Conservative thread: We're still smiling!

[wonderlanne]

So, in short, I do believe atheism is a religion. They worship something, they just don't worship a god. Also, they are legit, they have just been blinded. However, I have seen examples of atheists coming to faith, not through arguments, but through God working in them.

well, i don't think atheism is a religion. i don't worship anything; science or anything. i do my best to understand things and either accept them or not. i wake up each day intending to do the right thing and not hurt other people. but nobody's perfect, so i keep putting this angel emoticon in here just in case.

 

[blestmom]

Sorry to get off-topic here, but I am down to 2 weeks before my trip, and I still can't decide if I should get us all AP's, or just me (I have to in order to get the hotel rate). Decisions, decisions...

I want to get us all AP's, but don't know if financially that is a good move.

 

[Decorated_Dust]

see how we atheists are? i figure the tree was a symbol, not a real tree.

but i get the concept and respect everybody's different perspectives.

I admit the tree might have been a symbol, and it might have been real. I don't know. It seems allegorical to me. However, just because it was allegorical, doesn't mean it is not absolute truth. Adam and Eve were still real people (judging from the genealogies in the Bible), and they ended up severing the relationship God had with them, therefore ruining it for the rest of us.

Also, T&G, I agree with you to a point. I think we are programmed with a desire to know something greater than ourselves, but not necessarily morals. However, there is a very similar moral code across civilization, so it had to start somewhere, like from a moral God perhaps?

 

[wonderlanne]

Yup, I believe it was real. Still is. Bible intimated that the Garden still exists. It was/is guarded by an angel after Adam and Eve were kicked out.

i know you do. i think it's neat that you do. i just don't have that.

speaking of a & e getting kicked out...there was one painting of the expulsion which i simply could not get past...it seriously looked like adam was cracking up when he got in trouble and was told to leave!!!! i think he was SUPPOSED to be absolutely beside himself with grief, but the artist...well...i'll bet he had some 'splainin' to do at the desk of st. peter.

i'll try to find it.

 

[Decorated_Dust]

well, i don't think atheism is a religion. i don't worship anything; science or anything. i do my best to understand things and either accept them or not. i wake up each day intending to do the right thing and not hurt other people. but nobody's perfect, so i keep putting this angel emoticon in here just in case.

lol, yeah, I didn't mean ALL atheists worship science. I have met a lot who couldn't care less about it. However, I do believe everyone "worships" something. Worship doesn't necessarily mean setting up an alter or creating a shrine, but that can also mean dedicating yourself to something, or living for something. I have known atheists who worship manga, music, their boyfriend, science, you name it. It's not really exclusive to any one people group, it's just human nature. Please don't take this like I'm labeling you. I'm drawing from experience. Feel free to prove me wrong.

As for atheism being a religion, I'm gonna rephrase what I said. I don't think you necessarily have to worship something to be a religion. It's a set of beliefs, or a worldview. Everyone has one, and I have had the atheist worldview pushed on me plenty through tactics that were supposed to be in the name of inclusion.

Oh, and the you not being perfect thing? I would never have guessed.

 

[Tink & Goofy]

I admit the tree might have been a symbol, and it might have been real. I don't know. It seems allegorical to me. However, just because it was allegorical, doesn't mean it is not absolute truth. Adam and Eve were still real people (judging from the genealogies in the Bible), and they ended up severing the relationship God had with them, therefore ruining it for the rest of us.

Also, T&G, I agree with you to a point. I think we are programmed with a desire to know something greater than ourselves, but not necessarily morals. However, there is a very similar moral code across civilization, so it had to start somewhere, like from a moral God perhaps?

I think it all came from God, because we were taught by parents, everyone descended from Adam and Eve.
A desire to know something greater is that God-shaped hole we have in our hearts.

 

[wonderlanne]

lol, yeah, I didn't mean ALL atheists worship science. I have met a lot who couldn't care less about it. However, I do believe everyone "worships" something. Worship doesn't necessarily mean setting up an alter or creating a shrine, but that can also mean dedicating yourself to something, or living for something. I have known atheists who worship manga, music, their boyfriend, science, you name it(1). It's not really exclusive to any one people group, it's just human nature. Please don't take this like I'm labeling you(2). I'm drawing from experience. Feel free to prove me wrong.

