Atheism As A REJECTION OF--Not Disbelief In--An Evil God (atheist, quote, Christianity)
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"A Brief History of Creation", by Bill Mesler. I listened to the first half-hour or so, but I had questions! So, I kept pausing the recording. I saw that it would take about 10+ hours to "listen", and thought, "Well, that kind of sux..." So...figured it was best if I just buy it instead.
Ah yes. I LOVED that book! So interesting not only from a religious standpoint, but how the history of science unfolded is amazing too. Of course I'm also very interested in all things science, so I'm biased that way...
I was also curious about you choosing to give it a listen rather than a read. Do you do these audio books often instead of reading? I've never really liked the audio books. My wife and I tried one on a long drive once, and we had to stop because although the book was interesting, the listening while driving seemed to be lulling us to sleep. While driving that's not a good thing.
Do you like to read? Sure hope you find "Brief" a good read. I've recommended it to everyone I know that is interested in those sorts of subjects. If you do find it worthwhile, again "Sapiens" is an excellent read too.
I don't see you as trying to insult me, and I appreciate that you're not. You seem to be one of a 'few' people here who is trying to understand my thinking...as a Christian...instead of condemning.
I do not believe that *my* God is responsible for all that happens. I do see two opposing forces at work here: Good and Evil. And yes, while God allows 'evil', it's to contrast to what is 'good'.
I'm not insensitive to non-believers. Heck, I came pretty close to becoming a non-believer myself for a few years, as I posted to LearnMe a few weeks ago. But I realized that I never really gave my belief a chance. I never tried to understand. And once I did, it all came together for me. I realized that there's so much more to this life that we don't understand. And, while tragedies do occur, it doesn't necessarily mean that's it's all 'bad'.
I look at it like this: What IF the seemingly senseless deaths of those children, actually brought SOME people closer to God? And while you, as a non-believer, may think, "How could ANYONE become closer to God because of this tragedy?", perhaps for SOME, it happens.
A casket-maker personally went to the homes of some of the deceased. He offered to personalize the caskets of each and every child. From what I believe and understand about God, God elevated this guy to one of the highest positions in heaven because of his compassion and sincerity. Because of his heart. If this guy had any 'stain' of sin on his soul, those sins would have been wiped out, because of his kindness. So, in a sense, the deaths of those children just might save other souls.
I wish I had more time to write about this.
I certainly don't want to insult anyone here, although I will admit sometimes people post comments that seem deserving of push-back in the strongest of terms...
So interesting to me how people can go through many of these same sorts of experiences and wind up in a completely different place. It's always seemed to me I gave faith a good long try from an early start, so in no way do I feel I really didn't give it a try. I'm not even sure I was "trying" since at an early age I really didn't consider any other way. Funny compared to what you write, it was as I tried to understand more and more about religion, god and spirituality that I came to realize I could no longer sustain my faith. Until finally I simply had no choice but to become an atheist. Admit to being an atheist.
I don't try to make any sense out of the killing of those children or the countless numbers of people who die these senseless deaths because of crazy people. For me they are incredibly horrible cases of "man's inhumanity to man" that manifests itself in so many horrible ways. Leaving all of us to work through them as best we can mentally and emotionally. I don't blame any sort of god, but if I was a believer and could communicate in any way with such a thing, I'd have some choice questions to ask. That's for sure...
The two threads were merged at the OP's request when the OP realized he had started another thread on the same thought, but I don't think either title really said what it was he is trying to express. When a thread is merged, the older one is going to be the one that the newer merges into.
I THINK his thoughts are running along the line that it's not God in general that people reject, but rather the cruel, evil version of God that is often presented and how that presentation of God is what screws things up. He can correct me if I am wrong.
And maybe if someone can think of a more accurate title, we could change it.
Thank you for explaining. Now I certainly better understand, although these thread titles are a bit curious in more than a few ways.
How about the title "Why Blame God? (And if guilty, what to do about it)."
"Atheism is an Abreaction to the Irrational and Supernatural OmniGod of Religions."
Heavy...
ab·re·ac·tion
the expression and consequent release of a previously repressed emotion, achieved through reliving the experience that caused it (typically through hypnosis or suggestion).
Not true in my case anyway, so I might be drawn to a thread title like this one to straighten this notion out a bit as well.
Near 6000 posts...the longest thread in the history of the forum (by far), just to say, "It's not God in general that people reject, but rather the cruel, evil version of God that is often presented and how that presentation of God is what screws things up."?
And that requires countless references to God by the most insulting invectives (even profane & vulgar)...endless demands for explanation of Scripture about prayer...repeat every Problem of Evil argument (with details of the problems) known...and ceaseless criticism of Christianity & the Adherents thereof?
I have a more accurate title. A much more accurate title. But I don't wanna get kicked off the board.
Man have you got issues! I can't believe how hard and long you beat this tired old drum...
Man have you got issues! I can't believe how hard and long you beat this tired old drum...
I rarely, if ever, initiate...I only respond. So...the initiators of the threads/posts I reply to determine quantity of "drum beats".
A 6000 post thread (the longest ever on the board) is kinda noteworthy....NO?
How about the title, "Atheism as Rejection of an Evil God Who Still Bears Responsibility for How Screwed Up the World is."
The premise in my mind is "Atheism can take many forms and is not wholly dependent on simply not believing a God exists. Rather atheism can take the form of a person living one's life as if no God exists despite having an agnosticism, even belief that one does--that even if the whole world lived as if no deity existed this higher being would still owe a duty of some degree of care to its creation, assuming a good-enough case could be made that there is sufficient evidence to at least suspect this evil God could have kick-start life on earth and then abandoned it.
I rarely, if ever, initiate...I only respond. So...the initiators of the threads/posts I reply to determine quantity of "drum beats".
A 6000 post thread (the longest ever on the board) is kinda noteworthy....NO?
Perhaps, but not really...
This back-and-forth and your heartburn has been going on too long to remember how it started and either way, all of us only swing at the balls we think worth swinging for. Always seems you go for all the balls "way and outside!" Less complaining and more focus on the gist of these topics is what I'm highly encouraging all to do, but of course there's what's entertaining and worthwhile for you regardless what it might be for others. I get it...
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