Why are atheists afraid to tell Christians what they think face to face instead of on the web?

Question

I have debated for creation for a long time, and whenever i see people who believe in evolution, they will never come and tell you how they realy feel face to face, but they will over the internet? Why must they hide behind the web and not have intellegent conversations and debates face to face?

Answer 1

You've never spoken to me. Somehow, if you did, I doubt you'd be capable of carrying an "intellegent" conversation, let alone a debate.

Perhaps the reason you've found face-to-face discourse with atheists to be rare is that we've become quite adept at detecting unstable fundies and are, usually, able to avoid incidents such as this http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/03/31/atheist-beaten-up-on-campus/ and this http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/135/story/58743.html .

Answer 2

I personally hate confrontations.

I don't want to force my views onto other people when I'm speaking publicly, unless we are debating -- to do so would be considered proselytizing. If I'm out with a Catholic friend, I'm not going to jump into a conversation about how religious views.

Plus, many people in my town could react hatefully if they knew I was an atheist. I live near Liberty University, the christian university founded by Jerry Falwell that teaches the universe is 6,000 years old. I'd be a sitting duck if I said that I wasn't religious. That's the nature of disbelief in America today. It's considered unpatriotic, unquestionable. I get a lot of hell threats from a certain biological parent, and I don't want to go through that process again -- with anyone. I prefer to keep religion, or the lack of it, a private affair.

The internet allows me to break from my assignments and to give my views in a public forum that will not result in personal malaise. I don't feel afraid to speak up in this method. I'm also not bothered when someone disagrees with me to the core: there is no tension, just conversation and debate. I love this.

For instance: Creationism is a religious belief, not a scientific observation. You can find more information on this at www.talkorigins.org.

Answer 3

Who said we were? I won't just debate Evolution Vs. creation with you, I will debate the existence of god as anything but a creation of man's mind to fill a psycho-social need. I have discussed the issue(s) with folks whenever there was a mutual desire and willingness to discuss the issue(s) logically and calmly. Doing that requires that both parties rely on evidentiary statements that the assertion of which can be proven either concretely or by logic. This frequently is a stumbling-block for the creationist, because they wish to argue from the point of "The bible says" or "God can do whatever he wants", at which point I have to require proof OF the accuracy of what they quote from the bible, or proof of god, and that usually results in an angry, flustered, and uncommunicative person storming off. Perhaps it is that some folks present their points of view on the web because they are weary and leary of the emotional in-your-face attempts at prosyletizing that oft result from the discussions, the "If you don't believe, you're going straight to hell" type of illogical, non-debate rant that ensues. I will not debate faith, because faith is a personal choice, and is beyond logic. A person may BELIEVE whatever they wish, for whatever reason they wish, and whether or not it is the truth is irrelevant to the believer, nor does belief affect the truth-state of the subject. I choose not to prosyletize my position, would that religious types extend the world that same courtesy.

Answer 4

No, I have no problem talking face to face. There is a problem though with being able to recall all the debunking that has gone on through out the years. I will say that I have never found a valid creationist argument yet. The most notable example is a large variety of misquotes from various scientists. The accepted practice is to summarize the work you are referring to and to give a good reference i.e title, author, date, and call number.

I've added a good site for basic Creationist arguments, you should read and understand them. Do so objectively otherwise it's useless.

Edit:
Next time your in the DC Metro area, let me know.

Edit:
By the way, there's not much to debate on as there are facts and there are challenges made by people that have been debunked time and time again.

Answer 5

I don't believe in Creationism. I support evolution until scientific evidence suggests another theory looks more true.

I'm not an aethist. I'm a humanist. My mother in law strongly believes in creationism. I'm not going to tell her what I think. First of all, she's never taken college science classes. She didn't do well in science in school. I don't believe she understands Evolution. I do know at least a little bit about creationism. She's family and I don't want to start an argument. I believe what I believe and she believes what she believes.
The internet is made up of a very broad audience. It's easier to chat here and reach a lot of people without getting into the emotional side.
If you are a confrontational person then people regardless of what they believe are not going to be open with you. No one wants to be attacked, even if it is only perception.
Not all christians believe in creationism. How well versed are you in science and evolution? Have you read Charles Darwin's work?
The reason I support evolution is because it's based on observation and in reality. A lot of scientists have proven it or raised enough evidence to suggest that it's closer to the truth than creationism.
The value in creationism may lie more in the whys.
Science looks to explain the whats and hows based on scientific principles that all scientists follow. Experiments and studies are repeated. If the results are the same over a period of time then it's accepted as either fact or a proven theory. I'm not an expert by any means. As far as I'm concerned, everyone is free to believe what they want. I doubt that you would be able to convince me but it's possible with enough evidence. My husband has argued with me. Time is not absolute. How was a day defined back in those times? Blah. Blah. He doesn't understand carbon dating. I tried to explain it to him but since I am not an expert on it. I wasn't able to explain it so that he would understand it. I am a graduate student. I know how to think critically.

