Theists: are you really sure in your own mind?

Question

that the atheists might not be right, after all?

I'm not referring to any one religion, necessarily...but, seriously...are you all that positive that there truly is, somewhere, a Creator...a Mind, if you will...that does exist, and that is vitally concerned about each of us?

Do you ever wonder whether atheists might not have more freedom to live their lives without religious constrictions? Do you think you might be missing out on something?

Please be polite. There is nothing intelligent about making fun of what you do not understand, or do not share. All you show with condescending attitudes is that sour grapes only produce whine...
As always, bashers and trolls will not be considered for the Best Answer...

Answer 1

Not at all! How can I imagine what God is like even with the texts and narratives provided by the faith I've chosen to follow--they don't lay it all out for me, so there are infinite gaps in my understanding. There are some who can just believe and never doubt but I am not one of these. The material world and my daily existence are the basis of my experience. Belief is an effort, a search, a choice, and hope comes into play as far as whether or not it is going to turn out to be true. Having said all this, I do choose to believe, most days, and some days feel my belief is justified. In the end I think belief adds a dimension to life, rather than otherwise.

Answer 2

Do you ever wonder whether atheists might not have more freedom to live their lives without religious constrictions? Do you think you might be missing out on something?

Such as? Sleeping around like an animal? Lieing stealing, cheeting? Cusing like a mad man? Agreeing with the killing of pre-born children? Believing that we out of all of the planets just happend to be at the right spot, at the right time, with the right stuff, for life to come about?

What are we missing? Loving and being faithful to our spouse. not woring about pluging up our children's ears or covering thier eyes when some filth pops on tv?

So to answer your question No.

Answer 3

No, I am not completely sure -- I know that I am a human being, subject to committing errors of thought and perception. For that reason, I call myself an agnostic Wiccan.

Is the Divine vitally concerned about each of us? I honestly can't say, because I believe that the ultimate nature of the Divine is fundamentally beyond human comprehension. Can I connect with what I perceive to be Divinity, and communicate with Him/Her? Yes, but again, that might be some flaw in my own processing of the data.

I was an atheist for many years, so I have some idea of what it is like to be one. The only real difference that choosing to investigate theism has made in my life is that it has added a different dimension of perception and appreciation of the world around me -- Wicca is not a religion that is typically highly rule-bound. I chose Wicca because its theosophy resonated for me and because its moral code most closely fit my pre-existing system of ethics.

Answer 4

There are many experiences in my life that have led me to believe God is who He says He is in the Bible. As well as many historical/scientific reasons and supporting proofs for Christianity. But the basis of my belief is based on faith. That means that in all actuality, in regards to your question, no I'm not absolutely positive that there is God and even more so that Jesus is that God. But no one can believe anything and be 100% certain of it. Are you absolutely, without a doubt, 100% sure that there is not a God? If not, then your belief is based on faith as well. Anything we do not know for sure but still believe, for whatever reasons, is based on the fact that we have a certain amount of faith that what we believe is in fact true. If a husband goes away on a business trip, the wife must have faith in her husband that he is not sleeping around on her all week long. Faith is trust. As for whether we're missing out on freely living life, again we could be. But if we're right then you are missing out on a life full of true joy and security, a relationship with the most powerful being in existence, and an eternal afterlife in heaven. And all the things that we are trying to restrain ourselves from, such as pre-marital sex etc. etc., will actually bring more joy here in this life because that is what God made us for. Sin is not a bunch of treats God dangles in front of us and says, "I know you want it but don't take it"- rather it's a bunch garbage that satan brought into this world and God is telling us, "don't take it, it 'll make your life so much harder."

Again, I've had countless experiences tat lead me to believe in christianity as well as lots of historical verification for the validity of the Bible. Even still though, you are right that I could be wrong. But anyone can be wrong, infact chances are that most of the world throughout all of history has been either wrong or agnostic (which means "I don't know") about what the ultimate truth is. I put my marbles in the basket that proves itself to me the most within the here and now - which is the christian basket.

Answer 5

I find it interesting that your question supposes that there is less freedom in the life of a theist than in the life of an atheist.

Jesus said those who follow him would be truly free, and we are. We are free from sin and free from a life that is self-centered that results in misery and death. We are healed in the mind, whereas the atheist is a prisoner to his own atheism. There is no hope, and when they are dead, it can hardly be said they ever lived.

As far as being positive regarding God, I have had my validation that was undeniable. There is a dimension of thought here that is outside the grasp of man without God's Spirit.

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Answer 6

I am an atheist, and I observe some people who are not really sure of the beliefs they claim to have. My oldest sister is an example of this. My kid sister and I took Philosophy in college, and I took Bible history too. My oldest sister has a tantrum if my kid sister or I even mention taking anything that relates to religion in college. I see confusion and fear in her. She is afraid to face doubts she has about her beliefs. It is easier on her to become violently angry and insult us and all college people. I see someone has copied for several answers 5 proofs that some gods exists. This is no proof at all. Anything most such people mindlessly repeat can be used just as well to prove the existence of Ahuramazda, Allah, Brahma, Zeus, Odin, etc. as Moses' god Yahweh. Actually, no one can really prove any gods exist.

Answer 7

What is the question of freedom? We are under the grip of the laws of material nature. The atheist are puppet of the modes of material nature, they are forced to act according the dictations of their minds and senses, that is manipulated by their intelligence which it is slave of their material and temporary useless plans created by their lusty desires to lord it over nature.
If there is nature with its laws, then must be a controller a lawyer. Nature is acting under the direction of God, which is one of His energies. Either we are controlled by nature or controlled by God.

Answer 8

Atheists: are you sure you are in YOUR own mind?

If you are right, and evolution is ultimately true, that pulsing blob of evolved matter within our skulls is nothing more than exactly that - our thoughts are random misfiring of molecules and we should not trust our thinking... so how could I believe atheism, or anything else for that matter...

Answer 9

i am an atheist, and i dont think tha im absolutly right, i want to make that clear. if you believe in it, your religion is correct. i dont think it gives us any thes contrictions then those of a high reliodgion. we still have to follow laws like every other citizen. and the fact if you wanted to break a commandment, you would, its all choice. i think we are just as equal as those of catholic religion, or satanist, or hindi.

Answer 10

my religious constrictions as you put it, in no way affects the happiness and fulfillment of my life, it only enhances it.....

i've never yearned or longed to do something that goes against those "constrictions" ...