you defend what you believe? Or give a reason why you believe the way you do?
What is it called when someone else does it??
2007-10-04 10:59:32 · 19 answers · asked by Eartha Q 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hi, Eartha. Unfortunately, the Bible thumping mischaracterization is often used for those defending Christian beliefs with biblical evidence. For questions about God, biblical evidence is usually quite relevant.
We sometimes have actual Bible thumpers here on campus. They literally pound on their Bibles for emphasis as they preach.
By extension, Bible thumping might mean making extreme claims (e.g., that anyone who wears shorts is going to hell) while attempting to silence counterarguments by shouting or pounding over them.
In an internet discussion, Bible-thumping might mean simply ignoring respondents. Bible thumping attempts to dominate a discussion by precluding any opposition.
What we need is a parallel term for atheists who reject all Christian claims without providing any counterevidence. Maybe we could call them Darwin-thumpers?
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-10-04 11:55:40 · answer #1 · answered by Bruce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bible thumping is when you start the conversation with the attitude that yours is the only possible path (not just for you, but for everyone) and "here are these verses that say I'm right and you're wrong and you're going to hell if you don't believe this way!!!" If you are respectful of the other person's views while still maintaining your own beliefs, i don't think it can be called bible thumping.
2007-10-04 18:05:46 · answer #2 · answered by lupinesidhe 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's bible thumping when you try to beat down counter arguments by citing the bible as infallible. You can believe what you want based on the way you read your scripture. Other people reading the same scripture might believe something different. If you want to debate interpretations with them, that's not bible thumping.
On the other hand, if you have your beliefs based on your scripture and someone else has their beliefs based on their own scripture, be it the quran or the rig veda or the i ching or Richard Dawkins, you descend into bible thumping when you insist that they are wrong because your scripture says so.
Think of it this way, the fact that I just wrote down "Eartha Q is wrong" on a piece of paper doesn't make my position any stronger or your's any weaker despite the fact that it is now part of scripture (which, after all, just means something that is written).
2007-10-04 18:01:34 · answer #3 · answered by Dave P 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I call Bible thumping when the Word is quoted and used to answer questions. The truth is better than any other way!
2007-10-04 18:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by RB 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it is "bible thumping" when you have no reasons for what you believe and wish to impose upon others. If you have reasons, good reason, it is not thumping.
The problem is, very very few people who "thump their bible" have any defensible reasons at all.
When anybody else does it, it is generally called zealotry (which also has a religious root to the word).
2007-10-04 18:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by QED 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lets put this question into a different aspect
Is it "Harry Potter thumping," when...
you defend Harry Potter's existence, or give reasons to believe that he does exist.
What is it called when some one else does it?
1.
OBSESSION!
2. As soon as you partake in studying a book written by non-scientific guiders, you take a step back, and say I don't want to know the truth that could be found in the future, or already has been presented.
2007-10-04 18:05:25 · answer #6 · answered by Juefawn™ 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think it is only "Bible Thumping" is you do not live as you believe. If you a true Christian your actions will say the same as the words that come out of your mouth
2007-10-04 18:03:35 · answer #7 · answered by katlvr125 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You have the right to defend what you believe,and give the reason you believe,just be loyal to what you believe.Don't worry if someone accuses you of being a bible thumper if this is the situation.
2007-10-04 18:04:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Bible Thumping is when you take lots of Bible verses out of context and just copy and paste them without any comment of your actual thoughts on what is written.
2007-10-04 18:02:33 · answer #9 · answered by . 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I guess that would be a good definition of bible thumping... and when someone else does it, it is "Bible Bashing"
2007-10-04 18:05:31 · answer #10 · answered by Matthew P (SL) 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