09 Dec '07 23:35>
To a certain extent we all have beliefs based on what we feel is true to the best of our current knowledge. Here and there we have ragged edges to our beliefs and areas where we struggle but overall there is a sanity to both positions.
I think that most atheists are sane and hold their beliefs reasonably. I may think that there are assumptions that they make about God which I don't agree with or that there are just things that they don't understand but I can understand atheists....I used to be one.
For an atheist God seems an unlikely proposition. For a theist God seems likely. The main difference seems to be the differing approach to truth. Atheists seem pre-occupied with trying to "figure out" logically if God might exist or not , whereas for me it's not a question of "figuring it out" so much as "getting to know".
Atheism makes sense in the context of logic propositions (eg is A true or not true) . Christianity is the idea that truth can be known not as a logical proposition but that God can be known personally. It's the difference between saying "I believe that God does not exist" and " I know God" . One is an intellectual position , the other is about a different kind of knowing , like knowing your partner.
Christ never said that we were to "know that God exists" just that we would know Him and know Him intimately. I can see the sanity of trying to philosophise about God to "figure it out" but I also see the sanity in trying to seek and get to know God as an alternative way.
For me the key was the realisation that even if I got to the point where I knew that God probably existed it would mean nothing if I didn't actually get to know him personally. My "knowledge " would still be incomplete.
I think that most atheists are sane and hold their beliefs reasonably. I may think that there are assumptions that they make about God which I don't agree with or that there are just things that they don't understand but I can understand atheists....I used to be one.
For an atheist God seems an unlikely proposition. For a theist God seems likely. The main difference seems to be the differing approach to truth. Atheists seem pre-occupied with trying to "figure out" logically if God might exist or not , whereas for me it's not a question of "figuring it out" so much as "getting to know".
Atheism makes sense in the context of logic propositions (eg is A true or not true) . Christianity is the idea that truth can be known not as a logical proposition but that God can be known personally. It's the difference between saying "I believe that God does not exist" and " I know God" . One is an intellectual position , the other is about a different kind of knowing , like knowing your partner.
Christ never said that we were to "know that God exists" just that we would know Him and know Him intimately. I can see the sanity of trying to philosophise about God to "figure it out" but I also see the sanity in trying to seek and get to know God as an alternative way.
For me the key was the realisation that even if I got to the point where I knew that God probably existed it would mean nothing if I didn't actually get to know him personally. My "knowledge " would still be incomplete.