Originally posted by dj2becker
[b] ‘How do you explain the radically changed lives of so many christian believers down through history?’
Why is this an important question to you to ask?
I think it is important to ask this question to a person who does not believe in the existance of God. What would you account to be the driving force behind such occurances? It would be inter ...[text shortened]... believing Christian' other than a living God. Such occurances have happened in abundance. [/b]
Are you not at all interested in wanting to know about any possibility?
Not really. I think there are many common beliefs out there that describe humanity’s moral sense. But, at this point, it’s really moot. I guess my original answer to this question of being agnostic was inaccurate because now I think it has nothing to do with one’s religion.
If your family, friends, and other individuals in your life are nothing but the random arrangement of molecules, do you know why they still motivate you to care and to live honorably in the world?
Because they care about me & have taken enough interest in my life to make sure I’m on the right path or the path I want to be on. Again, I guess you could argue for Christianity in this circumstance but, as I answered before, only a small handful of them considered themselves Christian. By the way, I never made the claim about mankind just being the random arrangement of molecules you suggested. While I think that is obvious what we are in physical form, I have no definition of what type of form (if any) we are beyond that.
Would you care to mention a few?
Sure: Death of a close family member, Becoming Handicapped, Winning the lottery, Learning you have a terminal illness
Is there a reason why you don't believe them?
While I will admit I have absolutely no interest in doing the research of going through these “scholarly books” I don’t believe there is historical, without any shred of doubt, proof of: The Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, The 10 Commandments, The Immaculate Conception, Any of Jesus’s miracles, or the Resurrection. I am talking frontline ABC, worldwide news. These are just a few I can think of.
I think it is important to ask this question to a person who does not believe in the existance of God. What would you account to be the driving force behind such occurances? It would be interesting to hear what you have to say about it... Personally, I can't think of anything else that can change an 'atheist' into a 'Bible believing Christian' other than a living God. Such occurances have happened in abundance.
Well again, I’m not atheist. I’m agnostic which means I never claimed to not believe in God. I just don’t believe in any of the descriptions mankind has ascribed. I don’t know if there is such a thing as a driving force to these or any other occurrences. What was the driving force of many of the horrific events of human history? Is it the same as you believe are the radical changes occurring when ones becomes a Christian? I have often heard it said when bad things happen to good people, it is “God’s will”. Personally, I have a hard time dealing with that answer because it does not make sense. I’m not attempting to offend you or your beliefs but I think you would agree there have been a number of terrifying events that have happened in the cause of Christianity. I also agree there have been many terrifying events not attributed to Christianity that have occurred. The bottom line for me is I don’t think discovering a universal moral sense is a direct connection to the existence of a God.