I wasn't saying the story you told was wrong.... I was talking about the youtube story you posted. I assumed your comment that I quoted meant you realized that it was not a true story.
I understand where you are coming from, I really do. I was raised in church. My step-dad was/is a pastor. I also went to a private school. I have gone on missionary trips as well as personally preaching, at a young age, at homeless shelters in Detroit. I was in constant study biblically and use to do a lot of research. That same research is what got me to what I believe in today.
Once thing I learned while studying for many years is simple....... the belief in any type of god is strictly faith based. The religious community tends to just brush off scientific facts because they do not fit their ideals. Although the speed of light is still realistic a "theory" in some ways, you can't dispute the speeds that have been recordable. 186000 miles per hour. That being a fact, and the bible saying that the heavens and teh earth are only 6,000 years old... well, you do the math. A recent discovery of a star over 1 billion light years away is a fact. But the bible specifically states that, around 6,000 years ago, teh earth and heavens (translated from universe and or sky) were created. How could everything be only 6,000 years old when there is indisputable proof that even things on earth can date back millions of years. That;s just one instance. I don't believe there is enough evidence to consider Darwin's evolution theory a fact.... but there is NO proof that creationism is a fact... aside from faith.
If there is a god, the one from Judeo-Christian beliefs... answer these question. (To your self if you like, you don't have to answer on here)
1. Why would people have believed the earth was flat? And why would teh "christians" be the ones that pushed the issue that the earth was flat. Surely god would have let them in on that.
2. The sun revolves around the earth? Same as above. People was called blasphemic to god for stating that the sun was the center of the solar system. Why would a god tell people things and show them things, but leave that out?
3. Why is the "person" that's name has been used for thousands of battles and millions of lost lives..... a loving god?
4. Why is most of the bible re-writings of ancient stories found to have been written well be for and scrolls used in te bible were written? The story of Moses, Abraham, Jesus, the Great Flood, Adam and Eve....those were all written hundreds and sometimes over a thousand years before the "scriptures" were found.
5. Why do people believe the bible was written by god when it is indisputable that a roman counsel headed by Constantine were teh actual ones who "voted" on what scriptures to use or not use. And if it's gods book"... why would got put it in the hands of a pagan?
6. Why is not one scripture written by anyone that was even alive during the life of Jesus? The earliest books were dated back to, at the least, 40 years after Jesus death.
7 Why, although there was historical archivers during the life of Jesus that recorded many things during that time frame, was Jesus never mentioned one time. (There was one historian that did say a short entry about someone he refered to as "Christos", or Christ. But the story in the bible was never recorded by anyone alive at teh time).
8. Why are children dying, being abused, raped, murdered.... That's a "loving god"? typically people blame Satan.... but isn't got the supreme being? Why allow people to suffer, people that pray for help to suffer. Yes, some of those that are dying are also praying. And you know what, they die at the same rate as everyone else.
9. If heaven is paradise... why don't more believers either commit suicide or allow diseases to take them. Why fight against going to Heaven? "My dad is sick, everyone please pray for a full recovery". Isn't that selfish? If I believed in heaven I would prefer he went there then to be sick. And how many people does it take to get a healing from god? Does 10 people praying increase the chance of it being answered? How about 10o or 1,000. Will he only answer if enough people pray? Considering he "answers prayers".... why wouldn't just one suffice? I'm not compairing myself to any god... but wouldn't that be considered redundancy? Do you think he forgot when you asked... you you have to continue to ask and get others to do so as well? Seems pretentious to me.
Your body is the "temple of god".... why would he allow people to be ravished with painful and fatal diseases? Wouldn't you want your temple to be clean of everything bad? Didn't Jesus kick over the tables in the bible because they were using the temple to sell and gamble? Why allow natural selection in a world that is under constant monitoring and control of a higher being?
Aside from faith... there's no evidence. I'm not saying it is wrong to believe. Everyone is entitled to believe in what they wish. As am I. I, however, try to base my beliefs on facts.
2 bible verses that I don't get.
Jesus said "No one can come to the father but by me". So that means every religion... whether they believe in god or not, if they do not believe Jesus is the son of god.... well, they go to hell. How is that right? They believe in the same god, but cant benefit from their loyalty since they were brought up Jewish or any other religion that doesn't believe in the Christian bible?
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven". So if you are wealthy... you can't go to heaven? Seems a bit unfair.... considering religion is a multi trillion dollar industry who has million dollar leaders.... and members that fight daily for a better home, or car, or a raise at work.
Last question......
If god is all powerful and loves me.... wants me to be with him in heaven and walk the streets of gold by my mansion while worshiping him..........
.... why would he allow me to be an Atheist?
I'm a parent. I love my kids. I wouldn't let my kids stray down a path of drugs, immoral actions, murder, become rapists, steal, hate crimes... anything detrimental to a healthy life....But why would your loving "father" allow you to.
Freedom of choice does not prove love. It proves a detached, uncaring, worry free style of "parenting".