- May 10, 2018
- 5,165
- 733
- 65
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Skeptic
- Marital Status
- Private
I'll start... I'm a growing skeptic to Christianity. I was born and raised within it. Believed it for decades, without too much probing or questioning. To make a long story short, I read some of it, and it does not appear factual with discovered reality in many ways... The only thing which keeps me hanging on, very little however, is the fear of hell. If hell is real, I don't wanna go there. Honesty tells me this is not rational on many levels (further explained below).
(Below is an analogy. If one chooses not to read, fine... Just forward to the questions at the very bottom in red).
Think about how many times your decision was driven, due to fear alone. Does this make the decision rational, logical, or reasonable? Or does it become more of a distraction and prey upon emotion, which actually transcends logic, reason, and evidence? Fear drives many agendas. Fear is a necessary force for many to accomplish their task. Fear, in and of itself, serves no rational value or evidentiary basis for justified belief. However, many fear many things for many reasons. Many are unwarranted. Many are unfounded. Many are not demonstrated. Many are unproven. However, when authority figures present the fear, it tends to resonate more deeply, verses a mere 'crazy' person on the street whom might be carrying a sign presenting attempts in fear.
I feel many religious leaders have this racket figured out. Religious belief is often a specific set of indoctrinated principles, which are predicated upon emotion, and excludes their active intelligence entirely. Many are aware it does not matter how many skeptics and free thinkers attempt to provide evidence, or scientific principles, which may contradict Biblical claims. Religious leaders know this does very little to change many believer's perspective on spiritual values. Pastors know they really do not possess evidence which may actually rival the opposing scientific claims, which may actually discredit stories from Genesis, Exodus, and others. However, it becomes fundamentally clear. Many believers self-admittedly proclaim no amount of science, logic, or demonstrations to the irrationality of faith alone will sway their current beliefs. It becomes evident only one facet remains from the entire equation for continued belief, by way of faith.... fear.
Fear of the unknown drives many to retain a set of beliefs, regardless of opposing intellect, logic, or any other mode of common sense. For all intensive purposes, the only way to effectively debate many believers, is to demonstrate the irrationality and inconsistency of their fear in this one specific concept of hell. Though it may seem just as logical to ask, 'which hell do you fear specifically, and why not fear the Muslim concept of hell instead?' We are again not dealing in logic. Fear transcends all of it, even if the believer's IQ is off the charts. How does one address fear? This becomes the pinnacle of all questions in this situation. This also becomes a very tricky proposition. Epistemology, or the relationship between justified verses unjustified belief, is like an onion. It contains many layers, and must be unraveled from the outside, moving inwards. If one can manage to reach the core of one's internal belief structure, and find what drives this belief, then, and only then, is anyone willing to modify their beliefs really and truly. I think pastors have this element pegged and nailed down cold. Instilling the right amount of fear, drives the belief, and keeps the masses engaged, unwavered by opposing skeptical questions and inquiry from any perceived outsider or non-believer.
You ever notice it usually is not long before religious leaders will mention the 'second coming' of Jesus, or the 'mark of the beast', as in verses Revelations 19:11-16 or Revelations 13:16-17? If they feel believers may start to stray, scare them back in. It doesn't take much. Once the audience is scared, all bets are off. No amount of logic is going to crack the fearful believer, and their Christian faith. Below is a paraphrased account of the statements heard by devout believers in Christianity.
“All people, with their reason and evidence are just the work of the devil, and their leering ways. The Bible is the one and only source of truth. The Bible states there will be many mockers, doubters, and people tempting your position. These are works of the devil. Do not be deceived. They will be crafty with their tongues, and cause many to stray away from the word of god!” Sound familiar?
I've heard all of it fare too often. Church pastors have it down cold. How might one compete with such tactics? If the believer trusts their pastor or authoritative figure, how might one get through to such an individual? Demonstrating conflicting Biblical verses, presenting external evidence opposing supernatural claims, and refuting theological arguments will often do nothing to reduce the believer's plight. How might one reach such people? The first question one could ask may be, 'how does one overcome any other fear?' There exists no simple answer.
