Category Archives: Atheist

God Help Me: Surfing Millionaire Shared About Converting From an Atheist to a Believer Back in 2016  EssentiallySports

Read the rest here:

God Help Me: Surfing Millionaire Shared About Converting From an Atheist to a Believer Back in 2016 - EssentiallySports

Im an atheist, but I fell in love with the spirituality and magic of Quito, Ecuadors capital  Toronto Star

Continued here:

Im an atheist, but I fell in love with the spirituality and magic of Quito, Ecuadors capital - Toronto Star

The following experience was shared by Joseph G., a police officer in Miami, Florida., on the Near Death Experience Research Foundation website:

I went to the emergency room of the hospital because of a bad reaction to a tetanus shot. While in the emergency room, I was given two shots of penicillin. After the second shot, I fell to the floor.

All of a sudden, I found myself floating at the ceiling, watching the turmoil going on in the room. My body was on the gurney jumping and shaking. The room was full people working on me; pounding on me.

The nurse who gave me the shots was sitting on the floor in the corner, hysterical. I saw them with the electric paddles trying to start my heart, with no luck. I thought I heard someone say that I was dead.

Suddenly, this doctor rushed into the room, shoving everyone out of the way. He was carrying this long syringe with a long needle and plunged it into my chest. That was the last thing I remember.

A week or so later, I suddenly woke up. I was in a hospital room. As I woke up, a doctor entered the room. I recognized him as the one with the needle. The first words I said to him were, I guess its a good thing you came when you did.

He was totally shocked! He asked the nurse who had I talked too? She told him, No one, he just woke up from a coma. He told the nurse that no one was to speak to me including her until he came back.

When he returned, he had a large group of doctors with him. He asked me to repeat what I said. I did. He said there was no way that I saw him, that I was dead by then. He asked me to tell him what else I remembered. I told them all I remembered as it happened and described all I saw.

They were all shocked because I was dead during the whole thing. I remember that later he told me that before my episode he was [an] atheist. But no more.

It was quite a story in the Miami Herald for quite a long time.

From that time until today, I dont fear dying, In fact I look forward to it. I feel that God rejected me, because he has some purpose for me.

Since that episode, I have had many experiences that would kill anyone else, but not me.

[For] example, right now, I am recovering from a broken neck. The top three [vertebrae] were broken and that usually results in being paralyzed.

Follow

Read the original:

Atheist Doctor Becomes a Believer After Near-Death Experiencer ...

An atheist drug addict gets saved while he was on the verge of committing suicide. Now he is now preaching the Gospel on the streets.

A transformation testimony of a man named Adam has recently exploded on social media. Several people shared about his dark past and how God saved his life and transformed him into the man he is now.

Adam is a descendant and grandson of the well-known preacher, Charles Spurgeon. Contrary to his Christian roots, he didnt believe in God. He had been suffering from drug addiction, suicidal thoughts, and depression. Add up his struggle with demonic oppression, his life was in total darkness.

Meet AdamAtheist, demon oppressed, addicted to drugs, suicidal and depressed.and a descendant grandson of the great preacher and theologian Charles Spurgeon, Doug Pitman wrote in a Facebook post.

Photo Courtesy: Facebook | Doug Pitman

Overwhelmed with all the negative thoughts, he contemplated suicide. However, right before he was about to take his own life, the Lord sent someone to save his life.

While on the verge of suicide a lady told him about Jesus. Adam called out to Jesus and was gloriously saved and delivered instantly! 8 months ago and is free today! He told me that every molecule in his body was filled with a love he had never experienced!

Right at that very instant, the Lord transformed his life from darkness to light. He was filled with the amazing love of the Father! Today, he is now out on the streets to share with everyone how Jesus saved him.

He is so full of love and is out on the streets boldly proclaiming the good news of the gospel. Never give up on someone who needs Christ! Salvation can come to those who appear to be unreachable!

Read also: FORMER INMATE CELEBRATES WEDDING AFTER FINDING CHRIST THROUGH A PRISON MINISTRY

Grow closer to God daily by getting exclusive video teachings on God Today!

Read Gods Word For You Today directly from your phone. Download the Daily Word app now on Google Play and Appstore

Reference: Facebook | Doug Pitman

Start your day together with God and the GOD TV team. Get a daily devotional and encouraging 2-3minute video direct to your inbox.

