# Caleb **URL:** \ **Category:** Religion and Secularism\ **Created:** [May 8, 2021, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915 "2021-05-08T08:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 12:37pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/61 "2021-05-09T12:37:19Z")
No problem. I’ll discuss it in 8 months. ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/62 "2021-05-09T15:30:30Z")
> It depends on how you define “belief”. To me, it means acceptance. And it’s pretty easy to tell when one is being accepted and when they aren’t. It is ? How can you tell someone has been accepted? Or do you mean is “accepting of”? Religious people look exactly the same to me as atheists. But it is true that I cannot read their minds, unless they start engaging in ritual. I am an atheist. Are you sure I am not acceptable as I am? Suppose I have never heard of your belief, how am I to know what to believe? Am I required to make my beliefs public, like prostate myself or proselytize to the crowd, or can I quietly sit in a corner, contemplating my life and actions in a honestly critical manner? And if you believe I am not accepted, what gives you authority to judge? And by what standard will you judge? Your belief? Suppose your belief is wrong, will you still be acceptable? And if I believe you, will I still be acceptable ? Can we start with defining God? Kinda helps the discussion along don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/63 "2021-05-09T15:47:15Z")
> It is ? How can you tell someone has been accepted? They'll either be in Heaven or they won't. > I am an atheist. Are you sure I am not acceptable as I am? Suppose I have never heard of your belief, how am I to know what to believe? We were discussing the judgment process before God. If you were an alien species that never heard of God before, I think that would be a valid defense. However, you clearly have heard of God and actively choose to not believe in him.   > Am I required to make my beliefs public, like prostate myself or proselytize to the crowd, or can I quietly sit in a corner, contemplating my life and actions in a honestly critical manner? I doubt judgment will be a public process -- why would other people have any bearing on your personal relationship? It would be between you and God. > And if you believe I am not accepted, what gives you authority to judge? And by what standard will you judge? Your belief? I'm just answering the questions. I'm not the one who will be judging you -- God is. Yes, we're all judged by the same standard. > Suppose your belief is wrong, will you still be acceptable? And if I believe you, will I still be acceptable ? I'm fully capable of being wrong, or right. This is just a thought experiment after all. ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/64 "2021-05-09T15:54:53Z")
> Can we start with defining God? Kinda helps the discussion along don’t you think? Ok, we can, but I haven't written the blog entries yet, so my thoughts may be a bit disorganized. ? How do you want to define him? Q&A style? ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/65 "2021-05-09T16:05:20Z")
8 months? You say you are convinced that there is God. What convinced you? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/66 "2021-05-09T16:09:51Z")
I went on a soul searching journey and 11 years ago, God “spoke” to me. Then again 7 years ago. And lastly in 2019, which inspired me to create my website in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/67 "2021-05-09T16:20:25Z")
I see - God spoke to you. You understand that personal revelation is an unconvincing reason for others. ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/68 "2021-05-09T16:21:53Z")
Yup, that’s why I’m here. To find out the best way to tell this story. ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/69 "2021-05-09T16:29:23Z")
No point. Its not evidence for God. ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/70 "2021-05-09T16:31:59Z")
Alright, you’ll need to wait 8 months then till I formalize it better. @write4u Did you have any questions? ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/71 "2021-05-09T16:35:39Z")
Youre wasting your time. Are you familiar with the athiest response to personal revelation claims? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/72 "2021-05-09T16:36:12Z")
Nope. What is it? ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/73 "2021-05-09T16:38:06Z")
Where is my personal revelation? Why does God if he exists pick and chose who he will speak to? ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/74 "2021-05-09T16:38:58Z")
Why does he reveal himself to all? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/75 "2021-05-09T16:44:42Z")
> Where is my personal revelation? Why does God if he exists pick and chose who he will speak to? Have you ever gone on a soul searching journey? I don't know why he chose me.. well, unless you expect me to sell you my resume. ? > Why does he reveal himself to all? Did you mean why doesn't he? Because not everyone is on the same "wavelength". ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/76 "2021-05-09T16:57:03Z")
Your God can speak to me if he wants to. Correct? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/77 "2021-05-09T16:58:34Z")
He actually speaks to everyone. You just have to listen, or be in the right “headspace” to listen. ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/78 "2021-05-09T17:00:59Z")
Is he speaking to you now? ---
**Author:** ![yonkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/yonkey/32/2021_2.png) [@yonkey](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/yonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/79 "2021-05-09T17:02:38Z")
Kinda… I mean, I learned how to manage it so that it doesn’t overwhelm me. But it comes and goes in waves. ---
**Author:** ![johncitizen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@johncitizen1](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/johncitizen1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915/80 "2021-05-09T17:05:50Z")
Ask him please why he wont reveal himself to me, [Previous page](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/caleb/7915.md?page=5)