To "Athiests" and such: What gives?

Question

I've answered more than one "theological" question from people that I thought were sincerely searching for theological answers. But it turns out that many of them are only firing what they think is a "silver bullet" argument to Christianity. Then, without even remotely considering the acumen of the answers which deal with the issue in a consistent theological way, they choose the answer from the faceless guy who essentially farts out a brainless answer like: "That's a stupid question because God doesn't exist " or "Wake up, dummies. God doesn't exist" (a spellbinding argument, by the way). If you ask a theological question for the sake of showing us our inconsistencies, don't retreat back into "Well, I'm just an athiest so the question is stupid anyway." Don't stick your head into the realm of Theology and then pull it out when someone responds.
Frankly I consider more one line answers...proving my point yet again, but lets see what we get, shall we?

Perhaps the most amusing response so far comes from you folks who say that I didn't ask a question. I guess you missed the first line "...What gives?" I'm asking you to explain yourself (most everyone else clearly understood that). American Heritage Dictionary dictionary under the definition "give" under the intransative heading #4 says that it can be used this way (slang) to discuss an occurance/happening. Also amusing is the response from the one who told me put it up to a vote if I could handle the "truth". Since when was truth determined by popular vote? (And what about the Florida incident?)
My "question" is why do many insist on proving the Bible inconsistent and when they get a solid Biblical answer, they say that the best answer to the question is that God doesn't exist. So far, the ones who have taken a stab at really answering have impressed me.

Answer 1

Usually, when a Christian is asked any question about their theology, they choose an answer that their pastors have told them, an answer that skirts around the issue instead of addressing it. Or they brush it off with, "Just read the Bible, God will reveal the truth," or "You're taking the verse out of context!" or "You can't understand spiritual things because you don't believe in God." This is especially true when they are challenged to address a contradiction, such as the four different ways that King Saul died, or the many different ways to be saved. You can rarely get an honest answer from a Christian. They will almost never say, "Yes, I see the contradiction/ problem/ error and I don't know what the answer is." Some answers are so filled with misspellings and chatspeak that I don't even read them; if the Holy Spirit can't teach them how to write intelligently, why should I believe that it is telling them the correct answers to a problem? (If English is not their primary language, they are forgiven. Otherwise, not.)

Still, I will take into consideration your advice and perhaps choose Christian answers IF they are well-written and look as if some logical thought was put into them.

Answer 2

I think I see what your saying and I agree with you. With religion, answers are often just opinion and many people unfortunately choose what they agree with. I try not to do this. I have picked religious answers I disagree with 100% but have chosen it because it was an honest answer that was given some thought. I often ignore answers that are quotes form the Bible that were simple copied and pasted from other websites. I don't consider that to be an answer, if I wanted to read the Bible or any other "holy book" I wouldn't be on the internet. Some people are just rude or just pick an answer because they agree with it. I think it goes both ways though, I have seen Christians and members of other religions ask questions to atheists and they pick the simplest answer because they agree with the person. It's like they weren't actually looking for an answer when they thought up the question. Sorry, I'm not sure if this answers your question or not.

Answer 3

If by acumen you mean pasting long quotes here from bibles, then I can see why some ppl become frustrated with you theists.

Many of us atheists try to ask questions that ask you folks to explain your REASONING.
So it is non-responsive and circular reasoning to answer a question like this, for example: ASKED "How do you know that you use the correct bible? Xain answer: "Because verse so and so say so."

See? That answer is SO VERY CHILDISH and fallacious. I once asked for extrabiblical evidence for evidence for existence of jesus. Of the many theistic answers this one exemplifies the false reasoning we atheists encounter with you theists.

Someone replied"there is as much evidence for jesus as there is for shakespear." WOW! Once again a silly, false analogy. What else can it be called except IGNORANT. Really! to compare an Elizabethan writer with sopme guy claiming to be the son of god. DUMB!

It like you guys have no idea what a fallacious argument is at all.
GROWUP!

Answer 4

people answer questions the way they know how. if someone only knows atheism, or christianity, they're gonna answer that way. most of the time they just assert that that this is what they believe, or don't, and it's the right way to think.

believe it or not, there are some people that know a lot about other religions and do try to answer these questions while incorporating the theological ideas of various religions.

it's just the idiots that stick out more than others.

Answer 5

Nothing gives, you will always believe in fairy tales and I will always believe in logic. You think your superior, I think your confused. You think its your place to convert people, I'm happy to simply accept that some people will never see sense. I could go on all day, but the fact remains, nothing I or anyone else ever tells you in the form of a 'Silver Bullet', will ever open your eyes to reality. So keep your beliefs to yourself for all our sakes and we will keep on living in the real world. A word of advice, leave this question to a vote if you want a democratic response...If you can handle the truth.

Answer 6

I realize some Atheists do this, I do not. If I ask a question it is because I want an honest and educated answer. Just because I don't believe in something doesn't mean I am uneducated or uninterested in it. Quite the opposite. I find religion fascinating. Especially ancient Greek religions.

Answer 7

To us your points are silly too. We often see you as lost and confused, unable to handle reality without the crutch of your mythology. Many happen to view Christianity as absolute rubbish, and that anyone who believes it is close-minded to the truth. Long thought out answers, to your types turn out to be wasted effort. You choose to be blind, why should we put forth effort to lighten a path you refuse to see?

When anyone points out a contradiction in your bible, your defense is that "we" misunderstood. The answer that comes back to us is equally as brainless an answer that you purport many atheists make. Christians always have some convoluted explanation of the bible that suits their point, and never answer directly to the questions.

The bible is all fictional mythology, that's all. It's hard for many people to take you seriously for defending Santa Clause. Sorry but that's the truth as I see it.

Answer 8

I hate to only give you a "one liner", but in your entire speech you never really asked a question. That's too bad because I really wanted to see where you were going with that. Next time ask a question and post this as a blog or something else. Yay this didn't turn out to be one line after all.

Answer 9

When you are speaking of faith, folks that believe one thing or another tend to be EXTREMELY close-minded about other possibilities. For example, you are convinced that the version and story of God that you yourself happen to believe in is the 'right' one - this is glaringly obvious from the tone and content of your post. You have no data other than your faith that 'your' opinion is valid, and the thousands of other religions and belief systems through history all got it wrong. If faith in your particular sect's teachings lifts your spirits and morale, great! However, assuming that yours is 'the right one' and spouting your beliefs to those that don't share them, then getting upset is .. well, as ignorant and arrogant as anything else you mention in your post. "Intelligent Design" is a theory with faith to back it up. Evolution is also a theory, with science to back it up. I myself happen to trust science more than 'feeling.' I respect that you don't share this same belief, and you should respect that others don't share yours.

Answer 10

I think Atheists do exactly what they scream and holler at Christians for doing. Christians feel the need to tell Athiests of the hardships of living without Jesus and Athists feel the need to tell Christians they're stupid. I have seen more non-Christians arguing for people to see THEIR point than I have Christians trying to save others.