Christians: why do you engage in discussions with atheists?

[AV1611VET]

Sounds like you want to take the wheat out with the tears. I lived in Salt Lake City for three years so I have known a lot of mormons. It is easy to tell who is and who is not saved.

A Mormon who is saved would be saved in spite of his doctrine.

Not with respect to it.

In other words, he would be an exception to the rule.

 

[AV1611VET]

My view is probably different than a lot of Christians' views. The only doctrine that should be preached is Jesus the savior of the world.

Are you in the Jesus Only movement?

 

[BCP1928]

A Mormon who is saved would be saved in spite of his doctrine.

Not with respect to it.

That's true of all of us, in one way or another.

 

[AV1611VET]

I've got another.

Not all Christians agree with that.

Ask a Mormon this:

If I consider you a Christian, will you consider me one too?

 

[BCP1928]

Ask a Mormon this:

If I consider you a Christian, will you consider me one too?

I have, and those I know do.

 

[Astrid]

Maybe defense in what they believe? Why do non-believers venture into areas that challenge Christian beliefs on a Christian forum?

Can you post where this has happened I see disrespect coming both ways. I think everyone on this thread is trying to be productive/ respectful and you have every right to reject what the Christians say here about God but don't forget you are a nonbeliever on a Christian forum so expect it. Why do you engage with Christians on a Christian forum? To learn about Christianity or debate it?

Again you have to recognize you are on a Christian forum and you are the only one who knows why you are here besides the Creator. You have to expect bible verses.

If you are uncomfortable here there are other forums you can join that more aligns with your beliefs.

I do appreciate that yiu are trying to post on topic
and exchange views rather than being part of
the usual -suspect squad whose evident idea of
discussion is to derail with announcements of their
infallible "truth'.

Debate / discussion is about expressing thoughts, and seeing what prevails in the marketplace of ideas.

It's said that an unexamined belief is not worth having.

With a strong background in science, the disciplined
way of thinking, i appreciate vigorous well considered
challenges to what i think.
There's a joy in finding out I was wrong because it's like having g a splinter pulled! I dont like
being wrong and do like improved understanding.

Does that address your questions?


"....post where this has happened".
Where what happened? People calling me a fool for not be,ievi g as they do?

I'm well aware of where I am. I was well,aware of being
a citizen of China when I lived in the USA.
I need no reminding.


Why would you think I'm uncomfortable posting here?


Oh, and " align with beliefs"? A echo chamber ?
What's the use of that? I want the opposite.

 

[AV1611VET]

A favorite of mine:
View attachment 351874

I like it too.

It's a good illustration of this:

2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

[AV1611VET]

That's true of all of us, in one way or another.

I meant the doctrine of salvation.

 

[AV1611VET]

I have, and those I know do.

Are you a Mormon then?

 

[Astrid]

I have, and those I know do.

I'd really appreciate it if o.t. ideas on how Christians
disagree were not posted or encouraged here.
There's plenty of room where it is appropriate.

 

[Laodicean60]

Are you in the Jesus Only movement?

I've never heard of that and my beliefs are my own and I refuse all the labels that box people in. Your question seems odd to me, of course, I'm only Jesus aren't all Christians?

 

[AV1611VET]

I have this gut feeling that this thread is going to be closed per request by the OP.

 

[Reasonably Sane]

I find it useful to distinguish between 1) our guesses about whether God(s) exist, and 2) the level of certainty we have about the guesses we make. For this reason, the chart is helpful.

With that I actually agree. I almost said that the two on the right describe most of the people in church. And the lion's share is probably the bottom one. However, I like to mince words myself from time to time and I consider "Atheist" to be an absolute. If you think there is probably no god, you are an agnostic. But I have no problems dividing agnostics into "leaning deist" and "leaning atheist". The ones leaning deist are either in church or they feel guilty a lot. The ones leaning atheist are the ones that like to antagonize believers on the internet.

 

[Reasonably Sane]

I like it too.

It's a good illustration of this:

2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Though I am familiar with that verse, I compare it to "In my father's house are many mansions". That is a terrible translation. A better one is, "In my father's house are many rooms." Same here. It is trying to use the most hyperbolic translation it can find. A better one would be, well, pretty much any of the other ones here: 2 Corinthians 5:11 - Ambassadors for Christ

That also ties better into Matthew 10:28 (ESV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

This is a tiny sampling of one of the reasons I don't bother with the KJV or the NKJV. It's a language that people misunderstand all the time, and I'm also not big on the motivation for producing it. That said, a couple of my friends are "KJV only" folks. We just don't talk about it.

 

[Laodicean60]

Debate / discussion is about expressing thoughts, and seeing what prevails in the marketplace of ideas.

I get that but Christians and non Christians have different thoughts, especially about religion. On a forum I rarely see anyone succumb to the other's point of view. I've read other topics where both can talk about non-religious things.

With a strong background in science, the disciplined
way of thinking, i appreciate vigorous well considered
challenges to what i think.
There's a joy in finding out I was wrong because it's like having g a splinter pulled! I dont like
being wrong and do like improved understanding.

This is all good except we think differently. I've seen other threads about intelligence and I get the impression some are taking the intellectual high ground because Christians believe in an invisible Creator by faith and have no proof. The way I see it is science can't prove or disprove God no matter how you spin it so why debate? Some don't believe in Quantum physics because they have a materialistic belief. I like medical science, which shows how man-made foods are killing us.

Where what happened? People calling me a fool for not be,ievi g as they do?

Well God says that in scripture but again you have to expect scriptural replies from a Christian forum. Many Christians forget that the bible doesn't mean squat to a nonbeliever according to Paul but some still post scripture. Do you mean to say you've never said anything that might have offended a Christian?

Why would you think I'm uncomfortable posting here?

Because some of your posts complained about your treatment here. I can see that non Christians are given the impression that we hold the moral high ground and rightly so by the way some talk about sin. On the other hand, nonbelievers like to come from a scientific point of view to try to show up the Christian because in your eyes we believe in a fairy tale.

 

[Ace777]

A Mormon who is saved would be saved in spite of his doctrine.

Not with respect to it.

In other words, he would be an exception to the rule.

Both the Mormons and the Calvinist's believe that it was God's plan for Adam and Eve to sin and be disobedient. If they knew God they would know He cannot do anything contrary to Himself. Even you say God is all powerful, yet He can not lie, cheat, steal and so on.

 

[dlamberth]

I believe in the commandment of love! Once you preach the Gospel then what, the hell message and all the other lines of attack?

My approach is Just Love. That's it.

 

[BCP1928]

Are you a Mormon then?

Why? Do you think it's contagious?

 

[Ace777]

Many atheists today in the U.S. are ex-Christians coming out of fundamentalist or evangelical churches. So, a number of them are familiar with the concept of faith. It's just that they've disowned it.

Faith is a work of God in us. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Are you saying they were bearing fruit and now they are dead? So you do not believe God is able to keep those who are saved?

 

[dlamberth]

Many atheists today in the U.S. are ex-Christians coming out of fundamentalist or evangelical churches. So, a number of them are familiar with the concept of faith. It's just that they've disowned it.

In the "other" spiritual paths, many there are also ex-Christians. Please include me in that group.