I'm a Christian, and I enjoy answering questions and reading others answers on this site. One thing that bothers me about a lot of the Christians' answers is that they often don't look to the root of the problem/question. Often the Christians who answer give what I call "church" answers. As a non-believer, are you more willing to accept an answer from a Christian if it uses common sense first then addresses the Christian aspect of the answer? Please no comments like, "Christians and common sense don't exist" or something along that line.
2006-10-20 14:24:55 · 17 answers · asked by shybusch 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's because they are spoon-fed their beliefs. When it comes down to it, religious arguments are based on emotional arguments. Religions play on human insecurities.
However, I've also met several Christians who do agree with me on most other issues. I've even met a few that realize that their religion is not to be taken literally. Though, as a whole, religion tends to discourage independent thought. They will argue rationally to a point, but then it's "The Bible says so" or "God says so" without any further justification.
Still, the more they use reason, the more encouraging it it.
2006-10-20 14:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First, I believe as a non denominational spiritual person, that we all are different and so we all believe in different ways. If I was to ask a question on Yahoo in this category, I would prepare myself for all sorts of answers from all different backgrounds, as many people are. Just because you don't think the answer is right, doesn't necisarily make it wrong, it's just not how you believe, and that is fine. I think that when a person asks a question, we have a little bit of what the answer might be, otherwise we wouldn't be asking the question, we obviously know a little about it. So, to have maybe 10 different answers from 10 different backgrounds of believing, I think you can pick and choose what you think is right. If it is something that would have to be researched, like a question about the bible, then there should be one answer I think. How you view the stories in the bible, might be slightly different also.
Basically, and honestly, I would believe an answer from a christian point of view if it made sense to me and my belief system. Even if they were some other religion, if it made sense to me and my belief system, I would take it into account.
2006-10-20 14:39:44 · answer #2 · answered by Sweetie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion without logic is possibly the most dangerous force on the planet. I respect your right to believe however you wish, but please use some common sense. I've noticed that too. It's very aggravating when you ask a serious question and get an answer like "JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!! SAVE YOURSELF!!!" or "ITS TRUE READ MARK 5:13 AND FIND OUT" Unfortunately people who can't answer seriously and use common sense will always exist and some you just can't teach common sense to. Yes, the board is full of controversial questions, we don't need anyone out here trying to convert us, this is a place for discussion, and if you have your mind made up that you're going to be right about everything before you even read the question you probably don't need to be here. Sorry, did I get carried away?
2006-10-20 14:36:31 · answer #3 · answered by Kaiser32 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's difficult not to stray into "Christians and common sense don't exist" answers when you yourself have distinguished between a common sense answer - and a Christian one.
As an atheist, what I find irritating is that many strongly religious people give answers as if the person they're talking to hasn't put as much thought into their views as the religious person has. Many athiests, most of the ones I know anyway, have put as much thought into their outlook on life and the universe as the religious have. It's just annoying to have people spout dogma at you as you just need to hear it once to agree, when you've already considered it for yourself.
I have no problem with people giving answers based on a Christian, or Muslim, or anything else, point of view. But when those people mix personal opinion and absolute truth (eg "My Catholic viewpoint is that homosexuality is ethically wrong" vs. "Gays are evil"), for someone who doesn't have the same belief system, it just stops being an answer.
2006-10-20 14:35:24 · answer #4 · answered by dm_cork 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I definitely get more out of an answer from a Christian if they answer from their own mind instead of only quoting Scripture. This also applies to Muslims quoting the Quran. I would rather hear what is in the person's own mind. It is not that I don't respect what is in their scriptures. It's just that those scriptures are not a common ground between me and them. Therefore, it is really a one-sided conversation if they just start quoting something.
I'm a Hindu, and it would be really useless for me to just start quoting Hindu scriptures all the time to people who do not believe there is any truth or authority in those Hindu Scriptures. But reason is something we can all share. That is a common ground. So I prefer to hear from the person themselves.
2006-10-20 14:30:48 · answer #5 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It gives me great hope when I see Christians give thoughtful answers. I care less about getting Christians to share my beliefs than I do about getting them to be more open minded and more willing to see the harm that comes from blindly following dogma.
One of my best friends is an open minded Christian that I think represents the best aspects of Christianity. I've had many enjoyable conversations with him. We disagree, but where we disagree there is an interesting exchange of ideas. He's quite familiar with the Bible but never tries to answer a question by just quoting a verse. In fact, he rarely quotes, but instead answers in his own words what he thinks the Bible claims.
He is open minded enough that even through he voted for George W. Bush in 2000, by 2004 he had already concluded that Bush was bad for this country.
2006-10-20 14:59:39 · answer #6 · answered by Jim L 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I prefer no "church answers" unless I'm asking something related to Christianity. It's really sort of irritating that someone can't even ask about ouija boards or tarot cards without getting an advertisement for Christianity. So, unless I'm asking about Christianity, I don't really need "church answers". But common sense answers, minus scriptures and such are the best and I'm most likely to listen to that.
2006-10-20 14:32:51 · answer #7 · answered by i luv teh fishes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Often, the offending Christian doesn't even answer the question, just takes a chance to proselytize. I'd much prefer if they just answered the question logically. Then if the question pertains to some aspect of their beliefs, they can say how, but respectfully.
2006-10-20 14:32:44 · answer #8 · answered by Conniebug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I enjoy a good debate, with someone who is working from a position of reason and thought rather than reciting what they have memorized or been told until they think it's true.
Doesn't matter if the topic is religion, politics, or somebody's views on baseball, if they are actually thinking and can explain their point of view to me rationally, I'll listen. Most Bible thumpers don't fall into that catagory, they just get louder and angrier because you challenge their statements.
2006-10-20 14:29:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A good answer is one which answers the question whether it is answered by a Christian or non-believer. I am not interested in answers that don't address the issue and I think that applies to whoever is answering.
2006-10-20 14:38:20 · answer #10 · answered by Carolyn M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