That there has been a downturn in church attendance at the end of last century ties in with a prediction by Anne Catherine Emmerich that Satan would be unchained 50-60 years before the year 2000. Even he hasn't worked to do away with God, rather he has strived to replace God. Think of the big movement now happening in France where thousands are in procession following an entity drawing them to the underworld!
The requirement is not for proof of God. Christians are required to witness. This is partly because proof is so intertwined with our senses. "I want to touch...or see". The spiritual realm is outside our everyday perception. God wants us to have Faith. To believe and trust.
Wouldn't you in his position?
"That there has been a downturn in church attendance at the end of last century ties in with a prediction by Anne Catherine Emmerich that Satan would be unchained 50-60 years before the year 2000." Who unchained Satan and why?
ReplyDeleteGod. But why? Maybe because men had grown so wicked. I look forward to reading one of your insightful takes on it.
ReplyDeleteThat's not really an answer.
DeleteRBB
If your god had this bad guy locked up, why let him go? Surely that would only make things worse?
DeleteRBB
"Generally proof is required when contradicting an accepted belief. Atheism is not the status quo and never has been."
ReplyDeleteA belief is not a fact. The thing is that either one of the many gods, that people have worshipped, is the real thing or not. I have yet to see proof that the Christian god is the one. I think that the Bible was written by men, because a perfect god would have done a better job.
RBB
Written by men but inspired by God...you know how we make grammatical errors...
Delete"Written by men..."
DeleteExactly!
RBB
A fruit tree doesn't spring up over night. God works slowly and mostly unseen, turning things for the good. Maybe by releasing Satan he can raise up more saints than otherwise.
ReplyDeleteWhat arrant nonsense Robert.
ReplyDeleteJust because mankind through history has been uneducated, superstitious and mostly without benefit of science and as a result invented and believed in deities doesn't make it reality. There is no such 'belief' as atheism. It's just a recognition that the idea of god or gods is plain silly. There's no Satan either so Richard will have to find a new pal.
TC
Sid Meier's game Civilization would never have taken off if he had used your short account of history.
ReplyDeleteAtheism is a recognition of the opinion that God's are silly. How is that different to a belief?
Watch where you put those possessive apostrophes Rob!
ReplyDeleteRBB
It's Google spell check. Forever going back and correcting it!
DeleteLet's ask Gemini an AI routine...
ReplyDelete"The argument that atheism is a default position often stems from the idea that one must provide evidence to support a belief, but not to disprove one. This is a common misconception.
Here are some reasons why atheism isn't a default:
Positive Assertion: Atheism is a positive assertion that there is no God. It's not merely a lack of belief. As such, it requires evidence or justification just like any other belief.
Burden of Proof: While the burden of proof is often placed on those making extraordinary claims, it's important to note that the absence of evidence for a claim doesn't automatically prove its opposite. For example, the absence of evidence for unicorns doesn't prove that unicorns don't exist; it simply means we haven't found any yet.
Cultural and Personal Influences: Many people's beliefs, including atheism, are shaped by cultural, societal, and personal experiences. These factors can influence how individuals interpret evidence and form their worldviews.
Complexity of the Question: The question of God's existence is complex and multifaceted. It involves philosophical, theological, scientific, and personal considerations. A default position would oversimplify this complex issue.
In conclusion, while it's possible for someone to lack belief in God, atheism is a specific claim that requires justification or evidence. It's not a default position that automatically applies to everyone who doesn't have a religious belief."
Anything but prove that God exists.
ReplyDeleteSame shit, different day.
RBB
It's important to have regular bowel movements .
ReplyDelete"It's important to have regular bowel movements ."
Delete- JOB 2:2
Why does TC hardly ever sit down, even when no. 2 calls?
ReplyDeleteBecause he's a stand up comic.
RBB
Humourless Wellington will benefit from my return.
DeleteDo you have proof?
ReplyDeleteRBB
Well some people have laughed when I've told them.
DeleteI praised this blog prematurely.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it's going backwards in interest and frequency.
I think I'll go back to The Curmudgeon's blog.
- A casual observer.
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