Groups > Spirituality and Consciousness

Jodi,

You are right. I think you will enjoy this true story.

I am a staunch atheist and I had a very religious Christian friend who passed away 10 years ago. Her name was Serena. She was what I call a good compassionate Christian true to her God until her last breath. She was a human being who really cared and I had plenty of religion vs atheism conversations with her for a few years before her sudden demise.

In all my conversations with her, I showed her compassion because I understood her pain when she talked about mean and uncaring people in this world. Her pain and disappointment were real.

One evening, she reached out to help some other person in her life and that person hurt her.

While telling about that incident, she said to me, "You are the most unreligious person I have known in my life but I see more God in you than any one I know."

It was the nicest back handed complement I ever got.

As you see, my attitude towards mean and uncaring people in the world was different from hers. She took it upon herself to make sure everyone cares by example. I simply let GOD take care of the mean and the uncaring.

And that, as they say, is how it should be. : - )

Thanks for sharing, oh wise Sage.

Great discussion people. This is why I love TeeBeeDee. dont even have to participate to enjoy

Why I completely agree dkbs. Im eagerly awaiting the time when we can read some good debate from both sides here!

I'm a Christian but not a thiest.I don't believe that God is up there looking down and watching over us.I believe God is in us and life itself.God is love and the ground of everything.So,to me there is not a big difference between Atheism and Christianity this way.But I certainly believe in God in a strong,mystical sense.Jesus showed us how to live and break the barriers of prejudice.Too many people are concerned about the miracles and ressurections,instead of really looking at what he was about.If we really listened to Jesus,we could all live together in harmony:christians,athiests,jews,buddists,etc.people that think there is only one way to live and be saved are not paying attention to what Jesus was trying to say with his life.

The topic description here is not clear. Neeraja, could you read it again and get out of your own head and see how people might be confused? You might notice that you say that other threads go on tangents and that those tangents are to be discussed here?? Eh. And what about Atheism and Christianity are we discussing or not discussing??

Just point out that there's really not much to discuss when the topic is so vague.

Thanks

"Only God can save you (from eternal damnation???)."

This statement assumes perhaps 3 things: 1) Salvation is an important concern for human beings, 2) God is responsible for each person's salvation, and 3) human salvation has to do with his/her 'destination' after death.

Discussions of any kind between Atheists and Christians are NOT going anywhere because Atheists do not consider those issues being important. I'm not an atheist, since I do consider the 'concept' of god being highly plausible. But I'm on their side when it comes to the issue of life after death. It is essentially a pointless issue to worry about. I can't worry about heaven and/or hell while living. So, again, what is there to discuss?

I think Christians have every right to believe what they want. If they wish to assure themselves of heaven after their death, they should have every right to do so. I won't criticize them for being selfish or shallow or anything like that. It is their business. If they feel 'saved,' I say: Congratulations! I'm really happy for you. (Now will you please just leave me alone?)