Ihedinobi3:
In my opinion, this may only be another bait thread for Christians. It seems to me that you made your choice and lived it for seven years and you like your experience. So I cannot see what you would expect Christians to tell you. I would expect that you would dismiss Christianity as a fool's dream and ignore Christians while carrying on with this wonderful life you have made for yourself without God in it.

But, for what it is worth, I will humor you.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Truth that we Christians follow is not primarily about this life. Not many of us believers will have that easy a life. Many of us suffer broken marriages as a direct result of our Faith. Many of us suffer penury or at least economic "mediocrity" because we prioritize God's Truth. That is not to say that following Christ necessarily leads to misery. In fact, even in our sufferings, those of us who want to follow the Lord and stick to the program do find a joy and peace that cannot be explained by our circumstances. So, it is not about misery although being a Christian guarantees more suffering in this life than being an unbeliever will.

What Christians endure everything we endure for is the hope we have for the world to come. We look forward to a Resurrection whereby we will be rescued permanently from suffering. We look forward to eternal rewards and riches and glory that this world has not even a prayer at equalling. We look forward to a New Earth and New Heavens where everything is perfect and there is no more evil or injustice of any kind. That is what our true gain is.

For us, this life is a war, a labor, a test that we must endure everyday. We accept the gifts of work, family, friends and entertainment as some of the things the Lord gives us to make our journey bearable for us. But these things are not what we are Christians for. As your own experience proves, even a staunch atheist can have them and have them in abundance. Very few of the wealthiest people in the world are Christians after all. But only Christians expect what we have in this life to be made infinitely better in eternity.

DeSepiero:
What shall it profit a man if he gained the whole world [laughs] and lost his soul?

frank317:

I could but I have to practically shut my ears to Christian rantings... If only Christians practice the live and let live they preach. Recall this tread was create based on real life experience. People disturb me a lot with nonsense.

frank317:
In order words the worship of God is useless to life on earth... Only necessary for the hope of after life?

frank317:
Awww... Whats the difference between hoping for after life and not caring about after life?

frank317:
Thanks... So far, I see no reason why I should fast, vigil, pray, .... For me one thing I miss about Christianity is worship... I love singing and enjoying my own praise songs like I am the God I am singing to.
I still do it sometimes... Otherwise, I don't miss the guilt, need to please, feeling like I owe my life to anything, feeling like I am being watched, need to pretend, fasting, staying up all night, time wasted in praying...

I think being a atheist rocks

Ihedinobi3:

I can sympathize with you on that. But it is my policy to ignore things that I have decided have no value in my life. Perhaps you should do the same. It does make for something of a quieter, more focused life.

That would be the wrong way to read what I said. Life in this world for us Christians is a fight. It is a fight for everyone really but only Christians are actually taking on the enemy here. For that reason, following God is enormously important to us. In following Christ, we gain not only the resources but the training and company we need to get from here to the Goal that God set for all human beings.

Being a Christian, for example, gives me a different perspective on work, family/friends and entertainment - if I am doing a good job of being a Christian, that is - than you as an unbeliever possess.

I'm afraid I don't understand your question.

Rock on then, friend.

I do admit that while there is a great deal of value in fasting, it is something that I find very imprudent to do in my own life. And I neither attend nor particularly recommend vigils to anyone. I think it would take special circumstances for me to do so. As for prayer, what could a believer do without it? In an earthly army, supply lines are everything. Being able to put in a request and have it met is a huge morale booster for any army. How much more for believers fighting through this world?

But I think the real problem here may be a poor understanding of Christianity on your part. I don't say that to insult you. It is entirely possible that you were a Christian for several years before you decided to become an atheist. But not everything that wears a label is true to its name. Christianity, first and foremost, is about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's it: just believing in the Lord Jesus Christ Who was God but also took on humanity so that He could die for our sins and rescue us from certain eternal condemnation.

Then after that is a diligent commitment to learning the Truth of the Bible and adapting to it through the help of the Holy Spirit. And this is something you do not only in the Power of God but with responsibility to God alone so that the pressure of "appearing holy" to other people really has no place in true Christianity. Anyone who is diligent in the Truth eventually finds themselves changing in the best and most authentic way so that they know for sure that God is pleased with them and man cannot really and honestly find fault with them. But this is not to say that we can be perfect, no. Our bodies are corrupted with sin so perfection will remain out of reach until the Resurrection. But we will certainly find that in all the ways that it truly matters, we are becoming better people.

