Zakath
Resident Atheist
I'm sorry your life has worked out that way.
Pride? No. Pleasure in "sin"? No. I am in my present position due to lack of sufficient evidence provided by any relgionist to change my mind.
As a psychologist, I frequently speak with people who believe all sorts of things. Most of those things are not "real", that's why these folk visit me.
Something I've learned over the years: the fact that someone is convinced something is real is insufficient evidence for me to accept the reality of their belief without corraborating evidence from outside the indivdual's perspective.
But as an atheist, I have already agreed to bear my own burdens. There is no one else who will, except for the mythical imaginary deities of the thousands of sects of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc. I expect no help from myths or fantasies.
First, this begs the question of the accuracy of the Bible which we've already discussed extensively.
Second, you expect me to base my relationship with your deity on a second hand report of an alleged vision of a dead person? Perhaps I'll just contact Sylvia Browne or John Edwards. They claim to be able to put me in contact with the dead real time. I wouldn't have to rely on questionable manuscript evidence plus 18 or 19 centuries of self-serving commentary by various church officials.
For example???
Since there are many, how about providing the names of a dozen, or even ten.
[qoute]Other than that, I really don't know what kind of evidence you want.[/quote]We've already discussed this, as well. You do not seem to be able to provide anything concrete, merely vague references to contemporary movies and "many other historical documents".
Hardly a convincing argument.
You're finally getting the point, as it pertains to written evidence. There is historical evidence that is not hearsay, but speaks pretty clearly to the actuality of a given historical event.
For example, we can be relatively certain that Julius Ceasar crossed the Rubicon and brought his legion into Rome due to the observable fact that history was changed by that event. The Roman governent changed form, the Roman state underwent significant change as well.
There are no comparable changes that can be directly attributed to Jesus of Nazareth. While many of his followers have left their imprint on history, he himself left virtually no directly discernable trace.
But only if one believes what you termed the alleged "bologna". The problem, as I see it, is that no amount of faith changes reality. In reality, as I understand it, the deity of the Bible does not exist. No amount of faith will change that.