You Might Be Interested In

View post:

Atheist Drug Addict Gets Saved While On The Verge Of Suicide, Now Preaches The Gospel On Streets | God TV News - GOD TV

Four Im an atheist and I vote billboards are going up around San Antonio in time for a major national gathering there of atheists and agnostics convening in the last weekend of October.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, whose upcoming 2022 national conventions theme is DO Mess with Texas, is partnering with Freethinkers Association of Central Texas to bring the billboard campaign to the Alamo City.

The four billboards are scheduled to run during the month of October leading up to Election Day. University of Texas-Austin student Cody Valdez is pictured on each of the billboards, three of which are going up this week at: San Pedro, south of Euclid, facing south; on South Flores, south of Lubbock, facing south and on I-37, south of I-35, facing south. The same message will be going up the week of Oct. 17 at Houston Street, south of Elm, facing west.

FFRF notes that almost a third of US adults now identify as atheists, agnostics or nothing in particular.FACT spokesperson Katie Gaines adds that the number of Nones (unaffiliated) who are Hispanic is at least 23 percent.Cody Valdez is part of FFRFs ongoing secular vote national campaign calling attention to the growing voter power of nonreligious Americans who are demanding that religion stay out of government and social policy.

Freethinkers Association of Central Texas is proud to stand with Freedom From Religion Foundation and Cody Valdez in saying that we trust in reason, science, and our secular Constitution, Gaines says.

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor adds, Were spreading the word about the increasing power of the nonbelieving voting bloc, and what better place to do it than the city where so many of them will be gathering soon.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has 38,000 members and several chapters all over the United States, including more than 1,600 members and a chapter in Texas.

Original post:

FFRF and FACT erect four 'I'm an atheist and I vote' billboards in San Antonio - Freedom From Religion Foundation

MadameNoire Featured Video

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

Amber Roses ideal romantic partner isnt everyones cup of tea.

Why is it so hard to find an intelligent, sexy, rich, successful, tatted gentleman, she posted on her Instagram Stories on Oct. 10. That also has kids, but is NOT an abusive narcissist.

And hes definitely an atheist but also a feminist.. Im not asking for much, she added.

Social media shared its two cents on Ambers ideal requirements in The Shade Rooms repost.

Many online users pointed out that the stars list was fairly understandable in their eyes until Rose said she wants a man whos definitely an atheist.

I know everybody not religious but to say atheist???? Thats a side eye, one user wrote.

Lord Help Her and Couldve left out Atheist two others chimed in.

Another commenter said Roses ideal partner is probably in hell while another wrote, Lost me at Atheist love. He gotta believe in SOMETHING. Aint just pop up on Earth cuz it was Tuesday .

Rose responded to the shady remarks by doubling down on her list.

Her reply simply read: I said what I said .

Rose was last romantically linked to AE Edwards, the father of her youngest son.

The couple had a very public split in August 2021 after the Sl*t Walk founder aired out Edwards for cheating on her with 12 women.

Im tired of getting cheated on and being embarrassed behind the scenes. All 12 of yall bums (the ones that I know of theres probably more) can have him, Rose penned on Instagram.

I cant be the only one fighting for my family anymore, she wrote. Ive been loyal and transparent but I havent gotten the same energy in return.

RELATED CONTENT:Amber Rose Explains Why She Stayed With AE Edwards Even Though Hes A Narcissist'

Read more:

Amber Roses Ideal Man Is An Atheist, And This Is What Social Media Has To Say About It - MadameNoire

What do you believe about the afterlife?

According to the Pew Research Center, most adults in the United States believe in heaven or hell. Specifically, 73% believe in heaven and a few less, 62%, believe in hell.

Three religious categories were considered: Christians, Catholics, and the Unaffiliated (those who identify as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular). Christians show a greater percentage of belief in the afterlife, with 92% believing in heaven and 79% believing in hell. Catholics follow close behind with 90% believing in heaven and 74% believing in hell.

Those who identify as unaffiliated, although not reporting themselves as members of organized religion, have some belief in the afterlife. Of the unaffiliated, 37% believe in heaven and 28% believe in hell. This belief is disproportionately held by the nothing in particular subgroup, of which 50% believe in heaven and 39% believe in hell. Half as many agnostics believe in the afterlife, and less than 5% of atheists do.

The survey also considered gender, age, political affiliation, race and region.

As shown by these statistics, not all Americans believe in both heaven and hell. In fact, only 61% of U.S. adults believe in both, while 13% believe only in heaven, and 1% believe only in hell.

Those who do believe in heaven have specific beliefs about what it will be like when they get there.

