ShadowFan100 You make several good points, Tak. I have agreed on a lot of what you have said. Well, about atheists: don't get me wrong, but atheists aren't the only humans who have evil in them. We all do, because we all have sinned. I mean, I get what you're saying, but this is how I feel about it, too. So don't worry, I respect how you believe. It just bugs when people seem to call non-believers evil, as if, they "know" them personally. We don't. However, I do know that doing good things do not get you towards the Lord. Jesus does. But I cannot condemn atheists or other non-believers. Why? Again, we've all sinned. Jesus said that we all have the choice to accept Him--no one is denied Jesus when they ask for Him. I pray for non-believers to see His love, so that they will come to know Him better. Because like I stated above (and as u said) so many atheists are very hostile towards Him. I also believe that maybe if someone were to clear up a few things about God/Jesus, they may possibly consider choosing Him. But again, its their choice. We cannot choose for them. Fear is what drives them away. Too much fear in the world, not enough of God's truth. Well, that's how I feel about it. You may disagree with certain things, but that's understandable. And to be honest, I, too, have wondered who a true Christ-follower is. So many divisions wedged between us, it's hard NOT to question your way of thinking.

AmadeusRhapsody im evil and im gonna burn woo. and yeah i'm stubborn i wont deny that. i would post some lyrics about this for the lulz but nah. --- [i]Sometimes its scary for non-believers to believe in God, because they live their whole lives not being aware of Him[/i] Can't say that applies to myself, considering I was raised in a religious environment. I just went down my own path and here I am now. I understand your view on religion. My sister is in the same situation - not part of an organized religion - she believes in a god of some sort, and that the Universe has a plan for us. Also she doesn't believe we have free will, and she is leaning towards the idea of reincarnation and has recently been involved with Buddhism books. Frankly, I find the mix of beliefs interesting. I love the idea of beliefs coexisting.

ShadowFan100 Amadeus-- Thanks for understanding my view. And she is? That's cool. If it's OK to ask, was your family, like, over-the-top religious? No offense to them of course. I also have some people in my family who are a bit religious, but not "West burrow Baptists Church" bad.

AmadeusRhapsody Eeyup. We get along quite fine to the point where she can make an atheist joke and I would laugh about it. It's dandy, too, when we have deep conversations. No, not really. We stopped going to church long before I lost my faith. But it did take me a lot of courage to speak up about my lack of beliefs, because I was afraid of their reaction. There's no issue, however, if they were at that level. As long as we both accept each other, I'm okay with our differences in beliefs. They're my family, after all. Ah, infamous Westbro Baptist Church. I'm glad all sides agree that they are rather extreme. I really wouldn't mind them as much if they didnt violate freedom of speech and discriminate everyone. Anyway, I agree with the article and parts of your comment. I do admit, I have been involved in religious debates and I will probably continue to. Thankfully I've matured a bit. (On this app called iFunny, two fights ended up with a weird friendship in the end. You get to discover how great people are once you set aside differences, y'know?)

ShadowFan100 That's neat Sometimes I may hint to family that I'm not as "religious" as them, but IDK if I'll ever actually TELL them. Though I think they may already know. True. That church as what makes ME look bad. They spread Evil in my Father's name and it sickens me. Though I know I cannot judge them. Thanks! And yeah I know. That's very true.

AmadeusRhapsody Yup. I wish people realize that one group doesn't represent a whole belief or lack thereof. We judge and/or view different religions on misconceptions, so I think that's why we have trouble coexisting. We haven't stopped and taken the time to understand each other.

