Greetings!
This is the story of a young man's journey from reason to reason, from belief in no gods to belief in One God, from love to love. This young man is myself.
I was ten years old. I didn't believe in God or any religious, spiritual, or supernatural thing. I received a blue Bible on my tenth birthday called 'The Good News Bible'. I didn't like it; I thought it was ugly and had a stupid name, so I left it. It sat on the table in the living room for a long while. But one day, I felt impelled - not by some force but only by my curiosity - to read it, to see what this strange book was all about. So I knelt at the table (it was a low table, so I had to kneel, even though I hate to kneel because it hurts my knees) and opened up the Bible to a random page. I thought it was a very stupid book, what with the name Matthew on the top of each page, footnotes at the bottom of each page, and the text in columns. It was very different from any other book I had ever read before! But I began to read about a man named Jesus being scourged at the pillar. As I read further the story, my heart began to open to this man. Pontius Pilate said he was innocent - why was this innocent man being made to suffer so? The man was condemned to death, and had to walk to where he would die. I wanted to comfort this man at this point, to bring him consolation for such cruel and unjust punishment. I turned the page and read about Jesus' crucifixion. My eyes filled up with tears. I had never read a story like this before! I remember I looked at a picture at the top of the page, and it was a sketch of Jesus on the Cross, seen from a bird's eye-view. I felt so much compassion for this man that in my mind I cried out: Jesus!
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, like lightning, and a man appeared above the table. He wore a white garment and had his right hand raised in a strange gesture, which years later I would learn was a sign of blessing. He was a very beautiful man, dazzling bright, and he spoke to me in a strong yet gentle voice.
"Nicholas, do you wish to console me?" he asked.
"Who are you, sir?" I replied.
"I am Jesus."
"Sir, why did you have to suffer and die like that?"
"Nicholas, do you wish to console me?"
Suddenly I saw myself sharing in Jesus' suffering: being condemned to death, dragging a cross to a little hill, and there being crucified.
"Yes, Sir."
"Than enter my Church and suffer for me."
At those last three words, I understood that I would not only be suffering for Jesus but also with Jesus. The man vanished: first his feet, than his body, and finally, his face. I looked to the left and saw another man, also dazzling bright, but he was not like Jesus - this man looked like someone wrapped up in a sheet. He had a golden arrow on a golden bow, and pointed the arrow at me and shot it. The arrow went right through my heart, and in an instant three things happened at once: I fell in love with God, I was filled with a peace I had never experienced before, and I was overwhelmed with a joy I had never experienced before. The man vanished, and than a female voice, motherly and gracious, spoke.
"Do not be afraid. I and my Son will be with you always, even to the end."
May this story open those hearts closed to God and relieve and strength those hearts who are weak and weary from searching for God and rekindle the faith of those hearts who have stopped believing.
In addition to sharing the story of my conversion, I would like to share with you a possibility you might not have thought of: namely, the compatibility between God and man, prayer and action, faith and reason. Below is a little parody I wrote, which speaks about this possibility, and I hope that it helps you to better understand and love your fellow men who believe in God:
"A Christian loves God, himself and his fellow man. A Christian knows that heaven is something for which we should work now - here on earth - for all men together to enjoy. A Christian thinks that he can get help through prayer and that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue, and enjoy it. A Christian thinks that only in a knowledge of God, a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment. Therefore, he seeks to know God, himself and his fellow man. A Christian knows that a hospital should be built just as a church may be built. A Christian knows that a deed must be done and a prayer must be said. A Christian strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethical way of life. He knows that we can rely on God and do both action and prayer and hope for an end to troubles now and in the hereafter. He knows that we are our brother's keeper and keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now."

You know what comes next:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages39.fotki.com%2Fv1232%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2F1216184739910-vi.gif&hash=4e51efd08708598a749c1e3f70059284047d3b94)
ATTENTION: THIS THREAD IS NOW ABOUT MENS SHAMPOO
i'd believe your story if you mention mushroom somewhere in it
Nick, old fruit.
You just strutted into the front room and crapped on the rug as if you were doing us all a favor.
BAD NICK. BAD!
(By the way, lately I've been using
Suave® MENâ,,¢ 2IN1 DANDRUFF. It's cheap, it works, and it doesn't smell horrible, unlike what that reprehensible cur just did.)
I

'd at this thread.
I use anti-dandruff shampoo. Not because i have dandruff but because i have great looking hair!
QuoteNO PREACHING: While everyone is welcome to discuss their views in a civil manner, this forum is not a podium for those that only wish to preach. This rule applies to atheists and theists alike.
Happy Atheist Forum Rules (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1522)
Why does it have to be about men's shampoo? I wouldn't mind talking about my shampoo, but I'm a girl...*sigh*
The man is always bringing me down! Women unite! *burns bra*
Quote from: "Chimera"Why does it have to be about men's shampoo? I wouldn't mind talking about my shampoo, but I'm a girl...*sigh*
The man is always bringing me down! Women unite! *burns bra*
We could make it about shoes instead
Real men don't use shampoo, anyway. I use steel wool from a battleship, followed by mud from a Gettysburg, and wash it off from K2 meltwater. And that's only once a year, on Bastille Day.
