Atheists: Is it futile for us to ask about logic/thought about religion when it is based on it's antithesis?

Question

I see many of us keep asking questions a normal and rational human being would evaluate on a topic, but isn't this just futile when the whole premise of religion is to have faith i.e. believe without or even against evidence?

Sorry for the poor word choice and grammatics. It is a friday night and I had fun a.k.a my mind is not completely here.

Answer 1

Yes I agree with you. Unfortunately for most adults the mind virus has taken over and it's too late for them. But educating the children is the key.

Answer 2

First I believe you need to understand that what they believe is based on faith, so to ask a Christian to leave that out is hard to do. I believe that Christians should be able to evaluate a topic, look at the evidence, and engage in intelligent discussion. To many Christians are defensive and respond with attacks.(which does not help our cause at all) Also you are more likely to meet Christians on this site that are here to converse with other Christians, but do not have a educational background,or are prepared for a debate, than the Atheists that are here. Simply put Atheists that are on this site came here wanting to discuss or debate with Christians and are more likely to be prepared.
Uneducated Atheists (yes there a lot of them too) are not likely to be on a religion and spirituality site.

Answer 3

There is something in what you say, but it's an assumption and a generalization too far.

"Religion" is nothing like monolithic, and to say "... the whole premise of religion is to have faith " is to set up a man of straw argument. There are religious believers to whom that applies, but then there are scientists who do the same in their field.
(Those whom Charles Fort accused of "damning" data unconsidered, because it did not fit their *scientific* preconceptions)

If you wish to engage with any alien mind set, rather than just chuck rocks from an allegedly superior position, it is necessary to learn and understand the hermeneutical approach, the philosophical framework, that applies as well as merely the resulting conclusions and values.

If you only think there is one approach to "truth" you have a way to go. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto's "Truth: A History and a Guide for the Perplexed" might be a place to start.

And yes, I am an atheist.

Answer 4

You are right! If our questions are meant to elicit intelligent/rational answers, then we are just wasting time. I don't know much about other religions, so I am more asking about Christianity. I've resorted to asking questions that help me understand their own rational based on their faith on biblical verses, without sounding more against the religion. In that way, some Christians give good answers - which I do not necessarily agree with. But, many are just ranting. They become highly defensive and that makes it difficult to make sense of their faith!

Answer 5

No, it's not futile. There was a time when I fired off snappy religious comebacks, without even thinking about it, but there was that one time too many when I sat back and thought, "You know...that just doesn't make sense. Do I really believe what I just wrote?" To me, that makes it worthwhile, because if someone hadn't gone to the trouble of asking that question, I never would have begun to question my beliefs, and I would not be an atheist now.

Answer 6

It's pointless to try to convert (or deconvert) people who do not want to convert. I doubt there is a theist on this site who has not heard all of your arguments.