Emmanystone:

Guys like you who don't go to church.

How's the family?
Sorry about the cold.

Meanwhile we are being scourged here.

Wait!!!!, Buda, did you read the book you sent to me?

Hmmmmm.

budaatum:

Family good.
I used to go church, to figure what you all went for. Did 12 years of it but found it not to be catching. So I only go once in a while, mostly special occasions. Went Saturday week though. Had a meeting with the Bishop of Woolwich. He's Nigerian. Nice man. Told him I'm posting a picture on the internet of him washing my cup. He laughed.

Yeah, I read it years ago. What'd you make of it?

Emmanystone:
Guys like you who don't go to church
How's the family?
Sorry about the cold.

Meanwhile we are being scourged here.

Wait!!!!, Buda, did you read the book you sent to me?

Hmmmmm

Emmanystone:
Guys like you who don't go to church
How's the family?
Sorry about the cold.
Meanwhile we are being scourged here.
Wait!!!!, Buda, did you read the book you sent to me?
Hmmmmm

budaatum:
Family good.
I used to go church, to figure what you all went for. Did 12 years of it but found it not to be catching. So I only go once in a while, mostly special occasions. Went Saturday week though.
Had a meeting with the Bishop of Woolwich.
He's Nigerian. Nice man. Told him I'm posting a picture on the internet of him washing my cup. He laughed.

Yeah, I read it years ago. What'd you make of it?

MuttleyLaff:


Church in its original sense has nothing to do with designated buildings.
That's is not what the ekklesia concept means and/or even why Jesus adopted it

budaatum:
Buda's Perspective

So, you took your last breath. You don't exist as you did anymore. No more waking up to a beautiful new day, or seeing and talking to those who love you or those you hate. No more posting on social media, no going to work or paying bills or enjoying food or having sex. Unless someone knows you, we wouldn't even know you are dead for how many have you discoursed with on here but do so no more. We know nought of them, whether dead or alive.

Dust, basically, thou art, and dust you will become, food for worms and fertiliser at best, on the day you die, and nothing else.

Hard to take in, I'm absolutely certain. So post a consolation, an alternate reality.

What would happen after you're dead?

Emmanystone:
What do you want to call the assemblage where we agree to meet to exhort and be exhorted?
The Church is not a building but the gathering of believers with a common goal. That's what i meant.

We are told not to neglect that Assembly, what do you call that Assembly?

MuttleyLaff:
What has budaatum being the last couple of days, if not possibly weeks opening threads?
Were his threads for a communion of atheists?
Or maybe to engage the gathering of atheists?
Which gathering responds to his threads?

Emmanystone:
Can we call what we are doing here a Church?

But Budaatum said he is an atheist, not a Christian.

He is opposed to what he posts here, so we can't call this a gathering of the faithfuls.

He is here trying to make us see why what we believe is a fraud, for us to abandon it as he has, and join him in his unbelief.

Emmanystone:

Let me hear what you make of the book first, as am still reading it.

Do you believe what he says?

Emmanystone:

Can we call what we are doing here a Church?

But Budaatum said he is an atheist, not a Christian.

He is opposed to what he posts here, so we can't call this a gathering of the faithfuls.

Emmanystone:

He is here trying to make us see why what we believe is a fraud, for us to abandon it as he has, and join him in his unbelief.

budaatum:
How can I be opposed to what I post here?

Really?!

When I did go to Church, I joined Bible Study. We read Luke, going through it section by section, and I learnt a great deal about the practises of a Christian. Everyone knew I was an atheist in the group. Belief never came into it. I think everyone should go through a course of Luke.

I met this blind old man there who became a very good friend of mine. He described himself as a Church of England member and not a Christian. At every study, soon as anyone said "Only through Christ shall one enter the Kingdom of God", he would jump down their throats. "What about Hindus, Muslims"? And 'looking' towards me, "atheists?" he would ask. I used to tell him that that was the belief of Christians, but he would accuse me of not preaching my atheism!

Now, there was this woman, the kindest simplest person you could imagine, so full of love. I'd ask my blind old friend if he thinks I should preach my atheism to her. His response was, "that would be cruel, as it would be like taking away that which comforts her". I agreed.

I do not require anyone to abandon what they believe if they so wish to stick to it. I strongly hold the position that a faith held by knowing is far superior than one held by belief

I say what I say, knowing those who can handle it will, and those who can't will ignore it.

