ARUSSEL:
I just saw your post... I would never judge you by your words or you being a an Athiest. You are an Atheiest for a reason... I too used to be one... or a Agnostic at the very least. I detect some moral principal in your post which sounds like something installed by the very God I praise. I wrote this below not to push God on anyone, but only to possibly give some hope. Hey, if I can recieve some hope, then anyone can!!
I have had to separate God from religion... period. No one wants a Bible thumped at them when they have seen the hypocracy of some churches & religions. The God that I know is far bigger than any man's intirpriation, religion, church, etc... after all, religion is man-made. I had religion/church forced on me as a kid, which was completley fruitless. I had to find God on my own terms... at rock bottom when I needed him most. It was harder to find God when I felt like I did not need him. Since "Faith" is defined as "the evidence of something not seen, but is the substance of things hoped for", I believe God cannot be found with out this very principal.
Nevertheless, I believe understanding God can be done by all as he has designed. Yet, I will never understand the complexity & power of him. There is peace in this alone; as I used to be one of those people who had to have proof & understand everything prior to believing... I have proof now & I believe, but not on man's terms. My belief is that we live in a fallen world... one that is unpredictable & damn cold at times. This world is my test; which is hosted by the enemy... Faith is what pulls me through the trials & tribulations. Last, God has never let me down... but I have... other people have, circumstances have. On the other hand, the enemy is a well oiled machine!! After all, take a look at our country right now & compare it to the past... one difference is that God is being removed in many places & we now have a leader who claims we are no longer a Christian country. Of corse they are trying to remove the "In God We Trust" from the Post Office & our money!! The world belongs to the enemy... he is the prince of this place, not God.
ARUSSEL- you seem like a good guy based on your posts & you are a fellow gear head!! God is a gentleman... he will not force you to believe in him either. Scooter