Being a Christian has given me a wonder gift - contentment.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless. I don't distain the unbelievers, but genuinely pity them. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
-Maranatha
@mchill saidI don’t recall ever seeing anyone (except maybe @sonhouse in one his blurts) saying they “don’t understand” why people are Christians.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless.
What many people in here don’t understand is this ridiculous doctrine of a version of a so-called victorious Jesus who epically fails to save billions and billions of people, whom he claims to love, from his own genocidal intent to torture them alive for all eternity.
20 Oct 22
@mchill saidThen I suggest you and the likes of KellyJay and others desist from propagating erroneous, nonsense doctrines of death.
I don't distain the unbelievers, but genuinely pity them. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
You could start by taking a more sincere approach in Thread 195169 which addresses this very point.
@mchill saidI spent over 25 years as a very contented Christian. So I get the contentment and the feeling of being blessed thing, I really do.
Being a Christian has given me a wonder gift - contentment.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless. I don't di ...[text shortened]... hem. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
-Maranatha
Then I spent about 5 years questioning my faith, after which I no longer identified myself as a Christian and, instead, described myself as an agnostic atheist; and the 20 years or so of that have been 20 years of contentment. In fact, I too "feel blessed" but not in a relgious way.
@mchill saidI doubt any of the feelings expressed here are genuine. It's just more trolling / grandstanding. Yawn.
Being a Christian has given me a wonder gift - contentment.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless. I don't di ...[text shortened]... hem. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
-Maranatha
21 Oct 22
@mchill saidSave your pity. I don't need it.
Being a Christian has given me a wonder gift - contentment.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless. I don't di ...[text shortened]... hem. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
-Maranatha
To those who think I am sitting in darkness: just because you can't see where I am, doesn't mean I can't.
- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 29597
@mchill saidAs an atheist, my view on people having a faith is mixed. Part of me respects an individual who believes something so deeply, and with that respect comes a degree of regret that I do not have such a deep belief in something that promises eternity. A Christian going to the grave truly believing they will be reunited with a loved one is a beautiful thing and I in no way begrudge them for that. For all of us the universe is a scary place and confronting such things as mortality and perceived injustice isn't easy to accept.
Being a Christian has given me a wonder gift - contentment.
While some here lash out in anger at what they cannot comprehend, trying (without success) to understand why over a billion people would choose to follow the words of a working-class Jew who was hung on a cross to die a painful death over 2000 years ago, the peace of mind my faith given me is priceless. I don't di ...[text shortened]... hem. I pray the gift of faith the Lord has blessed me with will be theirs's one day.
-Maranatha
Part of me however (and to borrow your word) has 'pity' for them. Yes, a theist may feel they have the answer, but they have embraced the wrong answer and embrace it so tightly that there is no room or further exploration for the correct answer. Belief in gods holds us back as a species and as Marx and others have observed, is an opium of the masses, doing more harm than good.
21 Oct 22
A lot of those billion people are in African nations living as disintegrated family units. Yet one day they believe to see the company of ancestors. The Author of life chose to allow creation to participate in recreating itself, and detailed accounts are recorded in scripture. A soul allotted set time designated for life in the here is arguably a merciful act. We're not overwhelmed with life since believing there's possibility after death.
22 Oct 22
@of-ants-and-imps saidSay what?
A lot of those billion people are in African nations living as disintegrated family units.