I am asking you to abandon your beliefs and know, instead.
For it is written that,
"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find.
When they find, they will be disturbed.
When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all.
And after they have reigned they will rest."

budaatum:

How can I be opposed to what I post here?

budaatum:

Really?!

When I did go to Church, I joined Bible Study. We read Luke, going through it section by section, and I learnt a great deal about the practises of a Christian. Everyone knew I was an atheist in the group. Belief never came into it. I think everyone should go through a course of Luke.

budaatum:


I met this blind old man there who became a very good friend of mine. He described himself as a Church of England member and not a Christian. At every study, soon as anyone said "Only through Christ shall one enter the Kingdom of God", he would jump down their throats. "What about Hindus, Muslims"? And 'looking' towards me, "atheists?" he would ask. I used to tell him that that was the belief of Christians, but he would accuse me of not preaching my atheism!

budaatum:

Now, there was this woman, the kindest simplest person you could imagine, so full of love. I'd ask my blind old friend if he thinks I should preach my atheism to her. His response was, "that would be cruel, as it would be like taking away that which comforts her". I agreed.

budaatum:

I do not require anyone to abandon what they believe if they so wish to stick to it. I strongly hold the position that a faith held by knowing is far superior than one held by belief. I say what I say knowing those who can handle it will, and those who can't will ignore it

budaatum:


I am asking you to abandon your beliefs and know, instead. For it is written that, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. And after they have reigned they will rest."

budaatum:

It is very detailed and convincing. The best heaven and hell I've come across yet. But no, I don't believe such a place exists.

MuttleyLaff:
Oooookay.
So taking a leaf from budaatum or as budaatum would have asked
What is church, fundamentally and originally what is church?

Emmanystone:
The gathering of the faithfuls having a common goal, which is to worship, praise, and be exhorted.

Emmanystone:
Someone asked me why Couples shd abstain from sex during fasting prayer if sex was not carnal,
i didn't have answers to that,
when i asked Him,
the answer He gave blew my mind.
Only Him could give such an answer.
He is real.

Emmanystone:
He that comes to Him must first believe that He Is, then knowledge through revelation will come.

MuttleyLaff:
Care to share the answer with all.
Sharing and giving are the ways of God

Hmm, word. Oro niyen.

MuttleyLaff:
Care to share the answer with all.
Sharing and giving are the ways of God

Hmm, word. Oro niyen.

MuttleyLaff:
Care to share the answer with all.
Sharing and giving are the ways of God

Hmm, word. Oro niyen.

Emmanystone:
Pls explanation to the bolded.

MuttleyLaff:
"Oro" loosely means "word"
"Niyen" loosely means "that is"
so "oro niyen" means "that is word"
It's used when making a complimentary remark

Emmanystone:

The gathering of the faithfuls having a common goal, which is to worship, praise, and be exhorted.

Emmanystone:
Do you believe in YHWH? Is the Bible true to you? YHWH will be your God, and the Bible will be your guide if you are not oppoaed to what you posts here.

Emmanystone:
Question is, why do you go to church if you are an atheist? You just study the Bible so that what will happen, as an atheist?

Emmanystone:
Very funny. It's like saying, as a Christian, i shd once in a while join in the masquerade festivals in my community, the question of belief shd not come in while i eat their food sacrificed to idols.

Emmanystone:
The blind is a member of a Church, but not a Christian, just like you are a member but also not a Christian.lol.

Emmanystone:
The question i'll ask the blind old man is, 'what is the name of the God the muslims and Hindus worship? Infact, do Hindus worship a supreme being or they believe a circle of lives makes them supreme beings?

Emmanystone:
Well, in a way, you are preaching atheism by opposing the Scriptures. Let your old blind friend know that.

Emmanystone:
What is in atheism for her?

Emmanystone:
'Knowing' is a process. It is the stage of maturity in Christ, but it begins by hearing, then accepting, then believing before you can get to the realm of knowledge.if you don't first believed that what you are hearing is true how can you search the mind of God to know Him?

He that comes to Him must first believe that He Is, then knowledge through revelation will come.

