Why do Christians get evasive, defensive or angry when faced with difficult questions

[talquin]

When words don't match with one's actions, credibility tends to decline.

Very good point. We see lots of religious folks who claim there is a glorious afterlife, but go to the greatest lengths possible to prolong their temporal life.

 

[talquin]

I have no idea what you are saying. Care to ask me a question?

How do you reconcile the problem of evil?

How do you reconcile the problem of free will?

 

[dysert]

The necessity of justifying your position seems to be the way all human interaction occurs.

You're probably right. I guess I should have emphasized "to the satisfaction of the questioner". I've seen way too many "conversations" disintegrate because no matter what someone says, the other person isn't satisfied. Philosophically speaking, why should someone have to justify their position to anyone?

 

[abysmul]

Very good point. We see lots of religious folks who claim there is a glorious afterlife, but go to the greatest lengths possible to prolong their temporal life.

"lots of religious folks" who have one common denominator: they are all human. They all have faults, flaws, sins, fears, doubts, etc. What's your point?

 

[talquin]

Because we are human, no different than you. We might react to provocations based on a variety of reasons. Sometimes those who antagonize Christians do it for the express reason of getting a rise and then focus on that to discredit them in some way.

What you are calling a provocation may actually be a harmless query. If I were as confident about something as Christians appear to be about their religious beliefs, I would be delighted to address any question or attack on my position.

 

[talquin]

For some believers, there is no polite way to question their beliefs. No matter how the question phrased, such a believer will take offence at it. It goes without saying that this is not true of all religious people.

Perhaps they take questioning as a threat to their beliefs? That the mere fact someone would question their beliefs suggests that they may be wrong.

 

[talquin]

To the OP, here is an example of what I was talking about earlier. There is no polite way to question Colter on his beliefs or to discuss them critically. You can be as civil and amiable in your questioning as you like, he will still take offence at it. As I said earlier, this isn't true of all believers though.

Colter already mentioned that he considers a question a "provocation". He apparently doesn't allow for his position to be questioned. That suggests he isn't secure about his position.

 

[talquin]

OK. I'll take the bait: What questions did you ask Christians that you feel were not answered to your satisfaction?

The two that come to mind are:

1) How do you reconcile the problem of evil?

2) How do you reconcile the problem of free will?

 

[talquin]

Because they're human, and you are the Devil?

What is a devil?

 

[talquin]

I've had enough interaction with you to know what you believe, it's not a matter of suspicion or misunderstanding. In my theology, Lucifer also lost faith in the unseen Father, he also then set out to undermine the faith of others....but he was civil about it.

What do you think Arch believes?

The story of Lucifer is most likely made up to help control the gullible by showing them it's wrong to question the beliefs of others.

 

[talquin]

Who created you?

Well, from what I know, I was the product of human procreation between my mother and father. Feel free to ask me more questions.

 

[South Bound]

The two that come to mind are:

1) How do you reconcile the problem of evil?

With what?

2) How do you reconcile the problem of free will?

What is the "problem of free will" and what am I supposed to reconcile it with?

 

[talquin]

"lots of religious folks" who have one common denominator: they are all human. They all have faults, flaws, sins, fears, doubts, etc. What's your point?

Thanks for asking. My point is the actions of most religious people suggest that they don't truly believe what they claim to believe. It makes it sound like wishful thinking.

 

[talquin]

With what?

How can you reconcile mass calamity with a god which is all-loving and all-powerful?

What is the "problem of free will" and what am I supposed to reconcile it with?

If God knows everything, then he'll know what you'll choose to do tomorrow. Then what if you choose to do something different from what God knows you'll do? What then happens to God's omniscience?

 

[abysmul]

Thanks for asking. My point is the actions of most religious people suggest that they don't truly believe what they claim to believe. It makes it sound like wishful thinking.

Maybe they do, maybe they don't. So do non-religious people get to dictate how religous people are supposed to act?

 

[Gottservant]

What is a devil?

a devil can be many things

for example, a devil may be someone who forecloses on the right of others to express their emotions, in order to make the point that they should be less emotional for no reason (in the eyes of the Lord)

this can be done with evil intent, with good (or with neutral)

the point is, when you play the devil with people that have not developed enough character to be able to deal with it, in many cases you will get frustrating results (simply because you have not employed enough Wisdom yourself)

 

[xpower]

Podcast on the problem of evil (reasonablefaith.org/problem-of-evil)

podcast on reasonable faith answers a lot of questions (reasonablefaith.org/reasonable-faith-podcast)


podcast on Christian doctrine (reasonablefaith.org/defenders-2-podcast)

 

[bhsmte]

Podcast on the problem of evil (reasonablefaith.org/problem-of-evil)

podcast on reasonable faith answers a lot of questions (reasonablefaith.org/reasonable-faith-podcast)


podcast on Christian doctrine (reasonablefaith.org/defenders-2-podcast)

I see you are a WLC fan.

 

[South Bound]

How can you reconcile mass calamity with a god which is all-loving and all-powerful?

Who says God is all loving?

If God knows everything, then he'll know what you'll choose to do tomorrow. Then what if you choose to do something different from what God knows you'll do? What then happens to God's omniscience?

If you were going to do something different, God would already know it.

God isn't like a puppy, where you pretend to throw a ball, but hold on to it and the puppy chases it and looks for it anyway.

God has ordained every move you make, to the day of your death.

I think the problem here isn't a contradiction between free will and omniscience, but a misunderstanding of free will on your part.

 

[xpower]

yep i i'm a William lane craig fan

Q & A with William lane craig (reasonablefaith.org/question-answer)

William lane craig Debates (reasonablefaith.org/debate-transcripts)