Can you understand how an argument like this won't work for those who don't believe in the Bible?

Question

"For The Jim Darwin?
Jesus said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Any other questions? :d"

Can we all comment on how this argument is ineffectual?

Example: It's kinda like saying, "Well my Dad says..." It's just not gonna get through to someone who thinks your Dad is, well, wrong.

I think this is a very good example argument to work with to help Christians, who I see make similar arguments all the time, better construct their statements supporting a believe in God. More suggestions?

Answer 1

It certainly wouldn't work if someone not only thinks your dad is wrong, but doesn't even believe you have a dad because that person has never seen him.

I agree with you. You can not use something that people don't believe as your proof that that very thing is right.

Answer 2

I agree. Many questions here work on the assumption that everyone believes in God, Heaven, and Hell. I am an atheist. I believe that Jesus existed and I'm sure a lot of the Bible is based in fact. Since I am an atheist however, I do not believe in God, and I cannot sin. Since I cannot sin I'm pretty convinced the only thing that will happen to me after I die is my body will decay. I do believe there is a spiritual side to life. I have just not alligned myself with any particular belief.

Answer 3

It is, in effect, circular. If you question whether or not any given quote from the Bible is accurate or true, the answer is yes, it is in the Bible. For a really frustrating time, try getting a Christian to explain to you why the Bible is accurate. It all boils down to "the Bible is the word of God because the Bible says it is the word of God." And they really can't see why that is foolish and wrong.

I don't think anything can be done to help them. Their brains are, in effect, stuck in an infinite loop. Unless you can hit control-C on them, or reboot them, I just don't know of a solution.

Answer 4

That's one of the difficulties in discussing religion. If I quote a text that I think is sacred, and you don't trust it, then it becomes of no value in trying to talk to you through the text. It seems that almost every sect and creed has a different set of religious texts and /or interprets the best way to use these texts differently.
That's why, in the end, most religious debates really don't go very far. If I argue using my beliefs, and you argue using your beliefs, and the two don't coincide, we're really arguing past each other. An open communication is thwarted when we don't try to work with each others' beliefs to create understanding.

Answer 5

Yep, the argument actually works against whoever said it because it proves that Jesus was wrong.

Answer 6

Here's a sampling from a whole bunch of additional proofs of God's existence that you can use instead (over 300):

TRANSCENDENTAL ARGUMENT, aka PRESUPPOSITIONALIST (I)
(1) If reason exists then God exists.
(2) Reason exists.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
(1) If I say something must have a cause, it has a cause.
(2) I say the universe must have a cause.
(3) Therefore, the universe has a cause.
(4) Therefore, God exists.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (I)
(1) I define God to be X.
(2) Since I can conceive of X, X must exist.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (II)
(1) I can conceive of a perfect God.
(2) One of the qualities of perfection is existence.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

MODAL ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
(1) God is either necessary or unnecessary.
(2) God is not unnecessary, therefore God must be necessary.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (I)
(1) Check out the world/universe/giraffe. Isn't it complex?
(2) Only God could have made them so complex.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BEAUTY, aka TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (II)
(1) Isn't that baby/sunset/flower/tree beautiful?
(2) Only God could have made them so beautiful.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM MIRACLES
(1) My aunt had cancer.
(2) The doctors gave her all these horrible treatments.
(3) My aunt prayed to God and now she doesn't have cancer.
(4) Therefore, God exists.

MORAL ARGUMENT (I)
(1) Person X, a well-known Atheist, was morally inferior to the rest of us.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

MORAL ARGUMENT (II)
(1) In my younger days I was a cursing, drinking, smoking, gambling, child-molesting, thieving, murdering, bed-wetting bastard.
(2) That all changed once I became religious.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM CREATION, aka ARGUMENT FROM PERSONAL INCREDULITY (I)
(1) If evolution is false, then creationism is true, and therefore God exists.
(2) Evolution can't be true, since I lack the mental capacity to understand it; moreover, to accept its truth would cause me to be uncomfortable.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM FEAR
(1) If there is no God then we're all going to die.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM THE BIBLE
(1) [arbitrary passage from OT]
(2) [arbitrary passage from NT]
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM INTELLIGENCE
(1) Look, there's really no point in me trying to explain the whole thing to you stupid Atheists — it's too complicated for you to understand. God exists whether you like it or not.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM UNINTELLIGENCE
(1) Okay, I don't pretend to be as intelligent as you guys — you're obviously very well read. But I read the Bible, and nothing you say can convince me that God does not exist. I feel him in my heart, and you can feel him too, if you'll just ask him into your life. "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son into the world, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish from the earth." John 3:16.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BELIEF
(1) If God exists, then I should believe in Him.
(2) I believe in God.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM INTIMIDATION
(1) See this bonfire?
(2) Therefore, God exists.

PARENTAL ARGUMENT
(1) My mommy and daddy told me that God exists.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM NUMBERS
(1) Millions and millions of people believe in God.
(2) They can't all be wrong, can they?
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM ABSURDITY
(1) Maranathra!
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM ECONOMY
(1) God exists, you bastards!
(2) Therefore, God exists.

BOATWRIGHT'S ARGUMENT
(1) Ha ha ha.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

DORE'S ARGUMENT
(1) I forgot to take my meds.
(2) Therefore, I AM CHRIST!!
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM GUITAR MASTERY
(1) Eric Clapton is God.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM INTERNET AUTHORITY
(1) There is a website that successfully argues for the existence of God.
(2) Here is the URL.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM INCOMPREHENSIBILITY
(1) Flabble glurk zoom boink blubba snurgleschnortz ping!
(2) No one has ever refuted (1).
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM AMERICAN EVANGELISM
(1) Telling people that God exists makes me filthy rich.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

MITCHELL'S ARGUMENT
(1) The Christian God exists.
(2) Therefore, all worldviews which don't assume the Christian God's existence are false and incomprehensible.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BLINDNESS (I)
(1) Atheists are spiritually blind.
(2) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BLINDNESS (II)
(1) God is love.
(2) Love is blind.
(3) Stevie Wonder is blind.
(4) Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.
(5) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM FALLIBILITY
(1) Human reasoning is inherently flawed.
(2) Therefore, there is no reasonable way to challenge a proposition.
(3) I propose that God exists.
(4) Therefore, God exists.

http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/GodProof.htm

Answer 7

That is my new favorite verse.

Answer 8

"Cast ye not your pearls before swine".