Conversation with an atheist

The following is a compilation of emails that were exchanged with a visitor to the bloodbot.com site from July 21, 2003 through August 2, 2003.

the notion of a god is false...god was made in man's image...sheep follow...that is why a church congregation is called a flock...those who can not think for themselves need to follow...please people, think for yourselves.

That is a pretty bold statement and one that I used to make myself. What is your proof?

The fact is you can not prove what doesn't exist. You must prove what DOES exist. So what proof do you have?

If you would like a little food for thought, do a little research on left handed and right handed proteins and ask yourself why all proteins in the human body are left handed but ANY process known to science only produces a mixture of right and left handed proteins. Now if you are a mathematician, what is the probability of creating a tremendously complex organism from these very complex molecules from a pool of randomly mixed chemicals. There is lots of valid evidence to consider on the creation side of the ledger if you are willing to research it. But the fact is that there are NO human eye witnesses to the origin of the planet or life here. If you are a scientist and have evidence please produce it. If you are relying on what you have been taught or your natural instincts, I suggest that you delve a little deeper than that.

I have a question for you. Where did god come from?
Also, in my opinion, the theory of a god is just an easy way to explain the unexplainable. And the word "faith" is a cop-out. All that it means is that there is NO explaination. It puts the burden on the other person when you tell them to have faith. It makes them feel guilty and evil when they don't have it, and that's exactly the way that organized religion operates.
I could go on and on about Christians, Jews, Muslims and the like spend millions upon millions of dollars on churches and shrines to their "faith" while millions upon millions of people are starving and full of diseases that MUST have been put here by god, but I won't.
What is the big secret? Why doesn't this god simply make itself be seen and make all well in the world?

All that I know about you is from your Where's George profile. I am assuming that what started your email thread was that you visited my web site and clicked on a link that took you to the "What is bloodbot page" If this is not so or if you did not read the entire page then I would ask that you do that. Since you know a fair amount about me I would ask that you tell me a little bit about yourself. I am assuming that our conversation may go on for some time so a little background may help.

In your previous email You asked, "Where did god come from?"

I am quite sure that I do not know, nor is it important to me, as far as I know he has always been. That makes no sense to my natural mind but it is what I believe. My belief is based upon several scriptures.

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
NKJV

First, Jesus had a lot to say (all negative as far as I can remember) about "religious" folk. I think this says it best and speaks to you original complaint about "followers"

Luke 20:46-47
Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
NKJV

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
NKJV

I will make no defense for organized religion, most of it is apostate and many "leaders" have no knowledge of Christ or his redemptive work.

Second, you err when you say that "diseases MUST have been put here by god" though your sarcasm is not lost on me. The simple answer for the source of disease and death is sin. Sin is the transgression of God's law, it can be intentional or unintentional, it can be an act of commission or omission it can be willful defiance (refusing to aim at the target) or simply aiming at the target and missing. But the result of all sin is the same, it brings judgement from God.

Obviously this is a huge topic that volumes have been written to address. We can pursue it further if you like. But suffice it to say that all sin results in God's judgement and punishment.

John 14:7-11
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves
NKJV

Rom 5:18-20
Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
NKJV

John 3:14-16
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NKJV

Anyway that is enough for you to ponder, and I am sure you will have more questions. If so fire away and we can continue the discussion. Actually, I hope that you will spend some time reading for yourself, I recommend the gospel of John and the book of Romans for starters.

Friend... with all due respect, you are dealing with a devout athiest...when i ask questions about your god or make comments, i am merely stating my personal opinion, not trying to be a wiseguy...as i see christians and believers of other denominations let their beliefs be known, so will i...i feel that since i am in the vast minority on this matter, i need to speak up and be heard, even if it is only 1 person hearing me...and as for the scriptures that you sent, i'm sorry but i won't be reading them...for one, i have read the bible on more than one occasion ( i grew up going to catholic school and studied at a methodist college) and for two, the bible was written by men, no better than either of us two...when god decides to make itself known, i will be a believer...but not one minute sooner.

please feel free to email me at any time...i will try to respond asap.

First, I am glad to see you address me as friend, for that means that we can have a continuing dialogue. I have no doubt as to the fervor with which you hold your faith in no god. As to whether you read the scriptures or not, I find it interesting but it is of no importance to me one way or the other. I am under no obligation to convince you for it is the Holy Spirit that was sent to convict of sin. If you are right then it doesn't make a bit of difference, if I am right (and I am :-) ) then you are the one who has been presented the gospel and chosen to ignore it. You get to defend yourself before God. I am nothing more than a seed planter. What happens from here is out of my hands.

1 Cor 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
NKJV

chuck...bloodbot - very clever...for a believer...lol...just joking.
have a glorious day