Atheist and Christians: Both sides think the other is nuts?

Question

I just wanted to point out the fact that both sides of the arguments sound absolutely ridiculous to the other. As a Christian, I generally spot every flaw in atheist logic as many atheist will immediately claim flaws in mine. So what is the real root of misunderstanding? Why can't we communicate effectively enough to even cause the other side to question? Does the decision we make for or away from Christ so drastically change our worldview that we can't see things on the same plane anymore?

Please do not answer this with "I spent hours or even years of study to come to beleive what I beleive." I think it's completely a mute point. I've spent years studying other religions and science as well and I arrived at a different conclusion. Please do not insult the work I've done by explaining differences as mere ignorance.

Answer 1

You reject the use of evidence and reason to form beliefs, and I reject forming beliefs without evidence or reason. You believe because others tell you to believe, I form my beliefs using my own judgement.

Your beliefs are an accident of geography. Mine are not. Tell me that if you had been born in Mecca you would have the same religion that you do now.

You believe in talking donkeys, talking snakes, 900 year old men, Zombies crawling out of their graves, Virgins giving birth to baby super heroes, people living in giant fishes. For some reason I don't understand, you cannot see just how ridiculous your beliefs sound. To equate those beliefs with ones based on scientific study and years of experiments and repeated tests does sound completely ridiculous.

Answer 2

I am sorry, but there simply is NO other explanation than explaining your differences as mere ignorance....

I do not care HOW much time you spent, you obviously did not look at the right sources. I have said it before and here it is again:

There is no other civilized country in the world where the intelligent design pseudo science even has a voice. You will not find ONE intelligent design scientist who EVER won ANY internationally recoginzed science award. A doctrine that does not accept the possibility of change (and since it has all been said in the bible there can be no change) based on new findings cannot be considered a science.

You base your arguments against science on the many errors that you find and the many holes you can poke in the theories, but guess what - science does not need you for that - that is something they do THEMSELVES in their continued quest to correct mistakes that were made in the past and form an ever more complete model of what we see (and don't see)... all you guys do is try to explain away findings that do not match with your dogma.......

Why don't you take a look at the science and research arm of the Catholic Church, the head of their planetarium is an American, a man of god and an outstanding scientist. He would not even dream of trying to argue the fact that the universe is about 10000 or so years old.....what is wrong with accepting the bible as a book of metaphors that are there to teach you a principle? Wasn't Jesus himself the master of the metaphor?

Really, nobody wants to take your god away- just get off the bible needs to be taken literally thingy and we will be OK - I have NO beef with somebody that says the bigbang was initiated by a higher force .... but why belittle you omnisicient, almighty, infallible god by then making him micro manage the whole deal and even have to go back to eradicate his entire creation, because he did not like it......and start from scratch.... doesn't the big bang theory that was all initiated from the blink of an eye of god make for such a much more powerful, truly almighty god?

Answer 3

The root of the misunderstanding is that the atheist's world view and the Christian worldview are fundamentally different, particularly in terms of epistemology.

Atheists (generally speaking) presume that all that is knowable is the natural world. This is because allegedly atheist have never observed anything that is supernatural, so they reject the supernatural as unknowable. So when anyone makes a claim about God, they automatically reject it because thier worldview cannot accept such claims.

The Christian worldview does not reject the supernatural world. There are a variety of position on how one understands the natural world and the supernatural world, but Christians think that one can at least have knowledge about the supernatural. This done through general and specific revelation and inductive reasoning with ontological and teleological inferences.

These two worldviews obviously but heads, so what the really isn't about whether or not God exists or is knowable, but rather an debate over epistemology -- The way one gathers knowledge.

