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I have yet to be convinced that you have actually looked.

I once was a frothing at the mouth atheist.
Angry that people actually believed in such nonsense.

But now.

I am pantheist.
God IS everything. Not disconnected from creation. Matter is the physical manifestation of what we call God. Even the spark of life, the molecular attraction and what binds sub atomic particles. We are all part of God.

I'm God.

It is both very easy and emotionally convenient to become an atheist; it is actually harder to be a believer in the afterlife.

Believing in an afterlife, in a God, in a prime mover, is actually harder than being an agnostic or an atheist. One has to work hard to maintain faith. But, in choosing which is easier to follow: God's presence is more tangible, more realistic, and more closer, than any non-belief.

OverBoy: religion, faith, and belief are not things someone can force on you or mandate. However, lack of religion, faith, and belief leave a vacuuum wherein all is left is despair.

Camp David

I think you cant really make a statement like that and know what youre talking about because even you said that you cant imagine life without a creator.

Its interesting to think about how all information is only based on interpretation of evidence. Even the most solid scientific theories are still only based on human perception and reasoning, and therefore fallible.

Plus, all humans have the same basic makeup, and in general the same capacity to make intelligent choices.

Based on those two things, if someone decides that they believe that the sky is green, that a camera will capture their soul, or that evolution is or isnt true, or whatever religious concepts they believe in (or reject)- none of them really show any one person to be more credulous than another. We all believe what we trust or want.

Isn't life hard enough without all the work required to maintain a faith in something so widely disputed and intangible? Just maintaining a basic do-on-to-others philosophy is a burden these days; I can't subscribe to blind allegiance of any kind.

I should have indicated this up front, but
Omega (thanks Omega) already caught it in
his post.

For your first response indicate what God(s)
you subscribe to, this will make the conversation
more robust. So:

over = Atheist.

Omega, the search for faith has been ongoing,
this (even though its on a message board) is another
extension of that search.

The pantheist concept is beautiful and comforting.
It is a belief that appears to satisfy a deep-seeded need
to believe that you/we are not alone (not judging,
just commenting), a rationalization (again not judging)
of the universe-at-large and our place within it.

Camp David, my response will seem confused, but
bear with me.  I didn't come to Atheism as a means of
convenience.  I am amazed, almost jealous, at a persons
ability to (not judging) blindly believe and attribute
both beautiful and painful events to a greater plan.

The order of things is what originally brought
me to agnosticism, from catholicism, first, rather than
straight to atheism.  Belief is hard, I know because
I've struggled for years to have it, but here I am.

I don't see this as a place of despair, faith is a
great thing, but its not everything.  Removing faith
has lead me to do more self-contemplating than I think
is done by most, and there is no despair in it.

I had this discussion with the reverend of my mother's
church once a few years ago.  He's given me the clearest
guidance so far: You just have to believe. That is exactly
what I can't/am-not-willing-to do.

- over

OverBoy rationalized and said:

"That is exactly what I can't/am-not-willing-to do"

But you were willing to post a topic called "There Is No God" just the day before the most holy day of the year, Christmas, the birth of Christ. You did this to provoke reaction, which it has. You did not put in the post title that you don't believe in God, merely that  "There Is No God", so I assume you are trying to convert those of us who believe, as we believers may try to convert you.

No dice OverBoy... you see, I even believe that God had a hand in creating you; and that's quite a stretch! Merry Christmas!

Camp David

OverBoy rationalized and said:

"That is exactly what I can't/am-not-willing-to do"

But you were willing to post a topic called "There Is No God" just the day before the most holy day of the year, Christmas, the birth of Christ. You did this to provoke reaction, which it has. You did not put in the post title that you don't believe in God, merely that  "There Is No God", so I assume you are trying to convert those of us who believe, as we believers may try to convert you.

No dice OverBoy... you see, I even believe that God had a hand in creating you; and that's quite a stretch! Merry Christmas!

Camp David

CD, you may not agree with OverBoy...but you can't even respect his views? Nice, humble "Christian" response, really!

On the day before Christmas, no less! Sweet Jesus!

...just the day before the most holy day of the year...

You mean the roman celebration of Saturnalia, which was then "converted" into the Lord's birthday party?

punkgeek:

Reread my posts, I gave him the benefit of the doubt! However, it was he, not I, that originated this topic, "There Is No God", on the day before Christmas, no less! Sweet Jesus!

punkgeek, point thy finger at thy right guilty party thy swine!

Camp David

Overboy
I found the path to atheism was one filled with hate and spite.
It was too consuming.

Camp David, you've pointed out one of
my biggest obstacles: Blasphemy.

___| Camp David
___| However, it was he, not I, that originated
___| this topic, "There Is No God", on the day
___| before Christmas, no less! Sweet Jesus!

In my mind the ability to openly question is
fundamental to growth. I need understanding,
and the idea of Blasphemy contradicts that need in
very damaging ways.

I appreciate the need to show reverance to authority,
I dont' understand why, even if presented in proper
context, it is disallowed. Its another challenge of faith
that I simply can't step into.

Believe as you wish, do as you feel best, I'm here to
listen and understand, not convert.

Happy Holidays.

Omega, you are absolutely correct. And this
applies to me as well. I am angry at 'God' and spiteful
(for reasons that aren't appropriate for these forums).
But my current 'belief' still remains.

- over