[QUOTE="killtactics"]Every year countless babies starve to death in Africa and the rest of the world..... of course God cares :|ElArab

What, you want God to drop cooked turkeys from the sky? It's not Gods fault. If you had any idea what was going on there, you would know that.

[QUOTE="majadamus"]I don't get it. Why do most people become atheists when life isn't treating them well or your god didn't bless you with what you were hoping for? There are plenty of much better reasons to become an atheist. Tykain

I was thinking the same thing.

No offense but It's being self centered. There has always been milions of people with way worse problems (Not saying your situation is ok tho) but while your life was ok then god exist regardless of all the people suffering in the world. then if yourself is going through a rough time that prove he doesn't exist ?

[QUOTE="killtactics"]Every year countless babies starve to death in Africa and the rest of the world..... of course God cares :|ElArab

What, you want God to drop cooked turkeys from the sky? It's not Gods fault. If you had any idea what was going on there, you would know that.

Ehm...God did create the earth and the weather according to Christians, you know.

[QUOTE="Wolf-avatar"]Just have faith in god and it well help you threw these times.Dracargen

Faith like that shouldn't be blind, which is all it would be. It would be an injustice to my own intellect and to God if He exists.

Agreed. Welcome to the atheist club.

*secret handshake*

[QUOTE="majadamus"]I don't get it. Why do most people become atheists when life isn't treating them well or your god didn't bless you with what you were hoping for? There are plenty of much better reasons to become an atheist. Tykain

I was thinking the same thing.

No offense but It's being self centered. There has always been milions of people with way worse problems (Not saying your situation is ok tho) but while your life was ok then god exist regardless of all the people suffering in the world. then if yourself is going through a rough time that prove he doesn't exist ?

As I said before, perhaps it's harder to notice until you yourself are affected.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]

[QUOTE="Wolf-avatar"]Just have faith in god and it well help you threw these times.GodLovesDead

Faith like that shouldn't be blind, which is all it would be. It would be an injustice to my own intellect and to God if He exists.

Agreed. Welcome to the atheist club.

*secret handshake*

Well its your choice whether to believe in God or not. And if you can't accept God or the thought of him maybe existing become atheist or seek another religion. Though i hope you stay christian. Better not be joke.123625

I don't think it is a choice. Your brain and heart tells you what to believe.

It sounds like you're blaming God for what you said happened in your blog. Do you really think God would come up with this to test you? Although I may not be feeling what you're going through, primary because the worst feeling I had is having what was once a drug-dealing uncle and seeing his son suffer as a result(but not as bad as it could have been), I know that God would not test you like this. You just need some help.Fireball2500

If God does exist, then there are three possible reasons why He would allow such horrors in the world He created and pronounced good:

1. He has a plan for them, that will ultimately turn out good.

2. He has no plan--He just lets it happen for the hell of it.

3. He has a plan, but it is a bad one--He is evil.

If God in the Christian sense exists, it can only be the first possibility--the Christian God is completely incompatible with the other two.

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

[QUOTE="Wolf-avatar"]Just have faith in god and it well help you threw these times.Fireball2500

Faith like that shouldn't be blind, which is all it would be. It would be an injustice to my own intellect and to God if He exists.

Agreed. Welcome to the atheist club.

*secret handshake*

I don't mind. To be frank, I expected far worse than what I've gotten so far. . .

[QUOTE="Fireball2500"][QUOTE="GodLovesDead"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

[QUOTE="Wolf-avatar"]Just have faith in god and it well help you threw these times.Dracargen

Faith like that shouldn't be blind, which is all it would be. It would be an injustice to my own intellect and to God if He exists.

Agreed. Welcome to the atheist club.

*secret handshake*

I don't mind. To be frank, I expected far worse than what I've gotten so far. . .

I was talking of those problems in the blog...Fireball2500

I know.

[QUOTE="ElArab"]

You are basically asking us if God exists.. that will get you nowhere.

If you are religious, you should know that everything happens for a reason, and that you will get through this, no need to just convert all of a sudden.

Also, if this is an April Fools joke (because I'm reading this and man, I can't believe you are saying it, it's just such old and tired arguments and questions that will never be answered.) then you toally got me.

Dracargen

I know, but it's hard believing that there is a reason, you know?

I'm not asking if God exists. I'm just asking for reasons to stay or to leave.

You may not know why things are happening for a long time, possibly years. I had about 6 years of depression and extremely challenging times in and around high school, because of things that were out of my control. In retrospect, God turned it into the best thing that has ever happened to me, and the results of it now define my life. I don't doubt God at all. He will turn your hardships into success and contentment you if you keep your faith and keep trusting. I'm living proof, as are millions of other people. You will see atheists attack people like me and say that it was chance, or say that I lucked out. But I know I couldn't have gotten where I am without God. He is the reason I can live my life in peace and look past difficulties that get in my way. He is the reason that I can look past the end of my nose and realize that the material world and its physical laws are not the end-all of life, and they are not what define human existence...unless you allow them to be.

