Why are there so many atheists on a Christian site?

HammerOfThor · May 13, 2015

It goes like this:

"Have you ever told a lie?"
Yes
"Have you ever stolen something?"
Probably a pencil in elementary school
"So you're a liar and a thief and the bible says that will send you to hell if you don't believe"
Ok, but you haven't shown that the bible is true.

Eudaimonist · May 14, 2015

Colter said:
Atheist belief in a Godless universe seems to be a rationalization for their fear of faith.

I no more fear faith than I fear tea leaf readings.

I regard both as epistemologically empty. I don't see them as trustworthy tools for knowledge.

One does not fear a bad pair of glasses. One exchanges them for a better pair. I have exchanged the vision-blurring faith glasses for vision-sharpening reason glasses.

eudaimonia,

Mark

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

Songsmith said:
I mean, not that I want them gone, but it just seems strange to me that so many atheists would choose to spend their time and eergy on a site that is antithetical to their worldview. The interesting thing to me is that they don't seem to be here to proselytize, which would make sense to me. I assume that they, or many of them anyway, feela sense of community here if they've been here for a while. So, if not to show the poor theist the freedom of atheism, what is the draw?

Probably because there is so much energy where there is opposing forces and that motivates both forces. The arena welcomes them and encourages them to lay out their differences, which is the opposite too if a Christian goes to an atheist arena.

Cearbhall · May 14, 2015

MissVeronica said:
Have you ever told a lie?

I've never personally been on the end of this tactic, but I've read the script on this website before. It's definitely not one of the more effective witnessing strategies.

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

talquin said:
I'm not a gnostic atheist when it comes to Thor. With respect to Thor, I'm an agnostic atheist.

My understanding of the Christian God is that he/she/it loves everyone, can do anything and knows everything. Those three attributes are logically incompatible (see the problem of evil) and thus would make me a gnostic atheist with respect to the Christian God or any other god which possesses those three qualities.

I see these qualities as compatible. Because I understand my views well and better than I understand yours, I believe there must be a flaw in your logic.

KCfromNC · May 14, 2015

oi_antz said:
I see these qualities as compatible. Because I understand my views well and better than I understand yours, I believe there must be a flaw in your logic.

If you don't understand why he came to that view why the jump to the conclusion that they are wrong? Seems premature to me.

bhsmte · May 14, 2015

oi_antz said:
I see these qualities as compatible. Because I understand my views well and better than I understand yours, I believe there must be a flaw in your logic.

Then why don't you ask him to explain his views more, so you can understand it?

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

KCfromNC said:
If you don't understand why he came to that view why the jump to the conclusion that they are wrong? Seems premature to me.

I explained that. I have been getting angry easily last few days with this recurring problem people asking me to repeat myself when what I said was very clear.

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

bhsmte said:
Then why don't you ask him to explain his views more, so you can understand it?

Good idea. He did mention the problem of evil doctrine, I suppose when he gets to it, he might provide me a definition of that and I can evaluate it. I did expect BTW that it would have happened. Already the energy has moved two others to act toward it. Thank you

GrimKingGrim · May 14, 2015

Ana the Ist said:
There's a routine that begins by asking if you've ever told a lie?

Yes, and man it's insulting ...

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

GrimKingGrim said:
Yes, and man it's insulting ...

Why do you find it insulting? I tend to find it cute. I do not ever feel insulted by it. I think insult requires someone's deliberate abuse, but it is not an abusive tactic IMO.

GrimKingGrim · May 14, 2015

oi_antz said:
Why do you find it insulting? I tend to find it cute. I do not ever feel insulted by it. I think insult requires someone's deliberate abuse, but it is not an abusive tactic IMO.

He's trying to make humans seem evil and deserving of hell for such small trivial "crimes" done mostly in childhood (like petty stealing) and "lying"

He thinks we're so simplistic that these small things define our character. I'd punch the mustache off of him if he tried that type of rhetoric with me, the nerve of him...

That is an insult

Colter · May 14, 2015

Eudaimonist said:
I no more fear faith than I fear tea leaf readings.

I regard both as epistemologically empty. I don't see them as trustworthy tools for knowledge.

One does not fear a bad pair of glasses. One exchanges them for a better pair. I have exchanged the vision-blurring faith glasses for vision-sharpening reason glasses.

eudaimonia,

Mark

I use both reason and faith, to exclude one for the other is to view the universe in distortion.

oi_antz · May 14, 2015

GrimKingGrim said:
He's trying to make humans seem evil and deserving of hell for such small trivial "crimes" done mostly in childhood (like petty stealing) and "lying"

He thinks we're so simplistic that these small things define our character. I'd punch the mustache off of him if he tried that type of rhetoric with me, the nerve of him...

That is an insult

Your character at any time is self evident, btw. However, it is not necessarily an indication of your character in best and worst situations.

But anyone who describes hell in an unfair way is conveying an insult. I would rather not single out a tactic as the insult. Rather, I see this tactic is cute.

I personally am horrified you would like to be so violent because someone is convinced it is good sense. I do not desire that behavior in my world. You should really rise above it because you can. Luke 12:48.

bhsmte · May 14, 2015

oi_antz said:
Why do you find it insulting? I tend to find it cute. I do not ever feel insulted by it. I think insult requires someone's deliberate abuse, but it is not an abusive tactic IMO.

I would call the tactic; simplistic, naïve and self serving.

HitchSlap · May 14, 2015

oi_antz said:
Good idea. He did mention the problem of evil doctrine, I suppose when he gets to it, he might provide me a definition of that and I can evaluate it. I did expect BTW that it would have happened. Already the energy has moved two others to act toward it. Thank you

If you're referring to me, yes, theodicy was the primary reason I left the faith.

HitchSlap · May 14, 2015

BTW, if telling a lie makes one a liar, what does telling the truth, make one?

Red Fox · May 14, 2015

Archaeopteryx said:
Yes, it's Ray Comfort's routine.

Ray Comfort's evangelical methods are foolish attempts to convert people, IMO.

Cearbhall · May 14, 2015

HitchSlap said:
BTW, if telling a lie makes one a liar, what does telling the truth, make one?

bhsmte · May 14, 2015

Red Fox said:
Ray Comfort's evangelical methods are foolish attempts to convert people, IMO.

Not as foolish as the people who actually believe him.

Why are there so many atheists on a Christian site?

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