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At the start of 2014, former Seventh-Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell made an unusual New Year's resolution: to live for one year without God. This, reflecting his own loss of faith. He kept a blog documenting his journey and has a documentary crew following him.

After a year, Bell tells NPR's Arun Rath, "I've looked at the majority of the arguments that I've been able to find for the existence of God and on the question of God's existence or not, I have to say I don't find there to be a convincing case in my view.

"I don't think that God exists. I think that makes the most sense of the evidence that I have and my experience. But I don't think that's necessarily the most interesting thing about me."

Today, Bell has a new job at PATH, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless.

"It's, I think, an expression of really the part of me that hasn't changed. I'm still the same person deep down that I was before. I care about justice and equality and I want to see opportunities spread more evenly in our society," Bell says.

Bell says he still feels like atheism is "an awkward fit," and also feels uncomfortable around his former Christian friends who are adjusting to his new views.

One of his biggest lessons from the year is "that people very much value certainty and knowing and are uncomfortable saying that they don't know."

Now he thinks certainty is a bit overrated.

"I think before I wanted a closer relationship to God and today I just want a closer relationship with reality," Bell says.

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Jennifer Best, my Friend,

 

If there is no God -- then why do continually seek proof that He does not exist?  Having ancestors from Ireland, I find the stories about leprechauns and fairies entertaining and amusing.  But, since I do not believe in them -- I spend absolutely no time or effort attempting to prove that they do not exist.

 

I write about God, Jesus Christ, and the Christian faith BECAUSE I know He does exist -- and I know that every single person WILL stand before Him in judgment.  I share about Him because I want to see more people choosing to spend eternity in His presence, instead of out of His presence.

 

Yet, you, and virtually all atheists, who supposedly KNOW that He does not exist -- spend a great deal of effort, energy, and time attempting to disprove God.  Could you not put that time, energy, and effort to much better use?  

 

Why do you fight against a God who does not exist?

 

You might say that you do it because Christians like me are always talking and writing about Him. Why should that bother you?  If what you say, that God does not exist, is true -- then it is WE Christians who are wasting our time and effort.  If that is true, then that is keeping us out of your hair and out of your business, isn't it?

 

OR, do you, down deep, really know that God does exists -- and you are hoping that by not acknowledging Him -- you will not be held responsible to Him after this life?  My Friend, I hate to bring you the bad news -- but He does exist and YOU will be held responsible for the choice you make in this life:  follow Him into heaven -- or deny Him into hell.

 

Until that last breath, you still have time.   Please, use it wisely.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

1 John 4-10

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  • 1 John 4-10
Originally Posted by INVICTUS:

Seventh-Day Adventist, there's your answer, all the guy needs is a big

double hamburger w/ bacon. If there's no God, we still got bacon. As

a matter of fact, churches are being emptied at a very fast rate. The trend

today is less or no religion.  

I guess it's whatever a person needs to cope with reality; I don't need bacon or religion but I do enjoy ice cream on occasion.

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God

The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?

ENLARGE
Corbis

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 21 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn’t be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn’t assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Ever wonder how many through the years didn't believe, but out of fear went about their lives pretending, and now people are realizing they don't have to do that?

_______

What aggravates me is those people "Christians" that don't want to hear about Atheism, or why you became an Atheist. It's Ok for them to preach/promote God/Religion, but they don't want to hear an Atheist promoting or talking about Atheism.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Ever wonder how many through the years didn't believe, but out of fear went about their lives pretending, and now people are realizing they don't have to do that?

_______

What aggravates me is those people "Christians" that don't want to hear about Atheism, or why you became an Atheist. It's Ok for them to preach/promote God/Religion, but they don't want to hear an Atheist promoting or talking about Atheism.

-------------------------

I'm guessing it's the same one/ones that think theirs should be the only beliefs, and when not attacking atheists are after the catholics, mormons and any denomination that dares have a different way of worshiping, even though they ALL believe in a god. I'm guessing it's the one/ones that some believe, according to their bible, sinned by divorcing, not honoring their mother, and/or doing other things. They can either get over it or not get over it. They don't own the forum, it is here for anyone with an opinion, and there's always 'block' if they don't like what someone posts.

Last edited by Bestworking
Originally Posted by INVICTUS:

Seventh-Day Adventist, there's your answer, all the guy needs is a big double hamburger w/ bacon. If there's no God, we still got bacon. As a matter of fact, churches are being emptied at a very fast rate. The trend today is less or no religion.  