coriann okay, perhaps i liked your article too soon. first of all, there are several parts of the bible which strongly suggest that non-believers are evil. as an athiest, i don't hold it against Christians to believe this, because it's what they're taught to believe! how do you know what God wants? maybe he does want people to push their beliefs on us atheists. like you said, God is complicated. i think it's kind of hypocritical that you're telling people they should get along and then you're trying to say what a Christian should and should not be, well...let's just say Christianity is complicated! secondly, i don't think the world is getting more and more one sided, that couldn't be further from the truth! well, in my opinion anyway. i mean just look at it, couple hundred years ago, countries and tribes were killing each other out so that the nation will only have one religion. sure, that's still happening in some places, but not to recognize the difference between then and now is to completely ignore reality. gays are coming out, lesbian, transsexuals AND they have rights to protect them. keep in mind that you too have your own view points! and thought you seem like the kind of person that likes to stay in the sober middle, you seem to have your own ideas and beliefs as do most people. i think an argument over the internet is WAY better than pulling out a gun and shooting someone over it. i mean, you ever heard the stereotype it's the quiet ones? well...that (in a way) is true. it may not be true in that context, but it's true in that if you don't take the time to engage with someone and actually figure out what the hell they are about you can just end up sitting in your group or clique and making up stories about them. that's just what they did with witches. where do you think people got the ideas of flying brooms and devil worship and that it was okay to drown little girls "witches" because they lived too far off town? some people have very strong views and when they collide with someone else with strong views there is a blow out. but they're not forcing anyone to engage in their argumentation, if you don't want to make a come back then don't, say "i respect your beliefs". but you don't have to respect someone's beliefs just as i don't have to respect the beliefs of a murderer. that doesn't make me a bad person, it doesn't make me a killer, it doesn't make me mean or angry. i personally think the level of discussion and even argumentation is a good thing, sometimes it's even fun to engage in a good, healthy discussion. i don't like those people that think everyone should just shove it up their ass. look, if you want to shove your personal beliefs then do it, fine by me, just don't make everyone shut up for your sake. if someone else wants to have a mature discussion, let them. if there is an asshole out there who wants to turn that mature discussion into an argument then fine, tell him to fuck off, but let people talk, let people discuss things by all means! my opinion is, let's have enlightenment, let's share our views and not be pussies about it, if you can accept someone for who they are you should damn well be able to have a conversation about it or else you ain't never really accepted them, you're just "tolerating" them. ps. i know it's been kind of indirect but we've actually known each other a long time now, i like some of the things you talk about, i think you bring up some pretty good issues sometimes, keep cool

ShadowFan100 Thanks for commenting! A lot of people see the Bible in different ways, so wether Atheists are "evil" or not is strictly based on their views on it. I personally don't like calling them evil. It's like saying that I'm perfect just for believing in God. I'm not. We're all Sinners, not just the non-believers and I won't condemn them just to make me appear otherwise. And I think u may have misunderstood some things I said: wasn't trying to "tell people what to do", but simply to encourage them to at least try. Like I stated, I know not everyone will get along--thats sadly never gonna end. Having discussions about our beliefs is fine, but I hate when it goes outta control. Although I have to agree that it is better than taking lives over it. I just thought that trying to be neutral and trying to be understanding of both sides would help the communication issues that people have when talking about their views.

coriann agreed. we need to stop being babies and learn to have an open mind, accept each other. i mean, not having wars is one thing, that's a step up but sometimes the level of immaturity and lack of respect for other human beings and their viewpoints in some people is just sickening. most of them imo need mental help, religious, Christian or atheist. just because you don't respect someone's beliefs doesn't give you a right to disrespect the person. i didn't misunderstand, i was just being overly harsh, mean, exaggerating...maybe it's a bad trait i picked up from the other atheists! XD so i apologize for that. i used to be a Christian myself and for that reason i respect their beliefs very much and i have always been fascinated by religion. i like good people, Christian atheist, what have you. i think there are good people in this world and bad people, good people, like you and me, are going to see the good parts of the bible and look at the good things, the love the respect, the helping others, and bad people are going to interpret the bad parts and find ways to justify it using the bible, another holy book or anything they can find. my point is, weather you want to be good or weather you want to be bad, religion won't stop you, but then there are those people you just need to encourage to look at things in a good light rather than a negative and i think it's good to do that.

ShadowFan100 Very true. Agreed! OK, then u are forgiven. And really? Most people think opposite of religion. But as stated in the article, I hate that term. To me, it is not a religion. I agree with all this. I also hate it when they use the Bible to do just that.....it makes me look bad.