Am I just a bad guy to wish atheist peace and love? Am I just a dog.

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   Ericdierkerposted 11 years ago

   I love these guys. I do not want to convert them. I want to hang out with them. Engineers and technicians and scientists are cool. I have degrees in strange areas and I like it.
   But woolly bully I ended up a preacher man. I know my geology and botany and a good bit about medicine and mathematics. I am competent in Latin and I know the difference between a oscilloscope and  a CT Scan. I get the difference between a molecule and a neuron. And my daddy was a doctor and momma a hospital admin. We did not get "Jesus loves" magazines we got popular mechanics and the New England Journal of Medicine that we were expected to learn and discuss at dinner.
   
   But I got from all that that love is what makes the world turn. Both my daddy and my mommy loved it and later on in life came to me about issues. But 3 of my siblings hate me for it.
   
   So my question is this: If I wish somebody love, do I hurt them?

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      wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Lets form a club, Eric, for all those that love regardless of the differences.
      
      I'm the black sheep of my family; all my siblings and parent are very strong believers.  Even the large majority of my extended family - aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews - are predominately Christian with a very small number of other believers thrown in.  Very few are atheists, but I love them all.  They are the finest people I know.
      
      I hope I'm not hurting with my love...

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         Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Buddy  wilderness. Done deal. Let us just gobble them up with love. I just like get from you man. You make me feel the love. Shut up Eric and leave at that!

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      Brenda Durhamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely nothing wrong with loving them.   Not only do we love them as humans,  we're commanded by the Lord to Love them.
      But if you're a preacher and you don't warn them about the wages of sin when the opportunity comes,  then you're omitting part of the message.   A Christian does want to convert them,  to see them born again in Christ.

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         Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         We all have our calling. What is yours?

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         A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         There's your answer, Eric. A resounding, yes.

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         Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Brenda here thinks your a dog if you don't try to convert us, but I disagree.

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            Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I disagree with your assessment here, Rad. I don't think she is saying Eric is a Dog. It appears that her comments imply more that he isn't fully Christian if he isn't trying to convert people to Christianity.

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               Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               His original question was am I a dog for not preaching to atheists. Her response was that he has an obligation as a preacher to convert which is a yes to the question.

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                  Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  I see your point..

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                  Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Now I see your logic Rad Man. thanks for elaborating. Oh well bow wow

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                     Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     I love dogs. They don't care what you look like or what kind of car you drive, they love you for you and the things we do for them. All they really want to do is be with us.
                     
                     Be the dog man, be the dog.

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                        Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        I had to go put on my Big Dog Tee-Shirt.

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               Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               In the nineties I was a brother in the Order of St. Lukes. That is a interdenominational International healing ministry. Named after Luke the physician who was little more than an alchemist. I caught my self saying to someone, "if you were a good Christian you would......" So I get the idea, but to me it is wrong. I am glad I am over it.

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                  Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  That is awesome that you were able to free yourself from that type of thinking

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      christopherantonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've always felt that we should love everyone and that it makes sense to do so, not only from a religious point of view but for the benefit of our own wellbeing and blood pressure as well. It's a lot less wearing to be loving than to be consumed with hate. Most of the time, however, my loving is purely academic. There are still plenty of people who annoy me and I annoy them. It's important to separate "love"from "like". That's the difficult one though.

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         Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Chris I really pay attention to that difference between like and love.
         
         There is an old saying; Fake it until you make it. Sometimes that is the best I can do.

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      Disappearingheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm with you on this Eric. I think the Father loves them too.

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         Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You think?

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            Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Hey Rad Man. Just assume we make up God completely without proof or reason. If we do that shouldn't we imagine He loves us? Happy Sunday!!

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               Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Of course, imagine away, if it makes you a better person go with it, but what he said was "I think the Father loves them too" which implies God loves believers and may EVEN love them, but I'm not sure.
               
               I have to say though if you've lost your relationship with your sibling you are doing something wrong. You can most likely get it back by apologizing for preaching to them and never do it again. I'm surrounded by Christians and most of my friends don't know I'm an Atheist because they don't need to know. Give those who don't want to be preached to respect and develop a secular side so you can relate to them.

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                  Disappearingheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Ok Radman. I believe he loves them too. I cannot say I know because then I get asked how can I know when nobody knows if God exists. So we get distracted by that old argument.

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                  Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Rad man, that is great advice. I take it to heart.

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      donotfearposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Noooo!
      
      

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         Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Making me smile, thank you

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      SwordofManticorEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Eric, from one dog to another, love is a beautiful seed that grows into a fruit tree to feed all who hunger. I believe that those who deserve love the least (according to some who have trouble forgiving), need it the most.

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   janesixposted 11 years ago

   No, you're not a dog.
   
   It's great to just love people no matter what.

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      Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      janesix, stay on my back watch me and make me stay true to love. When I waver take you fist and smack me hard.
      Let us live well and prosper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otXGqU4LBEI

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         janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         oh my:) I'm not into that

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            Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Oh my -- is right! Too funny

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   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Oh my I hope you aren't a dog for loving us all anyway. My hubby is a believer and he loves me no matter what I fail to believe. Would that make him a dog? I guess to a few it might, but to me it takes an extra special person to appreciate differences.It doesn't hurt us! It makes us stronger because in exchange we get to appreciate the differences we share also! Sometimes I wish dogs were people. They are far better in so many ways than we are!

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   Beth37posted 11 years ago

   Eric, of course we are supposed to love everyone. One of my closest friends is a bi-sexual, 20 something, black man. As a matter of fact I don't actually have any friends that are Christians at this point in my life... they are all... pretty much non-church goers, for lack of a better term. I am grateful for all of them.  I pray for them, they don't need to know that, but I do cause I love them. Do I preach at them? Never. Do I want to convert them? Huh... I'd like to see them saved. Does that make me a bad guy cause I want to see them in Heaven? I hope not, but I do always want to live by this verse: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I Pet 3:15

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Only when you already know folks don't want you or anyone else to save them because YOU want to see them in heaven. That is a purely selfish act and has nothing to do with loving anyone but yourself.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Yes of course. What was I thinking.

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