Atheists: Have you ever had a conversation with a pastor, priest, or an expert theologian?

Question

With regards to Christianity in particular, it appears as though alot of people on this site do not even understand the basic principles and interpretations of the religion that they are attempting to discredit.

This is very frustrating for me because I cannot trust many of you to give me spiritual guidance any more than I can trust a Fundy Theist who discredits evolution without even studying its basic principles.

Have you ever had such a conversation with an accredited religion expert? If so, were you a passive questioner or on the attack? What came of it?

kclightman,

What was your answer!

Answer 1

Sure. I was a Christian for many decades. I was raised a Methodist and had many conversations with ministers from various Protestant denominations. I also went to a Catholic high school and had countless conversations with priests from different orders. As an adult I studied the Old Testament with a Rabbi. I am now studying textural criticism on my own. I never have been on attack at all. I merely asked about their beliefs and what prompted them to hold those beliefs. While I did not find any logical reasoning or proof of their beliefs, I did not attack them or their religion. To each his/her own.

Answer 2

I have had a conversation with a pastor, a priest, however I don't think there can be an expert at imaginary friends, too many people have very different opinions and concepts about the same deity that anyone could claim to be an expert, yet have a very different opinion as another person claiming to be an expert. The only answers to the really important questions was god works in mysterious ways. Which is kind of like saying "I have no idea why, but I won't allow any other possibility into my head"

Answer 3

I had many conversations with these "experts". Many of them, including my ex's pastor sad they were amazed/ sad because it was obvious I had studied, researched, and knew more about the bible/ religion than many of the members of their church. I would go as far as saying that I, myself, am expert theologian. The only real difference is my lack of belief in what is written.

Here is what people need to realize about pastors and priests. They go to seminary. The study the bible, and other religious writings. The learn the interpretations of those men that did so before them. Basically, what they are passing onto their church members are interpretations handed down by the "experts" that came before them.

It's like history. You take history courses in college. You are learning the history based on the findings, interpretations, and beliefs of the person teaching the class. There are also many other "unaccepted" interpretations of the same history out there to be read as well. Just look at any high school US History textbook and Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Very different books talking about the same thing.

Answer 4

My stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, mother, uncle, two cousins are all ministers. Well, not my mom, cause that would be against the bible, but she might as well be. In addition I attended church at least 3 times a week for 18 years and graduated from a 4 year christian college.
It is my opinion that many christians claim that atheists don't understand or misinterpret the bible because the christian just doesn't like the atheist's interpretation.
Christians often misquote or take out of context in order to make a point, whereas I favor a strict interpretation of the bible. If you are going to claim the bible is the word of god then you ought to do what it says, not claim that parts of it are outdated or don't fit into social context or whatever. The new testament says that god is the same yesterday, today and forever. That doesn't sound to me like someone who wants to change. Why should his word be any different?

Answer 5

I'm agnostic but yes I have. I was raised a christian and I had plenty of talks with my Reverend because I was considered one of those dangerous people that did not buy into what was being spewed from the pulpit. As I have previously worked at the University of Connecticut and still know quite a bit of the staff up there I have talked to the professors who teach comparative religion. Also, my uncle is a Reverend in the Baptist Church. I was aggressive in my questioning of my childhood Reverend because he was aggressive in telling me what an awful sinner I was. My uncle and the college professors I had much more civilized conversations with.

And through all I stand by the beliefs that I hold - that deities are just not provable on either side of the argument. That being so, I see no reason to include them in my life.

Answer 6

I was an officer in the army during the second World War. Some of my good friends were fellow officers who were chaplains. There were many discussions about religion. Many times have I heard one of them say, " You lead just the kind of life that the church admires, why aren't you a believer "?
My answer was always that I have no belief in any supernatural. To me it's just plain superstition. My chaplain friends respected my belief, and I respected theirs. Yes, I have lost contact with my chaplain friends, my army doctor friends, and all the others. there is a constant shifting around of personnel.
And, no I have never gone back to my childhood religious upbringing even though I am getting very close to the end of my story.

Answer 7

Yes I have.

I once had a short conversation with a Catholic priest that basically came down to "Are you a Catholic?"

"No."

"Well, we should do something about that (smiles). You should come into church sometime."

"Thanks for the offer (but no thanks)."

I've also had a great many discussions with theists (I live in Texas, so it isn't exactly challenging to find a theist who wants to 'convert' me), and read the Bible (I even own two different copies).

And, of course, since I used to be a devout Baptist I've talked a fair deal with a number of different pastors.

Answer 8

Yes. But many atheists don't care too much as to the specific religion that's being discussed. Most here likely discuss Xianity simply because most (seem to) live in areas dominated by Xians. General discussion around Gods and demons (and their lack), creation (and cosmology/evolution) and such are far more relevant to us than specifics around, say, a quotation in the Bible.

The basic truth we see is that most religious people (Buddhism excepted) believe in some higher power, where we see zero evidence supporting that contention. And unless you include a total *lack*, we're not the ones you should be talking to about spiritual guidance - we don't believe in spirits.

I was neither passive nor attacking... just discussing. I got nowhere, except to explain my beliefs, but I also don't think it's reasonable to expect one conversation to turn a life-long priest around 180 degrees. Not with all the logic in the world.

Answer 9

Of course. Many atheists (especially American) are Christian apostates from very religious backgrounds. They studied multiple religions, history, philosophy, books for and against, and debate the preacher before deconverting. Some people's minds are just hardwired to be more individualistic, self-driven, empirical than emotional, which drives them to reject religion.

Just like there are some people grew up atheists/secular families who convert to religion, because they want the emotional comfort, structure, communal atmosphere, activities and answers offered by religion. Some people are just very social and group oriented.

Answer 10

I have had many conversation with Pastors, Rabbis, and Priests. They are all convinced there way is the only way. So who can I trust to tell me truth. They all have arguments why their book is the right way.

I have come to the conclusion we are all doomed to hell. So I might as well think for myself. My research show all religious text is talking about aliens and not Gods. Which is more likely? They are both very far fetched but there is more proof for the alien theory.