Zone1 Why Can God Forgive Me For Being Angry With Him When I Can't?

[Donald H]

As I said, I don't pray for miracles. I pray for what I can do to help people who are terminal or have a terminal disease. This can open doors and/or provide insights that are of use.

Perhaps you are unaware I have been providing that understanding since I was a very small child. My beloved grandfather was atheist.

Maybe it appeared to me that you agreed with Ding when he tries to say that an atheist has no purpose in life. And also so many insults from him that you just let pass.

Also my favorite uncle. And my husband. The inability to believe in God has nothing to do with any inability to be a good and wonderful person.

Thank you! You've made that quite clear and so from my POV we have accomplished something worthwhile.
Is there anything now that you want from me?

Have you ever suggested that an atheist has no purpose in life?

 

[Invisibleflash]

You see I'm supposed to go to a baseball game this evening and see a friend that I rarely ever see anymore.


Last night there was a humongous chance of rain so I started getting extremely angry with God that that probably wouldn't happen but now I see sunshine everywhere and I am currently bathed in guilt for how I acted.


I already told Him that I was sorry and I know that He forgives me but I don't feel like I can be forgiven for that. I just have a really hard time with forgiving myself. Moreso than being able to forgive others. Either way no matter what would have happened I acted like a complete and utter idiot last night.

Bub...you are sick in the mind. And I don't mean that in a mean way. The world does not revolve around you. God does not run by your will or plans. Stop the madness.

 

[Meriweather]

Have you ever suggested that an atheist has no purpose in life?

Are you kidding? I haven't even figured out my purpose in life! Seriously, have you figured out why you are here? When I was quite young I learned from the Baltimore Catechism:

Q: Why did God make me?
A: God made me to know him, love, him and serve him in this world.

Took me decades to know him, even longer to love him above all else. As far as serving him...When people reach the bottom of the barrel, guess who is there to lend a hand?

The other thing I learned somewhere along the line, is that we have two purposes in this life: To learn and to have fun. Not great at those, either.

 

[Donald H]

Are you kidding? I haven't even figured out my purpose in life! Seriously, have you figured out why you are here? When I was quite young I learned from the Baltimore Catechism:

Yes, I have figured out why I am here. Don't forget that I'm an atheist.

Q: Why did God make me?
A: God made me to know him, love, him and serve him in this world.

Then that must be your purpose in life?

Took me decades to know him, even longer to love him above all else.

Did it really take decades to know him? And what is longer than decades?

As far as serving him...When people reach the bottom of the barrel, guess who is there to lend a hand?

You're suggesting it would be your god.

The other thing I learned somewhere along the line, is that we have two purposes in this life: To learn and to have fun. Not great at those, either.

And to love and help others. And to teach others. I think there are more reasons that we could think of. And so, yes, I have figured out why I am here. Don't forget that I'm an atheist and I don't feel a need for anything more than that, because I don't believe there is anything more. But that doesn't mean there isn't more for humans sometime in the future, as we gain greater knowledge and understanding through modern science.

Maybe that which you search for with your god is the same as that which I pursue in this life?


I hope you feel that we're learning something from each other? I do..

 

[Moonglow]

You see I'm supposed to go to a baseball game this evening and see a friend that I rarely ever see anymore.


Last night there was a humongous chance of rain so I started getting extremely angry with God that that probably wouldn't happen but now I see sunshine everywhere and I am currently bathed in guilt for how I acted.


I already told Him that I was sorry and I know that He forgives me but I don't feel like I can be forgiven for that. I just have a really hard time with forgiving myself. Moreso than being able to forgive others. Either way no matter what would have happened I acted like a complete and utter idiot last night.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^God^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Meriweather]

And to love and help others

Even these can fall into a category of learning or having fun...

 

[Meriweather]

Then that must be your purpose in life?

Not necessarily. Each day: Look for what needs doing, and do it.

 

[Donald H]

Even these can fall into a category of learning or having fun...

Yes. I considered that, but I made it more meaningful to myself. On that topic we probably have no differences!

On our understanding of our 'purpose', we do have major differences. Maybe you would like a further explanation. It's as simple as me saying that I'm an atheist and my acceptance of Darwin says it all. I think you will understand that!

 

[Meriweather]

Did it really take decades to know him? And what is longer than decades?

More decades. And yes, it did take decades. For example, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains." The Nevada landscape should be as flat as a pancake. Then I learned about metaphors. Next: "Almighty God, all powerful God, etc." Then I learned what Elijah discovered...God is found in a tiny whisper.

I've told this story before: As a child I was taught I should love God above all others. So I made a written list of all the people I loved. God was at the bottom. It took decades before God finally made his way to the top of my list (no longer a written list).

