THE new atheists envision a world with no religion—no suicide bombers, no religious wars, and no televangelists fleecing their flocks. Does that vision appeal to you?

[Truthabounds]

Before answering, ask yourself this, ‘Is there any evidence that universal atheism would lead to a better world?’

[Truthabounds]

Naomi: I beg to differ. I probably understand the Bible better than you think. Obviously you don't otherwise you wouldn't say that Adam & Eve were the first humans.
JTH: I think you are the arrogant one here.
Ratter15: You have never lied to your children. Do you celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, St.Valentines Day even Birthdays?
If you have encouraged your children to celebrate these occasions, then yes, you have lied to them!
DT: I don't mix with these people, it just happens to be that they live in this world and they are all around us. I speak to them just as I speak to any person regardless of their beliefs, cultures, social standing etc. Just as I speak to the atheistic society permeating this site.
Vulcan: I used to belong to an organised religion. My father was a Polish Catholic but because of what happened to him he left the religion so I was brought up Protestant. But I have looked at various religions.
I am not forcing my beliefs on anyone all I am doing is voicing my views about my beliefs, whether you choose to listen or not is your own choice. I know that I have hope for the future and for those who have had to suffer in this life, whether because of the deficiences of birth, geographical situations etc. etc. these ones will have a hope too in the future when God has restored the earth to his original Paradise. Those ones will have everlasting life without pain, suffering and as mentioned before, "the former things will have passed and never again be brought to mind."
Do you lot here have that hope? No and whatever you might say, that is my hope and will be even if I should be proved wrong, which I doubt. Take away hope and you take away life.

[DTCwordfan]

After reading that tosh, its time for a mass suicide

[Truthabounds]

Naomi: correction - should read Adam & Eve weren't the first human couple.

[jackthehat]

More (please note the spelling) arrant nonsense.

I have hope that people will start living for today.....and not some sort of nebulous concept that everything will be better 'afterwards'; when there is absolutely no proof that that will be the case.

[MarkRae]

If religions which proscribe contraception were to disappear tomorrow, would that mean that more people would practise safe sex, thereby leading to fewer unwanted pregnancies and a massive reduction in the spread of sexually transmissible diseases? If they did, wouldn't that be a good thing?

Similarly, if religions which proscribe blood transfusions were to disappear tomorrow, would that mean that fewer people would die from a burst appendix, one of the simplest of operable conditions? If they did, wouldn't that be a good thing?

[MarkRae]

> Those ones will have everlasting life

This one always makes me laugh! Will we each have our own bit of paradise, then? Because if by some miracle I make it to the promised land and it turns out that I'm going to have to spend an everlasting life with Christians, that would be abject hell for me!

[pa___ul3]

the paradise bit confuses me too... mine may include Lana Del Rey and Scarlett Johansson waiting on me hand and foot, but I doubt theirs would be waiting hand and foot on me (although you never know!).
How does that work o understanding of the bible one?

To answer the OP, yes I think the world would be a better place without terrorism, war and greedy swindlers and where people were driven not by a fear of an almighty being or a dream of an everlasting life after this but by a search for happiness now by finding pleasure in the happiness of others which, to me, is a much more natural motivation.

[naomi24]

Truthabounds, you may beg to differ, but you'd be wrong. You understand the bible in a way you want to understand it - which is why we get these endless references to the gospels from you - in reality written long after the alleged event and amended time and time again to suit the purposes of the early church. Nevertheless, you continue to tout them as 'gospel'.

Read the opening few pages of Genesis - and for once, read what it really says rather than what you want it to say.

[sandyRoe]

MarkRae, I imagine heaven as an enormous place. There will be plenty of Elysian Fields where the atheists and agnostics can sit and wonder at God's great mercy in allowing them in.
They could move as far away from the Christians as they liked.

[jomifl]

The only thing to be understood about the bible is that it demonstrates how easily megalomaniacs can fool the gullible.

[Truthabounds]

God is not one to be mocked.

[jackthehat]

What's he going to do............that he doesn't already do on a depressingly regular basis for no reason whatsoever?

Tsunami? Done it.
Earthquake? Done it.
Volcanic Eruption...........I'm sure you get my drift.

[jomifl]

God is not mocked, it says so in the bible so must be true.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

[naomi24]

Let's hope Truthabounds doesn't reap what he's sowing!

[jomifl]

Truthabounds, I just came across these biblical quotations which I think you should consider before you tell people what to believe, can you prove that you are not a false prophet?
1.Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5:30-31 (in Context) Jeremiah 5 (Whole Chapter)
2.Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Jeremiah 14:13-15 (in Context) Jeremiah 14 (Whole Chapter)
3.Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
Lamentations 2:13-15 (in Context) Lamentations 2 (Whole Chapter)
4.Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:14-16 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)
5.Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:10-12 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)
6.Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)
7.Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:21-23 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)
8.Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 6:25-27 (in Context) Luke 6 (Whole Chapter)
9.2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
10.1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

[andy-hughes]

Something for ole truthie to chew on!

[LazyGun]

@Truthabounds - The future you promote is misery now for the millions suffering from a variety of afflictions, ranging from cerebral palsy to malaria to amputees, to the malnourished, the halt and the lame. And for these millions, they have to suffer now in the hope of a reward in heaven - but there is no proof of heaven, so they have to suffer in hope, in faith?

your version of god is a sociopath and a sadist - And those, like you, who preach this type of god are the same - after all, you are made in your own gods image aren't you?

[naomi24]

//And for these millions, they have to suffer now in the hope of a reward in heaven//

It could be a futile hope.

Leviticus 21:18-21

For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded

Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken

No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.