_______

I don't know why his being a Seventh-Day Adventist would be the answer. The people that have become Atheist came out of many kinds of Religions. Seventh-Day wouldn't be any different than any Religion. Those people "Christians" that are emptying the churches either have no idea why or don't care.

Vic, the way you talk/make fun of & put down anything to do with Christianity/Religion/God/Bible, I think you're a closet Atheist but for some reason you're to scared to come out.

Originally Posted by daddy joe:

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God

The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?

ENLARGE
Corbis

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 21 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn’t be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn’t assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).

Aliens exist; I saw a family pod of them just yesterday at Walmart.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by INVICTUS:

Seventh-Day Adventist, there's your answer, all the guy needs is a big double hamburger w/ bacon. If there's no God, we still got bacon. As a matter of fact, churches are being emptied at a very fast rate. The trend today is less or no religion.  

_______

I don't know why his being a Seventh-Day Adventist would be the answer. The people that have become Atheist came out of many kinds of Religions. Seventh-Day wouldn't be any different than any Religion. Those people "Christians" that are emptying the churches either have no idea why or don't care.

Vic, the way you talk/make fun of & put down anything to do with Christianity/Religion/God/Bible, I think you're a closet Atheist but for some reason you're to scared to come out.

You're wrong semi, I ain't scared of nothing, except that one thing. But I

have always liked Christians. When I saw the money Jim Bakker was making

I started selling autographed pictures of Jesus. I don't know what that Hebrew

word meant but no one else did either and they all seemed to want one

or two. I love America, and Canada, they aren't too smart either

 

Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
You're wrong semi, I ain't scared of nothing, except that one thing. But I have always liked Christians. When I saw the money Jim Bakker was making I started selling autographed pictures of Jesus. I don't know what that Hebrew word meant but no one else did either and they all seemed to want one or two. I love America, and Canada, they aren't too smart either

______

I like you, Vic, I always have. But if I believed in God, & made fun of everything about Him as you do, I would be terrified of the day I would stand before Him. At the end, the Pope won't be able to save you. But then, you may not believe in God either.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
You're wrong semi, I ain't scared of nothing, except that one thing. But I have always liked Christians. When I saw the money Jim Bakker was making I started selling autographed pictures of Jesus. I don't know what that Hebrew word meant but no one else did either and they all seemed to want one or two. I love America, and Canada, they aren't too smart either

______

I like you, Vic, I always have. But if I believed in God, & made fun of everything about Him as you do, I would be terrified of the day I would stand before Him. At the end, the Pope won't be able to save you. But then, you may not believe in God either.

An Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God.

 
Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

I like you, Vic, I always have. But if I believed in God, & made fun of everything about Him as you do, I would be terrified of the day I would stand before Him. At the end, the Pope won't be able to save you. But then, you may not believe in God either.

_______

Originally Posted by INVICTUS:

An Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God.

____

Do you intentionally misunderstand what I say or is it because you're possibly pizzed at me? Did I say an Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God?

There's two ways I could take what you said. If your remark is intended for me, I said "if I believed in God", not that I did.

If you were intending it for you, that remark told me that you don't believe in God either.

quote:  Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
An Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God.  

Vic, my Friend,

 

A blind man does not worry about the truck coming toward him either.  But, just because he does not see the truck, and does not believe folks who tell him the truck is coming -- does not make the truck less real.

 

The same is true of God.  An atheist might really believe there is no God (which I highly doubt) and a vanilla flavored non-believer may just not have time for God.  BUT, both WILL stand before the same God, Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne Judgment.  And, the eternal fate of both will be the same (Revelation 20:15).

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Believe Now - Or Later-1

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  • Believe Now - Or Later-1
Last edited by Bill Gray
Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
 
Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

I like you, Vic, I always have. But if I believed in God, & made fun of everything about Him as you do, I would be terrified of the day I would stand before Him. At the end, the Pope won't be able to save you. But then, you may not believe in God either.

_______

Originally Posted by INVICTUS:

An Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God.

____

Do you intentionally misunderstand what I say or is it because you're possibly pizzed at me? Did I say an Atheist doesn't worry about standing before God?

There's two ways I could take what you said. If your remark is intended for me, I said "if I believed in God", not that I did.

If you were intending it for you, that remark told me that you don't believe in God either.

sem, I'm sure I can't "intentionally" misunderstand, that would be a double

negative of the brain and render me unconscious. I'm not pizzed off at anyone

except Artmore lattimore lll. My remark (as you put it) wasn't intended for

you, it was intended for all the deep thinkers. Not being one of those myself,

I just thought I would pass that along to the deeper ones. And I didn't accurse

anyone of believing in God or anything. Although I do believe in capitalism.

 

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