So, it's not about a mechanical system of praying, fasting, going to vigils, attending church every Sunday and not doing this or making sure to do that. If anything is a good thing to do or a bad thing that we should abstain from, as we continue to learn the Truth and believe it, we soon find inside of ourselves the strength to do it or abstain from it. How it happens is nothing short of miraculous in my experience. I had quite given up on myself before I learned this. And I am sharing it with you in case you might be willing to consider it.

frank317:

unfortunately u really cannot advise me on how i react to things i see in life.

frank317:
i simply challenged u to tell me just tow things u enjoy in THIS life as a christian that i dont enjoy as an atheist. if there is none, tell me there is non. your answer above has nothing to do with my question.

frank317:
you are doing a good job being a christian and i am also doing a good job being a atheist. pls what two things about life as a christian makes you better than me, an atheist.

frank317:
you live ur life hoping for a better after life, i live my life not caring one bit after after life... what's the difference between me and u

frank317:
since u fast and pray, tell me two things about ur life that are better than mine.

frank317:
Christianity is all about Faith in Christ, and this is what you think i dont understand about Christianity? what else should i think Christianity is? what has this got to do with my question?

frank317:
ok... so what two things do you have as a christian that i dont have as an atheist.


pls answer my question... thanks

Ihedinobi3:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Truth that we Christians follow.......

LOL
CHRISTIANS ALWAYS SPEAK OF "THE TRUTH"..
AND WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION TO HEAR THIS TRUTH YOU'LL DISCOVER IT'S THE USUAL SIMILAR NONSENSE THEIR PARENTS AND PREACHERS PUT IN THEIR HEADS.

hahn:
For as long as I can remember I have never really believed in any god. I always felt embarrassed when I was in church because it always seemed like I was doing something stupid.

Since I dumped God in the trash where it belongs I can boldly say my life has gotten better. I take responsibility of my affairs and I don't live in fear of an almighty God whose sole purpose is to burn people in hell just because it likes the smell of suya.

I am also happily married with a beautiful son and he just turned one yesterday and from what I project life is only going to get better.

All that time wasted praying to a god is better spent playing with my son, building my businesses and meditating on building my empire and creating the best life for my family.

There is only one place God belongs and that is in the

frank317:


You know, I pondered on this before opening the thread... Why so much noise about God when its absolutely useless for our survival or better life.

Its not enough that God cannot be seen, heard or even felt... He is also useless in our daily life... Why so much noise about something so meaningless?

Ihedinobi3:

It's your life. I don't presume to know how to live it better than you. I was only saying that there may be an alternative to starting threads like this one when Christians make a point of troubling you because of your choices.

I already answered that.

It is for the Lord to decide whether or not I am doing a good job as a Christian.

What we call hope is confidence concerning something we cannot see yet. Just thought to explain that a little more.

My confusion is that you just stated the difference between you and me so I am not sure what you expect me to say in answer to your question.

As I said, fasting is imprudent and impractical for me although it is a very valuable exercise but, yes, I do pray.

I was only explaining that Christianity is not a checklist of activities as you seemed to me to think it is.

My answer was in my first post.

CAPSLOCKED:


LOL
CHRISTIANS ALWAYS SPEAK OF "THE TRUTH"..
AND WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION TO HEAR THIS TRUTH YOU'LL DISCOVER IT'S THE USUAL SIMILAR NONSENSE THEIR PARENTS AND PREACHERS PUT IN THEIR HEADS.

frank317:


You know, I pondered on this before opening the thread... Why so much noise about God when its absolutely useless for our survival or better life.

Its not enough that God cannot be seen, heard or even felt... He is also useless in our daily life... Why so much noise about something so meaningless?

frank317:

This is not what the thread is all about.

frank317:
No u haven't. Ur response actually suggested God is useless to this life but Christian only hold unto him for hope of internal life... U are here to believe and suffer for Christ while hoping for a better after life. U have said nothing to show ur life as a christian will be better than mine as an atheist.
In fact, I challenge you to name one thing (instead of 2) that makes ur life on earth better as a christian than mine as an atheist.


OK... So back to my question.



Oga how does ur hoping in after life and me not caring about after life make u a better human than me.


Errrr... Still waiting for my answer



No u havent

frank317:
I know what Christianity is.

Ihedinobi3:



Then I told you explicitly that this life is a war for Christians, a test and a labor so we have a harder time of it than unbelievers do.

hahn:


It would seem that humans crave subjugation, to quote Loki, and we always look for something to serve and worship be it politicians, pastors, imams, celebrities or a god. This craving blocks our mind from reasoning and that is why you see many people proudly claiming they are sheep.

They feel they are not worth great things and even when they do achieve great things they would rather attribute it to a "higher power" and the mystery behind a hide and seek god aids this self condemnation.

Hypocrisy is also a factor as religion enables theists do bad things in the name of their god.

It is a complex psychological issue

hahn:


Then what use is your god if you have to suffer more than unbelievers?

