H M Clawson 17 Dec 2015)
Roman 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Rom
Heb 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Phil 2 :10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
John 3 16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I trudge along life's darkened road
My path is plagued with doubt
breath crackles within throats charcoal coat
Lost, my soul cries out.
I have no solid alibis
The ground I tread is ripping
My guilt is clear and undenied
Dim hope through hands is slipping
Sans scapegoat sufficient to heal my soul
Guilty must be my plea
Justice demands price paid in full
Heart breaks me to my knees
Nothing can change my sordid tale
The wrongs I can't outrun
I thought good deeds would tip life's scale
Sins cost's fatal, I'm undone
Head falls to knees as all strength fades
No worthiness to mention
But memory sparks from bygone days
A story of redemption
A tale of hope, of lowly babe
Who came for all mankind
wrapped a swaddling manger laid
God incarnate stepped into time
Shepherds and angels awed equally
Witnesses to His birth
King of kings come so meekly
Good will to men on earth
Humble life lived perfectly
Grace' love my sins He bore
My place He took on calvary
Death's sting to fear no more
A broken soul I've always known
I can never save myself
My head lifts toward heavens Holy throne
And feeble words bleed out
My ancient prayer, a sinners theme
"Forgive me Lord, all I've done"
Pierced hands reach out lost soul redeemed
His victory mine! New life begun
(H M Clawson 17 Dec 2015)
Roman 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Rom
Heb 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Phil 2 :10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
John 3 16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Lt Col Harry Clawson sir, nice poem. Do you have any evidence to support the assertions you make in the poem?
Also, do you really think that we haven't heard all of those Bible verses before?
Unless you have some sort of empirical, repeatable, testable evidence of god, I see no reason to believe in your god.
Also, do you really think that we haven't heard all of those Bible verses before?
Unless you have some sort of empirical, repeatable, testable evidence of god, I see no reason to believe in your god.
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Lt Col Harry Clawson
Capt, thank you. As you know when you have contended with me before, I think evidence is readily available and I have said the same to you about Big Bang without the Creator seems to be faith based, non empirical. Books like cold case for Christianity, mere Christianity, I don't have enough faith to be an atheist, Stealing from God and others lay out scientific, logic based, history based arguments if you care to read. In the end anything I say cannot change your heart or soul. In our incomplete and imperfect understanding we may see evidence for and against evolution or the Bible, but I believe in the end, only the Holy Spirit of God can convict you. Even if you know the truth, you can choose to accept or reject it. I believe God has the power to convict you of the truth and that His words have power mine will never have so I write them again for all to see. But even if you come to know the truth, He will never force the truth of accepting his sacrifice for you. That's your choice. I hope, in the end you Test his words, and they convince you, but it will always be your choice to enter eternity accepting or rejecting. Choice is ours, but we all must make a choice one way or the other. Hence the last verse I quote John 3:18. and I pray dearly, my friend, you make a choice for Christ.
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Lt Col Harry Clawson - Atheism takes no faith. As to your Christian apologists?
On Wallace, see http://deism.com/blog2/2015/04/13/book-review-cold-case-christianity/
On Lewis, see http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/essays/mere-christianity/
On Turek, see http://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2013/07/frank-tureks-c-r-i-m-e-s-argument-for-theism-is-criminal/
None of those are logic based arguments, every one of them has fallacies or outright errors. Nothing that they have presented comes anywhere close to being evidence, and some of it is just flat wrong. For example, Turek mentions that atheists believe that the Big Bang created something from nothing. That's a complete misrepresentation of the Big Bang theory, which does not say that something came from nothing.
I'll stand by what I said earlier. Unless you have some sort of empirical, repeatable, testable evidence of god, I see no reason to believe in your god.
On Wallace, see http://deism.com/blog2/2015/04/13/book-review-cold-case-christianity/
On Lewis, see http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/essays/mere-christianity/
On Turek, see http://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2013/07/frank-tureks-c-r-i-m-e-s-argument-for-theism-is-criminal/
None of those are logic based arguments, every one of them has fallacies or outright errors. Nothing that they have presented comes anywhere close to being evidence, and some of it is just flat wrong. For example, Turek mentions that atheists believe that the Big Bang created something from nothing. That's a complete misrepresentation of the Big Bang theory, which does not say that something came from nothing.
I'll stand by what I said earlier. Unless you have some sort of empirical, repeatable, testable evidence of god, I see no reason to believe in your god.
Book review: Cold Case Christianity | deism.com Blog
I left Christianity after 40 years as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Few, if any, of my former friends and my family can even speak to me civilly anymore. One such former friend asked if he could send me a book that might change my mind about my “convictions”. I graciously accepted the offer (challenge). I have yet to respond to him as of this writing.
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Youvreallyvhave a problem with Christians. Forceing yiu Atheism in RP. Im surprised that tou have no peoblem with Islam.
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LTC (Join to see)
Islam is every bit as ridiculous as it worships the same sadistic, cruel and completely fictional god as Christianity and Judaism do.
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Capt Gregory Prickett
TSgt Kenneth Ellis Who said I don't have a problem with Islam? Their beliefs are just as batshit crazy as every other revealed religion.
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