BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Atheist A question for non-Athiests who post on here.

I Do wish I knew the truth so I could tell my children, in all honsety that "Yes, I know for a fact that this is how the universe was created". But I can't, and noone else can either.

Any view or statement that some religious leader comes up with is just a theory or statement of faith on his or her part. I mean if you take the Bible LITERALLY then Earth is what some 6000 odd years and 7 days old?

If you listen to scientists and their THEORIES, the Earth is some billions and billions of years old. So then as a Christian who believes the Bible is literal, how do you explain Neanderthals, Cro-magnon Man (plus everything before and in between) and dinosaurs? So then Adam could not have been the first man.

But then if you listen to scientists it was all created in a "Big Bang. Wouldn't that be like me suddenly being able to create a diamond by holding a rock in my hand? It ain't gonna happen!

I know that you cannot create something from nothing. How it got created is the main mystery. Using common sense what do you all really believe? Me? I have NO IDEA!

Nobody Will ever know the whole truth as we are not meant to.We only know what we are meant to know.

I do know one thing 100 percent though and that there is a god,being,energy - I dont know what to call it but I like to call it love,in its most pure and potent form.

I think all the worlds religions have stuffed up big time and the sad thing is that religion is one of the main causes of conflict in the world.

Well, we do see at least one star during the day. Hence, the day. As for the others, we do see them at night and know why we don't see them during the day.
"We only know what we are meant to know." That's one of those statements I think only sets us back. We know what we discover.
I don't think the evolutionist/creationist question is the only relevant one in deciding what to believe. It is perfectly possible to have no idea how we got here and still not believe in any kind of deities.
And Meshewolf's post reminded me of that question people like to ask atheists: "What will you say when you get to heaven and see it was all true?"
I will say I saw no reason and felt no pull to believe. (And that I never asked anyone to just "take me on faith".)

If you really think about it, "What will you say when you get to Heaven and see it was all true?" is a pretty dumb question. That means even though you DIDN'T believe you still actually made it to Heaven!

If heaven is a place where ONLY people who believe in God or in Jesus get to go then I don't know if I want to go there. I know alot of rotten people who claim to be Christians who I REALLY do not want to spend eternity with!

To cause trouble, no other reason despite what someone will say. It's all to cause trouble, so I say don't let it!

I always liked "Oops, guess I was wrong on that one" as a response. A friend said it in a light, silly conversation about religion years ago. She has since become more serious about religious beliefs or lack of, but I still like the levity of that particular response.

As for an answer to the overall 'God question' I will steal again from another friend; "If there is a fair and objective God they can only be looking here, at my life, and saying "____________ is doing the best he can. He's getting through life without cheating or lying." If there is a God and he's a bastard I don't want to know."

I keep stealing other people's statements because my own tend to form themselves around a very definate "I don't know".

If you ask a Christian: Who has a better chance of getting to your Heaven, the guy who professed faith in Jesus, went to church every Sunday and tithed, but who beats his wife, is an alcoholic and cheats on his business deals OR the Athiest who gives to charity, takes care of their aging parents and is generally a kind, gentle person at heart?

What do you think they would say? If any professing Christians read this I would like to hear your opinion.

Why are charities lumped into the generally accepted version of good? That sounds like I'm being snotty, I'm not, I've just always wondered, and it seemed a good time to ask. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I would say the person who is following their beliefs to the best of their ability. If someone is in "Church" they should know better, and if the atheist is a good person God/Goddess will see that. But then again, I am a Christian but not a "mainstream". I believe in both the Bible and Other Scriptures that teach to live to the best of your ability. Jesus being love, we need to imitate (show) love if we truly follow him..... the atheist was truly more of a Christ-like person than the one who goes to church but doesn't walk the walk. By the way, I'm LDS so a little more off the beaten path than say a "fundi" church. Blessings on all.

Oh I don't know, something to think about. I give to the Salavation Army, but I like what they do here locally for people, but I really don't trust the ones who spend millions of dollars on advertising then ask for donations! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Maybe, why we are given blessing (monetary or otherwise) is a test to see if we will spread it around or be selfish with it. I don't think there is really any religious basis to giving. The Churches seem to think so though.