Maybe? What makes you think atheists don't or haven't faced such things? Should we all make up a God simply because it might be easier to explain fairy tales than truth? Who's dodging the issues here? The person willing to teach their children the truth as they know it or the ones who make up fairy tales to explain away everything bad in life?  What did parents tell their children before your God was created by man? What do Hindu or Buddhists tell their children? Have you opened your mind enough to see how others have dealt with these issues or is it simply easier to stick with the status quo?

Many atheist actually do practice religion and many introduce their children to religion so that they have that option if they choose or to show their children what others are squawking about. Most of the atheists I have known since childhood who have gone on to have children decided to give their children various religious upbringings. Have you not seen neighbors, friends, or relatives do such a thing? Why are there so many atheists who practice religion even though they do not believe in God the same way that you do? Some continue practicing all their lives and some only until their children get to a certain age.

The only thing you have advocated is that others consider your experiences and your God over their own experiences. What has been rejected here? Your interpretation of the Bible? Well guess what....The Bible is rejected by more than just a few atheists. Get used to it.

Why should anybody other than your own family and friends listen to you? I'd rather listen to Lulu because I was not raised in the Catholic Church and have much to learn about the specifics of that religion. I'd rather listen to my Christians friends because I have built faith and understanding in them over the years. I'd rather listen to the pastor who lives down the street because he has shown himself to be honest, tolerant, and open minded. I'd rather listen to the Jehovah's who show up at my door every few years because they are willing to actually explain what they believe and why.

You seemed to have missed the posts where some have stated that they do have religious backgrounds, experiences, family, friends and acquaintances so maybe you should be open up your mind a bit and figure out that somebody disputing the bible, or a specific religious institution has more to do with the Bible and that institution than you. You are just one in over 7 billion and counting so don't expect your experience to have any more significance than all the others.  

Not a problem David except maybe for you. I have two deceased children, one from leukemia at age TEN, and one at age eighteen in an auto accident. David, you are just an arrogant and ostentatious windbag and you are clueless of your own life … yet you would explain mine to me in its entirety. I for one am tired of your self-pity.

David, I am an atheist so save your pity for someone who can use it.  My children died a long time ago ... but thanks. You my friend do not suggest anything ... much the same as The Catholic (TC). Neither of you listen to much if anything of anything opposing your views … even when you ask the question. As soon as I answer, you or TC pops up to tell me I am all wrong (about myself) and then commence to tell me what I actually meant. Until you stop this nonsense, find someone else to bother. I prefer to chat with grownups … I just wish you had paid some attention to me earlier.

 

And interesting observation, to say the least, no?

 

So is it really pack rules, or is there a such thing as free will?

@Boobz--it was sympathy, not pity.  I am sorry no matter how long ago it was.

You can't have a personal discussion framed as an intellectual debate--it loses the "personal" at that point.  You can't have a debate if you take it personally.

If I had a better idea (as I think I do now) where you were coming from, I'd have tried a different approach--but a public discussion would never have worked--and isn't doing so now.

If you had started the topic, I'd have been more deferential in answering your questions but the topic is tipped off of how it began.  Basically people are fighting in an effort to redefine it.

Smoothseas is just a pot-stirrer and isn't really contributing more than role-playing Simon Cowell in the first seasons of American Idol.  If you insist on "teaming" in posts with him it's going nowhere, whether I'm in the conversation or not.

I'm sorry you got offended and good luck in finding whatever it is you need.

You going to jump in here and start right out by taking things out of context ... speaks well enough for your thoughtlessness hahaha. You might include the rest of the quote ... then you might consider the stupid comment I was about ... but nooo ... hahaha, what a joke.

Assume much? Instead of asking why I would skip your posts, you assume I'm Christian and then proceed to insult all Christians. Furthermore, lather on the condescension. If you really want dialogue, I recommend a little self-awareness on your delivery. If you just want to assume incorrect things, insult, be condescending, and swing a club like a brute then I will tune you out. The former is worth my time, the latter is a waste.

Why do you need someone to ask you why you didn't do something or is it just too difficult to read or maybe we should take you at your word ... until you change your mind again, whatever. Personally, I am not overly interested in your refusal to read or why, especially considering you already told us the answer silly. And as to assuming you to be a Christian … you are the only one to brig that excuse into play. I recommend a little self-awareness myself is all.

 

One point I would say has been proven loud and clear in this latest "discussion":   that there can be atheist religious zealots, just like any other religion  (and atheism IS a religion--in the same way zero is a number).   People whose anger and dogma exceeds their IQ.  Christianity, Islam, etc....they by no means have a monopoly on religious extremists.

Why do you need someone to ask you why you didn't do something or is it just too difficult to read or maybe we should take you at your word ... until you change your mind again, whatever. Personally, I am not overly interested in your refusal to read or why, especially considering you already told us the answer silly. And as to assuming you to be a Christian … you are the only one to brig that excuse into play. I recommend a little self-awareness myself is all.

I originally thought you might actually bring something to the table here but I can see now I was wrong. No matter, just more civilized blathering or so it seems to me. I think people are aware of what a hijacking is and it is obvious that this is not occurring. I may be big on my 'hahaha' (just too tough to ignore huh) but you are about as condescending as most Christians are. And it is apparent that the only childishness you are capable of understanding is secular ‘folly’ … but the religious folk have the way of it with all their proof and facts to back them up … hahaha … get real. “Let's hear some personal theories and experiences,” … right … if you need a theory I can point out many good books on the subject, but I cannot make you read, understand or accept them in any manner … besides unless they are theologically spot on (hahaha), you won’t have much use for them anyway. So, just what secular experiences of mine are you interested in, you having being vague in scope. This seems productive to you somehow?

 

The only book I found that list atheism as a 'religion' is in the Catholic encyclopedia which of course  I never look at use. If atheism is some religion ... hahaha ... then not collecting stamps would be considered a hobby ... like zero is a number huh, is there any reason not to find this quite humorous, hehehe.

I haven't won anything because I am not trying to. The only point to make here is you just gave up ... and that is self-defeat and has nothing to do with me. All most people have to do is make their own arguments and present their own facts instead of using everyone else’s statements as a base ... but Christians are just not big on facts because they just get in the way of conducting BAU. You never did say if you were actually a Christian but you got Irate when you thought that is what we thought be it true or not ... SO...

 

It just doesn't accomplish anything when you make ridiculous statements that you obviously cannot defend, instead you refuse to answer even a question or two. Is there any doubt why you rant about stuff instead of explaining yourself? And when we try to answer your questions it usually turns out you refuse to believe us anyway. This shit just makes communications impossible which seems to be where  the Christian communities like to exist ... pointless flux with no real answers ... just WAG's