Ihedinobi3:

I refer you again to my first post. I made no claims regarding having a better life here on earth.

In fact, I told you that if you have such a wonderful life here on earth without God and like it too, then it makes no sense to be so troubled about what Christians believe and try to push on you.

Your whole concern is what you can get in this life and you have got it and are getting it. You should be happy and unconcerned about whatever it is we Christians are so gung-ho about. That was what I told you.

Then I told you explicitly that this life is a war for Christians, a test and a labor so we have a harder time of it than unbelievers do. So, it is not about this life for us but about the world to come.

But you interpreted that to mean that God is useless for this life and I told you that that was the wrong way to read what I said. Clearly, Christians would not survive this war without God's Help. Some, like yourself for example, have given up and just deserted Christ's Army and joined up with the Enemy to actively attack and damage the Church now. Many more are just avoiding the fight but refusing to fully desert themselves, that is, they are incredibly lukewarm. The very few who take it seriously enough to really push hard for progress are not having anything like an easy time in this life. They wouldn't last a moment without God's Help. And God helps them in a vast number of ways with jobs or economic support in one form or another, family and friends, sometimes devoted spouses and whatnot. God gives them just the right sort of help they need to keep marching forward. So, of course, God is critical to them in this life. They don't think the world is all that even if you do. But they are not irresponsible Luddites either. They live life in this world like responsible people and try to get what good gifts God gives to soothe the pain of this world but more than that they fight for a far better world than this one can ever be.

Your words seemed to me to suggest otherwise.

Ihedinobi3:

You ignored the answer in that very post just to ask me the question again?! Do you have nothing else to do with your time?

Ihedinobi3:

You ignored the answer in that very post just to ask me the question again?! Do you have nothing else to do with your time?

frank317:


Perfectly written... Been a while

frank317:

Here lies my answer. So worshiping is just usless to humans while on earth. Except the hope u have for heaven l, which makes not difference to our life in the long run while on earth.

frank317:
We have been over this and I believe I have given u the response that best fits this... U are not in the position to tell me how I react to christian behavior towards me.

frank317:
Off point

frank317:
Is a life of war supposed to prove that u live a better life as a christian than an atheist? So the reason why Christian preach to non believers is to invite them to a life of war, test labour and harder times while u wait for a world to come? What kind of life is that?

frank317:
In other words an atheist can live same life u live as a Christian even without Gods help. However a christian lives a live of hardship , labour , war and test but God gives him a help to go through the test... (He he, god tests u and helps u go through the test) and also help them to live the same life an atheists lives without God... Christianity sounds like a bad option here don't u think?

frank317:
I know what Christianity is

frank317:

Your answer in the post did not Christianity is a better life that than atheism... The reason why Christians need God (according to ur post) is to help them through a life of war, test, and hardship... Something an atheist does not have to go through to live same fulfilled life every Christian crave for

DeSepiero:
What shall it profit a man if he gained the whole world [laughs] and lost his soul?

Ihedinobi3:

I am human incidentally. And so are all the Christians I spoke of. And I described how believing in Jesus Christ makes a difference to our lives. I don't see the connection between that and what you say here.

The fact that I point out an inconsistency in your actions and words us not the same as telling you what to do.

I would have to make an argument that we live a better life in order to be proving it, would I not? Have I made such an argument so far?

We call unbelievers to escape the sure Anger of God that is coming. That is what leads to the whole war. But the war is necessary to separate those who really want to be with God from those who don't.

The life a believer lives and the one that an atheist lives are different. The principles governing them are diametrically opposed to each other.

Ihedinobi3:

The majority of Christians do indeed crave the sweet things of this life even to the point of going AWOL in the army. But the craving is not itself consistent with the Faith. So, it is not actually right to think that we become Christians because we crave this "fulfilled life" you refer to. Rather, Christians drop out of the fight mostly because they crave this "fulfilled life".

LordReed:


Gaining the world for a soul that doesn't exist is a pretty good deal. LMFAO!

DeSepiero:


Of course a bird at hand is worth two in the bush [laughs].

frank317:
Reading hahn's inputs one would wonder if humans ain't naturally foolish. This thread shows it all. The God idea has not helped man in anyway, why stick to it, preach it, allow ursef to conned by it and lose urself for it.
Christians wallow in the delusion that something special has happened to them for believing in the creator... A look at their life reveals nothing special. They hustle like a none believer and are at the mercy of chance like the unbeliever.
So, according to ihedinobi, Christians are only here to suffer, fight war, get tested and the only importance of God is to help them through this test but they still go through these things all the same.
Hr said Christianity means faith in Christ, i think is should mean, suffer and hope for a better life in the word to come