The following is a link to an online, line by line discussion between a man named Daniel Allen and an athiest named "Ron": Click here (http://www.pre-evangelism.com/learn/convos/ron_atheist.htm).
During the conversation, watch as "Ron" goes from unbeliever to believer!
Cool.
A couple of "protest-ant"s from me about this convo:
1)The KJV is the "best translation", that is just it, it is King James' version of the Bible.
2)Jesus drank grape juice in the Lord's supper.......they must have had many juice makers to get fresh juice all the time from grapes.
Oh well, praise God for His work in "Ron" through His Holy Spirit that lives in Daniel's heart!
Memmy :D
That guy was not an atheist. Not only does he say he "doesn't know" if there is a god and it is up to everyone to decide for themselves, he also states he longs to believe. Not an atheist.
That guy was not an atheist. Not only does he say he "doesn't know" if there is a god and it is up to everyone to decide for themselves, he also states he longs to believe. Not an atheist.
I have spoken with professed "atheists" who have, when pressed, said the same things.
---------------
By the way, how does saying what he said disqualify him from having been an "atheist"?
My understanding of an "atheist" is that he is someone who asserts that there is no God. Whereas, if someone states he doesn't know if there is a God, he is an "agnostic." Semantics!
My understanding of an "atheist" is that he is someone who asserts that there is no God. Whereas, if someone states he doesn't know if there is a God, he is an "agnostic." Semantics!
Agreed. This is semantics. But I would still like to explore Talulah's assertion, just a bit...
Atheist: one who believes that there is no deity. (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
Someone can "believe that there is no diety" and still say: "I don't know if there is a god". The two are not mutually exclusive:
Atheist: I don't believe that there is a god.
Christian: How sure are you? Would you say that you
know that there is no god?
Atheist: I don't
know whether there is a god. Regardless of whether I know or not, I don't believe that there is a god.
Someone can "believe that there is no diety" and still say: "it is up to everyone to decide for themselves". The two are not mutually exclusive:
Atheist: I don't believe that there is a god.
Christian: Have you looked into all of the evidence?
Atheist: I have looked at quite a bit of evidence for a god, and against a god.
Christian: Many have looked at the evidence and come to the conclusion that there is a god.
Atheist: I cannot force someone to see the evidence the way that I see it. It is up to everyone to decide for themselves. I have looked at the evidence, and I don't believe that there is a god.
Someone can "believe that there is no deity" and still: "long to believe that there is". The two are not mutually exclusive:
Atheist: I don't believe that there is a god.
Christian: Have you looked into all of the evidence?
Atheist: I have looked at quite a bit on both sides.
Christian: I would like to talk with you more about what you've looked at, and what I've looked at, but I would first like to tell you how Jesus Christ has personally changed my life...
Atheist: I know that a lot of people who believe in a god, and who have faith in some kind of deity have had there lives significantly changed for the better.
Christian: Would you like to have that same type of change? That same kind of peace that only Jesus Christ can bring?
Atheist: In many ways, I would like my life to change. In many ways, I see people who have faith in a god, and people who have faith in Jesus Christ, and I would love to have that same kind of peace that they have. In fact, I long to believe, but I just don't see the evidence. I just don't believe that there is a god.
---------------
[By the way, an "agnostic" is not "someone who states he doesn't know if there is a God"... But "someone who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable"...][/color]