[QUOTE="Fireball2500"]It sounds like you're blaming God for what you said happened in your blog. Do you really think God would come up with this to test you? Although I may not be feeling what you're going through, primary because the worst feeling I had is having what was once a drug-dealing uncle and seeing his son suffer as a result(but not as bad as it could have been), I know that God would not test you like this. You just need some help.Dracargen

If God does exist, then there are three possible reasons why He would allow such horrors in the world He created and pronounced good:

1. He has a plan for them, that will ultimately turn out good.

2. He has no plan--He just lets it happen for the hell of it.

3. He has a plan, but it is a bad one--He is evil.

If God in the Christian sense exists, it can only be the first possibility--the Christian God is completely incompatible with the other two.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]

[QUOTE="Fireball2500"]It sounds like you're blaming God for what you said happened in your blog. Do you really think God would come up with this to test you? Although I may not be feeling what you're going through, primary because the worst feeling I had is having what was once a drug-dealing uncle and seeing his son suffer as a result(but not as bad as it could have been), I know that God would not test you like this. You just need some help.Fireball2500

If God does exist, then there are three possible reasons why He would allow such horrors in the world He created and pronounced good:

1. He has a plan for them, that will ultimately turn out good.

2. He has no plan--He just lets it happen for the hell of it.

3. He has a plan, but it is a bad one--He is evil.

If God in the Christian sense exists, it can only be the first possibility--the Christian God is completely incompatible with the other two.

I'm saying that, if God in the Christian sense exists, then this is how it is--if God exists but is not the Christian one, then possibilities two and three remain open, and the only way all three of them can be bypassed is if atheism is true and no God of any form exists.

OK, if I must be honest, this post convinced me that this topic WAS an April Fool's Joke, because if you believe the Bible, which Christianity refers to as the Word of God, it says almost throughout the ENTIRE BIBLE that God doesn't think evil, ever, which would kill off reasons 2 and 3.Fireball2500

All I'm seeing here is a lack of reading comprehension skills on your part. He says in his post that options 2 and 3 aren't possible with the Christian interpretation of God.

I understand how you feel. I'm not going to attempt to sway you either way, as that isn't my responsibility, but I've gone through the same thing. I was a "devout" Christian for 14 or 15 years of my life. That's all I knew. I knew nothing else and questioned nothing. After a series of events made things extremely lucid to me that a God, in the Christian sense, wasn't who I thought he was, I began questioning. I was put in a vulnerable, confused state of mind. Things weren't so black and white for me anymore. I didn't know who I was or where I came from. Things simply weren't as simple.

Long story short, you're either going to come out of this with even stronger faith or you're going to give up on it completely and see things differently than you ever have.

[QUOTE="Fireball2500"]OK, if I must be honest, this post convinced me that this topic WAS an April Fool's Joke, because if you believe the Bible, which Christianity refers to as the Word of God, it says almost throughout the ENTIRE BIBLE that God doesn't think evil, ever, which would kill off reasons 2 and 3.Zagrius

All I'm seeing here is a lack of reading comprehension skills on your part. He says in his post that options 2 and 3 aren't possible with the Christian interpretation of God.

Excuse me for a minute....

*whispers about how stupid I feel*

I'm going to leave this topic for a little bit...piano lesson coming up at 4...

[QUOTE="Zagrius"]

[QUOTE="Fireball2500"]OK, if I must be honest, this post convinced me that this topic WAS an April Fool's Joke, because if you believe the Bible, which Christianity refers to as the Word of God, it says almost throughout the ENTIRE BIBLE that God doesn't think evil, ever, which would kill off reasons 2 and 3.Fireball2500

All I'm seeing here is a lack of reading comprehension skills on your part. He says in his post that options 2 and 3 aren't possible with the Christian interpretation of God.

Excuse me for a minute....

*whispers about how stupid I feel*

I'm going to leave this topic for a little bit...piano lesson coming up at 4...

You're not stupid. Everyone misreads now and then.:)

[QUOTE="ElArab"]

[QUOTE="killtactics"]Every year countless babies starve to death in Africa and the rest of the world..... of course God cares :|xaos

What, you want God to drop cooked turkeys from the sky? It's not Gods fault. If you had any idea what was going on there, you would know that.

http://www.redlandbaptist.org/sermons/sermon20011104.htm

here's a good one that explains it to a degree. long, but a good read nonetheless.

*shrug* okay. i still think youre kidding. but if youre serious, this happens to a lot of christians. they hit their first big rough patch in life and come to the moral dilema of god. in general, if everything works out, their faith is reaffirmed and they are more devout to their faith than before. if it doesnt work out, they reject their faith. its odd (or maybe not) how people work.LoG-Sacrament

Exactly. Everybody is going to hit this type of rough patch in their faith eventually. Some will leave it behind and move on to other things, like myself, and others will come out with a stronger, reaffirmed faith.

