sgallan

Not necessarily. You have to believe in something, if only the principle of power to be a good person, or you cannot be made better than you are. Not necessarily. To just not believe in God does not make you a better person. Sure it can. I know several people who became better persons as non-believers. My dad for one. It makes you a less fortunate one. The believers are not left to their own devices to become better, they have all the power and aids of the Holy Ghost and the Savior's love to become better people. Yet so many so-called believers hardly seem to be better people. And many are quite the opposite. But mostly, people are just people..... there are good ones, and bad ones, and everything inbetween, whether they are believers or not. Since I don't believe, and you are unable to prove any specific god, and can't show me any additional value in the way I already live my life, I see no point in becoming a believer. And as a parent..... since I see value in the way I live, and many of my non-believer relatives believe, I am raising my kid with those values.... much as the believers raise their kids with their religious values.

Correction: I am a truthseeker; a truthseeker seeks [and finds] the truth. That is what all the partisans say. Is suggesting you are superior to everbody else - because you think you have the truth - something you consider "feeding the good". I consider it a bit arrogant myself. But it is not unusual for people to get the two confused. FWIW..... arrogance can be an acceptable human trait. It is very common. Interesting that a thread talking about feeding the good and/or evil has turned into a slamfest. And y'll wonder why I see no additional value in religion or religious beliefs.

Going to church. Now, for me, I go to church to be edified so I can survive the next week! That's cool. If it works for you then that's what you should do.

Most wars are caused by the irreligious, attempting to impose their self-perceived authority and control over another. I have found that most arguments are caused by the same type of people. Of course you would find this. You are a partisans. It is the nature of partinship to find that which supports your particular position. The irony is how surprised the war monger is when Christians fight back! I'm not suprised. Christians are no more special than anybody else when it comes to wars (and this included athiestic societies). They are just humans, and humans have always found excuses to war and fight with each other.

True religion will not make you better than the unbeliever, it will make you better than you are. Being a non-believer will not make you better than the believer, it will make you better than you are.

But there are things which almost negate these and I know you know which things they are. I am not sure what your are talking about.... God said those who are not for Him are against Him. If one is against God, it would stand to reason that they are working for the other guy! Then it would appear the 'other guy' is about the same as your god. What would be the point of worshipping this particular posited god?

However, you will do much more good as a believer than you do now. Been there. It was a wash. I didn't do any more, nor any less. The things I do sort of run in the family. I learned it from my dad.... who has done more. Some religious systems will prove illogical..... on the surface. Honestly, all of them do to me. You mention the "evil god". Well I can't really believe in an "evil god" because I do not believe in any god. Not even a little bit. But I do find it illogical (for example) that people consider a (posited) god, that would allow for the eternal torture of most of humanity, as loving and good.

BUT, for all that, I still see that most Americans believe that most Americans, regardless of politics, do love this country, and have the welfare of its people in their hearts. So, for all the hype and nastiness, and cut-throat politics out there, hope still abounds. I agree.

I suppose I should just stop doing good things then.... .... but I won't. Interesting perspective though. No wonder there are so many religious wars. Everybody thinks the other person has no value. Killing somebody with no value is not all that hard.

Feeding the good wolf? Going to church! Is that it? Are those of us who do not go to church therefore feeding the "bad wolf"?

However, they also assume their opponents are loyal Americans. I am not so sure this is true in the political environment of the past 10 years or so.....

think on good things (i.e. God things). There are no good things besides "God things" in your reality?

I understand your view, but it is a bitter one. You really don't know or understand the God you speak of or you wouldn't even think to say such things. This response sounds pretty bitter as well. Oh well. You asked, I answered.

Yet God created all of these for you and you reject Him. Prove it. Why not embrace the creator? Which one? There are thousands of variations. Besides, I look at believers to see if there is some additional value. I am afraid many believers, such as yourself, either show me no additional value.... or even worse. How would you feel if you gave your daughter everything and she decided you just didn't exist, but insisted you continue to give her everything she enjoyed? I would chuckle and figure it was an interesting phase she was going through. I sure as heck wouldn't ban her from my presense forever. Drown her. Turn her into salt. Or some such thing.

You have to do better than mimick if you want to discuss intelligently. I'm not mimicking..... you just can't handle the truth.

Im disappointed. You were a nicer person before you met Ari. Clearly she's influenced you for the worse. You're spirit has lowered. That's too bad. Syble used to be cool? Or at least nice? Wow. That's kind of a bummer she changed.

Yes, I have a crush on that character.

What about spirituality? I have a version of that. I derive my spirituality from the beauty of nature. The hug of a child. The simple taste of water when I am really thirsty. The rush of a really good work out. The thrill of watching a child I coach or teach do something with what I have taught them. Things like that.

All blaming statements, and totally innacurate. Yeah yeah and all those folks in prison really are as innocent as they say.....

Yes, conversion usually entails a renunciation of "the old life." Now why would I want to renounce my life? Volunteerism, teaching, and lots of activities, seems pretty functional.

I don't believe I've been rude at all... I think you have been several times. nor would I categorize myself as being one of the worst here. In the top five easily.

Sometimes they are quite hard on their former beliefs, but those who come to embrace evangelical Christianity usually testify that what they now have is so much better and truer than what they had before. I have heard many of these folks say the words of how much better they have it..... but I haven't always seen the actions match the words. And I could point you to a board chock full of athiest/agnostics who berate their evangelical upbringing. Like anything else..... most tend to find a view which matches their own beliefs and preconceptions. We are all guilty of this.

I own the Movie Groundhog day. I have watched it about 30 times. It is in my top ten movies.

That is too one sided to be of any real proof. You have to have something comparing and showing how much worse we were. (you won't find anything because we were far from the worst) You can't handle the truth!

So show me the proof. Don't you know your history? Look at how many we killed in WWII. Korea. Vietnam. Those folks cn't hold a candle to that.