I had rather see a person find it within themselves to overcome. Because then it's real, no going back, they haven't exchanged one crutch for another.(your god) When a person turns their life around on their own it "sticks". No "backsliding", no constant worrying that they might make a misstep, no fretting that they might not be pleasing a god, they just move forward and live. I have heard many people through out my life talk about the things they were doing like drinking, drugs, running around, and one day they just "woke up" and ask themselves what the heck were they doing. No praying, no finding god, no "heavenly" intervention, just them deciding they weren't going to act like a fool, keep ruining their life and hurting their loved ones anymore. I guess you can say their common sense, love for their family, and desire to survive finally took over. They found their worth.
I've heard christians say that humans are "weak" and need the lord to keep them strong and on the "right path". That's so wrong in so many ways and it is the wrong message to send to a young impressionable person or adult. They should be taught they are worth something and that anything they need for true happiness is right there inside them to tap into. To me, a person claiming a god is responsible for their happiness is selling themselves short and giving up on themselves, and it is not a "cure". They've only put a bandage on the wound instead of healing it as they have the power to do, and they can't live a truly happy life because they worry constantly that the wound is going to get worse. So they have to keep applying that bandage.
So no bill, no one is interested in stopping anyone from doing "good", I wish you could do a bit of good but you aren't wired that way, You're way to busy fretting over your gaping wound.
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Jenn, you bring up some good points & I agree with you.
People can make their Christian existence miserable & make it miserable for the people around them. I don't think God intended it to be that way, it's a human flaw within their self to be perfect & shove religion down the throat of others. I've never seen any instance in the Bible where God shoved it down anyone's throat or tried to force it on people like Bill does.
I know someone that thought his inner worth was dependent on how God saw him so he strove for years to be perfect, & it made him a miserable human being.
You have to feel sorry for people like Bill. He' s trying to "work" himself into Heaven by winning many stones for his crown. I've said many times that I don't believe Bill is a Christian & I stand by that. He does have a gaping wound & evidently doesn't realize it or just chooses to ignore it.
If you are truly happy in your existence as an Atheist, let go of your anger toward God & the people that try to shove their belief down your throat. You can discuss your Atheism & opinion of religion w/o anger. I say this with respect because I think of you as my friend & because I like you. For someone that says they don't believe in God, you come across as someone that's very angry with Him. How can you be angry with something you don't believe in?
I'm not an Atheist. I can't say 100% that He doesn't exist. Why? Because I feel that anger too. I finally decided that I can't say He doesn't exist because of the anger I do feel toward Him. Is it my raising, because I was taught to believe? I don't know. I just know that if He exist, I would like to see prayers answered. I would love to see those miracles that the Bible speaks of. I would like to see more Christians show the love/compassion the Bible speaks of instead of so much condemnation from them.
I in no way mean to offend you with my opinion. I think you are a precious human being that has been hurt & ridiculed for your opinion & the way you believe, IF you really believe the way you say. And sometimes it gets to be a little much. Been there, done that.