Is there anything a believer (of any religion) could say to an atheist to convince them that god(dess) exists?
Is there anything an atheist could say to a believer (of any religion) to convince them that god(dess) does not exist?
2006-06-13 07:40:13 · 9 answers · asked by sparky52881 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yeah, there is something but the question is will the other person really listen when you say it?
2006-06-13 07:43:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As belief in a religion(or true belief in a lack of religion) is based on the idea of faith which can be defined as: "Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.", it would not be possible to say any one thing that could convince a person either way. Because no factual or logical argument applies to religious belief in regards to faith, no argument available via empirical evidence or logic can convince a true believer.
For example: Why does god allow bad things to happen? The lord works in mysterious ways. Here mysterious refers to people being incapable of understanding the reason, hence faith is the only method by which it can be understood.
The flip side: God does not exist. How do you know? Any answer about there being no evidence and/or observable phenomenon can be countered with anything people used to "know" such as the sun revolving around the Earth. That was "known" in accordance with available observation methods and later reinforced via religious dogma. As more sophisticated observation methods became available, the fact changed. So, perhaps one day, we will be able to observe God is some way.
The article of faith negates the ability to convince people one way or another. Belief (either way) can only occur individually.
2006-06-13 14:58:58 · answer #2 · answered by Ross S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately christianity and athiesm are two sides of the same coin
the unending argument between the faithful and the faithless.if this were 500 years ago, christians would be waging a holy war, preaching "convert or die"
but i digress...
the "holes" in religion are there to trip up the non-faithful.
i grew up in a religious family, my uncle kept cramming it down my throat. most of it was laced with opinion and judgement. so i strayed, mostly due to analyzing these holes.
then in my 30's i finally understood why these "holes" are there! the gaps are meant to be filled in by faith. how can you love and worship a god you don't trust? Ah Ha!!!
until athiests learn to trust what they cannot see, hear, feel, and taste... there can be no bridge in the gap between us
especially since gaps are to be filled by faith
and in the reverse, there are too many christians that have so much faith that they have very little in the way of self reliance.. they look to god for everything, and god doesn't do everything for everybody all the time. earthly based decisions are our job... spiritual decisions are a co-operative effort between us and god. athiests also get peeved at the constant preaching. the christians feel it to be their duty to spread the word, but even i agree that it needs to wait for the time that a person is receptive to the message. there is too much of a good thing.
i don't think we'd have such a problem with each other if christians would stop being so zealous (it's nice to be entheusiastic about faith, but fanaticism is too far)
and if athiests would stop being so synical and skeptical about other people's faith.
please stop criticizing and let people have their "illusions" if it helps them feel better about living in such a crappy world. whatever those "illusions" may be, they're a light in the darkness and they're comforting.
we'll all find out the truth when we die.
2006-06-13 15:13:21 · answer #3 · answered by ladrhiana 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can everything you see, have a precise mathematical purpose if God does not exist. If you look at creation and do not see the glory of God then what can I every say to convince you?
2006-06-13 14:47:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a person is truly seeking to know God, then it is only God who does the convincing. Rather God reveals himself and it is up to man to choose to accept him or reject him. There are only two types of people in this world ...the lost (without Jesus) and the saved (with Jesus).
2006-06-13 14:46:28 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Di-USA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...only if either side has an open mind. I grew up in a very religious household, but found too many "holes" in religion. Therefore, I decided that it was not for me.
2006-06-13 14:46:03 · answer #6 · answered by bc_munkee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though we may say the words God is the one that uses what we say to speak to the hearts of men.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/SimpleSalvation.html
2006-06-13 14:45:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it matter? Vive la difference!
2006-06-13 14:43:07 · answer #8 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what do u mean
2006-06-13 14:46:59 · answer #9 · answered by basketball_babygirl_82 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