Ah, you touch on an important point for beleivers. There is no creature in the world like us human beings. The Bible says we were made in His likeness. Could this not be evidence of creation.
As to your first point, I think if I held that opinion I would drive into the Niagara River on the way home from work tomorrow.
Other primates are very similar to us, we can teach apes to sign many different things, apes are even known to morn the death of a loved one, if that is not similar to humans I don't know what is. Sure they don't speak english, but why should we expect them to.
It's interesting, because you consider an atheist's existence to be "sad" (my words) because we don't have some wondrous afterlife to look forward to, but I consider your existence to be sad, because you cannot enjoy your current life without said promise of eternity.
What cyclic disdain we have wrought.
I mean much further than appearance, or behaviors. The knowledge of right an wrong, being able to hope, aspire, love, hold conversations.
When an animal on this planet can do those things I will stop beleiving in a Creator.
Well as to right and wrong, many have pointed out that 'society' determines that, however I remember reading an excellent book by C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, that completely blasts that idea out of the water. If I was better with words or more of a scholar I would try my luck with citing it here.
I mean much further than appearance, or behaviors. The knowledge of right an wrong, being able to hope, aspire, love, hold conversations.
When an animal on this planet can do those things I will stop beleiving in a Creator.
I think it personally has to do with arrogance, the feeling that you are so special that you can't just be alive for no particular reason and then when you die that's it and in the end nothing you did will ever really matter. They want to feel important and religion helps with this.
It's interesting, because you consider an atheist's existence to be "sad" (my words) because we don't have some wondrous afterlife to look forward to, but I consider your existence to be sad, because you cannot enjoy your current life without said promise of eternity.
What cyclic disdain we have wrought.
An animal does do this.
I'm assuming you consider humans as 'animals' then ? Let's get that out of the way first.
I find it a bit silly how humans can be so arrogant in regard to our superiority compared to other species. It seems that for how much we purport our greatness, how often do you hear tales of people falling to their "primal nature" (i.e. animalistic tendencies)? We're animals with a far greater capacity for thought compared to being subject to our instincts... oh, and don't forget our opposable thumbs!
I think it's that superiority complex that pushes people toward believing that we are something that God created separately (and specially) from all other creatures. My good friend down here is religious, and he certainly has expressed distaste for when I refer to humans as "animals."
I beleive you misunderstand my thoughts a little. And I think your summary is off.
I can enjoy this current life as much as anybody else, and I beleive even more than others.
Imagine for a moment that you knew with 100% certainty that there was a God. This God created you in his image, to worship Him, to give glory to Him.
Ok, you are still imagining that you know for a fact there is a God.
You know, through his Word, that glorifying him through Biblical prinicples brings him honor and glory. That obeying give Him great pleasure. What an awesome thing to be able to do while here on Earth! To make the God of the universe who has created you, and given you life, well pleased. To have Him look down on you with favor. What a wonderful thing to be able to give to Him right now.
Ok, you can stop imagining now !
The wonderful part about pleasing God, is that you can do it no matter what your circumstances, whether in sunny days or the bad ones. The 'afterlife' is not on our minds all the time like I think some people beleive. No, we are very much focused on today.
I totally beleive that many atheists live happy lives, but when you decide (if you decide) to start thinking about the further off questions about life, and what is next, who wouldn't be depressed to not have an answer ?
I beleive you misunderstand my thoughts a little. And I think your summary is off.
I can enjoy this current life as much as anybody else, and I beleive even more than others.
Imagine for a moment that you knew with 100% certainty that there was a God. This God created you in his image, to worship Him, to give glory to Him.
Ok, you are still imagining that you know for a fact there is a God.
You know, through his Word, that glorifying him through Biblical prinicples brings him honor and glory. That obeying give Him great pleasure. What an awesome thing to be able to do while here on Earth! To make the God of the universe who has created you, and given you life, well pleased. To have Him look down on you with favor. What a wonderful thing to be able to give to Him right now.
Ok, you can stop imagining now !
The wonderful part about pleasing God, is that you can do it no matter what your circumstances, whether in sunny days or the bad ones. The 'afterlife' is not on our minds all the time like I think some people beleive. No, we are very much focused on today.
I totally beleive that many atheists live happy lives, but when you decide (if you decide) to start thinking about the further off questions about life, and what is next, who wouldn't be depressed to not have an answer ?
If we are not, what are we?
That's a very thought provoking quote!
Anyways, to answer your question, personally I beleive in heaven, a place with no pain, no tears, no more physical body (my body is always breaking down) A place where God's presence is complete, where other beleivers are, where there are streets of gold. Who wouldn't want to go there !
Pride was the fall of Satan, the fall of Adam and Eve, the list goes on and on. You are very correct in saying that we have a superiority complex, it is our greatest flaw and the reason for this fallen world.
We all think that we know better. In many senses, atheism could be looked at as the total epitomy of pride.
Human beings. Which, I don't care what Webster's says about humans (or the Discovery channel) Humans aren't animals. An animal is what runs around pooping on my lawn
What the hell kind of sick bastard would demand my worship? If you are all powerful and all knowing what the hell would you need my worship? And why the hell would you deserve it? The fact he would be sitting up there laughing it up while we are down here worshiping him for essentially doing nothing (save creation if you want to go there). So much war, famine, natural disasters and other things are going on and he still wants my worship? Not today bud, you want to be worshiped? Prove yourself worthy by providing protection, peace, end of poverty, end of hunger. All of this and more is possible if you are omnipotent.
Also you ignored my anecdote about Washoe
If those are truly your demands, they were met perfectly in the beginning of the world. (garden of eden) There was protection, peace, no poverty or hunger. We don't have that anymore thanks to their prideful decision.
You were doing the same thing until we invented indoor plumbing, in many parts of the world we still do.
there is absolutely no proof a garden of Eden ever existed in the biblical sense.
Also, all humans suffer now because of one dude and a chick thousands of years ago? talk about holding a grudge, what a massive cock.