Is "IF" a 4-letter word?

Question

Some religious people on here are annoyed when an Atheist asks a question that starts with the word "if". For example, "if God is all powerful...", "If Jesus walked on water...". These are called hypothetical questions, and are legitimate to ask. In fact, to ask a question ASSUMing that God exists makes an A_S_S of U and Me. So, to assume God exists when asking a question is worse than asking a legitimate hypothetical one. If you are going to assume God exists, why ask the question?

In fact, "if" is a part of an "if-then" statement in logic, which believers have a particular problem with. Atheists rely on deductive logic/reason which use if-then statements, while believers abandon reason and rely on faith instead.

Some believers won't even understand my question .... *sigh*

Answer 1

I think some religious people believe that faith is necessary, and you can't question faith.

It was frustrating to me as a child when I was told things at church that didn't make sense and was told that I shouldn't question it, I needed to have faith instead. In retrospect I think it was a sort of brain washing technique. You had to believe or go to hell and if you even question it, you go to hell. It doesn't leave much choice.

Answer 2

What IF a hippo sat on a snail but the snail was stronger than the hippo and tossed it 100 feet in the air... And the a frog came out and ate the snail... would you be sad?

There's my hypothetical... *Personally, this is why I hate IF questions... There are nOOOOooOOo boundaries.

**And I majored in Philosophy when I was in school... The "if-then" statements you are talking about is used to state a conditional premise in logic... Not to ask a question... The "IF" questions asked on R&S are like my hippo hypothetical... Or, another example, "IF GOD IS SO POWERFUL, WHY DO PEOPLE DIE??" See where if-then statements differ from "WHAT IF" questions?


** It seems that many people who answered this question were compelled by your "if-then" remark... Let me explain "IF-THEN" STATEMENTS really quick...

-Conclusions are drawn from a list of premises...
-if/then STATEMENTS are conditional premises...
i.e. - If x, then y [you may substitue x and y here with anything you want). (***notice the period at the end of the STATEMENT).
-so, this premise, along with any other premises have you, will lead to a conclusion...

THERE it is folks... the very basics to LOGIC... did you see any question marks there? NO... (If you do not see a question mark, then it is not a question [another example of a conditional premise]).

so stop making an A_S_S out of yourself....

Answer 3

Reasonable hypothetical questions might receive reasonable hypothetical answers. A lot of the questions I see in the "What If category" are sarcastic,degrading, or end up with comparing God to humans.They also tend to attack the believers usually calling them some kind of name or telling us how "retarded" we are. Then these same people are the first ones to complain about there questions and answers being deleted.

Answer 4

it usually doesn't bother me, really. IF i can answer the question, i do. IF i can't, i don't.

as for abandoning all reason and relying on faith alone, would it be safe to say that with the statistics provided, it would be illogical to get married in america and *assume* you'll stay that way? i think you underestimate the positive benefits of faith, friend.

IF i told you that i had reasoned everything out in my mind- IF i told you that i think christianity is the perfect religion to oppress people, because it simultaneously keeps people following rules, makes them docile by teaching love and forgiveness, and offers a sense of self-empowerment, comfort, peace, purpose, etc, by exploiting the fear of death as a tool for conversion and conformity- and i still said i believe in God and serve Him as best i can, would you believe me?

Answer 5

Well aren't you so deep!
You make half a valid point until you start dissing God believers.
Please do not oppose reason and faith.
Sure, in the majority of Christendom, faith is looked upon as believing without justification.
However, such is not the definition of faith.
Faith is belief based on knowledge.
e.g.
You watch 100 people jump off the top of a skyscraper.
They all go down.
You conclude if you jump, you will also go down.
You have faith.

Answer 6

IF most Christians here had any appreciation for the process of logic and hypothetical situations, then this wouldn't be a problem at all.

I would be so bold as to suggest that IF Christians could see situations as hypothetical a little more often, they might be less inclined to believe everything in the bible.

Answer 7

Food

Answer 8

I guess you 've never heard of 'inductive reasoning'. If, you had, you would realize that many people are quite reasonable, if you understand their type of logic. Inductive reasoning doesn't work well in a research lab, but it is very good for understanding 'why' things are.

Answer 9

No, IF is a two letter word. You can find it in quite a few places in the Bible. Satan likes to use it a lot. Pharisees and Sadducee's like to use it. I don't remember Jesus or his disciples using it, but I could be wrong. Use it all you want.

Answer 10

I like this and thank you for pointing that out..I myself have done that as a Christian..Not realizing it...I do believe we serve One God,One Jesus and One Holy Spirit..So I need to ask questions differently,,thank you so much for this.