Please, can we just agree to disagree?

besides, I'm an atheist too, but the big bang and evolution is "crud" when everyone's trying to use it to convert you.

Sarah, there are hundreds, if not thousands of atheists out there who could say the same thing to you. "Sarah, I want you to be saved from mindles, blind faith based on a book written by man, not God." We believe in our cause just as strongly as you believe in yours. This author is just living their life, day to day, trying to make the most of their existence before death. We're doing the same.

 Just because we don't believe in God, it doesn't mean we go around sinning all the time. We have moral compasses too, even if we aren't guided by the Ten Commandments. Just because I don't believe in God, it doesn't mean I can use that as an excuse to harm others. Besides, even devout Catholics have done harm in God's name (e.g. the Crusades).

Besides... I sort of believe in heaven. Sort of. I think that everyone's heaven is different, so if your blissful place is above the sky, singing with Angels, that'll be your heaven (if you have a good heart, of course).

That's what I believe, anyway.

Sarah, there are hundreds, if not thousands of atheists out there who could say the same thing to you. "Sarah, I want you to be saved from mindles, blind faith based on a book written by man, not God." We believe in our cause just as strongly as you believe in yours. This author is just living their life, day to day, trying to make the most of their existence before death. We're doing the same.

 Just because we don't believe in God, it doesn't mean we go around sinning all the time. We have moral compasses too, even if we aren't guided by the Ten Commandments. Just because I don't believe in God, it doesn't mean I can use that as an excuse to harm others. Besides, even devout Catholics have done harm in God's name (e.g. the Crusades).

Besides... I sort of believe in heaven. Sort of. I think that everyone's heaven is different, so if your blissful place is above the sky, singing with Angels, that'll be your heaven (if you have a good heart, of course).

That's what I believe, anyway.

Well, I think that destiny itself is the choices we make. Like, if I lose my job (I don't have one), I can't say, "fate says I can't have a job, so I won't go looking for another one." For all I know, Fate could go in millions of directions. If I give up, I'll end up homeless and miserable. If I go find another job, I'll become happy again... and so on.

I read a series called the Alvin Maker series. I didn't really enjoy the story, but one character is a "torch"; a person with the ability to see the future. But she doesn't see the future set in stone. It's more like, she sees the different paths leading to the person's future. She doesn't know which one he/she will take, but she knows how each different choice will affect their lives.

I agree with you. I never really believed in God. When I heard about Jesus, I asked my mom, "Mom? Why did that man get himself killed?" She said, "He carried the sins of our people and died for them." So I scratched my head and said, "But what did he accomplish? Nothing changed except the fact that now a bunch of people say are using God as an excuse ("God will make my friend come back and apologize." "The Kingdom of God will come before the sea levels rise." "God will let me win the lottery, so I don't have to work.")"

Of course, faith is good. It keeps you going when all hope seems to be lost. But using God as an excuse is a sin in itself.

I don't want to be rude or anything, but I'll tell you my point of view about how this world was made "perfect" for us to live in (ignoring global warming and rising sea levels and whatnot).

Do you know the book, "The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time"? It's mostly ridulous and senseless, but there was a little analogy that I found quite intriguing.

So, once upon a time there was a puddle, inside a hole in the sidewalk. It looked around itself and said, "Gee, this hole is so snug and it fits me just right. Therefore, it must have been made for me!" So he sat comfortably in his hole for the whole day. Then, the sun got unbearably hot and started to evaporate the puddle. He clung on to the hole, desperately thinking, "This hole was made for me, so whoever made this hole will surely keep me from being sucked away."

The puddle got sucked away.

So, the first part of that story is about how humans emerged with the concept of, "Gee, I have fruits to eat, animals to hunt, a nice cave to live in... this world must be made for me! Well, then who made it? ...well, around here, I'm the only one who makes anything. I make axes, hammers, and other tools. So, a bigger version of me must have made this world! I'll call him God and worship him so that he gives me more."

And the last part of the story, when the puddle drains away, has to do with faith (I think). It's good to have faith; it keeps you going in hard times, keeps you standing even when everyone's trying to knock you down. But don't rely on faith. You have to work yourself, too. You can't just sit there and say, "God will fix this, so I don't have to do a thing."

So, faith definitely is a good thing, but don't use it as an excuse to escape from life's hardships.

The point of life if indeed there is no afterlife is to live each day like it's your last. In consequence, you have a greater appreciation for the things around you and the people in your life knowing that nothing is forever: life--a one time occurance-- is but temporary. Ironically, I believe in the book of James it states, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Grant it, I have used this scriptual quip for my own maniacal ends, but it works. The quality of life is not hindered by lack of a second one; rather, it actually might be increased! I find that some of the best movies I've watched have no sequels.