Any other atheists here? Some frustration

[MMI]

The diffference between Thorne and myself (I think - I have no authority to speak for him) is that he doesn't think there is a God, although he is not certain. I want there to be a god - a good god - the Christian god, perhaps. But I am sure he is not there.

Your post, I'm afraid, just will not resonate with someone who does not admit the existence of God - any god.

Concerning improving the quality of the monk's lifestyle, the monk was wrong - the tourist was right. But as the monk just wanted to follow his own established habits and traditions, maybe he was right in that way. There's nothing divine about the choice, either way.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

William Cowper

What tosh! What utter piffle!

I have heard that Cowper often struggled with depression and doubt. One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself. He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the River Thames. However, thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out. To Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep: God had sent the fog to keep him from killing himself. Even in our blackest moments, God watches over us.

Do you believe that? Or do you think that, being unable to reach the Thames in that weather, the cabby thought the best thing to do was to return his passenger to the point where he picked him up? Or will you now tell me that, even if the cabby did choose to do that, it must have been God who inspired him? Where does free will feature now?

"Blind unbelief is sure to err..." Is my unbelief blind? It seems to me more likely that it is blind faith that is bound to be wrong.