Well I don't know about thr Cristian god. But I am Muslim and it says in the Quran everone has the same god. Well in my book it says god will test you. The more good you are the more tests will happen. Seem sad that god does not listen to you but it takes time. ANd not everyhing happens with prayer you need to do hardwork too with prayer. ALso the children dying in Africa it is a test alo to see how people are going to help those starving people, help proverty, and show they are human. But instead not too many people help them. This world is not ment to be good it is painful.

You know read more of the religons books the Quran, and the Torah. I personally would could find help there. I mean go to goode and put in QUran ENglish translations or Torah English translations.

Let me just start off by saying that I have never gone through anything of that magnitude so I don't know how you are feeling right now. I'm sure this has been stated already, I haven't read all the posts, but believing in God is unbelievably easy when everything is sunshine rainbow lollipops. When things get hard and everything is against you that is when faith is a hard commodity to come by. Even if you no longer have faith in God, have faith that things will get better and the world won't be the unremitting **** storm that it feels like now.

I have one more thing to say. Remember that God did not to this to you or your family, people did. People did it because human beings have free will, and God can't stop what we do of our own free will. If he did then sin wouldn't exist and God would just make us do whatever he wants us to do at all times.

I'm sorry, I think I lost my point somewhere along the way. Let me end by saying this. Now is not the time to let your emotions throw away everything you belive in. Calm yourself down dig in and wait for the mess to be over, because no evil lasts forever. If after this whole ordeal has ended you still belive that there is no God or that God is a prick then by all means join whatever religion you feel is best with no regrets. Good luck with your troubles and your subsequent decision.

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

MotherSuperior

Yes there is.

[QUOTE="MotherSuperior"]

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

Suliman-Uchia

Yes there is.

Ok.

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

Dracargen

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

FlaminDeath

Whatever do you mean? I was just bewildered by all the beauty in the world and concluded that there is in factt a Designer.:D

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

FlaminDeath

I have the tar ready! You got the feathers? OK! Let's get him!!

[QUOTE="Suliman-Uchia"][QUOTE="MotherSuperior"]

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

MotherSuperior

Yes there is.

Ok.

most intillectual debate ever.

[QUOTE="MotherSuperior"][QUOTE="Suliman-Uchia"][QUOTE="MotherSuperior"]

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

jlh47

Yes there is.

Ok.

most intillectual debate ever.

Haha. I fully understand and accept that neither of us could prove our respective posistions so an argument with him/her would be a waste of our time.

[QUOTE="FlaminDeath"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

Dracargen

Whatever do you mean? I was just bewildered by all the beauty in the world and concluded that there is in factt a Designer.:D

*cough*

wait, whats going on?

[QUOTE="jlh47"][QUOTE="MotherSuperior"][QUOTE="Suliman-Uchia"][QUOTE="MotherSuperior"]

There is no god.

There. Now you don't have to feel so bad.

MotherSuperior

Yes there is.

Ok.

most intillectual debate ever.

Haha. I fully understand and accept that neither of us could prove our respective posistions so an argument with him/her would be a waste of our time.

that's why i said the most intellectual debate ever.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"][QUOTE="FlaminDeath"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

FlaminDeath

Whatever do you mean? I was just bewildered by all the beauty in the world and concluded that there is in factt a Designer.:D

You're too serious.:P

If you do then we officially have nothing in common anymore.

Personally, I think that when you are under stress, giving up on your Religion is pointless and in a way is accepting defeat. It just seems backwards to me that when bad turns worse people give up religion. It's especially illogical because a strong faith should come with the knowledge that in order for good to exist, there must be bad.

Your situation sucks. There is no way around that.

Personally, I think your family has been fighting to keep the status quo even when it's causing them harm. Your moms needs to leave "Druggie". You should continue to fight for your cousin and support your uncle and generally come together as a unit to overcome these things.

I think that lamenting over losing television and internet is kind of petty in the circumstances and freeing up the 100+ bucks a month will go a great deal towards getting back on your feet.

Since I'm on a role of support, I'll add that the people are the ones to blame, not the drugs. Drugs didn't make your stepfather a lazy lieing stealing slob and your ex-(almost)aunt obviously has greater issues and probably is abusing because of the much deeper rooted problems that she has developed. Considering she is unwed and has an 11 year old and a four month old I would guess she has a great deal of emotional baggage. Perhaps strength from faith and religion would have helped her deal with the issue instead of numbing herself until she exploded.

