Concerning the Bible's use of the word "fool"... · 9:00pm Apr 3rd, 2016
Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 both begin the same way; "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'." Some mistakenly take this to mean that it is only stupid people who doubt the existence of God. The Hebrew word, however, that was originally used refers to impious people. Many atheists and agnostics are very intelligent; they know about their particular fields of science and utilize that knowledge.
The word fool as the Bible uses it is not used to say that atheists are unintelligent. It is used to describe their lack of belief in God. The verses in both instances continue, "They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who is good." The text basically translates that it is evil to deny God, and that people who deny Him tend to lead decadent lifestyles.
Much of the denial is not a true "I can't believe in God," but rather, "I will not believe in God." God holds people to moral standards. The secularism that arises today doesn't attack faith... unless faith starts saying that people are doing wrong. At that point, the person or group saying this is often demonized by the press and by others. People don't want to believe in a moral God who demands moral standards from them and tells them that they do wrong. In order to reject the idea that they are guilty of disobedience, many people find that the "simplest" solution is to deny His existence entirely. In the book "The God Delusion," Mr. Dawkins writes in chapter nine that it is better for children to have been abused than to have been raised in a church, and earlier on in the book writes an entire chapter, based entirely on his own opinion, that humanity is good, in spite of all the plain and obvious evidence to the contrary. We don't learn how to lie, cheat, or steal; children do it naturally, and every day. We hear of all sorts of evil in the news happening, sometimes in foreign countries, but every so often something terrible happens just down the street from us, and occasionally in our own houses and backyards.
No one likes to admit this. No one should want it to be true, or that it remain so. But the fact remains that it is true, in spite of our wish to the contrary.
Of course, there are many people who do admit this; I've read numerous stories where the main character(s) believe(s) that humanity deserves to die out, or that they prefer to live in a supposedly perfect Equestria than in a world of human beings. However, many who take this view also reject God, and Jesus in particular, for their salvation, to their detriment.
No, it's not always easy to wake up in a world where things like 9/11 and the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels happen, and often harder still to admit they happen. However, these occurrences should push us toward God rather than driving us away. Jesus is our only means of salvation, but He is not stingy in handing it out; "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13)" (Alternatively, Matthew 7:11 reads, "How much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!") What we really have to do is be willing to admit that we do wrong and ask for forgiveness, as well as for our daily bread (which refers to spiritual fulfillment as well as that of our stomachs).
I know that not everyone will believe this blog, and not everyone will accept it with a cool mind. However, I would ask that, should anyone have read this far, to consider God's word - His promise - wisely. Along with the announcement of punishment for evil, God promises forgiveness to those who truly follow Him.
Sources;
My NKJV Bible
Biblegateway/passage-Matthew7:9-11
Agreed, 2nd Corinthians 7:9-11 is a very good example of this.
3846476 Hey, it is (looked it up) :)
3846607 Cheers mate!
3846618 Thanks!
3846637 Welcome mate.
How do you account for the fact that the percentage of Christians is higher in prison populations than the ones who have not been jailed? In essence, statistics show that if you're a Christian, you're more likely to commit a crime and go to jail than if you were a non-religious person. I don't think the facts of the world agree with your blog.
4063027 O rly? May I see your proof?
4063036 Atheists account for only 0.209% of the prison population.
wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/files/2013/07/rNyTbDJ.png
As you know, the percentage of atheists outside the prison is much higher than that.
If God deniers were really as 'foolish' as you proclaim them to be, that should be reflected in the statistics. Alas, the statistics show a different story than the one you preach.
4063048 Patheos is an atheist site. Since atheists don't believe that their actions have eternal consequences, of course they'll be willing to lie about the numbers, in this and other things. And even if this site were correct, the fact remains that many people who consider themselves part of a denomination may not be devout. There's a difference between genuine faith and just a claim.
And even if you'd had a point (which I don't believe you do), I'm not going to change my beliefs just because of one dissenting person, or even the entire world.
4063048 Here you go
Seems like you got a few things wrong.
The article consisted mostly of the ignorance from the dyslectic author. Alas, ignorance is never a valid counter argument. But how about we stop playing cat and mouse game and I just give you the official first-hand fresh data:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xwzrnrwp46v34wp/Prison_Data_Shareable.pdf?dl=0
There are currently 197 atheists in federal prison out of 191,322 total prisoners. That's 0.1%.
Tell me something. How would you call a person who would refuse to accept God no matter how much proof you'd provide to her? Even if God descended from Heaven, she would still deny Him? I'd call such person unreasonable, and probably, so would you.
You, I'd call a very fateful person.
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1c/fe/aa/1cfeaa7665e88307227d56b5c7d0020d.jpg
Just look at your comment, 4063056. It's got blind faith written all over it.
4063115 Ok. What if I'm wrong and you're right? I lose nothing. I'll die happy, and if I'm wrong, I'll never know. If I'm right... You, on the other hand, waste your life denying God and ticking off everyone who does believe, and win nothing from being right. If you're wrong, your judgment day will not be pleasant.
I believe God, and in God. If you don't that's your problem. Please stop trying to make it mine, or anyone else's.
I could ask what happened to you, after all.
4063214
You lose the only life you have. If you're wrong, then instead of living truthfully, you're wasting your precious life living a lie.
On the contrary. The pursuit of truth is my meaning of life. I'd say I'm living my life to the fullest.
Just as much as you're ticking off everyone who does not believe.
I win my life.
If I'm wrong then I'd rather go to Hell than be forced to worship the atrocious monster you call God.
You're spreading your opinion of God. Why should I not be allowed to do the same?
Nothing happened to me. Why do you assume something had to have happened?
4063252
I'd rather try to live as virtuous as I could, even though I am trapped in a sinful body, than live vilely.
The former indicates that you did in fact have something happen, or experienced, or saw someone else experience, something, since you prefer to go to hell. I haven't seen a genuine disbelief in God from you, but rather an intolerance and hatred of Him.
Anyway, I'm not required to believe your view any more than you are mine. I have tried to show you respect, now and before now, and all I've gotten is dirt kicked in my face. I'm walking away from this conversation rather than waste my time anymore, since you clearly don't want to believe that there is a God, and moreover that his a loving, kindly (and just) Father that he is. Good day, sirrah.
4063252 And do you really, REALLY want to go to hell? I suggest you think long and hard about it; eternal fire and torment is not a joke. Are you sure that's where you want to go rather than embrace the love that's being freely given? All you have to do is ask, in honesty, and you will receive.
Its up to you. Its your decision. God does allow you that choice.