snakeybizz:
Since you are the TS, I am going to end here by just laying out it for you. I'm not even going to argue for my position. I'm just going to lay out the facts of me having my position and you having yours.
What is it that you want from me as an atheist? I mean, really, what is it? I am going to list out some things that atheists have told me they wanted from me in the past. Maybe you want them too?
You want me to respect your intellectual right to believe that there is not a God. Guess what -- I do. That's why I have even bothered to do this thread in the first place. I am respecting your belief enough to take it seriously in a debate.
The God I believe in is also going to respect your intellectual right to have your belief. That is also the ONLY thing that can keep you from heaven eventually. Read that again. Christians believe that the ONLY reason God would not put you in heaven eventually is because he respects your rational free will too much to force you to believe something you don't want to believe.
That is why Satan is in hell. God loves Satan inherently, but because Satan wants so badly to not believe God is God, Satan can't be in heaven. Guess what? God is totally okay with Satan having this belief. So ultimately, as long as you hold the sincere intellectual belief that God does not exist, even God will not force you to change. It is totally, completely, up to you.
This is what you want, right?
You probably also want Christians (or other religious people) to not force their beliefs on you in this lifetime. Guess what? Me too.
I actually work for the US Government in an agency that has a stated goal of working against terror. So the guys existing in the world right now that want to do this to you (think ISIS) -- I earned the money that I used to buy this computer I am typing on by opposing them.
I have a sworn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. First Amendment is that there be no establishment of religion. It is my literal job to protect that. So I am with you 100%.
I know that Christians in the past have tried this in medieval times. Some Christians might even try now. Guess what? I believe they are wrong. I will oppose anyone who tries to do this to you in this world right now, and I actually do oppose this in the real world as part of the definition of my job.
Maybe you want everyone to love each other and live together in a society that follows the Golden Rule? Me too. I want exactly the same thing and work towards that end. I give to charity when I can, and I try to help people out other ways as well. I know I fall short of being perfect, but so does everyone else. I'm just here trying my best.
So, in summary, I am:
- Seriously respecting your intellectual position, even though I disagree
- Not forcing my beliefs on you
- Believing in a God that won't force my beliefs on you either
- Sworn to oppose any humans in this world who do try to force my beliefs upon you, and I'll use guns and tanks and stuff to oppose them if needed
- Wishing you and everyone else in this world goodwill and love and peace
- Inviting you here and now to come drop in and train with me, for free, if you are ever in the area (Northern Virginia)
- Telling you right here and now that after training, I will buy you lunch, give you a hug, and call you my brother even though you are an atheist
Now tell me, snakeybizz, what is the fundamental problem you have with any of this?