Anyway, If your decision is based on something other than hardship then you have my best wishes. In the end we have to do what is right for us and if denouncing your god is going to make the world more clear and easier to live in, then by all means. I do ask that you don't make it a goal to press your nonbelief on every person that walks by. I ask the same thing of anyone regardless of their belief. Religion is personal. I don't dig your BVDs out of your pants and tell you how much more comfortable mine are...

EDIT: 4-1 revealed after I started writing. I think it's actually a decent post so I'll leave it there for posterity.

See, I believe that there is a GOD, but just not in any of the stories the bible tends to lend out.

If you do then we officially have nothing in common anymore.

Personally, I think that when you are under stress, giving up on your Religion is pointless and in a way is accepting defeat. It just seems backwards to me that when bad turns worse people give up religion. It's especially illogical because a strong faith should come with the knowledge that in order for good to exist, there must be bad.

Your situation sucks. There is no way around that.

Personally, I think your family has been fighting to keep the status quo even when it's causing them harm. Your moms needs to leave "Druggie". You should continue to fight for your cousin and support your uncle and generally come together as a unit to overcome these things.

I think that lamenting over losing television and internet is kind of petty in the circumstances and freeing up the 100+ bucks a month will go a great deal towards getting back on your feet.

Since I'm on a role of support, I'll add that the people are the ones to blame, not the drugs. Drugs didn't make your stepfather a lazy lieing stealing slob and your ex-(almost)aunt obviously has greater issues and probably is abusing because of the much deeper rooted problems that she has developed. Considering she is unwed and has an 11 year old and a four month old I would guess she has a great deal of emotional baggage. Perhaps strength from faith and religion would have helped her deal with the issue instead of numbing herself until she exploded.

Anyway, If your decision is based on something other than hardship then you have my best wishes. In the end we have to do what is right for us and if denouncing your god is going to make the world more clear and easier to live in, then by all means. I do ask that you don't make it a goal to press your nonbelief on every person that walks by. I ask the same thing of anyone regardless of their belief. Religion is personal. I don't dig your BVDs out of your pants and tell you how much more comfortable mine are...

effthat

Ouch. I thought I put too much effort into my responses. Dammit, Dracargen! :lol:

[QUOTE="Dracargen"][QUOTE="FlaminDeath"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and then I was about to decide, when I looked out my window and saw a cloud shaped liked a rabbit with beautiful colors from the sun. It was very pretty.

So I'm going to stay a Christian. Thanks for the support, everyone!:D

FlaminDeath

Whatever do you mean? I was just bewildered by all the beauty in the world and concluded that there is in factt a Designer.:D

ohh fo'shnizzle. you just got served!

tl dr version?

:)

wow. didn't see that coming:|notconspiracy3

wait. your name sounds familiar.... i'm on to you buddy.

[QUOTE="notconspiracy3"]wow. didn't see that coming:|jlh47

wait. your name sounds familiar.... i'm on to you buddy.

[QUOTE="effthat"]

If you do then we officially have nothing in common anymore.

Personally, I think that when you are under stress, giving up on your Religion is pointless and in a way is accepting defeat. It just seems backwards to me that when bad turns worse people give up religion. It's especially illogical because a strong faith should come with the knowledge that in order for good to exist, there must be bad.

Your situation sucks. There is no way around that.

Personally, I think your family has been fighting to keep the status quo even when it's causing them harm. Your moms needs to leave "Druggie". You should continue to fight for your cousin and support your uncle and generally come together as a unit to overcome these things.

I think that lamenting over losing television and internet is kind of petty in the circumstances and freeing up the 100+ bucks a month will go a great deal towards getting back on your feet.

Since I'm on a role of support, I'll add that the people are the ones to blame, not the drugs. Drugs didn't make your stepfather a lazy lieing stealing slob and your ex-(almost)aunt obviously has greater issues and probably is abusing because of the much deeper rooted problems that she has developed. Considering she is unwed and has an 11 year old and a four month old I would guess she has a great deal of emotional baggage. Perhaps strength from faith and religion would have helped her deal with the issue instead of numbing herself until she exploded.

Anyway, If your decision is based on something other than hardship then you have my best wishes. In the end we have to do what is right for us and if denouncing your god is going to make the world more clear and easier to live in, then by all means. I do ask that you don't make it a goal to press your nonbelief on every person that walks by. I ask the same thing of anyone regardless of their belief. Religion is personal. I don't dig your BVDs out of your pants and tell you how much more comfortable mine are...

xXBuffJeffXx

Ouch. I thought I put too much effort into my responses. Dammit, Dracargen! :lol:

There are still some decent thoughts in there...

The comment on drugs and religious discussion being the two that I think are worth keeping around..

Anyway, I've known some pretty foul situations. I've dated some crazy girls in crazy situations (you probably wouldn't believe me as it's april first). So the story isn't too far fetched in comparison to some of the crap that really does go on. I'm glad to hear that all the stuf with his uncle is made up. I don't give a hoot about his truck, but child abuse gets to me.