Ayt27:



I know what you mean bro, I have experienced God too mightily .

I heard indirectly from my pastor about a man who came for deliverance and he said out of everybody whose secret they know in the spiritual world there is one man who always wears white we cannot figure out, that the man in white whatever he says is final.

Christians have no idea the iota of grace given to them through Jesus

predatorX:




There is a beginning! Something created the beginning. You and I do not know what did, so it is an IT and not a HE. And it is definitely not a religious GOD so stop looking at creation through the myopic views of Christianity.

God is Nature. Nature is Energy, and Energy is all around us that is why IT is Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent.
The JEWS with their limited intellect at the time, understood this as YAWEH and personified IT masculine as HE/HIM. They began adding a lot of myths and chronicles to the mix. Then, the Europeans with their twisted tongues and language barrier misinterpreted this as JEHOVAH and then began conducting crusades and conquests allover the globe "in the name of the Lord". That is the beginning and current state of religion in summary.

So, to answer your final question........Our value in this universe is let other life-forms, other beings - whether plant or animal, let them feel your impact positively and expect no gratitude. Your only reward is self-satisfaction
Do you know that the earth which you currently draw life from has been in existence for about 6.4Billion years, and that life-forms have gone extinct 6 times?
The rule of Nature is "take what you need and not what you want"...........Obey this simple law and you would not need any Bible or Qu'ran, nor Pastor nor Imam to help you live a fulfilling life.

I conclude by agreeing with the OP. I do not think he wants to be an Atheist in the real sense of it because every atheist finds it difficult to answer this one question. Can something exist from nothing? If the answer is NO, then that pre-existing entity is a creator. Unfortunately, religion adds a whole new dimension to the idea of the creator and creation, and this is what confused me then, yet confuses the OP.

phr0nesis:

It is obvious you have already made your choice. Your post is only meant to draw more people with you

Mcuzy:
I also had all these questions and i used to seriously consider being an atheist (was even one at some point) but whenever I slip I always see sometin that makes me acknowledge God. Do not listen to people who insult u , if
weren't asking questions u must be stupid . Find ur answers by yourself don't listen to anybody ., find ur truth . I hope u find the light , BTW am Catholic .

D1zion:
That's your problem. Every mallam with his kettle. Thank God we all know there's judgment las las,if you like go & worship yourself. Its your qualms. Rubbish.

Snowale:
Just like other fractions created out, some believed in Moses, and rejected Jesus and Muhammad, all this fractions are created by satan, to deceive mankind. As it started with, scriptures came, one after the other, and the most complete, is the Qur'an, which is the last, those that followed Moses teachings before Jesus came did nothing wrong, Because then Moses was the way, no one goes to God but through him, when Jesus came he is the next way, no one goes to God but through him, so people switched into Jesus teaching, then Prophet Mohammed came, which the Bible already said a "comforter" would be coming, no one goes to God but through him, so everyone have to switch into his teachings. Something about Christains in your class who believes in 1 God, and Jesus not to be Almighty God, but a prophet will end up in paradise, if they died doing good, but if they died sinning (major or minor), they will be in hell for eternity, a true Muslim who died sinning or had unforgiven sins, as far it isn't major sins, e.g murder, he will go to paradise, but he will have to suffer in hell for sometime, the continue in paradise for eternity. Meaning all true Muslims goes to paradise, and all non Muslims, believers in 1 God, will go to paradise only if they died in good act

WebSurfer:

You are the mad man who thinks insanely here realistically

frozen70:
You are free to even fatranize with the devil its your choice not ours but don't deceive the innocent ones

ibechris:
My brother,if it is decision to be an atheist that is good.

For me,God is God and I have no need to doubt his existence. Whether distorted Bible or not that is the greatest Book ever written that is consistent.
That Mark,Matthew Luke and John u just mentioned are different accounts of Jesu's reign on earth by his disciples which conforms in details every step Jesus took till his physical death.

U don't expect my experience with Buhari as our leader to be same with u and that is how everyone has written his,based on their encounter with Jesus Christ and the people.

There is absolutely freedom in where u are today until u try others and see for ur self.

Wish u the best.

nwaimoroseyaho:
If at this age you still have not seen anything that is pointing at the existence of God, anything at all am afraid no one else can help you. Not even nairaland.

englishmart:
Fraternize

englishmart:
Draw them with me to Starboy fest?

predatorX:


Interesting!!!!!

how do you identify "God's people"?

Preetychina22:

Always skeptical.
By past life, do you mean before the British colonial rule and amalgamation or before? Lol

BlackManta:


How many missionaries are in conservative Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan

Do you know they are remote islands with cannibals and barbarians that no missionary ever step foot on.

No matter how hopeful you try to be your gospel will never reach every corner of the earth.

