A will to believe or a will not to believe?

Question

I have found that most atheists do not want to make the commitment you must make to follow the Lord. They use intellectual reasoning to denounce faith. When in fact they are unwilling to give up some parts of their lifestyle to follow God. In my studies I have learned that once you actually start to learn about Christ, the evidence in, and outside the bible is overwhelming that he does exist. Therefore as humans we must either have the will to believe, or the will not to believe. Any thoughts on this?

Wow I have a second part to this question now, if this is the Religion & Spirituality forum What are all you atheists looking for on here?

Answer 1

It would seem that I have been asked many questions recently concerning Romans 9. I guess this is no exception. No problem.

God does not want everybody. His word checks out on this. Many of the Atheists are vessels made for destruction. God sees to it that they are in place for destruction. He did not give them the ability to respond to Him.

Let me write that one more time, I said:

"He did not give them the ability to respond to Him."

So God does not want them. He made them just so that they would fail to be saved. Romans 9 even explains this concept.

Here, let me show you what I am talking about:

22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?

As in; those who are to be destroyed, while those who are not:

23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," 26 and,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
'You are not my people,'
they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "


So God raises people for destruction still. I got this out of the New Testament, and Romans is credited to have been written by the Apostle Paul - God's only chosen 'sent one' after the ascension.

And finally, Paul also wrote this in Romans 9:

16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

And so I am even more encouraged, and even more grateful to God that He chose me for mercy.

Answer 2

What "Lord" are you talking about?

EDIT: What evidence outside the bible? The brief, oblique mention by Josephus? I hope that's all you're referring to, because thats pretty much all you've got.

EDIT: "Wow I have a second part to this question now, if this is the Religion & Spirituality forum What are all you atheists looking for on here?"

It's called Yahoo Answers, you dolt! Atheists have just as much of a right be here as you. Atheists are here looking for answers just like you. To assume that only religious people are allowed in R&S is tantamount to saying that only accredited scientists can use the Science section.

And to answer your sermon about why atheists don't believe:

Is it so hard for you to wrap your myopic little brain around the fact that we quite simply do not buy into your archaic little fairytales? Why are you not a mormon? Let me guess - the book of mormon is a bunch of nonsense, right? And what lifestyle do we not want to give up? The lifestyle of Ted Haggard? Religion does not have a monopoly on morality. Ever heard of Nigeria - They're more religious than the US. Further, admitting to being an atheist in the US is akin to saying you're a nazi. Several states do not allow atheists to run for office. So, atheism, contrary to being a more enjoyable lifestyle is actually more difficult and detrimental than theism.

In fact, I could charge you with the same thing you charge me: It seems that you are unwilling to give up your god-following lifestyle because you fear death and the unknown and refuse to take responsibility for your own actions, preferring instead to heap the blame on some guy who may or may not have existed 2000 years ago.

Answer 3

" I have learned that once you actually start to learn about Christ, the evidence in, and outside the bible is overwhelming that he does exist."

Well, that goes completely against my experience.
I had made that commitment. That's not the problem.
It was in teaching the bible, and studying it to that end, that I realised that at core neither the bible nor Christianity are what they claim to be. And faith should only be placed in an object worthy of it.
Firm belief neither sanctifies itself nor its object, if misplaced.
Otherwise any fanatic would automatically be right.

You'll find plenty of atheists who can handle their bible more rigorously than many Christians.
But it's in knowing it that we know it's neither inerrant nor divinely inspired.
And in my case I spent many years trying to "make it so". Eventually I couldn't anymore. Not and keep a clear conscience.

(Oh, and Tuberoot's right about "made for destruction " in Romans 9, along with God's other "Potter's rights". That just takes a lot of squaring with certain other passages)

Answer 4

Sigh.... again we have someone here who believes that because others do not "follow God" in the same sense as him, that they have learned nothing of the Bible or Jesus or world religions. Why do so many people assume because someone has not chosen Christianity as their spiritual path, that they no nothing of it?

I have read the Bible, but I still do not find in it any "overwhelming evidence that God does exist." This is not to say I don't believe there is a God - but I have no more "proof" than anyone else.

Answer 5

I don not think that is the case. Many (though not all) atheists have given this matter a great deal of thought and attention. The same attention that you might have done. They have simply come to a vastly different conclusin then you have. But please do not simply assume that they are lazy.

Answer 6

"Christ" is a title, not a name. Learn the stuff you preach please.

Why don't you believe in the magical egyptian gods? Greek mythology? Some indian elephant with 50 arms? You should because you're going to go to their hell if you don't...

Answer 7

yes but you can't dismiss facts that can be proven. remember the bible as we know it today is an interpretation of an interpretation of a dead language. and as long as atheist, or whatever, contribute positively to society who cares what anyone's faith or no-faith is.

Answer 8

You are right. The ball is in the man's court, but some don't want to hit the ball back, and will not.

Answer 9

I don't believe that. Atheist (or at least the ones I know) truely believe that there is/are no God(s).

Answer 10

I will say it again. Atheism is not a choice.