Bronco Lane,

"Could each author please state clearly on their first line whether they are Aethiest, Agnostic, and then denomination. to answer one of you who is not addressing the issues.-"

Sure!...DOMINATRIX!

Bronco start another thread and I will come, John was not the Lennin from communism you know that do you?
Cheap shot that, my posts answer your question.
As we drift away from thread the debate runs out of air we never changed one mind but I like to think we talked mostly without insults.
My view, it may be wrong but I think not , in my lifetime we have found many leaving the Christian church to explore other Gods and even cults.
Not always a wise choice, less of us go to church, those that do often appear to be no different than those who do not.
Islam is growing all over the world and appears to outnumber Christianity?
And not unlike any time in history religion has the potential to dived us more than unite.
Yet I will not walk away from the fact most who truly believe live life without inflicting pain on others.

Dear Friends..(and enemies :)
I continue to rejoice in the vigour and passion of this discussion..
If I may, I'd like to share with you something which might take a bit of 'research' to verify (shock horror..HOMEWORK)

Our source for the 'Christian' faith and belief is the New Testament primarily. The Old Testament cannot be separated, because the New, is connected to and relies on the Old.

CLAIMs
1/The Gospel of Luke was written by a man who was personally in the company of Paul.
2/ Thus, we would expect, that the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (also written by Luke) would show strong evidence of Pauls 'revelation' and striking theology.
3/ Such is not the case. Luke's Gospel is very much in the character of the 2 other synoptics (Matthew and Mark) but is unlike John.

EVIDENCE.

1/ Acts 16 begins with an account of Pauls journey....

"He" came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived"

Verse 8 says "So THEY passed by Mysia and went down to Troas."

verse 11 says "From Troas WE put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace

That is the point where LUKE begins to accompany Paul...in person.

2/ and 3/ In order to validate this claim, you would all need to have a read of say Romans.. and get a feel for Pauls 'theology' and then.. read Lukes Gospel.. and compare the two documents.

CONCLUSION. Luke says at the beginning of his Gospel (In classical Greek)

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

He then continues in ordinary Greek.. with the Gospel.

After a glimpse of the post above, I now think this thread is wayyy longggg enough. That last post didn't answer if there is a God; it makes a reader tired. Made this reader switch off big time. Is just the usual theological carry on. Unless we are dealing with Belly's original question, moving on pullleeeze! Time to start a new thread; I know 'who has had a near death experience'.

Belly, what is your view on life, just a chemical accident or coincidence? Science differentiates between life and matter, and plenty of scientists are Believers. Scientific hypotheses on the origin of life is just that, hypotheses, and are unproven.

Evolution is still a belief, unproven and not demonstrated; no matter how logical, how widely agreed upon or how well it explains things to us.

Belly, didn't you a while back post your musings on things mystical in your life?

Bronco Lane,
Obviously you have done a lot of research into the reality of God? You made that conclusion at the end of your research at when? Fifteen? Most 15 year olds are scatterbrained rebels. Your conclusion was not more than an immature reason to live without conscience or meaning.