This was a response I made to someone who made this comment on a bible discussion forum. "As a devout atheist I can tell you that none of that applies to me. I'm not thrilled by defiance, I'm saddened by bible thumpers who devote their lives to serving a god-myth who is the personification of evil, a genocidal monster. And I'm further troubled by people who can deny self-evident facts which disagree with the mythology in their dusty book." It's sad; this prime example of how far away people are removed from history. That genocidal monster you're referring to is the reason why America is one of the greatest nations this world has ever seen. That old dusty book is the reason why head hunting tribes in Irian Jaya and New Guinea can no longer be labeled as such. That mythology to which you refer has changed good for nothing drunks into loving fathers, and rebellious and delinquent sons into good members of the society you live in. The people who you are so troubled by are the ones who won't steal your car from you, won't cuss at you, won't take your wife from you or defile your daughter. It's quite strange honestly that the people who "trouble" you are the ones who believe in an absolute standard of righteousness and desire to follow one who is the epitome of good. What I'm saddened by is not people who hold to the bible as being true, but rather people who are "devout" toward a worthless cause, a devotedness that will bring no one peace, no one hope, no one meaning and fulfillment of life, a devotion to the cause of causelessness. Friend if you are sincerely convinced that the earth came about by mere accident, and that behind the institution of the laws of nature there is no intelligent mind, my attempts to prove something that is "self-evident" will be vain. May this testimony be then for those bible thumping believers who's bibles aren't dusty not to be swayed by the likes of men without the sense of sight.

The word of God is a book that surpasses all others, the evidence of this fact is clear to anyone who looks at it's pages in sincerity. The reason why the bible is doubted and cast down as being merely a religous book written by men, is a simple answer; the one devoid of faith has never truthfully studied and pondered its contents. Though men are not in anywise the final authority on a subject, (especially when related to God and his word) it still is interesting to read what the brilliant minds of the past had to say about the book we call the Bible. Isaac Newton, English mathematician and scientist, 1642-1727 “We account the scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.”. Patrick Henry, American Revolutionary leader and orator, 1736-1799 “There is a book worth all other books which were ever printed.” President George Washington, First President of the United States “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”Daniel Webster, American politician and noted orator, 1782-1852 “I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain and obvious meaning of its passages; for I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world should cover its true meaning in any such mystery and doubt that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.” “Education is useless without the Bible.” And the greatest mind of all said of his word, "they are spirit, and they are life." Why anyone wouldn't take the time to invest in discovering the truth about the holy scriptures is a wonder to me, "Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth"

Acts 17:31 "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." In this world of skepticism it is a common thought that one cannot know anything for sure. Agnosticism and atheism has integrated it's way into the idea's and beliefs of our American citizens, Einstein's theory of relativity is what is used to promote the age old question, "What is truth?". Yet in this skeptical society we live in, the bible has a question that has yet to be answered by the skeptics and critics. "If Jesus was not the saviour how than could he have risen from the dead?". Since the beginning of creation it has not been heard that a man could rise again from the dead and ascend up into heaven. The proofs for the resurrection of Christ are extensive and cannot be denied by the truthful enquirer. History proves the resurrection, the eyewitness records prove the resurrection, tracing the actions of his apostles and disciples proves the resurrection. Quite frankly to deny the resurrection of Christ, would be like to deny Lincoln's assassination, in fact the proofs for the resurrection far outnumber our historical record for Lincoln's death. Why then would someone deny the resurrection? Quite simple, to admit Christ rose again would be to admit everything he said about sin, righteousness, and judgment was true, and men simply do not want to do that. God has done his part in giving assurance to all men, by raising up Christ from the dead, if you're saved thank God you have the resurrected Christ, if you're not than trust the one who has conquered death today.

This is the first five verses of a response by Charles Wesley to the doctrine of Calvinism, very good and to the point enjoy...HYMN XVII The Horrible Decree. 1. Ah! gentle, gracious Dove; And art Thou grieved in me, That sinners should restrain Thy love, And say, "It is not free: It is not free for all; The most Thou passest by, And mockest with a fruitless call whom Thou hast doomed to die." 2. They think Thee not sincere In giving each his day: "Thou only draw'st the sinner near,To cast him quite away; To aggravate his sin, His sure damnation seal, Thou show'st him heaven, and say'st, Go in,- And Thrusts him into hell." 3. O HORRIBLE DECREE, Worthy of whence it came! Forgive their hellish blasphemy Who charge it to the Lamb, Whose pity Him inclined To leave His throne above, The Friend and Saviour of mankind, The God of grace and love. 4. O gracious, loving Lord, I feel Thy bowels yearn; For those who slight the gospel word I share in Thy concern: How art Thou grieved to be By ransom'd worms withstood! How dost Thou bleed afresh, to see Them trample on Thy blood! 5. To limit Thee they dare, Blaspheme Thee to Thy face, Deny their fellow worms a share In Thy redeeming grace; All for their own they take, Thy righteousness engross, Of none effect to most they make The merits of Thy cross. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4

I believe there is a ditch on both sides of every road, and right in the middle is a nice smooth surface perfect for walking on. In America today we have churches that emphasize nothing but the love and grace of God and would rather die then to mention that the same God is also full of hate, wrath, and judgment. Then there are those who are so bitter towards those liberal churches that they present the complete opposite God who is nothing but hellfire and brimstone and think it a compromise to mention his mercy and forgiveness. Then you have somewhere right in the middle; the right viewpoint, a God who is holy, just, and righteous and will take vengeance upon the wicked, but who is full of mercy and grace and not willing that any man living should perish, a right viewpoint of God should help us as we try and conduct our lives to be pleasing in his sight. When one side of God is emphasized more than the other you have a false balance and an unjust weight, which in the sight of God is an abomination Proverbs 11:1. Let us be balanced and truthful in our representation of God, The Lord will punish the sinner, but he will save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Christ. Psalm 116:5 "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful."