Will Wisbey · @will_wisbey
8th Mar 2012 from Twitlonger
Dear Atheists,
Enjoyable as this has been, all good things come to an end. A few points to make.
1) Please absorb and think about things and aim for intelligent discussion - keep on topic rather than spouting off on a tangent. By failing to do so, you simply paint yourself as badly as the Christians that do the same. Through intelligent debate we grow. All that agressive anger achieves is silence and hurt.
2) You all have the same arguments, that it is up to us to prove God. When we say you must experience him, you say that is not good enough.
Please, understand that your right to reject God is one of the inalienable rights enshrined within every religion. But it holds consequences. Whether there is or isn't a God is the most important question in anyone's lives. Do not take anyone's word for it, find out yourself. It would only take a few weeks and then you can speak with authority as one who has sought and not found. However, I believe that if you seek with an open mind (quite key), then you WILL find.
Remember, this is not a case of Pavlov's dog where a bell is rung (in this case, someone tweeting Jesus, Atheism, Christianity) and you erupt from your cage. This is a case of Pavlov's Cat. There may or may not be a cat in the box, (or God in the bible), but until you open the box (seek Him), you won't know. Can't know.
3) At the very least, investigate the claims of Hawking & Dawkins and analyse them in the light of ones who made millions. Also Hawking was on a tragic journey and his views on God coincided with the morality of his own decisions - something to be wary of as neither are impartial judges.
4) And quite frankly, when someone makes the claim that western laws and morality is based on biblical laws and morality, simply let it slide. Christianity has dominated the west for too long for it not to be true and - while that may change in the future - you just look daft for saying the past hasn't been influenced by Christianity.
5) Similarly, I think you do not credit the good that has come out of the church. The church and religion often uses power poorly, yet it inspires its followers to help others, bless others and generally be better people. I am as much against Churches that do not do that as you are. We would say this is reflecting God's love, you might say it's delusional, but do not forget that the church is there to try and make the world a better place. If you seek to tear it down at least look to what you would replace it with. Be its conscience by all means, but avoid spiritual anarchy, for that helps no-one.
5) Finally, to the atheist that claimed that Christians created slavery, don't be ridiculous, the earliest civilisations in the world had slaves. While the church has not helped itself by sometimes justifying slavery in the past, it was Christians inspired by their faith that brought an end to the legality of it and often Christian agencies that fight it today.
Whatever your views, be respectful of others, play sensibly and justify your claims just as you expect us to justify ours.
(By the way, I do have some sympathy as everything that every religion stands for is a direct assault against your beliefs. We cannot help that. If God exists as we believe then it means everything and not nothing. But honestly, poking the sore that is damnation is no way to lead a happy and fulfilled life. Best that you simply let it lie. We are fulfilled by our beliefs and lead better lives as a result. Why challenge that?)
All the best
Will