Those who do believe in heaven have specific beliefs about what it will be like when they get there. The most popular belief about heaven is that it will be a place free from suffering. Other common beliefs include believers being able to meet God, having healthy bodies, being reunited or maintaining relationships with loved ones, or becoming angels.

In contrast, people who believe in hell view it as a place of torture or pain. They believe they will experience things like psychological and physical suffering and become aware of the suffering they created while alive. Believers think they will not be able to have a relationship with God once they go to hell, but they will be able to meet Satan.

Other beliefs about the afterlife fall beyond the binary concept of heaven and hell. While 26% of U.S adults believe in neither heaven nor hell, 7% of those still believe in an afterlife.

Of these 7% who believe in an afterlife but do not believe in heaven or hell, they describe the afterlife in various ways: 21% believe a persons spirit or energy continues living on, 17% believe in some form of reincarnation, 11% believe their spirit will cease suffering and be at peace, 8% believe their spirit will rejoin the universe, and 4% believe an afterlife is a form of spiritual learning or growth.

So, where do all these beliefs come from?

There are plenty of different religions with differing perspectives on the afterlife, but from a Christian perspective, the biblical text is a bit ambiguous about it. When we survey the Bible, although we may talk about heaven and hell quite often, there is little known about what will happen when we die.

We may look to the word sheol, a word used to describe the ancient place of the dead.

The grave can be literal or metaphorical, physical or spiritual, so readers have to interpret what they think that means.

Some Bibles translate the word sheol into the phrase the grave, as the NIV does in Genesis 37:35 and other passages including the word. But even this phrase is a bit ambiguous; the grave can be literal or metaphorical, physical or spiritual, so readers have to interpret what they think that means.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of art preserved from ancient Israelite life. So, religious scholars and historians do not have access to ancient depictions of what they believed sheol looked like.

But we do know a bit about the word itself. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, sheol is a Hebrew word of uncertain etymology with Hebrew synonyms for things like pit and abyss (in English).

Modern conceptions of death and the afterlife, as shown by Pews research, are pretty imaginative.

Heaven and hell are separate spaces for those judged as good or bad; one a place of eternal reward, the other of eternal suffering. However, scholars say this is not at all what sheol was thought to be by the Israelites.

Sheol was not hell, nor was there judgment or torture occurring there. Rather, it was a space under the world where the souls of all those who had died congregated.

According to Shawna Dolansky of Carleton University, the use of the term sheol throughout the Hebrew Bible demonstrates a widespread belief in some sort of dark and dreaded shadowy postmortem existence. Ones presence in sheol did not denote any sort of morality because the souls of all dead persons went there.

She says it is sometimes described as watery or muddy, but never as a hot and fiery place of torment sinners must endure eternally, as many Christians believe today. However, despite all the references to sheol in the Hebrew Bible, it is still difficult to know exactly how the biblical writers and ancient Israelites understood death, she said.

Given recent research, it appears difficult still today to pin down exactly how modern believers understand the afterlife.

Mallory Challis is a senior at Wingate University and serves this semester as BNGs Clemons Fellow.

Related articles:

Heaven-or-hell theology may be simple, but it is neither biblical nor morally defensible. Whats the alternative? | Opinion by Alan Bean

Pew study offers some surprising insights to American views on suffering, salvation, heaven and hell

Read the original here:

Most Americans believe in heaven or hell, but their ideas aren't always biblical - Baptist News Global

Do you need to believe in God to convert to Judaism?

Over the past week, plenty of people got the chance to chime in on the matter when Hey Alma, a Jewish feminist website, published an essay by Abby Jo Morris titled Im a Jewish Convert. Im Also an Atheist.

As far as my own corner of Jewish Twitter is concerned, the answer to the above question is a loud and indignant no. One person wrote that the author is misguided & mistaken about what being Jewish & Judaism are all about and further called her an insincere convert who needs her conversion rescinded.

This, it turned out, was a common theme. Many seemed convinced that her conversion was inherently invalid because of her atheism, or at the very least needed to be invalidated ex post facto.

These are claims about halacha, or Jewish law, and my intention here is not to discuss the halacha of conversion. For one thing, its not something Ive studied. I can, however, share what little I do know:

There are generally four agreed-upon requirements for conversion to Judaism.

One, immersion in a Mikveh, or ritual bath. Two, circumcision or symbolic circumcision (hatafat dam brit) for males. Three, an interview with a Beit Din, or religious court. Four, acceptance of the yoke of the commandments, which is usually part of the Beit Din meeting.