It would be fairly safe to assume many current fears are unfounded. Fear of the dark comes to mind. This appears to be a closely related fear, in the sense it seems to suggest fear of the unknown; just like the fear of an unknown possible postmortem destination. How might one overcome fear of the dark? Does turning the lights back on, and searching all unsecured areas, such as a closed closet or under the bed for strangers or monsters resolve the issue? Maybe, and maybe not. How about if you are alone, watch scary movies at night, then walk down your dark hallway on your way to bed? Most would admit at least a small sense of uneasiness prevails, though perfectly acknowledged as irrational by most. Is the brain wired for irrational fear of the unknown? Can one simply 'will' themselves to spontaneously overcome such a fear completely and entirely? It's hard to say.
However, even if turning on the lights and checking all unsecured areas places the fearful person's mind at ease, how might one attempt to do this with the concept of 'life' after death? No verification process exists. The unknown remains undiscovered. Pastors have this market cornered. In regards to the 'afterlife', the unknown remains the unknown. If many are wired to fear unknown endeavors, the pastor has to do very little to keep such a believer fearful of walking away from such faith based positions; intellect or no intellect.
****************************************************************
What would change my mind? In accordance with Holy Scripture (Matthew 7:7, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14, John 16:23), pray for my amputated toe to grow back. If it does, I'm back in with two feet for Christianity (no pun intended). I know this methodology appears juvenile. Please let me explain. Christians pray for God to heal others all the time. Christians claim their prayers are sometimes answered, in accordance with God's will. People might state I cannot ask for such a thing, as I'm reducing God to that of a slot machine. If this were true, then God would then NOT heal others, based upon petitionary prayer, ever... Furthermore, to my knowledge, God has never regrew someone's amputated limb (another very interesting observation). Furthermore, if God only answers prayer, according to his will, then prayer is again worthless. So unless someone can pray for my toe to grow back, and it then grows back, should I still continue to believe, despite the fact I cannot believe, based upon too many pieces of evidence not aligning with my known reality?
What would make you no longer believe in Christianity?
(Below is an analogy. If one chooses not to read, fine... Just forward to the questions at the very bottom in red).
Think about how many times your decision was driven, due to fear alone. Does this make the decision rational, logical, or reasonable? Or does it become more of a distraction and prey upon emotion, which actually transcends logic, reason, and evidence? Fear drives many agendas. Fear is a necessary force for many to accomplish their task. Fear, in and of itself, serves no rational value or evidentiary basis for justified belief. However, many fear many things for many reasons. Many are unwarranted. Many are unfounded. Many are not demonstrated. Many are unproven. However, when authority figures present the fear, it tends to resonate more deeply, verses a mere 'crazy' person on the street whom might be carrying a sign presenting attempts in fear.
I feel many religious leaders have this racket figured out. Religious belief is often a specific set of indoctrinated principles, which are predicated upon emotion, and excludes their active intelligence entirely. Many are aware it does not matter how many skeptics and free thinkers attempt to provide evidence, or scientific principles, which may contradict Biblical claims. Religious leaders know this does very little to change many believer's perspective on spiritual values. Pastors know they really do not possess evidence which may actually rival the opposing scientific claims, which may actually discredit stories from Genesis, Exodus, and others. However, it becomes fundamentally clear. Many believers self-admittedly proclaim no amount of science, logic, or demonstrations to the irrationality of faith alone will sway their current beliefs. It becomes evident only one facet remains from the entire equation for continued belief, by way of faith.... fear.