If you were born a Muslim in Iraq, you would be a strong Muslim and will never give a damn about a Jewish guy called Jesus.

People don't choose which country's religion and culture they are born into....majority of Christians and Muslims are that way because of their birthplace and heritage....AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

What about your ancestors that worshipped African traditional gods and passed away before the missionaries came to Africa....will you blame them for not knowing Jesus and Muhammad

What we should do is find ways to promote peace unity and coexistence between people of different cultures and religions...not trying to outdo and dominate one another.

You get my point.

I'm not an atheist but I don't do religion and I don't identify with any religion at all.

khia:

The Hebrews.

khia:
@ the Op, those people who died in the Holocaust were not God's people.

Rozaytee:
its not by force to serve God ...he is not even forcing u its a choice...u can decide to serve him or not ....its ur choice he ain't forcing u...leave all did ur long talk

Roycemadeit:


You all personalize God and that's where you miss it. We liken God to a Human.
Every culture will tells they are God's own people and of how he is done miracles for them. So if the Hebrews are God's people, my dear you will still not be God's even if you make heaven.

Religion is a bundle of confusion. "The religious" can't give answers to so many logical questions, all they would say is God is not man to think the way we humans do. Yet, they select different portions of their religious books, parts that serve their interest, wrap it with God to incite fear. For example in Christianity, no matter how fervent you are and make heaven, you would still be subjugated to been ruled over by the the twelve tribes of Israel when Christ's new millennial reign begins. What are you all fighting for? I mean when the devil would be imprisoned for a thousand years only and after that he would be released, while y'all, whom the devil has introduced sin to, will burn in hell for eternity.
If the Bible is preached from its beginning to its last page, y'all will be too confused to understand anything. So, what you do is pick the ones you like and serve you.

Roycemadeit:


You cannot understand a God who will not act as humans would, you are lost.

You believe life exists as a test, a trial, a period of putting you through your paces to see if you are "worthy."

But if you believe that life exists as an opportunity, a process through which you discover— remember—that you are worthy, then it seems insane.

You believe God is an ego-filled God who requires attention, adoration, appreciation, and affection—and will punish or kill if he doesn't get it.

But if you believe that God is without ego or need, but the source of all things, and the seat of all wisdom and love, then your theologies fall apart.

You believe that God is a vengeful God, jealous in His love and wrathful in His anger.

But if you believe God is a peaceful God, joyous in Her love and passionate in Her ecstasy then you belief falls apart.

The purpose of life is not to please God. The purpose of life is to know, and to recreate, Who You Are. In so doing you do please God, and glorify Her as well.

khia:
@ the Op, those people who died in the Holocaust were not God's people.

Daejoyoung:

But they were humans right? many were teenagers and probably children too. Jesus tells us that God makes his sun to shine on both the good and evil, what does that mean?
Even if we are to accept this your claim that they are not God's people, then in places where Christians have been killed similar to some events in the holocaust, why did God permit it? since you believe Christians are the only ones who are God's people.

989900:
"Your question is the most difficult in the world. It is not a question I can answer simply with yes or no. I am not an Atheist. I do not know if I can define myself as a Pantheist. The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds.

May I not reply with a parable? The human mind, no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe. We are in the position of a little child, entering a huge library whose walls are covered to the ceiling with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written those books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books, a mysterious order, which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of the human mind, even the greatest and most cultured, toward God.

We see a universe marvelously arranged, obeying certain laws, but we understand the laws only dimly. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that sways the constellations. I am fascinated by Spinoza's Pantheism. I admire even more his contributions to modern thought. Spinoza is the greatest of modern philosophers, because he is the first philosopher who deals with the soul and the body as one, not as two separate things."

-- Einstein

englishmart:
1.Jesus is the only way to God, John 14:6
This invariably means those who don't believe in Jesus have no business in heaven.
Christians worldwide have an estimated population of 2.4billion people
Islam records an estimate of 1.9 billion adherents, Hindu has an estimated 1.1bn adherents. The remaining world's population have their own beliefs which includes atheism.
If Jesus is the only way to God, what happens to those who don't believe in him? Hell? Well, the Bible suggests so.

2. There are a lot of complications and contradictory remarks in the Bible- a verse says don't drink, another says "Drink for your stomach sake", or "Do not drink wherein excess."
Malachi 3:10 a famous Bible verse on tithing speaks about bringing your tithe to the storehouse (church, maybe)
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 says otherwise, it says "you should drink and be merry with your tithe". I'm seriously beginning to doubt the credibility of the Bible. Maybe the translators' fault or God told writers different stories on the same issue. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's account of Jesus and see real contradictions.