It would seem from this list that belief in God is not a requirement for conversion that is, until one remembers that belief in God is considered to be one of the commandments the first of the decalogue, in fact.

Like many things in Judaism, however, there are disagreements about what acceptance of the yoke of the commandments means. Is it simply a verbal act? Or does it require utter sincerity of heart? On this matter, there are diverse opinions and debates.

All of this is to say that the matter is complicated, and that the people tweeting about the halachic validity of the authors conversion seem lacking in intellectual humility on the matter.

Furthermore, I suspect that the issue here isnt really about halacha. Rather, something else is bothering people, and they are using the language of halacha to express it.

The real issue, it seems to me, has more to do with identity and cultural appropriation than with Jewish jurisprudence, and I admit that I also bristled when I first read the essay because of my sensitivities around these issues.

The author writes, Jewish identity is not quite a culture, race, ethnicity, or religion because it predates these delineations which are a Western (read: Christian) creation.

Indeed, this is true. Judaism is not just a religion but isnt conversion a religious institution of the Jewish people? By way of parallel, being Black is more than just a skin color. Black identity also involves culture, family, faith, and history. That said, one cannot simply adopt Black culture, family, faith, and history as ones own if one isnt Black.

Someone tried this already. Her name is Rachel Dolezal, and society largely rejected her experiment in trans-racial identification. Shouldnt we similarly reject the attempt to convert to Jewish ethnicity?

Here, one cant help but be reminded of the episode of Seinfeld in which Jerry fears his dentist has converted to Judaism just for the jokes.

That said, we should examine the claim that one cant, or shouldnt, convert primarily for cultural/ethnic reasons.

Lets look at the example of Ruth the prototypical Jewish convert. Granted, halacha has evolved since the days of Ruth, but I still think we can look to her story to understand the ethos of the act of conversion itself.

In the Book of Ruth, we are introduced to Ruth, a Moabite woman. She and her sister are married to two Israelite brothers from Judah. When their husbands both die suddenly, Ruths mother-in-law, Naomi, decides to leave Moab to return to Judah.

The sisters, who love Naomi greatly, ask to come with her.

Naomi demurs, stating turn back, my daughters! Why should you go with me? Have I any more sons in my body who might be husbands for you? (1:11).

Her sister agrees to stay in Moab, but Ruth persists. Do not urge me to leave you, she states, for wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. (1:16-17).

This is Ruths conversion, and it is interesting to note that it is not a confession of faith. Rather, it is an expression of solidarity. Ruth vows to join her fate to Naomi and to the Jewish people. This is the essence of her statement.

Of course, Ruth does not disavow the Israelite God. God may not be first on Ruths list, but He is present and accounted for nonetheless. Still, her statement about God is not a statement about believing in God.

This is consistent with the rest of the Torah, which doesnt traffic much in theological propositions. For the Torah, belief does not mean belief in the claim that something exists, but rather is an expression of trust, loyalty, and dedication.

For instance, after the Israelites cross the sea in their flight from Pharaoh and his army, it is written that the people believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses. (14:31).

What is the nature of this belief?

Surely, it cannot be the belief that God and Moses exist, for this would make no sense regarding Moses, who obviously exists. Rather, it is that they have given themselves over to God and Moses in trust. They have aligned themselves with God and Moses.

Considering this, I am disinclined to consider propositional belief in God as all that important when it comes to Judaism. After all, God is not a proposition. God transcends any words we use, propositions we believe in, or theologies we devise.

Ultimately, God cant be grasped by this kind of belief. God can only be grasped by relationshipby the ways in which we draw close to God and align ourselves with God.

Ultimately, God cant be grasped by this kind of belief. God can only be grasped by relationship by the ways in which we draw close to God and align ourselves with God.

And so, I would encourage the haters to read past the headline of this controversial Hey Alma essay. If they do so, they will see an individual who attends synagogue, participates joyfully in Jewish community and ritual, and who blesses God daily with the ancient words of our peoples liturgy.

This is someone who has said your God will be my God and who has joined her fate to the Jewish people. That she calls herself an atheist has, in my humble opinion, no bearing on any of that.

It is, after all, just words.

Matthew Schultz is the author of the essay collection What Came Before (2020). He is a rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts.

Go here to see the original:

Do You Need to Believe in God to Convert to Judaism? - Jewish Journal

When I die which religion will offer the best deal? Malcolm Yeadon

Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.

