Neither of those.

Neither as well.

Probably more like. Don't believe in a bunch of short stories from a book.

A lot of non-Christians claim that people who do believe are just doing so out of fear, so I don't really see how that would even be a choice here.
I think a lot of people are turned off to Christianity by other people, specifically Christians themselves. It's frustrating, because I definitely think hostile, self-righteous Christians are a tiny, tiny minority, but they are so damn loud. It's too bad some people choose to focus on those Christians as their picture of what Christianity is.
It's also a bit unfair, I think, that so many non-Christians are so quick to shout, "You're not perfect" at Christians, as if that's what we think of ourselves, then turn around and mock us when we make the same mistakes every human is bound to make.

Maybe the fact that the leaders of the religion are complete idiots, and they don't want to be associated with that.

Hypocricy. Hands down.

I think all humans are hypocrites, though. I don't see why those people who are Christians should really be expected not to be, especially when we are aspiring to Christ-like ideals that we already know we're going to fall short of.

Fear is what causes more people to turn to Christianity than away.

Science and common sense...

Ignorance and fear is what causes people to turn away. Most of the atheists I know either don't know anything about Christianity except what other atheists told them, (which obviously has a negative effect), or they DO know about it and are afraid of the truth.

When I say 'afraid of the truth' I mean it. They are literally scared to know truth. They'd rather believe in something that is real, concrete, and utterly human (like evolution). They are scared to invest their lives into something that might not be real.

I think it comes down to believing or not. Some people are willing to believe in a religion without any real, good logical reason. Others are not. I have yet to see any evidence of a god, let alone reason to believe in one, and even less reason to think I'd *like* a god that created some of the messes we have going on here.

>>They are scared to invest their lives into something that might not be real. <<

ie they're are realist! Live for what you know, not what mght be.

On 5/18/2005 7:03:38 PM surrysounds wrote: >>They are scared to invest their lives into something that might not be real. << ie they're are realist! Live for what you know, not what mght be.

I like the way that sounds...

And who are you to say what is real? Did you create the worl din which we live that you say is 'real'? Were you there when the universe was created? Who are we to think we know what is real and what is logical. Humans had nothing to do with inventing logic; God did. That's real.

On 5/18/2005 7:05:33 PM eirelister wrote: And who are you to say what is real? Did you create the worl din which we live that you say is 'real'? Were you there when the universe was created? Who are we to think we know what is real and what is logical. Humans had nothing to do with inventing logic; God did. That's real.

So you're saying that no one can know what actually happened, but you do?

I was raised a Catholic and force to attend celebrations twice a week.
I'd say Jesus Christ is one of the best person ever...
But the rest of the Bible, and what the Church did with JC's legacy I don't agree with at all.

So why not any other religion?

I don't see why anyone would deny Christianity because they thought it was true. Wouldn't that just land you in hell, which is much worse than joining a religion?

Did I ever say that I know? Nope, pretty sure I didn't...

"Humans had nothing to do with inventing logic; God did. That's real"

That sounds like a pretty affirmative statement to me.

None of us KNOW much about God. He tried to explain Himself in the bible, but that's pretty hard for most people to choke down, anyway, so how could we be trusted with the knowledge of everything?

You can take my words whichever way you want, because I've had plenty of conversations with you that go nowhere. I'm not starting another one ;)

On 5/18/2005 7:05:33 PM eirelister wrote: And who are you to say what is real? Did you create the worl din which we live that you say is 'real'? Were you there when the universe was created? Who are we to think we know what is real and what is logical. Humans had nothing to do with inventing logic; God did. That's real.

Typical statement of someone with no arguement.

Ah that's no fun

"Typical statement of someone with no argument"

That IS my argument.

Floor demon, I must admit that I do like arguing with you, though.

*takes a front row seat*

Its one of those round and round arguements that will never end. We are just going to have to agree to disagree...