3. Does God answer prayers? Well, I'm not really sure about that. Someone might be suffering from malaria, the person takes drugs and still prays, the drugs work, but the person thanks God. Or a successful surgical operation, instead of thanking the doctor, they thank God. Some illnesses that would have been treated led to deaths because a certain congregation who were supposed to take the ill persons to the hospital, circled around praying. Faith without work isn't it still dead?
I remember when I had stomach ulcer, it was really terrible, I prayed and made several promises to God that if He took away the ulcer, I'd drink no more alcohol and will be more devout in worshipping Him. That didn't solve anything though, I stopped drinking and took to taking my drugs more seriously. Weeks later, I was well. I returned to drinking and after a few months, the ulcer resurfaced. That was when I realized I really needed to quit drinking. Prayers wouldn't have solved that issue.
I spent 80% of 2019 at home because of my misgivings about God's existence.
I really wish I could be convinced about God's existence because I'm not even happy to be away from Church because of the views of friends and family.

4. Children of God, or so called children of God tend to suffer more tribulations, hard times and desperate moments, a lot of them scream "Vanity upon Vanity" when secular people live in luxury or spend extravagantly. God tends to turn his back on those who worship Him especially when they need Him most.
The 1933 Holocaust and mass murder of Jews to the tone of 6m was a clear indication that God turns His eyes against His people
Repulsive comments are highly welcome

Roycemadeit:


Evil, bad are all perspective.


There is no coincidence, and nothing happens "by accident.” Each event and adventure is called to your Self by your Self in order that you might create and experience Who You Really Are.

God is in the sadness and the laughter, in the bitter and the sweet. There is a divine purpose behind everything—and therefore a divine presence in everything.

Although, we have been raised to believe that good and bad do exist; that right and wrong are opposed; that some things are not okay, not alright, not acceptable in the sight of God. But, I tell you everything is "acceptable” in the sight of God, for how can God not accept that which is? To reject a thing is to deny that it exists. To say that it is not okay is to say that it is not a part
of God—and that is impossible..

Our ideas about right and wrong are just that—ideas. They are the thoughts which form the shape and create the substance of Who we Are. There would be only one reason to change any of these; only one purpose in making an alteration: if you are not happy with Who you Are.

If your values serve you, hold to them. Argue for them. Fight to defend them.

Finally, nothing happens without God. If God isn't there it means God is limited.

Roycemadeit:
Most of the New Testament writers never met or saw Jesus in their lives. They lived many years after Jesus left the Earth. They wouldn’t have known Jesus of Nazareth if they walked into him on the street. But. The Bible writers were great believers and great historians. They took the stories which had been passed down to them and to their friends by others—elders—from elder to elder, until finally a written record was made.

And not everything of the Bible authors was included in the final document.

Already "churches” had sprung up around the teachings of Jesus—and, as happens whenever and wherever people gather in groups around a powerful idea, there were certain individuals within these churches, or enclaves, who determined what parts of the Jesus Story were going to be told—and how. This process of selecting and editing continued throughout the gathering, writing, and publishing of the gospels, and the Bible.

Even several centuries after the original scriptures were committed to writing, a High Council of the Church determined yet one more time which doctrines and truths were to be included in the then-official Bible—and which would be "unhealthy” or "premature” to reveal to the masses.

Roycemadeit:


Yes, life is about creating, experiencing. Life isn't come, do and go forever. We chose our family, our country even our complexion. If you understand that as spirit we don't die, that as spirit we are part of God, you will see that our life is forever and all this Nigeria talk wouldn't matter. At the end, you'd go to another place for another experience. No spirit is young, what is young is our bodies. Residue of our past life's we see in form of dreams.



Do you know that your family, those you have around you as friends too, you all have met in different life times? I need not say more. Understand that nothing is ever an accident.

Roycemadeit:

I'm talking thousands of years. From Atlantis, Egypt, All civilizations BC, and after.

Petersamuel8:
Good for you, everybody can't go to heaven

Roycemadeit:


You cannot understand a God who will not act as humans would, you are lost.

You believe life exists as a test, a trial, a period of putting you through your paces to see if you are "worthy."

But if you believe that life exists as an opportunity, a process through which you discover— remember—that you are worthy, then it seems insane.

You believe God is an ego-filled God who requires attention, adoration, appreciation, and affection—and will punish or kill if he doesn't get it.

But if you believe that God is without ego or need, but the source of all things, and the seat of all wisdom and love, then your theologies fall apart.

You believe that God is a vengeful God, jealous in His love and wrathful in His anger.

But if you believe God is a peaceful God, joyous in Her love and passionate in Her ecstasy then you belief falls apart.

The purpose of life is not to please God. The purpose of life is to know, and to recreate, Who You Are. In so doing you do please God, and glorify Her as well.