Oh, and the you not being perfect thing? I would never have guessed. (3)

1. shoes and chocolate?

2. i didn't think you were. no prob.

3. yeah...i know.

 

[Tink & Goofy]

i know you do. i think it's neat that you do. i just don't have that.

And I hope you won't get offended that I'll pray that you get it, too.
Edited to add: I won't preach, just pray for you. I just want you to have a fulfilling relationship with Jesus; that's all.

 

[wonderlanne]

here we go. now tell me...does it look like the artist is getting adam in more trouble for not taking this seriously? (i cropped the parts that weren't so family friendly.)

 

[Tink & Goofy]

1. shoes and chocolate?

2. i didn't think you were. no prob.

3. yeah...i know.

First Church of Shoes and Chocolate.

 

[Tink & Goofy]

here we go. now tell me...does it look like the artist is getting adam in more trouble for not taking this seriously? (i cropped the parts that weren't so family friendly.)

He looks like he has a huge smile on his face.

 

[wonderlanne]

And I hope you won't get offended that I'll pray that you get it, too.
Edited to add: I won't preach, just pray for you. I just want you to have a fulfilling relationship with Jesus; that's all.

not at all!!!! i think that is the greatest gift believers are able to give. i think is about as kind a thing as it can be. makes me feel like this. that somebody would offer.

nobody here has ever been preachy...you are believers and i think that's really neat.

 

[wonderlanne]

He looks like he has a huge smile on his face.

i think so too...like he can't stop laughing. we ALL know that isn't the way to go, no matter what the situation. BIG mistake.

 

[wonderlanne]

First Church of Shoes and Chocolate.

there ya go. my place of worship is See's Candies.

(i don't mean to offend anybody, so again... ....just in case.)

 

[Decorated_Dust]

1. shoes and chocolate?

2. i didn't think you were. no prob.

3. yeah...i know.

I've given a tithe or two to the First Church of shoes and chocolate, particularly in the past month.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

not at all!!!! i think that is the greatest gift believers are able to give. i think is about as kind a thing as it can be. makes me feel like this. that somebody would offer.

nobody here has ever been preachy...you are believers and i think that's really neat.

I'm not sure if I've ever known an atheist. I've known lots of people who I didn't discuss religion with, so maybe they were atheists. It's just refreshing to know that they exist and don't judge most Christians in a negative light. Your posts on this subject have been very interesting.

 

[wonderlanne]

I've given a tithe or two to the First Church of shoes and chocolate, particularly in the past month.

 

[Decorated_Dust]

not at all!!!! i think that is the greatest gift believers are able to give. i think is about as kind a thing as it can be. makes me feel like this. that somebody would offer.

nobody here has ever been preachy...you are believers and i think that's really neat.

Thank you for your perspective!! I think the same thing. I have met atheists who get irritated every time I even suggest I'm praying for them. People think that you are being selfish in offering your prayers and beliefs to someone, but to me it is the ultimate expression of love. If you saw someone drowning and you were holding a life preserver, would you not offer it to them? Of course you would! Even people who don't believe we hold this life preserver should be able to acknowledge that, and yet they don't.

I'm glad that despite the fact that you don't believe the same things we do, that you're very much in sync with us. For that I'm grateful. Oh, and I'll be praying for you, too.

 

[wonderlanne]

I'm not sure if I've ever known an atheist. I've known lots of people who I didn't discuss religion with, so maybe they were atheists. It's just refreshing to know that they exist and don't judge most Christians in a negative light. Your posts on this subject have been very interesting.

thanks. i've never really discussed my non-religion before, with the exception of one friend who thinks i'm going to burn in hades.

probably people think i am a believer because i understand what they are talking about and they never ask otherwise. and i'm conservative...i guess conservative atheists are unusual (?) go figure!

 

[wonderlanne]

Oh, and I'll be praying for you, too.

thank you.