"I know that you get the point of my post, SJ,"

Do I?  Your running re-statements of what WE say, completely mischaracterizing is the root of this problem.  The point of your post is irrelevant, as it was reacting to a point of my post, which you apparently did not understand, or worse, you did understand but chose to represent it differently.

That's your MO this entire thread.

"If the "power of the Holy Spirit" really "worked in you" so that you did not actually slap me, would the "power of the Holy Spirit" not also "work in you" to ensure that you would not be insufferably arrogant, condescending and bigoted?"

Absolutely.  :)  Imagine how I'd be without the power of Holy Spirit.

Of course, that all assumes that I am 'insufferably' (a new addition!) arrogant, condescending, and bigoted.  None of these points hold very well.  I'm now doing my best to live up to your representations, though.  How am I doing?  

Your view that Cimics and I are 'bigoted' results from your own continued misrepresentation of what we are saying.

Your perception of 'condescending' arises because you don't know what you are talking about, and you take offense at the constant clarifications.

As for arrogance?  I recognize that it can be perceived that way.  I rarely start out that way, but unlike some of my brothers, I'm willing to match arrogance with arrogance.  So, if you perceive arrogance, its probably because you, first, were arrogant.

As a latest example, admitting you didn't read Cimic's post and yet presuming that you have something intelligent to say about it anyway is EXTREMELY arrogant.

But that is just one example.

If you want to make up and be friends again, I'd be glad to.  It's not going to happen though if you are going to continually misrepresent people and refuse to acknowledge what they ARE saying as opposed to what you think they are saying.

"If I am imagining all this antiatheism, I ask you this question, SJ: Do you believe that atheists are equal to Christians in every way, and do you believe that atheism is in no way inferior to Christianity? If you can answer this question with a simple "yes", then I apologize for my remarks about bigotry."

It sounds like you are asking me to make a moral judgment between the two groups, here.  If you are, then the answer is a simple 'yes.'

Well don't get too excited yet.  I think we are all morally the same, but I don't have a high opinion of how moral we are.  I have a very low opinion.  Which has been the underlying consistent point.  Perhaps return to Cimic's clarification with this in mind.

I have no doubt that you have come across many Christians that come across as, or really think they are, morally superior.  They are not aware that  that attitude is completely inconsistent with their own religion, and that some of the strongest arguments FOR that religion come from acknolwedging that no one IS morally superior.

I would suggest too that we are not so rare.   Hard to find sometimes, yes, because its the other sort that often go online to debate more so than 'my kind.'  I know plenty that will agree with the position I have stated, with, of course, slight mofidications here and there.

"Your low opinion of humanity is something I can not share."

I happen to think that history is on my side.  I like to align myself with the facts whenever possible.  My low opinion is not a 'faith' statement.  I don't believe it because I'm a Christian;  I'm a Christian because it affirms this reality directly discerned from human history and present.

"Your statement earlier that "CHRISTIANS BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE DESERVE TO SUFFER ETERNALLY" scares me."

Only because you don't understand it.  You see, I can think of a lot of other ways to put the position, and did and have, but for some reason it wouldn't sink in.  This is in the category of your 'will I go to hell for my disbelief, if it is my only sin.'   We can discuss these issues, but only at great risk of great miscommunication.  Your understanding of our position by seeing that unambiguous statement is closer than it was, but that you would be 'scared' by it only reveals that you don't understand it yet.  That's not meant to be an insult.

"Atheists believe in the limitless potential of humanity,"

Now that scares me.  :)  Well, actually, as a Christian theist I could acknolwedge that statement, too.  But you are using 'potential' only in a positive sense.   Humans can potentially do great and wonderful things, and humans can potentially do great and terrible things.

History is filled with more examples of humans doing great and terrible things than it is filled with them doing great and wonderful things.  And the times when they did either were mediated by an underlying structure.

"and don't believe that anyone intrinsically "deserves" to suffer even for a second, let alone for eternity."

Well, I don't either.  Not intrinsically.  People should only suffer if they did something to justify it.  And some consequences are not ours to distribute, while others are.  My point in my all caps statement about people deserving punishment was not meant to emphasize the eternal punishment, but rather the 'all people.  I kept doing that because you seemed to think we were elevating certain people over others.

I am entirely satisfied in THIS thread to simply dwell on the fact and reality that people tend to put their own interests above others, even at the expense of others.  This is not a religious fact, but a historical fact, and our 'worldview' must account for it.

Only looking at history that is glorified?  So.... I infer human depravity from a glorified history?  That's nuts.  I think I know what you are actually saying, though, and if you're saying that, you're still wrong.

Lol  :D ! Who'd have thought the godless would be more optimistic and hopeful than the believer? I think many people think atheism is a negative, dark state of being - hence the euphemisms like "humanist", "freethinker", etc. - but this is a great example of the Joy of Atheism. Hmm, that would be a great book title....

You could say I'm a realist.

I don't feel guilt when I have sex.

A comment like that definately requires response by smiley.  I need to install some that could be used for such a time as this...

let's see.... something will have to make do....