From: b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu (Stephen Tice)
Subject: Re: Believers: What Would Make You Not Believe In GOD?
Summary: Almost had to get my shades to read the subject
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: So I fixed it 
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 09:00:00 GMT

In article <1993Jan8.152120.3842@netcom.com>, 
bskendig@netcom.com (Brian Kendig) writes...

>house@helios.usq.EDU.AU (ron house) writes:
>>"Robert Knowles" <p00261@psilink.com> writes:
>>
>>>Also, since a fair number of god believers also read this newsgroup, 
>>>I am curious what would make them no longer believe that god existed.

Speaking as a believer, it's easy. Just simply chose not to believe.
GOD won't stop you. GOD will help if you chose to believe though.

>>(However, as many atheists on this board claim to have previously been
>>theists, there obviously are quite a few theists who do have a non-belief
>>threshhold, whether they can articulate it or not.)
> 
>It's not as easy as that.  Atheists say, "If you can show me x, y, and
>z, then I will believe that your god exists."  

Such as? I'm not sure there is anything anyone could show me including 
miracles, irrefutable proof, or heaven that would make me believe. I
don't think there is anyone but GOD who could make me believe, either.
And GOD won't if I don't want to.

I'd have to trust my mind or my self for some x, y and z to be 
sufficient. And I don't trust my self or anything but trivial matters.

>Theists say, "It is impossible to conceive that God does not exist.  

It's easy -- get drunk. Go to sleep. Have a stroke. etc.
Merely a mental thing.

>Usually when a theist becomes an atheist it isn't because he's been 
>shown something he didn't see before, but rather because he grew 
>disillusioned with his religious teachings and finally realized how 
>empty they are.        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Good point. Believing in religion, rather than simply depending on GOD 
to help you maintain or deepen your faith, is a sure way to get disil-
lusioned. Everything human falls apart, since it's part of nature (*).

(* -- Isn't that the second law of thermodynamics or something?)

The easiest way to be a believer is just do it like a kid.
Unbelief for a child is harder, but still just a matter of doubting.

Judas is a good example, and Peter, and Thomas, and Paul... of instances
of loss of faith. And then the best is Jesus Christ -- my Love and my
Lord, GOD incarnate, alive now and forevermore, who is Master of the
flesh, and the human temple of GOD... even Jesus gave up his faith --
"My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). But for GOD's
will, I reckon there would be no Messiah for us. 

And even Judas repented (Matthew 27:3). So maybe even Hitler did before
he blew his brains out. (Or however he commited suicide, if you can
believe the historical propaganda.) And maybe despite his twisted brain, 
Jeffrey Dahmer believes as well. Imagine that, Dahmer and Hitler saved, 
while all the disbelievers damn themselves. 

Your choice. Just simply turn away from GOD if you don't want to 
believe. It's even easier to turn back.

   |
-- J --
   |
   |  Stephen   "but that ye be born of the spirit"

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