Answer 4

This is an interesting question. I am one of those difficult people that are so hard to convince. The problem is, the only evidence presented by our Christian friends is The Bible, and faith. Faith alone presents no evidence what so ever. Small children have faith in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy; this does not make them real. Millions of other people have faith in tens of thousands of other religions and sects. Faith, obviously can not make all of them right. To simply tell someone that does not believe as you do, I have faith, is not a logical argument and totally unconvincing. This leaves you with the Bible. If you choose to believe that the stories as they are written are the inerrant word of God, then you have either never read them with an open rational mind, have an axe to grind, or are making money from selling your belief, or, you have closed your mind to the point of absurdity. If you are of the persuasion that the words of The Bible are allegorical, then they are open to anyone’s interpretation, and we see that on a daily basis. Where does that leave one? You have no choice but to look elsewhere for truth. Doing this, may lead one to wonder about creation, to consider the possibility of a prime mover, to be in awe of the universe itself. Unfortunately looking elsewhere does not lead one to the God of the Bible. There is just too much evidence against the Bible, and no undisputed evidence for it.

I think the main difference between the two groups you mention is, most of the unbelievers I know have an open mind, I am convinced, if you presented real proof of your position they would consider it. Can you say the same for the other side?

Answer 5

As an Atheist I think that some on both sides are nuts. You are going to get that no matter what. You state that you SPOT every flaw in Atheist logic. But then you say that many Atheists will CLAIM flaws in yours. So, you are right and I am wrong? No.

What would the same plane be in your opinion? You have not come up with a viable solution.

Answer 6

I think both sides of the argument, being so diverse in their belief systems, are inherently in the position where a "meeting of the minds" is impossible. And, often, it can be dangerous. Example?

I'll use a secular example so that I will not receive an inflammatory response.

Jung was once Freud's student. Over time, Jung ventured out on his own and came up with psychiatric positions that were in opposition to Freud's. This created a major rift in their relationship. They argued constantly until they decided for their own sakes to end their relationship. How that happened is fascinating in and of itself.

Jung was at Freud's home and they got into a heated argument. Suddenly they heard a frightening noise come from the kitchen. They immediately stopped arguing and went into the kitchen to investigate. What they found would be scary to anyone let alone a religious or spiritual person.

A kitchen drawer was open. The knife drawer. A very sharp knife was implanted into the wall across from the drawer. No one else was in the house. Just Jung and Freud. It seems, whether you believe this or not, that their negative energy was so strong, it created the telekinetic energy needed to open the drawer, have a knife fly out of it and end up sticking into the opposite wall.

They decided, after this incident, never to see each other again.

In my humble opinion, Christians and Atheists are similar to Freud and Jung.

Answer 7

Atheists point their blame on the bible and history but don't realize that book knowledge is not what causes people to believe nor what others have taught in between four walls but a spiritual experience and a relationship. The Pharisees and Scribes had all the head knowledge but no relationship or communication with God. The other thing that they point the blame at is prayer. If you doubt God in the beginning how could you expect him to grant ur request? This is a battle of spiritual fitness and the atheists sold out and cop out because they are weak and are quitters! I don't believe there will ever be a common ground because of sin. Blind eyes MUST submissively open if willing.
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Answer 8

That's "moot" point, kiddo. And alright, alright, you've dedicated your life to looking for answers and you found yours. Congratulations. If you think it's a "moot" point, why bring it up for yourself as a justification for your point of view when no one else can? You say "don't bring this up" and in the very next breath you BRING IT UP. Why? Why is it allowed for you? You want both sides to be fair and then you AREN'T... what's the point of contemplating the possibility that we might "all just get along" when you aren't playing by the rules?

Answer 9

Ignorance is the only explanation, unfortunately. Perhaps you studied Dr. Dino's "science". I don't know. But the bible is clearly false in every sense of the word. If you don't know this, then you've missed some facts somewhere.

It really is that simple.

Answer 10

the atheist are try to keep the human race human by telling them the truth that the is no god and no after life the christians are trying to brainwash a planet with a fairy story and turn the planet into mindles drones and changing history to suit them selfes and coming out with bigated laws