Ex ministers who come out and declare their lack of belief are a great example for regular believers who are worried about the discrimination from believers should they declare their own disbelief. While regular ex-believers only have to face the wrath of their Christian family, friends and employers, the clergy have to face wrath from an entire community. The courage that they show should be an inspiration to all free thinkers to say what they think, even when surrounded by theists.
I hope more people like risadanielle will see the truth. Sometimes I just want to shake them and scream... wake up! But I do see how they got there, how difficult it is to get out, and that the first step is theirs to make.
Bless you. Your assumption that I am a believer is correct however your second assumption that I have not listened well enough and only once is incorrect. :)
For most of us it required a sort of personal "death", to go ahead and face mortality without the "crutch" of religion, to abandon the idea of "heaven" and "immortality", and to do it in solitary. I am happy for you and hope that soon you will not require "support" because aTheism is not a religion, and it is not a substitute for religion.
I assume here that you're a believe. Considering this, I'll play the same cards as you and simply say: You should watch and most important listen again to this video, there are some things you might've missed. :)
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?
Hell is a little real. I feel like I am in Hell when people of faith tell me about Hell. I mean it my skin gets hot and I being gnashing my teeth whilst weeping.
I'm 67 an although not an atheist yet it is a scary hallway to go down and then open a door that you can never turn around and return to the safety net of religion. Have come to detest all religions including trying to convert to Judism (that was such a disappointment) and it's not 'THE ONE' either. At this time I believe in a Creator just not the one in all the Bibles. No new age stuff for me either. no woo woo for me.
Because, the design proves the designer. You don't have to be a Christian to believe in God, the Creator. Thomas Paine wasn't a Christian, and neither was Benjamin Franklin.
If she was an hipocrite as you're claiming here, don't you think she'd still be living the life that she'd put so much effort in as a minister even today regardless of the relatively recent conclusions that she's now expressing? Is it too hard for your to conceive that she truly believed that bullshit at some point and finally openned her eyes to the reality?
"To believe in the bible as factual is to forsake all logic and proven scientific facts. Religious belief is an insult to human intelligence and it is poisonous to mankind. There’s no greater ignorance and stupidity than to believe in anything without evidence”....[Damien Lee Thorr]
What makes you reject evolution by natural selection? It is the ONLY explanation that has evidence that supports it. Would you take a medical treatment for which there was no evidence of safety and efficacy? i.e. one based entirely on faith and the witness of persons who died thousands of years ago
I respect Teresa for confessing her disbelief, however for someone who has preached the bible she is not being truthful, she is simply sucking up to fellow atheists who do not know the bible but constantly misquote it...how could she have pastored people without the clear understanding that God has delegated authority and power to people on earth..Jesus demonstated it and then because of His death and resurrection has imparted it what is her problem.
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?
![Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens - Full Debate [HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0tYm41hb48o/mqdefault.jpg)
I respect you for putting everything on the line to do what was right.
"I was wrong" is the most humbling thing you can say.
Ex ministers who come out and declare their lack of belief are a great example for regular believers who are worried about the discrimination from believers should they declare their own disbelief. While regular ex-believers only have to face the wrath of their Christian family, friends and employers, the clergy have to face wrath from an entire community. The courage that they show should be an inspiration to all free thinkers to say what they think, even when surrounded by theists.
its amazing when you combine a loving heart and an open mind what can be accomplished
Teresa, you are such a great communicator!
Terrific presentation Teresa!
Incredibly brave woman.
It requires courage and intelligence to be where you are.
That the universe is designed.
i am happy that your reason won out
I hope more people like risadanielle will see the truth. Sometimes I just want to shake them and scream... wake up! But I do see how they got there, how difficult it is to get out, and that the first step is theirs to make.
Because, I can see it with my own eyes. It's obvious. :)
Bless you. Your assumption that I am a believer is correct however your second assumption that I have not listened well enough and only once is incorrect. :)
It what way dose it make a lot more sense?
Am I the only person for whom the sound isn't working?
The design of the universe. It's all designed and engineered.
I hope your statement is sarcastic, if not you’re a moron.
I am a Spinoza fan!! ok, at this time.
Prove it!
Actually it's pretty obvious she's sincere here. Don't try to dead agent her. She was wrong and she realized it.
For most of us it required a sort of personal "death", to go ahead and face mortality without the "crutch" of religion, to abandon the idea of "heaven" and "immortality", and to do it in solitary. I am happy for you and hope that soon you will not require "support" because aTheism is not a religion, and it is not a substitute for religion.
What design?
I meant "and/or" not "and"
My question for Teresa would this: why not Deism? It makes a lot more sense, and it's reasonable as well.
I assume here that you're a believe. Considering this, I'll play the same cards as you and simply say: You should watch and most important listen again to this video, there are some things you might've missed. :)
Isn't that just presupposing what you're trying to prove? How do you know it's designed and engineered?
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?
Hell is a little real. I feel like I am in Hell when people of faith tell me about Hell. I mean it my skin gets hot and I being gnashing my teeth whilst weeping.
I'm 67 an although not an atheist yet it is a scary hallway to go down and then open a door that you can never turn around and return to the safety net of religion. Have come to detest all religions including trying to convert to Judism (that was such a disappointment) and it's not 'THE ONE' either. At this time I believe in a Creator just not the one in all the Bibles. No new age stuff for me either. no woo woo for me.
What theism lite you mean or low calorie delusion?
What do you mean? Deism is not theism.
Because, the design proves the designer. You don't have to be a Christian to believe in God, the Creator. Thomas Paine wasn't a Christian, and neither was Benjamin Franklin.
If she was an hipocrite as you're claiming here, don't you think she'd still be living the life that she'd put so much effort in as a minister even today regardless of the relatively recent conclusions that she's now expressing? Is it too hard for your to conceive that she truly believed that bullshit at some point and finally openned her eyes to the reality?
"To believe in the bible as factual is to forsake all logic and proven scientific facts. Religious belief is an insult to human intelligence and it is poisonous to mankind. There’s no greater ignorance and stupidity than to believe in anything without evidence”....[Damien Lee Thorr]
Prove what?
What makes you reject evolution by natural selection? It is the ONLY explanation that has evidence that supports it.
Would you take a medical treatment for which there was no evidence of safety and efficacy? i.e. one based entirely on faith and the witness of persons who died thousands of years ago
I respect Teresa for confessing her disbelief, however for someone who has preached the bible she is not being truthful, she is simply sucking up to fellow atheists who do not know the bible but constantly misquote it...how could she have pastored people without the clear understanding that God has delegated authority and power to people on earth..Jesus demonstated it and then because of His death and resurrection has imparted it what is her problem.
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?
When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it is dead, it is likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the whole thing leaves you intact?