One Christian's understanding of atheism:

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Yes; read your words with care. Please summarize points of difference between your understanding of atheism and mine.

Just do a forum search under my username, you will find several posts on page 1 that summarise my position.

eg

In "How Atheists Think": The only way to describe how atheists think is to say that they do not believe in a god.

In "Behold, the six types of atheists": I would place myself as a 1/2/3/4.

In "Atheist Talking Points: What is Atheism?": This is like a stuck record! An atheist lacks belief in a deity.How many times?!?!?!?!

Page 2 of the search results were mainly the What makes atheists angry and not explicitly relevant. On page 3...

In "On a Scale of 1 to 7": My position is that the chance of there being any god at all is infinitesimally small but not zero. The chance of the god described in the Bible existing is orders of magnitude smaller than that, but still not actually zero.

In "We made up your god so get over it.": No, Atheism is based on the lack of evidence for a deity, nothing more.

In "The Versatile Bible": Nope, sorry, you both still seem to be under the impression that we actually do believe that your specific god exists and that we are deliberately turning away from him. This is simply not the case. We have simply seen no more evidence that he exists than any of the other millions of conceivable deities, which is why we continually ask 'which god?'. It is you who focus on the Christian god, not us.

I cannot see how you can possibly have "read [my] words with care and yet still come to such a skewed interpretation of the atheist position.

Penguin

Originally posted by Penguin
Just do a forum search under my username, you will find several posts on page 1 that summarise my position.

eg

In "How Atheists Think": The only way to describe how atheists think is to say that they do not believe in a god.

In "Behold, the six types of atheists": I would place myself as a 1/2/3/4.

In "Atheist Talking Points: What ...[text shortened]... care[/i] and yet still come to such a skewed interpretation of the atheist position.

Penguin

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby (OP's concluding sentence)

I believe an atheist at the point of god-consciousness (becoming aware of the possible existence of a supreme being and accountable for a personal choice for or against god) says, 'no'.

Originally posted by Penguin
Just do a forum search under my username, you will find several posts on page 1 that summarise my position.

eg

In "How Atheists Think": The only way to describe how atheists think is to say that they do not believe in a god.

In "Behold, the six types of atheists": I would place myself as a 1/2/3/4.

In "Atheist Talking Points: What is Atheism?": This is like a stuck record! An atheist lacks belief in a deity.How many times?!?!?!?!

Page 2 of the search results were mainly the What makes atheists angry and not explicitly relevant. On page 3...

In "On a Scale of 1 to 7": My position is that the chance of there being any god at all is infinitesimally small but not zero. The chance of the god described in the Bible existing is orders of magnitude smaller than that, but still not actually zero.

In "We made up your god so get over it.": No, Atheism is based on the lack of evidence for a deity, nothing more.

In "The Versatile Bible": Nope, sorry, you both still seem to be under the impression that we actually do believe that your specific god exists and that we are deliberately turning away from him. This is simply not the case. We have simply seen no more evidence that he exists than any of the other millions of conceivable deities, which is why we continually ask 'which god?'. It is you who focus on the Christian god, not us.

I cannot see how you can possibly have "read [my] words with care and yet still come to such a skewed interpretation of the atheist position.

Penguin

"I believe an atheist at the point of god-consciousness (becoming aware of the possible existence of a supreme being and accountable for a personal choice for or against god) says, 'no'"... and... "No, Atheism is based on the lack of evidence for a deity, nothing more." seem quite similar.

I'll continue to wonder what "evidence" you would require in order to change your mind about Christ. Thanks, Penquin. -Bob

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby (OP's concluding sentence)

I believe an atheist at the point of god-consciousness (becoming aware of the possible existence of a supreme being and accountable for a personal choice for or against god) says, 'no'.

[quote]Originally posted by Penguin
Just do a forum search under my userna ...[text shortened]... at "evidence" you would require in order to change your mind about Christ. Thanks, Penquin. -Bob

The difference is the active rejection that is implied by your description. Atheism does not require any active rejection. You have been told this again and again and you continue to ignore it.

The evidence that would make me change my mind would have to be pretty incontrovertible and objectively verifiable. Again, you have been told this many times before, with examples. There is no need for you to 'continue to wonder'.

Penguin.

Originally posted by Penguin
The difference is the active rejection that is implied by your description. Atheism does not require any active rejection. You have been told this again and again and you continue to ignore it.

The evidence that would make me change my mind would have to be pretty incontrovertible and objectively verifiable. Again, you have been told this many times before, with examples. There is no need for you to 'continue to wonder'.

Penguin.

Originally posted by Penguin
"The difference is the active rejection that is implied by your description. Atheism does not require any active rejection..."

When a rational human being is offered the free gift of relationship with God in time and eternity as an alternative to separation and suffering and says, "No thanks" what is that inaudible volitional act if not "active rejection"?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby (OP)..................................................................................................... [0] [7]
One Christian's understanding of atheism:

First, my thanks to the dozens of atheists who have patiently or impatiently listened to numerous questions and comments and replied to the best of their ability. Since Thanksgiving, 2013, lights have gradually come on to illuminate the previous darkness shrouding the topic. My vocabulary has also become enhanced with a few new words and definitions of old ones.

A hardnosed director of sales and marketing once set a boardroom full of subordinates straight on the most effective method of getting to the crux of unresolved issues and impossible challenges. We listened with rapt attention as John quietly spelled out his pragmatic method: "We get to the bottom of things with adroit questioning; continuing until we get down to the essence of the issue, challenge or problem: that which makes it what it is; we distill it to its irreducible entity then solve it".

Please know that I've done my level best to give due diligence in applying his successful method in grasping what's real and authentic relative to atheism on this forum. At its simplest, the word 'atheism' describes or defines the category of human beings who, at some point of god-curiosity or god-consciousness, have voluntarily decided they have no interest in knowing anything about god or of the possibility of a personal relationship with him. Deep within their innermost beings they have decided god doesn't exist; they've become convinced that further inquiry would be a colossal waste of time and energy.

In biblical terms: "Romans 1:18-20 New American Standard Bible Unbelief and Its Consequences:" "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." I believe an atheist at the point of god-consciousness (becoming aware of the possible existence of a supreme being and accountable for a personal choice for or against god) says, 'no'.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby (OP)..................................................................................................... [0] [7]
[b]One Christian's understanding of atheism:

First, my thanks to the dozens of atheists who have patiently or impatiently listened to numerous questions and comments and replied to the best o ...[text shortened]... istence of a supreme being and accountable for a personal choice for or against god) says, 'no'.[/b]

I think twhitehead put it pretty well when on page 1 he said:"[What Christians think about atheists] is complicated because the existence of atheists is seen as a threat by some theists. They therefore go to great lengths to try and convince themselves and others that the atheists they are afraid of, do not exist, and that in reality atheists are something quite different (and presumably less threatening)."