If you are an athiest... on the Peoria.com Forums - Page 21

There is no proof. You started with faith in God (without the proof) and then assert that the Bible proves it. I don't think it "proves" anything. The Bible is a code to live by. There is no more "proof" in the Bible than the Webster Dictionary.

The Bible is a collection of STORIES handed down from generation to generation far before it was written. Like all stories they get "better" with each telling. Not to mention most of them have roots in other Mythos's such as the Sumerians, which were around before the Bible. Consider the fact that other religions ideas were taken by early Christians and reworded to draw in what they called the Pagans. Some of the earliest forms of brainwashing occurring from Christianity.

Need a perfect example, Christmas.

Again, the Bible has no mention of Christmas specifically nor does it mention December 25th for any reason

I think that's his point. Yet the most important day for the religion is the day you celebrate the birth of your Savior, and this day was scheduled so you could invite the pagans to your party.

Wrong. Christmas is no longer a Christian Holiday, if it ever really was. This is no Yom Kippor or Rosh Hashana. It's world wide holiday that celebrates Santa Clause and Gift giving.

While Christians may use Dec. 35th as a symbolic day to celebrate the birth of Christ, no one actually believes he was born on December 25th.

Every church I have ever known made a big deal out of Christmas... With slogans like "keep Christ in Christmas". It's a biggie for the Christians. Christmas and those around Easter (Lent, ash Wednesday, etc).

There is proof of God look around and see. Yes the Bible is a book of stories the thing about that is they have not changed. Fact is oldest book around why. Yes man has wrote the stories in the Bible also man has wrote many other books then why is it that the Bible is still around.

I just said that they use December 25th as the symbolic date to celebrate the birth of Christ, but also acknowledge that it isn't the actual date.

Hip, you said it is no longer a Christian holiday. Date aside, it IS a Christian holiday.

TNT, THINGS all around is NOT proof that there is a God. It still goes back to FAITH. By definition, it's the belief of something without the proof. I've never heard one single church say it wasn't "faith", that it was all provable. I don't buy that there is proof. I do buy that there are lots of ppl who think all the things around them are gifts from God, but that doesn't mean that it's proof. It is still faith.

Hip, you said it is no longer a Christian holiday. Date aside, it IS a Christian holiday.

TNT, THINGS all around is NOT proof that there is a God. It still goes back to FAITH. By definition, it's the belief of something without the proof. I've never heard one single church say it wasn't "faith", that it was all provable. I don't buy that there is proof. I do buy that there are lots of ppl who think all the things around them are gifts from God, but that doesn't mean that it's proof. It is still faith.

The fact that someone like me can have faith in anything is proof enough

LOL, the Bible has changed in every new "version". The wording is dumbed down so people can read it. This in itself has caused changes.

Not to mention the fact, your version of the Bible is different then a Baptists version.

That's not proof. My premise remains. In the absence of proof, those with faith insert God.

The bickering is a moot point, really. I'll continue to post the little insights and testimonials as they occur, you're side will continue to tell us how we're brainwashed, etc and at the end of the day, either one of us is right or both are wrong.

I gonna go ahead stick to God train. Brainwashed or not, it's working pretty well to me

An positive attitude change is what made things better for you not a book. But hey if that is what you need to prop you up and enjoy things more, more power to you. We all need something.

Stay happy and enjoy.