Users Online Now:
2,379
(
Who's On?
)
Visitors Today:
642,596
Pageviews Today:
996,862
Threads Today:
359
Posts Today:
6,154
10:02 AM
Join Our:
Twitter
-
YouTube
-
Podcasts
Donate To GLP
Directory
Adv. Search
Topics
Forum
Back to Forum
Back to Thread
REPLY TO THREAD
Subject
I'm an Atheist. Why should I believe in a god? Which god? and why?
User Name
Font color:
Default
Dark Red
Red
Orange
Brown
Yellow
Green
Olive
Cyan
Blue
Dark Blue
Indigo
Violet
Black
Font:
Default
Verdana
Tahoma
Ms Sans Serif
In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss and no more than 50% of the source material, provide a link back to the original article and provide your original comments / criticism in your post with the article.
[quote:Anonymous Coward 85989:MV8yMTE5ODU4XzM1NzU5MTIwX0JEQkI2Mzcy] [quote:Don'tBeAfraid:MV8yMTE5ODU4XzM1NzU4OTYzX0Y2NzFDMTEx] [quote:Anonymous Coward 85989:MV8yMTE5ODU4XzM1NzU4OTA4XzM3RjlCRjFG] [quote:Don'tBeAfraid:MV8yMTE5ODU4XzM1NzU4ODM1XzYzQTdGQTU2] http://www.iep.utm.edu/ont-arg/ St. Anselm's Ontological Argument " 1.It is a conceptual truth (or, so to speak, true by definition) that God is a being than which none greater can be imagined (that is, the greatest possible being that can be imagined). 2. God exists as an idea in the mind. 3. A being that exists as an idea in the mind and in reality is, other things being equal, greater than a being that exists only as an idea in the mind. 4. Thus, if God exists only as an idea in the mind, then we can imagine something that is greater than God (that is, a greatest possible being that does exist). 5. But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God (for it is a contradiction to suppose that we can imagine a being greater than the greatest possible being that can be imagined.) 6. Therefore, God exists." [/quote] Okay, yes, I am very familiar with this argument and line of thinking-- the name St. Anselm didn't ring a bell at first. To answer your other question, I've actually applied to seminary several times, but have never attended (one class aside). I'd still like to go at some point. Right now I just do my own research in Theology and Philosophy. What about you? [/quote] I considered it and came close. We're not all called and some don't listen to the call. I hope you discern your path on the journey of serving God. I felt you must have at least entertained it. A person going to seminary must have the love of God in his heart as well as using the mind that God gave us. Then we can both persuade by emotional as well as rational means. The height of all belief is to embrace both and find that we have an innate love for God as well as a conviction of the proof of God by reason. One may come to a mystical experience of God's presence or what I call Ultimate Reality by either method, but sadly most people don't use the rational road. A lot of pastors and priest can't use logic, and to their credit they spend a lot of time in sincere witnessing. However that method won't work on atheists to their great consternation. [/quote] I completely agree that we must embrace both because God is experienced by both means and is the perfect representation of both. I've found that more people have responded in faith in Christ via displays of love and testimony, as opposed to a great apologetical argument. But I'm sure God can use both methods. "We've accepted a false dichotomy and church's have been guilty of this...we're not saying it's faith and reason in opposition to each other...faith is not the absence of reason, but faith is not totally dependent on reason. We can have a reasonable faith." -Stuart McAllister (Just Thinking with Ravi Zacharias, Calvary Chapel Q&A, Part 1) [/quote]
Original Message
I'm an Atheist. Why should I believe in a god? Which god? and why?
I'm considering god, but need a rational reason to actually believe. I would never take blind faith, as you could end up in any religion just dependant on the influence around you.
Anyway, I'm searching, but need a rational way to decide.
Pictures (click to insert)
General
Politics
Bananas
People
Potentially Offensive
Emotions
Big Round Smilies
Aliens and Space
Friendship & Love
Textual
Doom
Misc Small Smilies
Religion
Love
Random
View All Categories
|
Next Page >>
News
Hairy Stockings For Young Chinese Girls To Fend Off Perverts
TWA Flight 800 investigators break silence in new documentary, claim original conclusion about cause
Watermelon Oreos: The Latest Twist on an Iconic Cookie
DHS hopes to get same cyber-spying powers as NSA
Guy Tries to Wiretap Government Agents for Prank, Gets Arrested
Nursing Home Tracks Residents' Every Move
Steak made from human Poop...Would you eat this shit?
The government plans to seize the 10 or so 7-Elevens on Long Island
The next generation of gaming
AT&T to Load iPhones With Emergency Alerts From Obama – That You Can’t Switch Off
Obama’s Father’s Day Freudian Slip
Who Controls the Internet?
Report: Verizon Built Separate Fiber-Optic Line Linked Directly to US Government
The IRS and its 46 new powers to enforce ObamaCare
The Court Overseeing NSA Spying Has Already Found It Violated The Constitution
Will Companies Stop Offering Health Insurance Because of the Affordable Care Act?
New Firefox plug-in allows users to see if the website they're going on is monitored by the NSA or not, epic.
Russian tycoon wants to move mind to machine
Obese Black-Hole Galaxies Could Reveal Quasar Secrets
Lenders seek court actions against homeowners years after foreclosure
Obama Wants to Wiretap Your Facebook Feed — Seriously, You Can't Make This Up
Johns Hopkins Scientist Blasts CDC for Pushing Flu Shot
Remove Toxic Heavy Metals from Your Body in Less Than 7 Hours
The New Dads: Diaper Duty's Just the Start
OBAMA TO PUSH GMO CANDY AND CHLORINE WASHED CHICKEN ON THE EU