Buddhism without a doubt. Reincarnation gives us all a chance to do better in our next life. andybogle

None, because youre asking for the wrong reason. If you believe in some higher entity then theyre not going to be impressed in your religiousness for your own benefit. Maybe just try being a good person anyway, and if you get a decent after-death result consider it an added benefit. Being a good person because youre scared of what the afterlife might bring is the height of hypocrisy. Be a good person because you want to just be a good person. KattCat

Atheism. No need to spend your life trying for something in the next world, because there isnt one. Enjoy what youve got now. VirgilKane

I dont particularly fancy reincarnation, I mean, who wants to come back as a tin of condensed milk? ChairmanMouthwash

All and none. JMackerell

I have no fixed ideas or opinions about the afterlife at all, except that it appears to be denominational. This means that as a pagan, Im going to escape being reunited with my loved ones, as they were/are all Catholics, with the exception of my atheist grandad. Strewth, spending the whole of eternity with your rellies?! I cant think of anything worse. exlangrandeflaneuse

Whatever theyre offering, Ill double it for a surprisingly low monthly subscription. DrBuzzard

While there is a lot of nonsense spoken about Christianity, what Jesus does and is is enough for me. I believe that if we close down our spiritual life while were physically alive, we just die when we die. If were in relationship with God while were physically alive, well be spiritually alive after we die. But we cant say what the afterlife is like, it is mystery. jenkinsblenkinsop

Heaven is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark. Stephen Hawking, I believe. Any faith that offers a torch would be my preference. MontyGue

Atheism, because you get to have a good nap. Drowningbat

Whatever helps you through this life and doesnt hurt others. Im an atheist and my daughter is a devout Muslim; we each do our best. normaleila

Surely if you live a good life with kindness and humility then you will be in line for anything on offer. Quakerism gives me the space to explore my spiritualism and humanity without nailed-down thou shalt nots and rigid dogma. Grumple

Catholicism. Just make sure you get your sins forgiven at the last minute and youre home safe. boredoldbat

None of them. They all make claims they cant substantiate and chances are, this is all we get. Try to be a kind and decent person while youre alive and make the most of it. After all, tomorrow isnt promised us, let alone an afterlife. JosephineJW

Given that none of them appear to offer a mechanism for making complaints if youre not satisfied with the afterlife you are provided with, I would suggest that they display a certain lack of confidence in being able to deliver on their promises. This suggests that the best deal is no deal. HyrdmothTheSecond

Theres a lamentable lack of customer feedback. Mobilepope

Depends if you are male or female and how you die. Which just highlights the absurdity of it all. Stillgrizzly

Firstly, it depends upon who the person who dies, I in the question. If I was someone who recognised his true Lord and God in his lifetime, followed the chosen path prescribed by his God in his life with full sincerity and hope of reward, strived his utmost best to bring benefit to himself and others around him and patiently persevered any challenges or obstacles he faced in life, then I would emphatically say, the religion of Islam is the best deal before and after you die. Abu Abdullah

No religion can provide you with any deal. When our bodies die, our souls will judge themselves in accordance the laws of the creator. These laws are built into our conscience, so we cannot dent knowledge thereof. Tony Berlein

Wait to Black Friday, they give the best deals then. Just shop around. C Davis

Read more here:

Readers reply: when I die which religion will offer the best deal? - The Guardian

CALEB WILDE isfamiliar with death. He is the descendant of two long-term generational funeral home families and went into the funeral industry himself. His first book, Confessions of a Funeral Director, delved into some of the more uplifting stories hes had in death care. His latest book, All the Ways Our Dead Still Speak, is more introspective.

The early chapters detail a few death experiences an atheist seeing the dead parents of her husband as he dies, for instance and at first, thats what I thought the book would be about: exploring what peoples deathbed visions meant to them, regardless of whether those visions were real. But for Wilde, thats missing the point. What matters is that the dead are still speaking to us. Death isnt necessarily an end, Wilde argues its a transformative experience; the living carry inside us the essence and dreams of the dead. Open conversations about death and dying can lead to a healthier society.

Wilde specifically calls out white people, his ancestry and mine, for being disconnected from their ancestors. He cites the difference between the polite, private, quiet funerals of white people versus the communal, intensive, emotional funerals of Black people. Many white people believe that grief is a personal, private journey. However, in many Black families and cultures all over the world, grief is a communal process. People come together to remember, love, and support each other. In these times, they cease to become individual selves and instead focus on the plural self on community: A community of people both dead and alive.

Read the original here:

We Don't Have to Let the Dead Die Twice - Sojourners