An atheist's view on life?

I'm back! Got a new laptop (love it! Buy a refurbished Macbook Air. You'll be glad you did). I saw the following descending/ascending 'poem' floating around online. I wrote a few comments on what I think atheists would disagree with and was wondering if any of you had something to add. 

I had claimed that in speaking with the atheists I knew, they would find disagreement with some items in this. I spouted off three at a glance:

1. That it is just foolish to think there is a God with a cosmic plan. Denying God's existence does not assert or require that you think another's belief is 'just foolish.'

2. That being deserving of hell "is a lie meant to enslave me to those in power." It is not a point that gives power to 'religious authorities' but to God. I'd say it is a popular belief, but anyone who I've challenged on it has never given me any actual reason to believe it. The early church? No. They were martyrs and far from having any power or influence. The crusades? They used religion to control people by lying, but this is an abuse. Present day? Maybe in cults and fringe groups there is more abuse and many Christian (embarrassingly) us it as a fear tactic to 'convert' people when they 'evangelize'. However,  any time I've explained it they have been silent with no logical connection to draw.

3. And the biggest one: "Our existence has no grand meaning or purpose." They hate. hate. hate this one. I think it is very difficult because they believe in meaning and purpose, but have no good reason to assert it aside from a radical faith statement hanging in mid air in a random universe of chance.

What do you think? Anything to add? Is there truth to the opposite reading about Christians? Are there also false statements in there? Leave a comment.

Reader response post

My hard drive is officially dead and I've ordered a new computer. Until it arrives  there will be fewer posts than I'd hoped. For today I thought it would be a good time to increase reader participation. Leave your thoughts, reactions, observations, questions in the comment section below. 

I saw this posted on Facebook by 'Your Origins Matter' and I think it is a fairly accurate presentation of the YEC response to any view of an old earth regardless of ones view of human origins:

""Many Christians are tempted to believe in billions of years because they have confidence in what the secular scientists teach. But then again, Christians readily accept the resurrection of Christ, the virgin birth, Jesus turning water into wine, and so on—all of which are rejected by secular scientists. Some might respond, “But those are miraculous events—the miracles of Christ go beyond natural law. Normal scientific procedure would not apply.” But isn’t creation a miraculous event? God spoke the universe into existence—something He does not do today. Creation goes beyond the normal everyday operation of the universe. If we arbitrarily dismiss the possibility of supernatural action by God in Genesis, then to be logically consistent, we would have to reject the other miracles in Scripture as well, including the resurrection of Christ—and the resurrection is indeed a “salvation issue” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).""

You can find the original post here. 

https://www.facebook.com/youroriginsmatter/posts/653934331309194

I'd love to hear your responses. Do you agree? Are they off base? Somewhere in between?

Why would God use 4.6 billion years?

"There are a number of comments and questions that come up repeatedly in the discussion of science and faith. One of the issues raised often is the question of time. Why would God take 9 billion years to create a universe ready for the earth and for life? Why would God use 4.6 billion years to create life leading to humans on this earth?"

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2011/07/19/why-would-god-take-4-6-billion-years-rjs/

Is evolution a threat to Christianity?

My computer is refusing to work so I'm posting others' material for the most part this week. 

Check out this great Podcast:from Dr. William Lane Craig on whether Evolution is a threat to Christianity:

 http://feeds.feedburner.com/ReasonableFaithPodcast