 

[Meriweather]

You're suggesting it would be your god.

No. I am stating that when someone can't find anyone else, they look for me.

 

[ding]

And to love and help others.

Why? Are you arguing there is a universal code of common decency that everyone should know and accept?

 

[Donald H]

Not necessarily. Each day: Look for what needs doing, and do it.

It's not for me to disagree with your explanation. I just make the point to you that I understand, but I differ. To accept Darwinian evolution is all the explanation we need. IMO there can be nothing else that isn't in agreement with evolution.

We both understand each other my Christian friend!

You accept Darwin with some qualifications.

 

[ding]

On our understanding of our 'purpose', we do have major differences. Maybe you would like a further explanation. It's as simple as me saying that I'm an atheist and my acceptance of Darwin says it all. I think you will understand that!

So impregnate as many women as you can to spread your DNA?

 

[ding]

To accept Darwinian evolution is all the explanation we need. IMO there can be nothing else that isn't in agreement with evolution.

And impregnate as many women as you can. Brilliant.

 

[Donald H]

No. I am stating that when someone can't find anyone else, they look for me.

I guess I misunderstood your intent on that one.

So impregnate as many women as you can to spread your DNA?

You may make some valid points Ding, but you're mean in spirit and that's not helpful in this discussion. You know what is required and expected of you by now.

 

[ding]

I guess I misunderstood your intent on that one.

You may make some valid points Ding, but you're mean in spirit and that's not helpful in this discussion. You know what is required and expected of you by now.

Is it really mean for me to state the logical conclusion of your beliefs. If you are taking offense at that I suggest you re-examine your beliefs.

 

[ding]

You may make some valid points Ding, but you're mean in spirit and that's not helpful in this discussion. You know what is required and expected of you by now.

What would you say to an atheist who doesn't want to help or teach others. What about the atheists who see nothing wrong with taking advantage of others for their own gain? Would there be anything wrong with that?

 

[Donald H]

Meriweather, don't allow our progress to be spoiled by that sort of behaviour by others, Christian or not!.

 

[Meriweather]

It's not for me to disagree with your explanation. I just make the point to you that I understand, but I differ. To accept Darwinian evolution is all the explanation we need. IMO there can be nothing else that isn't in agreement with evolution.

We both understand each other my Christian friend!

You accept Darwin with some qualifications.

I do disagree that accepting Darwinian evolution is all the explanation needed.

Isn't that like saying, forget about philosophy, ethics, psychology--science is all we need to teach?

Gardening, photography, family, philosophy, reading, tending children, cooking, walking, taking care of pets are all things that make up my life. Evolution? Doesn't even factor into the life I live, except for the very small bits of time when I am teaching it. My life does not center around evolution. It doesn't touch me or the life I live any more than long forgotten great-great-great grandparents touch me or the life I live.

At the end of my life, I am not going to be looking back on fond memories of being a part of evolving into the next greater primate. That is of no importance to the life I live.

Could it be evolution is so vital to some is because it gives a reason not to bother with God?

 

[Donald H]

I do disagree that accepting Darwinian evolution is all the explanation needed.

Yes, I was afraid that I didn't make it clear enough on what I meant. We were talking about our purpose in life and I said that any purpose I could have would be consistent with Darwin. I then left it up to you to understand that and what it means.

Isn't that like saying, forget about philosophy, ethics, psychology--science is all we need to teach?

All of that is consistent with my acceptance of Darwin, but also with my belief that we only have one life.

Gardening, photography, family, philosophy, reading, tending children, cooking, walking, taking care of pets are all things that make up my life.

My life too! Some of those and some not, but still more! I don't see how belief or lack of belief would make us different.

Evolution? Doesn't even factor into the life I live, except for the very small bits of time when I am teaching it.

That could be an interesting discussion! Evolution surrounds us and in some ways influences everything we do in a modern world. It is my opinion that evolution contradicts creation. I know you disagree and I know your reason why you disagree. I think it's equally true of creation before Darwin.

My life does not center around evolution. It doesn't touch me or the life I live any more than long forgotten great-great-great grandparents touch me or the life I live.

At the end of my life, I am not going to be looking back on fond memories of being a part of evolving into the next greater primate. That is of no importance to the life I live.

Nor will I be looking back with fond memories........ etc.
I think you were meaning to say something else there? Or in the least I didn't understand your point.
My point is that you can't put gasoline in your car without acknowledging where it came from as oil.

Could it be evolution is so vital to some is because it gives a reason not to bother with God?

Although that's not one of the reasons why I'm an atheist, I would say that it's true. Of course it would have to be true, by definition of atheism alone!

I don't know if the reason why Christians believe is because they are 'bothered'. I think that some who claim to be Christians are just going through the motions on Sundays. This by their deeds!