Atheist/Christian debate . . .?

Question

Don't you think the root of this debate is pride - both assume to know something with certainty and accuse the other side of being an idiot?

not all members of either group act this way, but in my experience most do

Answer 1

No, actually. I claim to be completely uncertain and am pissed off by people who speak with certainty of things which have no proof.

(I wasn't here when it all started, if it ever started originally, and neither were you.)

Answer 2

I am only interested in what is true. Truth rings. I believe what I believe because I feel deep down that it is true. Atheists have told me that what I believe is not true but I have seen no credible evidence. When I ask them for their proof that God does not exist, they answer with resounding unison, "You can't prove a negative!". Well, they are the ones who stated the negative in the first place and then say it can't be proven. I'm sorry, WHAT??? If you say you live life by proof and evidence then at least present some. It just doesn't make sense to me is all, but I am "deluded" you know. Ssshhhhhh.

There are a lot of militant atheists and anti-theists here in YA's. As well as a wide variety of religious folks. I do try very hard to be polite. Sometimes it is difficult, especially since I am so stupid.

Answer 3

What makes you think that atheists assume that they know something with certainty? I'm an atheist, and I don't claim to be certain, and it doesn't seem to me at all that most atheists make that claim.

Atheists are often accused of having been led astray by "pride", but frankly, I don't see how that would make any sense at all. Atheism is generally the result of admitting that we don't know everything - that the answer we started with ("God did it") just simply isn't supported by the evidence.

I also don't see many atheists calling believers "idiots" unless the believers in question have demonstrated that they ARE idiots. It doesn't take long here to come across believers who are utterly idiotic. If I wanted to call someone an idiot, I'd have plenty of opportunities to aim that insult in an appropriate direction, and I can't imagine why I'd bother aiming it at any of the sensible believers.

Answer 4

As an atheist, I don't assume "with certainty" that there is no god. Some will say that makes me agnostic. Fine. Semantics. I treat the idea of god the same way I treat Flying Teapots, FSM, et al. There is NO reason to believe, so I choose not to. I cannot unequivocally prove the non-existence of any of these, but I still choose to say they don't exist, as no evidence showing their existence has ever been offered. It is not an absolute statement, as proof may be offered in the future, at which point I am open to changing my mind.

Answer 5

I think it is a little bit of both. But when you really think about it something has to be out there that created all of this. It cannot be a simple matter of science. Something had to create the stuff that lead to the creation of the earth an t a minmum. Now as for what crated that something I don't know because my human brain lacks the abillity to understand that part of the Divinity.

Answer 6

The funny thing is if I "debate" an atheist, I usually never bring up the subject of God. I am usually just trying to point out how they are wrong by saying they came to their conclusion by logic/reason. Or that their understanding of science is better than believers. Or that their claim of being open minded is fatally flawed if they outright deny the possibility of the existence of God. So I basically "debate" them on three things 1)Their ability for logic and reasoning 2) Their own understanding of science 3) Their claim of being open minded. I guess there is a 4th, that would be their arrogance.

But a funny thing happens...in most of these arguments...I never bring up religion or God. But they almost always bring it up in their answers. Funny, huh?

Answer 7

I do not think that atheists are idiots. They cannot know God personally because they rely on their own understanding and look for science to give them an answer. Science is not the only way of knowing. Even if you read the Word of God, you will not understand it unless the Holy Spirit of God guides you. It happens in God's timing. The spiritual maturity takes time.

Answer 8

I think the root is that it's something really close to both parties. They feel attacked personally when someone points out that the logic in either side is flawed.

Answer 9

Religion is only a belief . All arguments or debates are about interpreting what some goat herder meant when he scribbled something that was later found .
Atheism has to do with provable reality . Belief in only in the imagination , and is unprovable .

Answer 10

No. If it wasn't for the fact that some Christians feel the need to impose their religion upon me in the form of outrageous laws that violate the separation of church and state I would be perfectly happy to let them believe whatever they wanted without any debate.

Answer 11

I'd say the root of the problem is the two sides are diametrically opposed, with incompatible belief systems. One side /has/ to be wrong. Compromises on either side would defeat the purpose of what they believe.