An atheist who is not so keen on God

You're right. I didn't respond. Frankly none of the messages had anything to do with anything I had posted or anything in the topic. It's very hard to respond to someone who simply makes up his own versions of what I said.For the record.No where did I equate atheism with evolution.No where did I say you are an atheist.Frankly, I can't figure out where you get any of the things you've posted in this thread.And, as to my response to Message 26, I suppose "Okay, LOL" was redundant. I should have left it at LOL.And relating to Message 27 it simply showed that you really hadn't read what I'd posted.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well kid, let me respond. Yes I did. No it is not what I'm saying. Yes I wrote that. Okay. Yes. No. No, that was covered in the context of the thread. Nope. Don't believe I've even hinted at that. Well, it certainly doesn't prove me wrong because I've never said that people other than Christians can not do good. Once again I get the feeling you have not read the thread. I have always said that other folk than Christians do good. And I've always said that they can do so without professing anything about Christianity. I have no idea where you are getting your material. Nope. Not yet. My point exactly. Why would he? So that's your problem booby. Now at least that much makes sense. If you read my first non-admin post in this thread you will see a quote from Brian. When he wrote his initial addendum to the thread he made a mistake which I quoted in my response to him.Look at Message 6. There I quote part of Brian's addendum. He said his answer was NO! when he meant, obviously, Yes!. I kiddingly pointed it out to him and he edited his post to change No to Yes. See Message 7.So in my next response to what he was really saying I kiddingly accused him of a typical tactic of changing the goal posts and even the game. That brings us to Message 8. Please read the first line of Message 8. There is even a smilie at the end of the line.Have you really been on this board for nearly 2500 posts and are yet not aware of my position of evolution and atheism? If so, you have been truly sheltered.Now that we've taken care of that, how about going back and rereading the thread in context. I simply do not think that I have expressed any of the concepts you attribute to me.But I'll gladly leave that to others to judge. One thing though. I don't remember EVER asking anyone on this board either what they believe or asking anyone to believe what I believe. I may have, I'm old and forgetful, but those are not things I do commonly.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well, I see you dropped the atheist-evo issue. Had you bothered to read the thread it would have never come up in the first place.Now, if you will reread the thread I think you'll find the following.The initial question was "Can an atheist love GOD".Brian said No. I said yes. I was speaking from my personal point of view, which happens to be Christianity.I asked a number of questions, one of which was (and I'm paraphrasing so bear with me), is there any difference in value between an act of kindness or courtesy when performed by a Christian or an Atheist when the only reason for performing the act was that it was the right thing to do?So let me ask you, that same question. Do they have different values?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'm still not sure that I understand what you're saying there.If someone lets you have a parking space, does the act have more value if done by a Christian?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Fine. But one point I'd like to make. I am speaking of the value of the action. I think this may also be part of the miscommunication between Rrhain and myself. I am not talking about the value GOD might place on the individual but rather the action itself.I'm old and sometimes it's difficult for me to make my thoughts clear to others.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well, in the scenario that Brian and I had concocted, an Atheist who believed in the scientific method dies and comes face to face with GOD. The question I asked was whether or not, when actually presented with irrefutable evidence, the actual presence of GOD, the Atheist would abandon the scientific method or accept the evidence.Both Brian and I agreed that the likely outcome would be that the Atheist would accept the evidence.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

It appears you added some to your post while I was responding so let me try to address the new material. I don't know. I think I'm still failing at getting my point across to Rrhain. Hopefully we'll work that out. That is certainly likely. But I think that's still slightly OT to what I'm trying (not too effectively) to say.My point is to look at actions from GOD's perspective. I cannot imagine that GOD, as I see him, would say that an act of kindness when done by an Atheist has less value than one done by a believer. In addition, I believe that that same GOD would say that the act of kindness of the Atheist has GREATER value than the same act performed by a believer who committed the act to gain acceptance from GOD. I believe that GOD wants people to do right because it IS the right thing to do. If it is done for reward then the point, the value of the act is diminished.Is that any clearer?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Very good. I had never thought of it in those terms but I do believe your right.Thank You.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I think that the only place we might disagree is that I doubt very much if GOD really cares if anyone gives him the credit or not. But that would likely be the subject of some other thread. It is certainly not the same as one committed simply because it's the right thing to do.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'm afraid That's too off topic. I think we've discussed the subject before though.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Doing good things. Stopping to help a turtle cross the road. Helping someone reach a package on the top shelf. Asking if you can help someone load their groceries. Doesn't matter. If you had read what I've said in this thread I have never addressed the reasons that the individual did something. It is totally immaterial to the thread. Interesting, but again simply points out that you have not read what I've posted in the thread.What I have been talking of is what value GOD places on the action. My point is that it is immaterial what the individual's motive was. GOD will value the good acts of an atheist equally if not greater than those of a believer.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Of course. Very perceptive of you.That is exactly the point I made.I'm proud of you. You're more perceptive than I thought.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Nope. Never said that. With every post it becomes increasingly obvious that you haven't read the thread. Could well be. But it's also totally irrelevant.What I have been talking about is GOD's perception of the act.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Okay, this has gone on long enough. You are tiring and I find talking to you ever bit as pointless as discussions with whatever or WILLOWTREE.Have a good evening.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'm not trying to negate your input but I do need try to make clear what I was trying to get across.I am NOT saying that GOD is love. What is am trying to get across is how GOD might view good acts.My only point is that IMHO GOD, as I see GOD, would not value someone's actions based on that person's belief system. Instead, GOD would value those actions for themselves, even if they were performed by an Atheist or someone who professed a belief in some other GOD.This message has been edited by jar, 02-24-2005 09:59 AM

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion