I never said anything about forcing any opinions on anyone. So no, it's not the same thing at all. And while religion and intelligence aren't incompatible, religion certainly hinders intelligence. How you can equate that to telling someone they're going to hell is beyond me. You listed exactly why I care. No shit.
I don't think he's going to understand. I've made this point for years on these boards. Belief that something doesn't exist is still a belief based on faith. People like me, though, aren't afraid to say that we just don't know enough to prove or disprove such things.
There are some extremely brilliant minds that are still Christians. Your statement is seriously flawed
There are extremists in all walks of life. Generally speaking, the 80-20 (or even 90-10) rule applies. In that same vein.....what was that Dionne Warwick crooned? (Hmmm.....can a woman croon?) [video=youtube;D3ngTlwWA8w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ngTlwWA8w[/video]
When you give someone your opinion, unsolicited, on why they are wrong about believing in God or being a Christian, you are forcing your opinion on them. Period. You said you, "would like them to have their eyes opened to reality" and that they have "nonsensical beliefs for no reason." That is extremely demeaning. Telling someone that their belief is nonsensical, that they have no reason to believe the way they do, and that they need to have their eyes opened to reality is no different than walking up to someone and telling them that their way of life will send them to hell. Either way, you're being judgmental towards another human being, and you are telling them the way that they want to live their life is wrong. Not all Christians are like that though. You said that you can be aggressive towards people because they believe silly things. You didn't specifically say Christians that are bigoted or hostile. So if you can't prove without a doubt that God exists, why do you think it's silly or that they need to have their eyes opened?
Darn, just typed up a big post and miss-clicked it into oblivion. So a shorter post. I'm never aggressive, but sometimes assertive. The ones I am assertive with are only the ones who want policy based on religion. I feel that is highly detrimental to society. Schools and governments need to base policy on science in order to have a the fundamental base for a flourishing society in today's world. Most people including religious people recognize the importance of science and feel that religion and science can coexist. I'm cool with that, and when dealing with people of hat mindset, I'm happy to forgo talk of atheism and instead talk about my Blazers, History, the tv show Justified or any other common ground we may have. My deleted post was much better.
How is that great when Christians believe God gave us free will? Just proves Atheists have no fucking clue what a Christian is all about.
so when the holocaust happens, and God didn't intervene, he just didn't care? Or was that God's plan?
God likes to take things meant for evil and make turn them into good. I believe God's grace extends greatly because of his love, which you can see in life of Christ. He could have easily come as a king to be worshiped and told everyone they were sinners and condemned them and would be perfectly justified to do so, but instead he came came as a servant of no reputation and took our iniquities upon himself. He suffered with us and for us in order to redeem us and bring us back to himself I believe all the starving children in Africa will be saved by Jesus and I have seen God do amazing things across the whole world. Christianity is growing explosively in Africa and Asia, particularly China which will soon become the largest Christian population in the world (mostly due to population). It's roughly estimated that there are almost 70,000 new Christians every single day. This is one of my favorite chapters from the Bible, a prophecy of Jesus Christ written about 700 BC:
No, because I don't use God's grace as an excuse to test him with the free will he has given me. I have been through the darkness and when you see the light you never want to go back.
Why do you believe that he is omniscient but not omnipotent? Wouldn't most Christians say they believe he's both?
I know you aren't, I was just wondering why you believe that, cause I don't remember hearing a Christian come out and say that before.
I look at God like I would as a legit fortune teller. One that can see your future, but doesn't choose to control you. I look at him as my father. My blood father knew I would fuck up, but chosen to have me because he wanted someone to love him. I see God as the same. Even though he knows what we are going to do; he doesn't intervene because he gave us our own free will. If God gives you free will, he cannot intervene. That is a total contradiction.
