Popular Atheist Blogger Announces Conversion to Catholicism

Martin Ent Inc wrote: And looks like maybe loves the Fish

The fish? I am confused, wouldn't that make her a Christian? Just kidding!

rofllol
well she has that look.

I hope this person has found happiness and security in their choice. As an atheist myself, I understand the occasional sense of being unsure. But some of us are strong enough to overcome those feelings and stay grounded in reality.

“Do you really mean to tell me the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment? That's not morality, that's just sucking up, apple-polishing, looking over your shoulder at the great surveillance camera in the sky, or the still small wiretap inside your head, monitoring your every move, even your every base though.”

― Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

Absolutely not.

I try to be good because I believe that goodness is my purpose ----

There's a difference between purpose and standards. Dawkins confuses the two. G-d calling us to goodness isn't about avoiding a punishment --- it's about fulfilling a purpose (His). Goodness is G-d's design, and His desire. The effort to avoid punishment is really religion --- which is separate from faith --- which is the pursuit of purpose.

I'm not really arguing that my purpose is good (often, I think you'd find that it isn't) --- but that's because I often replace G-d's purpose with my own (although he desires the former). However - G-d has given me a purpose - and that purpose is goodness.

bailey bud wrote:

“Do you really mean to tell me the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward, or to avoid his disapproval and punishment? That's not morality, that's just sucking up, apple-polishing, looking over your shoulder at the great surveillance camera in the sky, or the still small wiretap inside your head, monitoring your every move, even your every base though.”

― Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

Absolutely not.

I try to be good because I believe that goodness is my purpose ----

There's a difference between purpose and standards. Dawkins confuses the two. G-d calling us to goodness isn't about avoiding a punishment --- it's about fulfilling a purpose (His). Goodness is G-d's design, and His desire. The effort to avoid punishment is really religion --- which is separate from faith --- which is the pursuit of purpose.

I'm not really arguing that my purpose is good (often, I think you'd find that it isn't) --- but that's because I often replace G-d's purpose with my own (although he desires the former). However - G-d has given me a purpose - and that purpose is goodness.

I take it you don't buy the Christian concept of Hell?

jmc wrote: I take it you don't buy the Christian concept of Hell?

That's a clown question bro'.

yes - I believe in Hell --- which is eternal separation from the Creator (and His goodness).

However - Hell doesn't define Christianity

---

Christ does.

Yes - I understand that Christ included some discussion of Hell. However - it wasn't his focus.

However, aoivdance of Hell diverts from (and I'd argue is antithetical to) the Christian ethic - which is the pursuit of Christ.

The former is religion --- the later is faith. There's a difference, as our Lord made crystal clear.

In any event - always happy to welcome people to the faith. My prayer is that her pursuit leads to peace.

Just like blindly following Dems or Rep my issue with religion is that I have my own bliefs and every religion I was part of in my past they told me what to believe. My belief system is so complicated, few know about it. It is not based on religion. Only people who really care about me will ask me and be patient enough to really listen to the long story. But one thing you big bangers won't ever get around on me is this.

I asked a million question about the belief that the solar system came from some tiny speck and blew up. How something so small could turn into something so humongous. And you can't get around this fact. From what I have read and been told, this small thing that blew up, was very very dense. I don't care if the universe came from this tiny thing or not. How does something so dense just appear? It just does not make sense to me. My belief system makes sense to me so that is what I go with. The religions and much of the bible do not make sense either. Parts do though. The new testament makes some sense to me. So, I go with what feels right and the religions I was part of never felt right just felt like I was living other people's beliefs.

You should try reading Stephen Hawking's "The Grand Design" sometime... It might help you to visualize how it can be....

...or not....

... or anything by Richard Dawkins. Much more intelligent than listening to a scientist who badly wants to believe in god.