Christians: I'm an atheist. Suppose I suddenly believe that I have a soul, and I fear damnation. Given that...

Question

every religion justifies its beliefs with faith rather than reason, what basis is there for me to determine which religion is the "right" one? If all religions appeared equally invalid to me as an atheist, then what basis is there for believers to determine whether or not another religion is equally valid to their own, if each religion claims its validity lies in the faith of its followers?

Do you Christians have any evidence or logical reasons to present to non-Christians that would show them that your beliefs are correct, and theirs aren't?

Answer 1

I want to know wtf is 'Salvation' as Mr. Fish states. It must be different from just ordinary 'salvation' because he's capitalized the first letter. These non-atheists spout out these terms like, salvation, sin, evil etc, that seem to hold so much meaning for them but to me, they're just words with a basic meaning.

Answer 2

As a Christian, I will tell you that YOU DON"T HAVE A SOUL!!!!
You are a soul.
In the Bible, soul is translated from the Hebrew ne'phesh and the Greek word psy-khe'. The Bible usage shows the soul to be a person or an animal Or the LIFE that person or animal enjoys. To many persons, how ever the "soul" means the immaterial or spirit part of a human being that survives death of the physical body. Some others view it as a principal of life. These are NOT bible teachings.
As a bible student, I will quote only scriptures that you should go to a library and read regarding the mortal soul, or LIFE BREATH of any creature.
Genesis2:7
Genesis9:5
Genesis 1:20,21,24,25
Leviticus 24:17,18
Joshua 11:11
Ezekiel 18:4
Acts3:231 Corinthians 15:45
1Peter 3:20
Revelation 16:3
Ecclesiastes 12:7 3:19
Hebrews 4:12\Psalms 146:4

No where in the bible does an immortal soul of a human or animal exist in scripture.
So NO HELL and DAMNATION because the Bible also teaches that the wages of sinning is death, and when you die your sins are paid for.! You can find that in Romans 6:23 For the wages sin pays is death!

Bet that they didn't show these scriptures to you in Sunday School!
Want more? e-mail me through the questions site!

Answer 3

First start reading your Bible at the Gospel of John. Its the best for people who are wondering if Jesus is who He says He is, Isn't that the question, The Bible says over in Romans that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God, so reading your Bible must be your first step. Did any of your family ever go to Church. Start attending services if you want toknow if God is real, but when you feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit come over you, it maybe a chill up your back or arm or some people breakout in a sweat and there heart burns within them, its different for everyone but the point I am trying to make is that when God touches you and you ignore it you can't ask for anything more. When God revealed to me he was real was when I was 8 years old, I was in church and suddenly there was a voice in my heart saying you need to be saved. My heart was racing and I was sweating and crying and I knew something different was going on. I chose that day to accept Christ and become a born again Christian. And there is a difference between being christian and being a true Born Again Christian, true Christianity will take you to Heaven, anything else willnot and you will see that there is a church full of people playing church every
Sunday, that isn't what you are looking for, Please if you have any questions send me an email, And I pray I see you in Heaven someday and we can sit around and rejoice about this. God Bless!!!

Answer 4

Religion is an expression of culture. Suppose I decide to buy a CD. What evidence or logical reason can you present to show me that I should choose one form of music over another? Suppose I want to buy a painting, move into a house, or pick out a new shirt?

Answer 5

It's what makes you feel content and at peace, what you believe. You study, and reconcile what you learn with both your logical and .spiritual minds, and find what makes you happy.

I think that there are many denominations to help people in growing--they find what makes sense to them at the time, and use that to progress. Kind of like grades and courses in school.

I have studied many different religions--and non-belief, too--and I have found something good about all of these.