Quote from: "Whitney"Quote from: "Chimera"Why does it have to be about men's shampoo? I wouldn't mind talking about my shampoo, but I'm a girl...*sigh*
The man is always bringing me down! Women unite! *burns bra*
We could make it about shoes instead 
I wear mens shoes, they are wider than womens shoes and the arch is closer to where I need it to be in most of them. Then again, I was born with too many toes. Six on each foot. Probably why I'm an atheist. Mark of the beast and all that, you know. Anyway, they took the extras off when I was still an infant but my feet are still wider than average.
No one is addressing the real question here, it is what makes me so sick of this forum sometimes and all the people in it. You all go along, willfully ignoring the important stuff to talk about rubbish.
Why is no one talking about conditioner? I think we all know that debate about the merits of 2 in 1, or stand alone conditioner are well overdue, but no one ever talks about it, makes me sick.
Quote from: "SSY"No one is addressing the real question here, it is what makes me so sick of this forum sometimes and all the people in it. You all go along, willfully ignoring the important stuff to talk about rubbish.
Why is no one talking about conditioner? I think we all know that debate about the merits of 2 in 1, or stand alone conditioner are well overdue, but no one ever talks about it, makes me sick.
2 in 1 is a lie!
... and what ever happened to Wella Balsam?
I use Nivea for Men Active 3 with natural micro tec. It is a 3 in 1 product (shower, shampoo and shave).
I use soap.
I also am growing a beard.
Very manly man.
Quote from: "Tom62"I use Nivea for Men Active 3 with natural micro tec. It is a 3 in 1 product (shower, shampoo and shave).
It cleans and SHAVES YOU? Wow, that is one sophisticated fluid.
I've been shaving off my pubic hair for about a month now. I like it. Masturbation feels better and it's easier to clean up. Haven't had a chance to try the real thing so far. Just wondering what thoughts the other manly men had on this? I use a manly electric shaver that works wet or dry. Highly recomended (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Personal-Healthcare/Men-s-Shavers/model.ES4026NC). It's curved shape does not make it unmanly.
Do you not get ball stubble? That would seem to be a major drawback.
I trim to an appropriate length during the periods of time I consider myself likely to get sexed (ie all the time). Has the other advantage of making my genitalia look even more imposing and sculpted.
I find the stubble grows back most noticeably where a womanly woman would find it. The growth on the ballsack is negligible though uncomfortable to harvest due to the unmanly sensitivity of my ballsack and the manly aggressiveness of the Phillips shaver.
I advise you not to try and shape your pubic hair. None of the studs I see in porn videos do that. They just shave it off.
Pubic Topiary is a bridge too far, madness that way lies.
Quote from: "SSY"Do you not get ball stubble? That would seem to be a major drawback.
I trim to an appropriate length during the periods of time I consider myself likely to get sexed (ie all the time). Has the other advantage of making my genitalia look even more imposing and sculpted.
Not to mention the fact it makes it look ever-so-slightly bigger.
Unfortunately, once you start, you have to keep at it otherwise someone else may start to get stubble rash.
Quote from: "Nick"I was ten years old.
An here in lies the problem...
Quote from: "AlP"I've been shaving off my pubic hair for about a month now. I like it. Masturbation feels better and it's easier to clean up. Haven't had a chance to try the real thing so far. Just wondering what thoughts the other manly men had on this? I use a manly electric shaver that works wet or dry. Highly recomended (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Personal-Healthcare/Men-s-Shavers/model.ES4026NC). It's curved shape does not make it unmanly.
You take an electric shaver to your sac? That sounds horrifying. A regular razor is the way to go hands down. Slap bald nuts are aerodynamic as well as sanitary. Stubble will grow if not groomed regularly, but if groomed to often it will produce a dry or razor burn type of effect. I would recommend maybe every other day or a once in a while to shave dem nuts.
And I am in agreeance (<-- is that a word?) that sculpting shapes and designs out of ones pubes is utter insanity. Chicks do it, let it be theirs to hold and cherish.
Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis et conversi disrumpant vos.
Ers vidi parous le fantish certe nomber pulaise de cabri.
o.O oh no they are speaking in tongues now

.
RUN AWAY!!!
Quote from: "Squid"Quote from: "Nick"I was ten years old.
An here in lies the problem...
The only true response here comes from Squid. And I agree 100% with him. I like it how he claims he was an atheist before 10 ... such ignorance is profound. Why do Christians feel they should use lies to convert people? Is their position so weak that they need to make shit up to "prove" the existence of their preferred deity?
Quote from: "Happy Christian"Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis et conversi disrumpant vos.
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matthew 7:6
Quite, and while ye are at it, shave not the testicles of said swine lest the buggers turn round and bite you.
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Quote from: "Regnegnicat"Ers vidi parous le fantish certe nomber pulaise de cabri.
N ow there you've got me ........
Please don't make me have to translate that, OldGit.
