Why do atheists think that if a Christian agrees with the Bible that they aren't "thinking for themselves"?

Question

I could just as easily say that if an atheist agrees with Richard Dawkins, they aren't "thinking for themselves".

Wyrmfell, I am living proof that you are wrong. I was raised by a hard core anti-theist mother. She is still that way. But despite that, I thought for myself, and became a Catholic. It's been over 13 years, and I know that although I wasn't born a Catholic, I will be one when I reach the end of this life one day.
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Terry, You just met one online, me.
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Answer 1

1. 2000 years of investigation
2. Historically based
3. Billions of practitioners
4. Peer reviewed.

Christianity rules.

Answer 2

Religion is often used as a crutch by people who don't want to think about the big questions in life. There is the attitude among some Christians that "God said it, I agree with it, etc." Blindly believing in what The Bible says is not thinking for oneself.

If an atheist agrees with Dawkins (and not all of us do), it's because they have come to that conclusion on their own, or because Dawkins provides support for his claims that can be observed and tested. The Bible speaks solely on the authority that it is the word of God, and provides no other evidence.

Answer 3

I'm a pagan and I don't think that. I think there is some philosophical good in the Bible, like Christ's guidance about taking care of each other and loving each other. Obviously I don't agree with a lot of it, but some parts have some good things. That is the inherent danger in making such broad generalizations. Now, the Christian who says that he or she agrees with absolutely EVERYTHING in the Bible is the person that I would say is not thinking for himself or herself, if for no other reason than the fact that the book is full of contradictions. Probably the Christian who takes the bad stuff in the Bible (like the massacres of thousands of pagans in the Old Testament at Jehovah's order) and think it is OK - those are the Christians who I would definitely say are NOT thinking for themselves.

I hope this helps you think for yourself!

Bright Blessings,
Lady Morgana
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Answer 4

It think it's because many atheists used to be other religions, then came to the conclusion of atheism themselves. This is opposed to many Christians, who are indoctrinated to the faith at an early age, before a well-made decision has been thought out.

If you have seriously considered religions and found Christianity to be the right one for you, then you are thinking for yourself.

Likewise, atheists brought up that way aren't thinking for themselves either. It's all about thinking and choice.

Answer 5

1. 175 years of data analysis with not *one* challenge.
2. Scientific Method (*tons* of details here.)
3. Many thousands of scientists.
4. Peer reviewed.

We are just using fully tested theory, as opposed to one book. I've not seen an atheist claim "thinking for themselves" - CITE?

OTOH, the Bible was not based on the above, nor anything known or verifiable, nor by any writers accredited in any way.

Answer 6

I have never met a Christian that didn't get confused if you handed them a Bible from a different sect, Translator, date of publication and publisher. I have never met a Christian that "learned" the Bible without couching by a religionist Parent, church school teacher, deacon, or pastor.

"Agreeing and biased instruction, does not a scholar make"--Archbishop of Canterbury.

If you want the Truth.....Ask a Pagan.

4life---The Apostles Creed is exactly based on 12 specfic quotes,
If you can name and cite them in proper order i will no longer demur your claim.of being "That Christian."

Answer 7

when i ask a question and i specifically say, "answer in your own words" and i get ten out of ten responses quoting scripture, i'd say that's not your own words. now, if i solely quoted dawkins on every decision i make, based on morality, you could judge me the same way. but i don't. i have enough sense to know that the richard dawkins doesn't have all the answers. can i say the same for someone who only quotes scripture?

Answer 8

True, but only if they believe in Dawkins blindly and totally and never bother to examine the evidence or 'think' for themselves.

Such people, and the intellectual laziness and dishonesty they exhibit, would be just like Christians in terms of their epidemiologies.

Answer 9

That is a possibility. But, I suspect, any book by someone like Dawkins is completely open to debate and critical analysis by any and all comers. Can you say the same thing about the bible and, say, bible classes?

Answer 10

You could say that. And your point is?
Perhaps you do not understand the whole problem of thinking. Thinking, and particularly thinking for yourself, involves how one thinks. It also involves how you know things.
Religious people know things religious because they have been told by some religious authority that a certain text is "true" or a memorized story handed down generation after generation (traditional knowledge) is "true". Scientists are skeptical, they don't believe things just because someone tells them something is "true". Scientists are not even interested in "truth" as much as they are interested in scientific evidence or scientific data derived from measuring natural phenomena. The religious aren't interested in measuring anything but what is in the collection plate.
Scientists expect that knowledge will change with the accumulation of more data, the religious are terrified of anything that contradicts or is inconsistent with their never-changing beliefs.
The devoutly religious are willing to kill for their beliefs, scientists are not. If scientists disagree, the issue is settled experimentally and everyone comes out ahead. In religious disputes, someone is likely to come out dead. Pat Robertson recommended killing an elected national leader and the new Christian video game awards points for Christians who kill non believers.
I hope this is helpful.
Christians and other religious nuts terrify scientists with their superstition, fear and hate just like scientists terrify Christians with new knowledge, like iPods and theories that the world is not flat.
Please don't murder us for thinking for ourselves and for future generations. Remember, we who are not religious only have one world, don't mess it up.

Answer 11

Avoid personal questions to avoid personal insults.You can reform that question on this way, please: We agree to the theory of Richard Dawkins about evolution but how can we imply the truth about It so that the Christians may be convince?
jtm