So you too, should use your faith to find what makes you fulfilled

Answer 6

one!! depends on your version of logical proof for from the begining their have always been scoffers and who ask for proof.
two!! you dont have a soul the bible staes you yourself are aliving soul or in other words so its more easily understood you are a living being,, yes scoff all u want others too that dont believe this!! nevertheless its biblically accurate.
. three, ;;to show this we go to the bible alone to prove it gen; 2 v 7 . yes i know athiests dont read too well instructions, about their creation,, but neither do others that call themselves christians too. he!he!he!! so in that way you both are in the same boat!! it states this , and christians ,, dont read whats not written either!!--- AND GOD formed man from the dust of the earth stop a body is created . no life yet ,, see just a perfect body is formed and yet------- its not a live .. soooooooo -- what does GOD DO THEN?----------
-------- HE bends over his creation and --- breathes into his nostrils the breath of life,, does it say afterwards that man was given a soul then??? nooooo.. it then states MAN BECAME A LIVING BEING!! .--
QUESTION?? when GOD , created this man what two things were needed in order to have a living being?? / lets go back over it then ok?? first a body + breath = a living being . sorry nothing here that states the breath can live outside the body and live or that without the breath man himself is alive either . when is life force is removed at death it simply states it goes back to God,, NO LIFE IS IN THE BREATH HERE NO THOUGHTS no brain waves FOR THAT IS IN THE BODY, u need a body and the life force combined in order to think have feelings feel pain ..
Has anyone ever seen someone dead before?? DOES ANYONE that is dead feel pain? CAN THEY talk with you then?. your brain has to be activated to do this , and the thoughts perish at death psalms 6;5 psalms 146;3-4 .. that is where athiests get this wrong too from christians that dont know what they are talking about... they try to scare athiests into thinking they have a living soul after death ,, the bible itself says nooo.. the say you will burn forever in hell fire the bible in malachi ch 4 says NOOO!! .. hell fire is hot enough to burn them up like stubble..no ,, christians say to athiests the devil also will be in charge of hell.. this the bible says is not true also .. GOD says he will destroy the devil and all that do wickedly!!.. WE HAVE TO STICK WITH what GOD says alone and not some tradition that has been handed down from mouth to mouth for hundreds of years ,,
i salute u athiests for wanting truth alone and not some hate filled doctrine other christians spout out .GOD IS NOT ,,, GOD IS NOT SOME world dictator that tortures those HE created for endless years of eternity becuse they refused HIS love
,GOD is not like some jilted lover that plans vengence against someone cause they refused to be married to THEM ,, THIS IS WHAT ETERNITY is like a marriage AND to be married to someone you have to love them .. and love is unselfish in nature,, enough said already, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!! bro. murray . ..

Answer 7

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

Even though this is a logical statement, it takes faith to believe it.

Our faith is not blind. We come to God because we have sinned and he is merciful and a forgiving Father who does not wish that any perish and will not turn any away that comes to him by way of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

Read "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" they have the most convincing logical arguments that I have seen from any Christian I have read about or spoken with.

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Lee-Strobel/dp/0310226058/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195996791&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Faith-Journalist-Investigates-Christianity/dp/0310234697/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195996849&sr=1-1

I wanted to add something...
It takes just as much faith to be an atheist. You have to believe that some big bang or something happened way back when the earth became earth. You may believe that we developed by evolution of monkeys, does that not take some faith? Come on.

Answer 9

Christianity is about a personal relationship with God.
Religion is man made beliefs,traditions and rules that you have to follow in order to get to heaven.
Christianity is accepting that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven that only through the Son can we get to the Father and that's all we need because Jesus did everything for us that needs to be done to be right with God.
Religion teaches that by your own efforts and knowledge will you reach heaven that you yourself if you follow all the rules and do all the right things can get to heaven.
Religion stems from the tree of knowledge of good and evil which leads to sin.
A direct relationship with God is obtained by the tree of life which is Jesus Christ the son of God.
In the old testament the Holy Spirit dwelled within the Holy of Holies in the temple King Solomon built for God.
But ever since Jesus took care of the sin issue we can be forgiven of our sins and receive the Holy Spirit to indwell within us.
Now each of us who have the Holy Spirit within us is the Lords Temple and we are the bride which is the church.
When Jesus marries the church He isn't going to marry a building He's going to marry all of us who were saved and we will be United with Jesus as one for all of eternity.
Nowhere in the bible does it say we need to belong to a religion of any kind in order to be saved.
In fact I believe that religion becomes idol worship placing itself above God and making us worship it instead of worshiping God.
If we live by our own knowledge and understand we are going to make mistakes and we will never enjoy a close personal relationship with God through Jesus.
But if we live by the spirit we will completely enjoy the fullness of Gods grace and glorify him with every breath we take.

Jesus Himself was anti-religion and for good reason too.

All you need is Jesus my friend you don't need religion.

Answer 10

sure, go with the one that can support claims of prophecy.
Isaiah 53, Tyre, Cyrus, etc, etc,

go with one that started from being persecuted i.e. death (worse than slavery) to becoming the dominant religion on earth.

That should be a good one to go to.