[PERMANENTLY CLOSED] When should we change our reasoning / beliefs?

[Archaeopteryx]

And this is the problem I run into with athiests. Avoiding questions and contradicting themselves without realizing it.

What questions did I avoid? You posed a scenario, and I responded to it. The rest of what you're saying doesn't make sense to me.

 

[anonymous person]

A feature is a relationship with god. A Benefit is eternal life.

How do I have a relationship with something I can't see, understand and is probably me talking to myself? I have a great relationship with my dog, better one with my wife, teenage daughter, well she's in those difficult years.
As for eternal life which is a benefit. Who do I talk to who has this benefit?

Benefit of joining a church are, a superior feeling one understands something others don't. Belonging to a club so social benefits of like minded people, having somewhere to go on a Sunday morning.

The downsides are. Thinking one's a sinner, getting a feeling of guilt when looking at a beautiful woman, having sex for the sake of pleasure, being a woman, being conceived and born, not being good enough to make the grade of Heaven, giving money to a church. Over the years there have been more. Many we have dropped, even though they're written in the bible.

It does not appear that Jesus is for you at this point in your life.

Ask seek and knock when you are willing.

 

[anonymous person]

Pretend you didn't say that? But you did say that. To pretend otherwise would be disingenuous. Don't tell me that you are open to be convinced when you are really hiding an "intrinsic defeater-defeater" up your sleeve. You're essentially asking me to pretend that you're not going to cheat by playing your "inner witness" card.

You want to turn this into a GA thread, thereby closing it down?

It does not appear that Jesus is someone you are interested in knowing personally at this time.

Ask seek and knock when you are willing.

 

[bhsmte]

It does not appear that Jesus is someone you are interested in knowing personally at this time.

Ask seek and knock when you are willing.

Maybe it is as simple as him not believing the claims.

 

[Chriliman]

What questions did I avoid? You posed a scenario, and I responded to it. The rest of what you're saying doesn't make sense to me.

Okay, if what I'm saying doesn't make sense, then present your answer to the purpose of this very conversation in such a way that it makes sense to me.

If you say the purpose of this conversation is to find truth, then I'd agree, except this conversation would not have gotten started if it wasn't for me. But honestly this conversation would not have started if it wasn't for God. <that you actually can't deny.

If you say you don't know the purpose or that in the end there is no purpose to this convo then I'm simply inclined to not believe you because you can't give a reason for something purposeless.

So which is it?

 

[anonymous person]

Maybe it is as simple as him not believing the claims.

If a person is interested in knowing Jesus personally, I assure you they do not need me or anyone else to convince them to seek Him.

If Archaeopteryx sees something in Jesus that is appealing and attractive then he will pursue Him.

If not, nothing I say will help.
Same goes for you and any other person.

 

[bhsmte]

If a person is interested in knowing Jesus personally, I assure you they do not need me or anyone else to convince them to seek Him.

If Archaeopteryx sees something in Jesus that is appealing and attractive then he will pursue Him.

If not, nothing I say will help.
Same goes for you and any other person.

Correct. It is up to each person to decide whether they believe the claims of Christianity.

Some do, some don't. In the last several decades, it also is a fact, fewer and fewer people do believe the claims.

 

[quatona]

The correct answer to the thread questionn is: "When Chriliman thinks we should." What do I win?

 

[Davian]

If a person is interested in knowing Jesus personally, I assure you they do not need me or anyone else to convince them to seek Him.

That sounds circular. Would you not have to first believe that "gods" were possible, and Jesus was more than a character in a book in order to "seek him"?

If Archaeopteryx sees something in Jesus that is appealing and attractive then he will pursue Him.

I find the idea of getting free stuff appealing, but I do not find myself writing letters to Santa.

If not, nothing I say will help.

I find this to be such a cop out. What have you to say?

"I believe Bigfoot exists. I think I have seen him, and do not doubt my experience. You don't believe me? I guess nothing I say will convince you."

 

[KCfromNC]

I hunger and thirst after righteousness.

I desire to live a holy and pure life before God and man. I desire to love all men as God loves them.

This purity of heart guards me from error.

How? Why do pure motives make it impossible for an allegedly omnipotent being to deceive you?

 

[Davian]

The correct answer to the thread questionn is: "When Chriliman thinks we should." What do I win?

I award you 10 internets. There's another 10 in there for you if you can figure out how to get him to stop preaching.

 

[Davian]

Okay, if what I'm saying doesn't make sense, then present your answer to the purpose of this very conversation in such a way that it makes sense to me.
...

Let's give this premise a test drive, just around the block.

Do you think that the Earth is being visited by extraterrestrial aliens, as evidenced by those claiming to having been abducted by said aliens?

 

[anonymous person]

Correct. It is up to each person to decide whether they believe the claims of Christianity.

Some do, some don't. In the last several decades, it also is a fact, fewer and fewer people do believe the claims.

In some areas of the world Christianity as with regards to the number of professing adherents, is in decline. In others it is on the rise.

In some areas of the world the number of professing atheists is on the decline, in others it is on the rise.

So what?

 

[anonymous person]

How? Why do pure motives make it impossible for an allegedly omnipotent being to deceive you?

Read the New Testament. Therein lies the answer.

 

[anonymous person]

Let's give this premise a test drive, just around the block.

Do you think that the Earth is being visited by extraterrestrial aliens, as evidenced by those claiming to having been abducted by said aliens?

Nope.

 

[bhsmte]

Read the New Testament. Therein lies the answer.

And if one does not view the NT as being credible, then what?

 

[Chriliman]

Where'd Archaeopteryx go? He avoided my questions again...I'm sure he'll be back, those who honestly seek truth will always come back for more truth. It's a perfect design by a perfect creator

 

[Davian]

Where'd Archaeopteryx go? He avoided my questions again...I'm sure he'll be back, those who honestly seek truth will always come back for more truth. <snip preaching>

I do not accept your religious opinion as truth.

 

[anonymous person]

And if one does not view the NT as being credible, then what?

That's their problem.

 

[anonymous person]

I do not accept your religious opinion as truth.

Neither do we accept your irreligious opinion as truth.

Thanks though.