Comments for

Comment on Don’t Waste Your Cancer by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:21:50 +0000

I wonder why God allows bad things to happen to good people…why he allows bad things to happen to me…but Zac’s strength and his faith, gives me encouragement and helps me realize that in all this bad, it is only to make us stronger and better people if we allow it to. Thank you Zac…thank you God.

Comment on WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:02:08 +0000

Male, 22

I’m afraid that someone close to me will die. I’m afraid of how I will deal with the grief. I’m lived twenty two years and never had someone close to me die and I feel like it could happen at any moment.

Comment on joy by Devin Wright

Devin Wright — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:43:38 +0000

Joy is unique, in so much as it is only fully known to those who know Christ. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Surprised by Joy, a book on his personal journey from Christianity to Atheism to Christianity, “But what, in conclusion, of Joy? for that, after all, is what the story has mainly been about. To tell you the truth, the subject has lost nearly all interest for me since I became a Christian….” [238] He writes throughout the book of glimpses throughout his life, of what he calls Joy. He finds that these glimpses of Joy are merely a sort of reflection and glimpse of God. In the end of the book, he converts to Christianity and finds that his search for joy has lost all interest to him, because the Joy he once experienced, he now feels in every moment of every day in Christ. A kind of Joy that is so fully expressed, that it cannot compare to the glimpses he experienced early in life.

In this sense, Joy is life. Joy is Christ expressed in our lives. To those who don’t know Christ, it is a hint and glimpse of something unexplainable, something worth spending one’s life searching for, but can only be found in Christ.

In short, yes, I agree! Not only does joy help us suffer well, it helps us live well, the way are meant to live.

Comment on Thinking Philosophically by Sandara

Sandara — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:36:33 +0000

Yes, thank you for summing that up! (‘They are forced to arrive at a subjective meaning to life.’)

But then, why would ridding the world of religion and primates do any good if he believes we are all destined to die anyway? (So is there something more to his choice to live?) Maybe because it makes him feel good? But then why would that make him feel good if he truly believes it won’t do any good because we’re just going to die? Which then leads to… what is good? Which is what you said. Which is subjective to them.

I wish I had atheist friends to talk to. This is very interesting.

Comment on Thinking Philosophically by chad

chad — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:00:25 +0000

Your question was “where does an atheist put their hope”. Assuming they hold true to their world-view as described by Bertrand Russell above, they are forced to arrive at a subjective meaning to life.

Christopher Hitchens (from the “new atheist” camp) would answer your questions by saying life for him is about doing good things, helping liberty flourish for other evolved primates such as himself, and to rid the world of ridiculous religious notions.

Of course this is a subjective hope that applies to only him, and Hitchens would be fine with that.

Of course this also brings up the logical question: how do you know what is good? and what is the basis for valuing liberty over oppression?

I have friends that are atheist and they are fine with a subjective meaning to life.

Comment on Thinking Philosophically by Sandara

Sandara — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:19:10 +0000

But they must have some sort of hope, or they’d all kill themselves and be done with it. I wonder what their hope is in. What do tried and true Atheists believe the purpose of life is then? I suppose some might try to lead a humanistic lifestyle… if they come to the conclusion that life is for pure enjoyment. (I guess that’d be a reason not to kill themselves.) I guess it all comes back to that same question: What are we here for? And their answer is basically “We are here to die.” Which is very depressing. What a sad life to live.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is (after all that ranting) that Atheists must come to either one of two conclusions:
1. We are here to die.
2. We are here to party!
Or both.
But I am curious to know if there are any other conclusions an Atheist may come to that I’m missing here… Any thoughts anyone? (By the way, sorry for posting so much, but this really got me thinking… thanks!)

Comment on Thinking Philosophically by Sandara

Sandara — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:10:19 +0000

Also puts a whole new spin on the success-based lifestyle of American Atheists. What are they possibly thinking as they climb the ladder of what we have defined as ‘success’? I wonder if they simply try not to think about what will happen when they die, or whether they try not to think that all of their efforts will go down the drain when they’re gone. Imagine that – a religion (or anti-religion) that tries to avoid itself.

Comment on Thinking Philosophically by Sandara

Sandara — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:04:14 +0000

That’s pretty depressing. I’m glad I’m not an atheist.

Comment on Humor by Sandara

Sandara — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:57:50 +0000

Hahaha!! We love you, Chad.

Comment on Friend Like a Brother by Bryan Mason

Bryan Mason — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:42:48 +0000

Sad, beyond sad…if you need a shoulder and/or an ear, I am there.

Comment on WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:53:24 +0000

Female, 16

I don’t view myself as anxious or afraid or neurotic at all, and was struggling to think of something that I was afraid of. Today I realized what it was: I am afraid that the people I am close to will break down, sink into themselves, drown in their sadness or unfortunate circumstances, and never come back out again. If this were to happen to one of my friends, it would grieve my heart IMMENSELY.

Comment on A Better King by Sandara Olson

Sandara Olson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:57:52 +0000

Wow. We were just talking about that at Engage last night. More specifically, how are we affecting others by the decisions we make? How are we reflecting Jesus to others in our actions? As we walk around the grocery store, are we thinking about how dirty the floors are or how crowded it is, or are we focused on Jesus and His glory and how we can be a blessing to the people around us? Really interesting to think about and exciting to apply to life.