Quote from: "OldGit"Quote from: "Happy Christian"Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis et conversi disrumpant vos.
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matthew 7:6
Happy Christian....consider this your first informal warning that preaching and generally being a prick is against the forum rules.
Oh, unnecessary Latin!
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Quote from: "Renegnicat"Please don't make me have to translate that, OldGit. :hmm:
Quote from: "Whitney"Happy Christian....consider this your first informal warning that preaching and generally being a prick is against the forum rules.
Let's put that into his native language, so he'll get it:
NOLI PREDICARE AUT PENIS ESSE :hmm:[/quote]
Sorry, mate, I don't do woodchucks.
Sure thing, it's a conlang called "Vereistana".
Translate this
zsdfcggy8u9p;
Hint, it was me dragging my balls over my keyboard.
Quote from: "SSY"Translate this
zsdfcggy8u9p;
Hint, it was me dragging my balls over my keyboard.
Pretty delicate balls, there, SSY!
Quote from: "SSY"Translate this
zsdfcggy8u9p;
Hint, it was me dragging my balls over my keyboard.
That is the creepiest thing I have ever read on this tame little corner of the internet.
Good on ya!
Quote from: "templeboy"Quote from: "SSY"Translate this
zsdfcggy8u9p;
Hint, it was me dragging my balls over my keyboard.
That is the creepiest thing I have ever read on this tame little corner of the internet.
Good on ya!
For me it was the sexiest experience I've had this week.
Quote from: "Ellainix"Quote from: "templeboy"Quote from: "SSY"Translate this
zsdfcggy8u9p;
Hint, it was me dragging my balls over my keyboard.
That is the creepiest thing I have ever read on this tame little corner of the internet.
Good on ya!
For me it was the sexiest experience I've had this week.
Its a sad reflection on my life that I can fully agree with you on that...
You guys say that without having any idea of the quality of his balls. Or have you?
Something going on here.
i use mens shampoo and conditioner (2 in 1 suave for men) then i use some herbal essences for the nice smell. mmmm good
I don't think I have ever used conditioner...can anyone explain to me why I should waste more of my pitiful student budget on the stuff?
Quote from: "templeboy"I don't think I have ever used conditioner...can anyone explain to me why I should waste more of my pitiful student budget on the stuff?
It makes your hair softer and if your hair is longer than a few inches it helps make it more manageable. You can get shampoo+conditioner and not have to spend any more money. Or buy Suave and it will only cost you $1
Quote from: "SSY"No one is addressing the real question here, it is what makes me so sick of this forum sometimes and all the people in it. You all go along, willfully ignoring the important stuff to talk about rubbish.
Why is no one talking about conditioner? I think we all know that debate about the merits of 2 in 1, or stand alone conditioner are well overdue, but no one ever talks about it, makes me sick.
I think
SSY, with his usual uncanny perspicacity, was waay ahead of you guys on this one. And I think that I'll have to agree with
joeactor's succinct response:
Quote from: "joeactor"2 in 1 is a lie!
True, I use 2 in 1, but I'm not kidding myself that it's actually anything more than shampoo. If you don't go to the time and trouble of actually buying and using conditioner, than you only have yourself to blame if your hair isn't silky smooth and caressable. It's been years since anybody but sweet old ladies wanted to caress my hair, which is why I don't bother.
Rinse and repeat is also a big fat lie!
Can we please get this conversation back on the subject of my ballsack? Why use conditioner on that hairy mess? Just shave it off!
Quote from: "AlP"Can we please get this conversation back on the subject of my ballsack? Why use conditioner on that hairy mess? Just shave it off!
Maybe your scrote would feel nicer if you conditioned it.
Quote from: "OldGit"Quote from: "AlP"Can we please get this conversation back on the subject of my ballsack? Why use conditioner on that hairy mess? Just shave it off!
Maybe your scrote would feel nicer if you conditioned it. 
Maybe it depends on how long he's left it. Sometimes the only solution is to cull the lot and start afresh.
my head was itchy until i conditioned it. stand alone pees in 2 in ones eye.
I am balding, what's a good Shampoo to help regrow hair? How often do you wash?
Quote from: "atheistlibrary"I am balding, what's a good Shampoo to help regrow hair? How often do you wash? 
Hey theres nothing to be ashamed of. Chicks totally dig bald guys.
Quote from: "templeboy"Quote from: "atheistlibrary"I am balding, what's a good Shampoo to help regrow hair? How often do you wash? 
Hey theres nothing to be ashamed of. Chicks totally dig bald guys.
there is hope for the future...
Quote from: "templeboy"Quote from: "atheistlibrary"I am balding, what's a good Shampoo to help regrow hair? How often do you wash? 
Hey theres nothing to be ashamed of. Chicks totally dig bald guys.
Eh... some dig, some settle...
Quote from: "Ellainix"Quote from: "templeboy"Quote from: "atheistlibrary"I am balding, what's a good Shampoo to help regrow hair? How often do you wash? lol
Quote from: "karadan"Rinse and repeat is also a big fat lie!
... I'm a Rinse and Repeat offender...