What would it take for the atheist to believe in God?

[Cow Poke]

The right direction is "into the light" and that light is Jesus.

In God's opinion.

[Machinist]

I don't believe a person needs to "confess the correct doctrines" to be saved.

Maybe so, but there won't be any Christian evolutionists getting past St. Peters Gate.

[Cow Poke]

Maybe so, but there won't be any Christian evolutionists getting past St. Peters Gate.

I disagree. That's not a condition for Salvation.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

Since there don't seem to be any reliable statistics, I suspect that atheism > christianty and christianity > atheism "conversions" (if you want to call it that) are much like defections during the Cold War. A lot of traffic heading towards sunset. Very few in comparrison heading towards sunrise.

Given what I have read and those who have given me their testimonials I also suspect [at least among the "born again" variety of Christian] that a lot of conversions come from those suffering from the 5 Ds [Drugs, Dames, Dudes, Depression, Drink].

It appears that certain varieties of Christian faith [particularly the more fundamentalist approach regarding biblical inerrancy and literalism] does seem to offer psychological support for those with prior issues of addiction or mental health problems. Perhaps it is the conviction in absolute certainty.

I often wonder how many on this site had issues with any or or all of the 5 Ds prior to finding the Lord.


Edit to add: Your avatar takes me back. I actually dug out my copy and played it again.

[Cow Poke]

Given what I have read and those who have given me their testimonials I also suspect [at least among the "born again" variety of Christian] that a lot of conversions come from those suffering from the 5 Ds [Drugs, Dames, Dudes, Depression, Drink].

It appears that certain varieties of Christian faith [particularly the more fundamentalist approach regarding biblical inerrancy and literalism] does seem to offer psychological support for those with prior issues of addiction or mental health problems. Perhaps it is the conviction in absolute certainty.

I often wonder how many on this site had issues with any or or all of the 5 Ds prior to finding the Lord.


Edit to add: Your avatar takes me back. I actually dug out my copy and played it again.

No such issues.

[Juvenal]

In God's opinion.

My God says otherwise.

[Cow Poke]

My God says otherwise.

That's just your opinion.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

No such issues.

I am very glad to read that. However, it seems apparent that there are those that do find the Lord after some sort of addiction and/or other psychological issue [including jail time].

[Cow Poke]

I am very glad to read that. However, it seems apparent that there are those that do find the Lord after some sort of addiction and/or other psychological issue [including jail time].

Yes, and many have major changes in their lives to the good.

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

Yes, and many have major changes in their lives to the good.

Why is it that so often the Five Ds lead to religious conversion?

What does the religious experience represent or [more likely] replace?

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

In God's opinion.

Can an omniscient and omnipotent Creator Being hold an "opinion"?

Opinion: a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.

[my emphasis]

[rogue06]

That is your opinion premised on your religion and your religious beliefs. Followers of other religions would offer their opinions premised on their religious beliefs.

However, that still leaves unanswered the question "which direction is the right direction?"

Speaking of "that is your opinion"

H_A-dude.gif


You got the answer but didn't like it.

[rogue06]

Well of course it is an opinion. That is glaringly obvious.

H_A-dude.gif

I wonder if everyone she asks a question of gets a sneering "That's just your opinion" in response.

[rogue06]

Some people seem to forget that fact.

H_A-dude.gif

Most folks understand it when they ae expressing an opinion.

[Juvenal]

That would all be the second step or challenge after getting them to realize that God exists -- pointing them in the right direction.

I grew up in a fairly mainstream protestant Christian tradition that allowed it was just possible that some Catholics were saved. Catholics. Ya know, the folks who sorted through the reams of Baby Jesus Gospel fairy tales and assorted frauds before deciding which handful of letters asserting themselves as "from Paul" were close enough to maybe written by him to be useful for instruction.

And which y'all then decided were definitely written by your God.

So good luck on that.

But if you want to pull back the curtain and acknowledge you're looking to convince folks the Biblical Jesus worshipped most typically by evangelicals is the one, true heavenly king, I've long since noted the most clear, unambiguous argument has been staring at you out of your scriptures all along. That's what would work for me.

But until then, I'll keep noting that there's nothing your Jesus is reportedly able to do that the idea of your Jesus hasn't been doing just as well for the last couple millennia.