Why do Christians refuse to think?

Question

I often post questions that challenge Christians analyze themselves, their beliefs, and their religion as a whole. Instead of taking the challenge, most Christians prefer to tell me what I should do according to their beliefs, make assumptions about my beliefs, criticize the wording of my question, and do anything but what the question asks.

This is one of the biggest reasons why so many people (usually noted as atheists) express such frustration toward Christians and Christianity as a whole. Christians openly display an attitude of "I refuse to think about what you said but am willing to give my opinion on what YOU should do." That type of approach is disrespectful, unwanted, offensive, and generally frowned upon.

Wouldn't it be easier to simply say, "Sorry, but I refuse to think."?

Consider the fact that most debates have a pro and con side, but the debates for and against religion are emotional vs logical. Does that not say something right there???

Jew4Messiah, Christopher Columbus experienced sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and thought he landed in India. Just because someone has an experience does not mean their conclusions involving this experience are in any way factual, accurate, or right.

Blackwolf, I dealt with childhood indoctrination personally. I was forced to go to church at least twice a week; I was sent to a Christian school; and I was taught religion at home. My entire childhood was saturated in Christianity. Yet, I made a conscious decision to think. Any Christian should be able to do the same.

Jenni, why did someone HAVE to create these things? Why could they not have always existed? I am constantly amused at how Christians will easily believe that their god has always existed but refuse to consider the possibility that something else could have also always existed. There is no reason for this belief outside of the bible saying so and a personal preference to this idea. And faith proves nothing. A quick stroll through an insane assylum will prove that quite clearly.

Jen B, I am open to chellenge myself, however there is a time and place for everything. Challenges direct to me may not answer the question(s) I am asking. I can deal with these challenges later and elsewhere. Most Christians, however, cannot. They dodge my questions and purposely direct it back at me as to avoid answering. Also, I am not declaring that my questions themselves are so challenging, but rather call for certain people to challenge their own beliefs. Whether or not I acknowledge this is completely irrelevant.

Answer 1

In the last few weeks I've realized that deeply religious people are almost invariably solipsistic thinkers. They seem to confuse their own subjective experience with objective reality. It isn't so much that they're refusing to think. They are actually incapable of critical thinking because they only have a single intellectual frame of reference, namely their own subjective experience. If a person has so little education they don't understand that objective reality is tangible and real, but that it is not part of their subjective experience, they may never realize that they cannot directly experience physical reality. Somehow, some people grow up never realizing that objective physical reality is separate and distinct from their subjective experience. One could even consider them developmentally (or educationally) disabled and accept that they are utterly incapable of understanding that objective reality actually exists.

Could it be that human beings, through no fault of their own, actually have two or more distinctly different types of minds? One type of mind sees religion as perfectly obvious and reasonable. The other type of mind experiences reality from a completely different frame of reference and reaches a different conclusion. Perhaps the reality is that neither side is right and neither side is wrong. What we have is different kinds of minds, each correct in our own way.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question but somewhat paradoxical and ironic.
What it seems like you said is that you can question others and make assumptions on their beliefs but if it is returned than it is wrong.
Then you go on to say that we have no logic only emotion, and we do not think, all the while saying that this type of approach is disrespectful, unwanted and offensive. Do you not see that perhaps your questions are just that?

Finally, challenging questions are subjective. In general, a person that truly writes a challenging question will not say or think that they have.

Answer 3

Sorry, I refuse to think.

Just kidding.

It isn't just Christians. Ever try to hold a meaningful discussion with a Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Mormon or member of any other religious group who thinks they have the answer straight from God? Or for that matter, a die-hard atheist who also holds his or her beliefs (or non-beliefs) to be absolute truth.

Religious dialogue is often not really about applying the gift of reason and humility. That is too bad. Lively debate opens eyes and minds if people don't start with closed minds. Unfortunately, most faiths teach the closed mind before anything else.

Answer 4

Actually, the rules for a debate in Philosophy of Religion, are set before the debate--In philosophy, Faith is considered part of the logic within the argument thus everyone is on equal ground. In an argument for Faith; Faith become the logical proof. In an argument for logic and reasoning using theorem
Faith is secondary. Thinking is processing; thoughts have a differing storage area. Sorry you don't get the answers you ask for.

Answer 5

First of all, you are making a huge generalization. Everyone thinks, unless they are incapacitated because of mental or physical disability. Maybe your question is so illogical that there is nothing to think about. Have you thought about that? I wish you posted your question or any question as an example. But there are lots of stupid questions out there not worth thinking about. Like, "Why does hell exist if God is a loving God?" I've seen this question atleast 500 times. And there is always atleast ten guys who gives the right answer (Biblically speaking) and yet the answer is never accepted. Asking a question 500 times and getting the same answer, but refusing to accept it is stupid. The answer isn't accepted because it doesn't fall in line with what YOU think. Guess what? You're not right, you're probably wrong 90% of the time.

Answer 6

in accordance to mans regulation no you may "refuse" jury accountability, christian or in any different case, with out being arrested, they are able to purely be disregarded with the aid of the presiding decide. i don't disagree with what you're announcing and individually i've got on no account been noted as to jury accountability yet whilst i replaced into i might refuse and do my time in penitentiary.

Answer 7

While that's true for some Christians, I LIKE to think and I DO answer questions on here, without attacking the question, or the asker.

By the way, it isn't just the Christians on here who like to attack sometimes. I've been attacked by atheists plenty of times.

Answer 8

I am a christian but i do think...I dont know what other "christians" have responded to your questions with but if i see one of your questions i know i will not answer like "they" have and do...

I will not do any of these things "Christians prefer to tell me what I should do according to their beliefs, make assumptions about my beliefs, criticize the wording of my question, and do anything but what the question asks"

I'm christian but i will not tell you what you should do or assume that you believe a certain thing or way...

Answer 9

But that's such a stereotype! I'm reading this and thinking about everything I read.
Because I read it doesn't mean i will automatically agree with it, but i don't just hear what i want to hear and disregard the rest.
However I think you're probably right in some cases; people do have a tendency to block out what they want to hear and ignore the rest. But please don't pigeon hole me - I'll listen to you and respect if, please do me the same courtesy.
I do accept your point though.

Answer 10

...Since you and I think along the same path may I advise you to read
"The Elegant Universe " written by Brian Greene

Blind unquestioning faith ...is still blindness

I prefer quantum mechanics which provides a theoretical framework for understanding the universe on the smallest of scales