Memo to My Atheist Friends

Originally posted by FMF
Then isn't it also a "no-brainer" for people to believe differently from you if they don't accept your assertion that texts like "Hebrews 9:27" are "the Word of God". I didn't say anything about you "having faith in Dasa over God". Is there some knowledge that you have that prevents you from believing that the Vedas are, for all intents and purposes, "the Word of God" in the same way and for the same reasons as "Hebrews 9:27 etc." is?

I answered your question. You can stop asking it now. If you don't like the answer I gave, you're perfectly free to "change the channel". You're not likely to get a "different answer" merely because you don't like the one I gave.

Originally posted by FMF
Is there some knowledge that you have that prevents you from believing in the kind of reincarnation that Dasa preaches about? Why do you have a "lack of faith" in his particular version of the "afterlife"?

I suspect your lack of faith in reincarnation, for example, has got absolutely nothing to do with "knowledge". I think it's a matter of faith only, pure and simple. Talk of "knowledge" being involved in the formation and sustainment of your "faith" is mere spin and veneer.

The post that was quoted here has been removed

I know a man who fought in Vietnam who argued the same thing to Christians when he saw his comrade die. I think the killed comrade had been a Christian himself.

"See?" he told us he exclaimed to some Christian soldier. "God didn't save him."


The teller of the story was an atheist in a foxhole. Latter out of the fox hole, somehow he became a believer in Jesus. But he did tell us how he offered atheist arguments after a battle in which a comrade apparently was not spared by God from dying.

"See?" he told us he exclaimed to some Christian soldier. "God didn't save him."

Since I have never been in a foxhole in war time, I will defer to those who know something about that experience.

I know that my own father said that in WWII when he was carrying a radio through a river, and the Germans were trying their best to shoot him, he prayed.

He also joked about a very bad actor who was notoriously troublesome, getting into fights all the time. In the foxhole he became quite intent on praying over his little Bible to their surprise.

But afterwards he went back to being the same old roughneck guy to their amusement.

Anyway, I think this thread shows something of Grampy's Christian love for some athiests here, calling them his friends. I confess, that I might not so easily write that.

Amen Grampy.

Originally posted by FMF
I suspect your lack of faith in reincarnation, for example, has got absolutely nothing to do with "knowledge". I think it's a matter of faith only, pure and simple. Talk of "knowledge" being involved in the formation and sustainment of your "faith" is mere spin and veneer.

You know, I am done talking with you.

If all you can do is belittle my faith, then it neither interests me nor enriches me to interact with you. I'm not expecting you to accept my faith, but I do expect you to respect that I have faith, and not rag on me all day because of it, just as I don't expect you'd disrespect me for my nationality or skin color.

You know, sometimes the wind speaks to me, not in English words, of course, but it certainly has more to say to me of import than you ever have.

Have a great day.

Originally posted by sonship
Anyway, I think this thread shows something of Grampy's Christian love for some athiests here, calling them his friends. I confess, that I might not so easily write that.

Perhaps Grampy Bobby, like you, finds living his Christian life is made easier by remembering that unreconciled non-believers that he calls his "friends" will eventually be tortured in burning agony for all eternity? Who knows? We have at least heard your feelings on that matter. 😉

Originally posted by Suzianne
If all you can do is belittle my faith, then it neither interests me nor enriches me to interact with you. I'm not expecting you to accept my faith, but I do expect you to respect that I have faith, and not rag on me all day because of it, just as I don't expect you'd disrespect me for my nationality or skin color.

As I said, I see your lack of faith in reincarnation as having nothing whatsoever to do with "knowledge" because when asked to cite this "knowledge" what you in fact cite is your "faith". I don't think pointing this out to you is disrespectful or belittling in any way at all.

The post that was quoted here has been removed

Just out of curiosity, do you (Sonship) believe Martin Poppel, a German paratrooper in the Second World War, when he writes that he never prayed to God even during his most perilous moments of combat? If you don't, then why would you presume that he must be lying?

I have no reason not to take his word at face value.
It only says he never prayed.

I don't think he is alone in that experience.
Never praying is one matter.
Believing that there is no God could be an entirely different matter.

Someone boasts "I NEVER prayed in the war!" Okay.

By the way, the early (selection and training standards declined later)
German paratroopers were known for their extraordinary courage and skills
in battle. British Field Marshal Alexander once told his men that they had
no reason to feel ashamed after losing a battle because they had been
defeated by 'the best soldiers in the world'--elite German paratroopers.

You would enjoy talking with my son. He knows all the plane models and quite a bit about the Second WW.

"There is no Atheism in foxholes" is just a worldly saying. I would not give it the same prominence as a verse in the Holy Bible.

The post that was quoted here has been removed

I was not born until 1944 and I don't really know what most Americans believed about the Japanese other than they believed the Japanese had attacked us, we were fighting them, and we had to defeat them because they were a danger to our survival because they were doing evil demon possessed things that we had to stop at all costs, which included using the atomic bomb against them. I just hope we never feel so threatened again that we feel the need to use nuclear bombs to stop it.

Originally posted by Suzianne
Faith, regardless of flavor, is no hamper to scientific knowledge, and vice versa.

Yes it is and always has been.

Originally posted by Suzianne
You know, I am done talking with you.

If all you can do is belittle my faith, then it neither interests me nor enriches me to interact with you. I'm not expecting you to accept my faith, but I do expect you to respect that I have faith, and not rag on me all day because of it, just as I don't expect you'd disrespect me for my nationality or skin color. ...[text shortened]... ourse, but it certainly has more to say to me of import than you ever have.

Have a great day.

Hey Suzi - who were you talking to after
You know, I am done talking with you

😀

Originally posted by DeepThought
How can I "ponder again for the first time"?

I don't think fear of death is going to change most of our minds.

DT, my impression was that your perspective is that of an objective agnostic still seeking truth. Intent of the seemingly contradictory phrase, "ponder again for the first time", is to suggest the change in focus with a deathbed venue.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
DT, my impression was that your perspective is that of an objective agnostic still seeking truth. Intent of the seemingly contradictory phrase, "ponder again for the first time", is to suggest the change in focus with a deathbed venue.

I don't think fear of death is going to change an ex-Christian back into a Christian. I don't think fear of eternal torture is going to affect anyone except a Christian who believes that it is a real and credible threat.

I think "eternal life" or immortality would render our existence meaningless although I am fully aware that ~ quite to the contrary ~ most religionists feel that immortality renders their existence meaningful.

I have no reason to think that I won't carry these ideas to my deathbed. I have been close up and engaged with several people as they died. I have seen both Christians and non-Christians, whom I've known well, pass away.

As DeepThought says, I don't think fear of death is going to change most people's minds about their deep seated beliefs.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
If your last days are spent in a hospital, hospice or at home is it likely that you'll remember and/or ponder again for the first time information you've received on this forum regarding "the supernatural... and the life after" as you're dying? -Bob

It is entirely possible that I "the supernatural... and the life after". I have certainly done so in the past at difficult times in my life, including one time I thought I was dying. However, my pondering will probably not include this forum as I do not think I have received any useful information in that regard from this forum. And that applies even more so to you. Getting information out of you seems to be practically impossible. I wonder if you communicate in real life the way you attempt to communicate online. If so, you must have a very difficult life.