Answer 6

Well you have met the atheist that has and will and does debate their and my ideas to religious people face to face.
The trouble i have found is that if the debate gets to hard most religious folks will keep saying "we are not mean`t to know that or it is faith " instead of answering the question.
And the trouble is that a debate on religious issues can go for ever ,i have personally argued the points with an extremely religious guy for over 6hrs face to face. And i love to wait for the door knocking preachers to come calling just to be able to debate the issue if they like. But most in my area have given up .
Why are Christians afraid to debate with atheist without copping out when the going gets to tough ao arkward?

Answer 7

Noone's afraid of the big bad Christians. How can you reasonably carry on a dialog with someone like a Christian that is under mind control?

Christians have circular logic that runs something like this: They have a supported belief in something that would ordinarily be classified as in the realm of Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. However, since someone said it is true, then it must be true otherwise noone would have written about it. There is no proof of who wrote it or if the story actually happened but because the story cannot be proven, therefore, the story must be true. The truth is in the faith. It is the same faith that leads them to worship a urine stain on an overpass as a miraculous transformation in the image of Jesus or Mary, depends on what angle you view the stain. Then there are the Christians that would pay $30K for a grilled-cheese sandwhich with a toasted image of Mary on the bread. And then you have the Christians that blame 9-11-2001 on homosexuals, lesbians, masons, and god knows who else other than the terrorists who actually carried it out! All of this because of an act of faith in their god. So, by all means, please carry on with your 'intelligent conversations and debates.' Atheists and others, such as myself, do not believe in your version of god because it is make-believe. Christians live in a world of delusion and self-made misery and when they have had enough of their own masochism, Christians turn on their own members and terrorize them, as if their lives weren't bad enough already.

Answer 8

first of all, as we journey through life, we let go of outmoded belief system to embrace a new one. We are never the same as compared to the time when we started our spiritual quest. This does not mean we transfer from one organized religion to another. The journey is always personal, meaning, indepth -a constant unfolding and revelation of mysteries about God and about the universe. So, it is useless debating about religion. This is even detrimental in your search for truth. God is known only by those who are at peace with oneself and with the rest of all creation. Do not be deceived. The more you think you know, the farther you have gone astray from the Truth.

Answer 9

? I don't believe in evolution, I accept it. There is no evolution vs creation debate. Creation is not a scientific theory, it is nothing. The theory of evolution does not attempt to prove evolution, that is not the theory, we know evolution happens, the theory of evolution is a theory about its mechanisms through natural selection.

Most people wont spend the time for the reason I just said, there is no evolution vs creationism debate, so the only thing that would be said by the creationists side would be repeated lies that we have heard hundreds of times.

We gave you guys a chance and look what Cameron and Comfort did...... CROCODUCK!!!

Answer 10

Rather simple. Most creationist that I have met are zelots and refuse to have "inteligent conversations". Instead they rail on the "facts" as they see them and do not entertain any view except their own.

For example, lets go outside of religion and choose a subject that should be comparitively neutral.

The benifits of Whole Milk vs Skim Milk and visa versa.

People can have inteligent conversations on the benifits and failings of each of these products and be able to come to an understanding of the two. Many times as not a person could be convinced of the benifits of one or the other and have a reasonable acceptance of the outcome of the conversation. The basic core value of the two products is that milk is good for a person but just the type of milk is at debate.

However, when speaking of religion, creationism vs evolution, there are basic core values that must be accepted by both parties. This is not possible as they are diametricly opposed in thier starting premise.

Since a basic ground work can not be established from which to have an intelegent conversation then it becomes not a conversation but a debate -- an adversarial confrontation -- based upon religious belief not on a concrete established common agreement or understanding.

We do not hide behind the internet. Most of us are inteligent enough not to engage in a conversation that will lead nowhere and is pointless in its pursuit, since there is no satifactory outcome. As you have put it "I have debated". You are an advisary not wishing to come to an agreement of common knoweldge.

I think that is discribed at 2 Timothy 3:1-4 if you are interested.
"1 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,"

I would say just you probably fall into the categories of self-assuming, haughty, not open to any agreement, headstrong and puffedup with pride because your question is of a judgemental nature and arguementative.

Have a nice day.