Fear of the unknown drives many to retain a set of beliefs, regardless of opposing intellect, logic, or any other mode of common sense. For all intensive purposes, the only way to effectively debate many believers, is to demonstrate the irrationality and inconsistency of their fear in this one specific concept of hell. Though it may seem just as logical to ask, 'which hell do you fear specifically, and why not fear the Muslim concept of hell instead?' We are again not dealing in logic. Fear transcends all of it, even if the believer's IQ is off the charts. How does one address fear? This becomes the pinnacle of all questions in this situation. This also becomes a very tricky proposition. Epistemology, or the relationship between justified verses unjustified belief, is like an onion. It contains many layers, and must be unraveled from the outside, moving inwards. If one can manage to reach the core of one's internal belief structure, and find what drives this belief, then, and only then, is anyone willing to modify their beliefs really and truly. I think pastors have this element pegged and nailed down cold. Instilling the right amount of fear, drives the belief, and keeps the masses engaged, unwavered by opposing skeptical questions and inquiry from any perceived outsider or non-believer.
You ever notice it usually is not long before religious leaders will mention the 'second coming' of Jesus, or the 'mark of the beast', as in verses Revelations 19:11-16 or Revelations 13:16-17? If they feel believers may start to stray, scare them back in. It doesn't take much. Once the audience is scared, all bets are off. No amount of logic is going to crack the fearful believer, and their Christian faith. Below is a paraphrased account of the statements heard by devout believers in Christianity.
“All people, with their reason and evidence are just the work of the devil, and their leering ways. The Bible is the one and only source of truth. The Bible states there will be many mockers, doubters, and people tempting your position. These are works of the devil. Do not be deceived. They will be crafty with their tongues, and cause many to stray away from the word of god!” Sound familiar?
I've heard all of it fare too often. Church pastors have it down cold. How might one compete with such tactics? If the believer trusts their pastor or authoritative figure, how might one get through to such an individual? Demonstrating conflicting Biblical verses, presenting external evidence opposing supernatural claims, and refuting theological arguments will often do nothing to reduce the believer's plight. How might one reach such people? The first question one could ask may be, 'how does one overcome any other fear?' There exists no simple answer.
It would be fairly safe to assume many current fears are unfounded. Fear of the dark comes to mind. This appears to be a closely related fear, in the sense it seems to suggest fear of the unknown; just like the fear of an unknown possible postmortem destination. How might one overcome fear of the dark? Does turning the lights back on, and searching all unsecured areas, such as a closed closet or under the bed for strangers or monsters resolve the issue? Maybe, and maybe not. How about if you are alone, watch scary movies at night, then walk down your dark hallway on your way to bed? Most would admit at least a small sense of uneasiness prevails, though perfectly acknowledged as irrational by most. Is the brain wired for irrational fear of the unknown? Can one simply 'will' themselves to spontaneously overcome such a fear completely and entirely? It's hard to say.
However, even if turning on the lights and checking all unsecured areas places the fearful person's mind at ease, how might one attempt to do this with the concept of 'life' after death? No verification process exists. The unknown remains undiscovered. Pastors have this market cornered. In regards to the 'afterlife', the unknown remains the unknown. If many are wired to fear unknown endeavors, the pastor has to do very little to keep such a believer fearful of walking away from such faith based positions; intellect or no intellect.
****************************************************************
What would change my mind? In accordance with Holy Scripture (Matthew 7:7, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14, John 16:23), pray for my amputated toe to grow back. If it does, I'm back in with two feet for Christianity (no pun intended). I know this methodology appears juvenile. Please let me explain. Christians pray for God to heal others all the time. Christians claim their prayers are sometimes answered, in accordance with God's will. People might state I cannot ask for such a thing, as I'm reducing God to that of a slot machine. If this were true, then God would then NOT heal others, based upon petitionary prayer, ever... Furthermore, to my knowledge, God has never regrew someone's amputated limb (another very interesting observation). Furthermore, if God only answers prayer, according to his will, then prayer is again worthless. So unless someone can pray for my toe to grow back, and it then grows back, should I still continue to believe, despite the fact I cannot believe, based upon too many pieces of evidence not aligning with my known reality?
What would make you no longer believe in Christianity?