Emmanystone:

You can't tell me about what i believe because you don't have an idea what it is.

budaatum:

I agree, I can't tell you "about what you believe", only you can tell me that. But I can make you understand how I see it however. You will let me know when you have had enough.

budaatum:

Some would argue that God is written into the Fabric of the Universe. But, apart from that, YHWH breathed himself into mud and buda appeared, so why go outside God's dwelling to seek God outside?

budaatum:

Also, it is written in Deuteuronomy, "that people do not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD shall man live".

budaatum:

God is a Spirit and the Bible is not God. It is a very dim reflection of God, at best an image that is made true when one breathes life into it.

budaatum:

For the same reason a medical doctor may study history. So as to know about it.

budaatum:

Human beings are defined by what they worship. So in order to understand them, one like me would learn to understand their Gods. So I go to their schools and attend their lessons.

budaatum:

Yes, I would say so, if you wanted to understand them. In fact, I would go further. Here you are 'sacrificing' with an atheist. I bet you would understand me better for doing so.

I have a piece of land by the Owala River in the Orolu Kingdom of Ifon Osun. I do join in when a white ram is sacrificed to it once a year. We also have Odun Ade which I participate in, as well as the annual festivals for Ogun and Obatala.

When I am in Rome, I am a Roman. When you are in Rome, you remain Emmanystone. We differ that way. Perhaps we have different missions on earth.

budaatum:

I am the atheist. He was (died last year aged 89), Church of England. When he died, the Sun went dark and the birds, squirrels and foxes in his garden all wept. He was such a generous kind man that if he is not in heaven, heaven would be bankrupt of people.

budaatum:

He believed in a Universal God of All Beings, out of which different groups have carved out their own understanding and parochialised it. He found YHWH to be some parochialised petty God of the Christians.

budaatum:

I did not preach atheism. Nor do I oppose scripture. I advocate for an understanding of the text, and an abandoning of belief.

budaatum:

The Jews had belief when Christ came. No work on the Sabbath, wash your hands; love your neighbours but not those nasty Samaritans, Tax Collectors and Gentiles etc. Christ poopooed their beliefs and said "You hypocrites who purify the outside but bother not about the inside".

budaatum:

My friend did not think atheism would be cruel. It is I who think it would be cruel to take away her comfort blanket.

budaatum:

I described her as simple. And even with her God she is still distressed. The Buddha taught in the Four Noble Truths that "life is suffering "caused by greed or desire". This is what the simple woman does that causes her distress. She clings on to beliefs which cause her distress. She might benefit from abandoning those beliefs, but I am not her Messiah.

budaatum:

She would never get her head around a no-god existence, and I have no gain in taking her comforting blanket from her. Besides, atheism is not a god, but a way of thinking and the assumptions it is based on.

budaatum:

Belief involves the acceptance of the facts as given. It is why it is written, "Even the devils believe" to which I add, 'so what's the virtue in that?'

budaatum:

People who believe tend to assume that they know already. It is not how you would be taught in school. In school, they teach one to be critical. It is by being critical that one acquires understanding which enables one to build on ones knowledge and to make use of it.

Emmanystone:

Yes indeed, that is why i asked your thought about the book. I now understand how you see things. We are at divergent positions.

Emmanystone:

You just admitted that atheism is crulty and atheists are unhappy people. And pls don't tell me you have joy becos you don't.

budaatum:

I am responding to you because I think you are being sincere so please pay attention. Do note that I am not requiring that you agree, just that you understand. And no, I am not offended. I will let you know if I become offended.

As an atheist, when a person dies, it is my opinion that that is it. There is no after, according to my own opinion.

Can you see from the above why the question I asked
(What Happens When You're Dead?), is the question I would ask? And that if I had thought of, and asked the question you say I should have asked (What happens after you are dead?), it would have only been with some intention in mind?

Do note that I have liked every response, even those that oppose my own view. And I have not taken to arguing that anyone's opinion is incorrect. I have not died yet you see. And no one has died and returned to tell if there is an after death, least not as far as has convinced me yet.

TheSourcerer:
Now in 2020 , where do you think our existence /beign goes or resides when we die ?

My Answer

The same way we knew nothing before we were born so would it be after we die , darkness and blankness

Hbu

budaatum:

It's like wondering what one's grandchild knows before one has one's first child. Lol.

We can't know anything before you were born because you did not exist before you were born. And your brain function stops once you're dead, so you can't possibly continue to know even what you knew before you died.

I learnt this morning that my once a week chess partner of almost 15 years died after a brief illness. If only we could do 1. d4 Nf6 from the grave.