Comments on: Christians: Pray For Richard Dawkins & Matt Dillahunty! – The Atheist Experience #557

By: 15thnametried

15thnametried — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

It’s not silly at …
It’s not silly at all. It does make sense.

By: waltermh111

waltermh111 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

I cant explain the …
I cant explain the situation for everybody, but think of the vulcans

I know that pointing to sci-fi may seem silly, but the basics of their system are based in the idea that if logic/reason rules your life, you have an easier time accepting the harsh realities of life and dealing with them

The key to good judgement is not to go with your first emotion. Maybe not everybody has the ability to step back, but not letting emotions rule you is the path to reason
Maybe that makes sense?

By: 15thnametried

15thnametried — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

Well, I just …
Well, I just commented to say that I see your point, but I can see how it can happen.

Odd question…I know alot of Atheists that say that they are not emotional people. Is that common?
(I myself am not a ‘true atheist’)

By: waltermh111

waltermh111 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

I just wanted to …
I just wanted to comment to say that I dont disagree with you honestly.

I am not an emotional person so its hard to imagine a person going to such an extreme, but I have seen it enough times in life that it shouldnt be so stunning.
I dont mean I have seen conversions, but I have seen people take major steps to bring comfort to their troubled lives.

By: 15thnametried

15thnametried — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

But again I throw …
But again I throw in the fact that it could be wishful thinking instead of real belief. Who really knows what another person truely feels or believes.

By: 15thnametried

15thnametried — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

I didn’t mean to …
I didn’t mean to say that it was logical. LOL
But I do think that you could go from not believing without evidence to believing. The need for comfort is a very strong need and fear is a very strong force. If someone fears death enough, hurts bad enough over the loss of a loved one, or has to deal with the effects of a tragic accident or a murder or rape, etc., I can see how the need for comfort could be strong enough to put aside the logic and decide to believe in a higher power or heaven.

By: waltermh111

waltermh111 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

The question is, …
The question is, did the person calling himself an atheist simply think he was an atheist because he never thought much about the god idea?
Did he come to see the evidence that there was no god, think about it, denounce him, then decide later to dismiss all that evidence for emotional comfort?

If you never think about the god idea past admitting that you dont care, you cant say your an atheist, because at worst you denied caring about the issue.
I would have to see a convert to understand truly

By: waltermh111

waltermh111 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

Actually, its never …
Actually, its never logical when people believe in god.

And we all know the various reasons people believe in god.
You can be an agnostic and switch, but atheism is not believing without evidence.
Since no evidence is ever given for these transitions it should be concluded that these converts dont truly believe in the god but are playing it safe hoping they can fake it to comfort themselves.
Or they have always had the belief that anything is possible in which case they are agnostic.

By: locouru

locouru — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

Can you give me an …
Can you give me an example of one prophecy that was fulfilled?

If you seek god through prayer, you have already decided he exists and I’m sure you will make yourself think you found him that way.

By: locouru

locouru — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:58:11 +0000

So you have a …
So you have a preference to one religion but you did not say why the bible has more authority. The way you don’t like what other religions teach, I don’t like what the bible teaches. But that is a personal decision. It has nothing to do with fact. Any one religion could be true, or none. Why Chritianity and not the others?

You used prophecy as evidence. If EVERY ONE of the old testament prophecies were fulfilled, why are the jewish not christians?