Michael says:
I hope to engage you in the arena of ideas, with discussions based on reason, logic and evidence. It is my intent to start with some basic, fundamental questions. Can we know the truth about reality? Is the opposite of the truth false? Is there a creator? How did we get here? Where we go from here is anyone’s guess. I am prepared to go as long as you like.
I suppose the possibility exists that things may get emotional and/or sarcastic from time to time, but you should know that I have always considered you to be my friend, even my good friend. We have a history of good times and many laughs. I do not expect this to change, no matter how tense things might get. As a Christian man, I love you as a brother.
Frankly, I hope to change your mind and your heart about a number of things. I lead a blessed life. It has not always been this way. I am blessed for a number of reasons. I would like very much to share some of my blessings with you.
I suppose turnabout is fair play. What is your motivation for entering into this discussion with me? What do you hope to accomplish?
Thanks, Michael!
My goal is the same as yours: To make you realize that you are totally wrong in your world view and that I am totally right and to totally change your mind and fix you. Let’s be honest, that is the reason we are both doing this.
Coming up: My reaction to the Foreward of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.”
How does one know if one is “blessed”?
I have an amazing partner (of 16 years). Our relationship is still full of passion and excitement. It’s emotionally, intellectually, and physically fulfilling.
I have a great job (essentially, I managed to convince someone to pay me money for my college hobby).
I have a small but interesting group of friends who I love getting together with and make few if any demands on our friendships.
I find wonder in the world. The universe is so amazing.
I have a set of ethical standards. I have formulated a basis of law and principles.
I do and have all of this without a god. Without religion. The existence of God is, in the end, not based in evidence, and when discussions about religion happen… they most likely end up as exercises where the religious person is attempting to bring their *subjective* truth as *objective*. It’s not. Religion, belief, it’s all very personal and for skeptics such as me, there is no basis in fact.