Do.

Do.

Do

I would strongly recommend reading C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity for those of you that are skeptical.

It has helped change the way I look at many things...

True believer.

Point well taken. Good reminder.

For those that answered yes, how have you been able to maintain your faith amidst all the pressures?

Not to disagree with your your views or say that they are right or wrong, but the flip side of that argument (i.e. all the bad, horrible things that happen to ppl every day) is the reason why I don't.

Having a good life, and trying to make the most of it for me and the people around me. I personally think it makes a better person out of me, because when I do something good I do out of a desire to be a better person, rather than because of a fear of hell.

Was once slightly agnostic, now very much a believer.

No offense, but there's no way you can say you have "no doubt" about it. If so, what proof could you offer. Personally, I've thought about it both ways (good things happen for a reason vs. all the bas things that happen), and I believe in God, but on what grounds, I'm not sure. You could not explain the unexplainable, but you cannot prove much either. Oh well, my 2 cents.

People have mentioned suffering, and it is one of the most common obstacles for many people.

Again at the risk of sounding like a dork(even though I don't care if I do), "Mere Christianity" has rocked my world. It touches on Suffering, Morality, "right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe", faith, cost of faith, what Christians believe, Christian behavior etc..

I always love asking this to my fundamentalist friends, If God knows the future - and what is going to happen has already been decided - do you think that praying will "Change God's Mind" persuading him to grant you a favor?

nope, makes my parents sad.

I don't look forward to anything in the long run. I really can't give you a good reason for why we all shouldn't kill ourselves other than maybe we are afraid to die or rather life just is like it or not.

You hit on the main reason why I don't believe in god, though. It is clearly a comfort to man to believe in some purpose. The truth is usually uncomfortable. I refuse to believe just to make me feel better and sleep at night.

Nuh uh.

In the really long run, we all die.

Anyway I'm atheist because I am my own keeper, not a deity of any kind. I got into college because I worked hard to get in, not because some deity put my name on the roster.

And besides, how am I supposed to believe in something that's scientifically impossible. And my view of christianity is jaded by people that run places like Jesus Camp. YouTube it. It's scary. Looks like some sort of christian fundamentalist jihad.

Amen.

Crap! As an atheist, what am I supposed to say?

For posters that said they believe in God, I have a couple of questions: First, we all believe that humans came into existence through God's creation but how did God himself come into existence? Second, who actually compiled all the books in the bible into one book?

I am always astonished that people let a certain group of Christians actions affect their views.

It comes down to this for me: Christ made some very bold and radical statements here on earth. As C.S. Lewis said, "Jesus was either a Liar, Lord, or a Lunatic."

If he is Lord, there are MAJOR implications. If what he said REALLY is Truth, then how can you let how other people act prevent you from that Truth? Not all people that claim things actually live obedient lives.

In my experience, that is a major understatement. I have found religious people in general (some groups definitely more than others) to be among the most hypocritical. I obviously haven't let this observation affect any personal views, but I just get irritated by the fact that others feel they can preach to me when I feel I have my life more in order than they do, and in some cases, probably have a better/clearer moral compass. That is my biggest hang-up with religion, is the constant need to "spread the gospel/Word", "save" people, etc. Forcing religion down peoples throats is not to my knowledge something that entails the principles set forth by God/Jesus/Yahweh/Allah/Buddha/FSM/Etc.

Strong Don't ...

What I've never understood is: If two different religions claim that non-believers are going to hell (and you can't follow more than one religion), either someone (or both) is lying or we're all going to hell anyways. I have an uncle who is a priest, a grandmother that is a minister, and other religious ties. I've had a lot of exposure to religion but I just don't buy it.

PS: I don't mind if others practice at all, as long as it doesn't come to the detriment of those that don't agree with them.

Believe in God.

Challenge: We should each identify what our definition of God/'the gods' is.

I have a hunch that a good section of the atheists became that way after observing the behavior and mentality of those with a poor definition.

My definition: Universal organizing principle(s). Although randomness as a basis for reality may be appealing to some. I believe in a harmonious underlying structure, it tends to promote a harmonious underlying structure in myself.

How is a guy driving down the freeway getting killed by a semi-truck tire that came loose and crossed over the divider wall into the opposing lane of traffic part of a "harmonious underlying structure"? What about the 6 year old leukemia patients? Maybe I missed the gist of your philosophical outlook, but I don't see how such things tie together the universe.

Atheist

Too much bad stuff in the world to think there is. I think it's all a ploy to control the masses. There is too much historical context and evidence of corruption, deception, and fraud in the church for me to believe otherwise.