BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Atheist What if..............?

This is meant to be a serious question. Please do not respond with sarcasm or jokes.

What if your reading of this message wasn't an accident or coincidence? What if God were reading your heart right now and its acceptance or rejection of the truth? What if your forehead was being sealed with a mark that symbolised your spiritual makeup being of positive or negative energy? What if that mark meant either eternal life or death?

I am NOT here to convince or convert. Thats not my job. But I bet some of you reading this will admit to feeling "something" in the air, and it's not bird flu.

Time IS running short. Christ's Kingdom and the judgement of those that reject it are upon us. We are ALL being warned in one way or another. Some are getting a tap on the shoulder. Others something stronger. None of us can say we weren't warned. God is fair and righteous.

Korina

PS
I am NOT judging you or your responses.

I think you posted this in the wrong forum
( no sarcasm intended)

Interesting timing. While I was waiting outside a store for my aunt yesterday, I started an article about the dangers of prophecy. It should be up soon.

So too that could mean that YOU might not be on the Atheist board by chance, do YOU feel something in the air "LightOf LifeMinister"?

I have to ask, how do YOU know the time of Judgement will be on us shortly? According to the Bible that is known only to God. If you are wrong will that make you a False Prophet?

Hey, are you trying to say I don't have enough "positive energy?" I'm full of it, d&mnit. Just kidding.

First, you assume that one can choose their beliefs. If I find that logically the facts don't add up, it's not my choice, it's my interpretation. To weigh/judge one's eternal salvation on an interpretation of facts, and not the constitution of one's character is a ridiculous standard.

So maybe that's where the fear tactics are supposed to come in. "Time is running short" and "we are all being warned." I don't know about others, but I'm not going to let fear cloud my judgement, and I find it reprehensible (even though I think your intentions are good) that Christians use scare tactics to win so many converts. The "Good News" to me, if God were really behind it, wouldn't be "Hey there atheist or other undesirable, convert or suffer for all eternity."

God isn't fair, just look at the unequal distribution of suffering. Try looking that poor African boy with aids (or bird flu) in the face and saying that. And what exactly is your definition of righteous? To me it seems like a meaningless word.

Do you have any logical reasons for believing in God? If you want to convert me (which obviously you do, and you don't have to be subversive about that) that's what is convincing to the atheist.

It's an interesting question you pose. I think if a God was attempting to contact or connect with or stir the souls of people they would know what was needed to do such a thing. In my case he would know that fear would have very little effect by the fact that it doesn't stand out much. And they would know that very little will have effect other than direct contact of some manner. To that most Christians tend to say that God does not need to prove himself because he is God. Why? I'm expected to prove myself by believing, but God is not held to the same standard? The love and devotion of a person like myself (and a number of other athiests I know) is proof enough of truly incredible things, but it turns itself toward that which it knows is real and worthy. If God wanted these people badly enough I think he/she/it would go to the lengths he/she/it made necessary for them to believe.

It kind of reminds me of say the leaders of Communist countries expousing the benefits of communism, while keeping their countries closed off and the people are starving (North Korea).

If the only reason you become a Christian is to avoid "Hells Fires" how have you chosen freely? Saved by fear? Given your heart to Jesus out of fear?

I feel empowered now, really. I no longer worry everyday now that every little thing I do or every thought I think is going to condemn me to Hell.

Very good comparison, it breaks me in some way I can't describe to think that lives really are spent in such fear.

A Muslim friend once told me that in Islam it is believed that everyone at least one time in their lives is allowed to accept Islam. If you don't I guess all non-Muslims will go to Hell. I passed up my chance I guess.

How can you freely choose say to be a Muslim if say you are born into it, but then reject it, and in some cases your family may kill you? But then, their own Quran says no one should be forced into accepting Islam?

What bothers me too is that for so many years I just accepted everything I was told as the truth. WHY didn't I question anything before now?

MoonShadow, I smile at you. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It sort of has sad edges in reaction to your statement, but I smile regardless.