Tantamount to covering their ears and shouting "NA NA NA NA NA NA!!!"
2007-12-04 04:06:49 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have never "debated" a Christian... EVER... that this was not the final thing that came out of their mouth.
It is the concession that they cannot rationally defend their beliefs.
It takes a while to get them to say it, but when they do, the discussion is over.
And the atheist has won. "I have faith" is a less humbling thing to say than "I surrender".
2007-12-04 04:13:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well, I guess it would depend on the question. I am a Christian, and if I didn't know the answer or how to respond, I would honestly tell the person that I don't know the answer or how to respond to your question. However, if I knew that I could speak to that person again, I'd let him/her know that I'd do some research and get back to him/her.
Having Faith in God does not mean the Christian must throw his/her brain out the window. If the Christian studies his/her faith, as well as the question being asked, they'd be able to give an answer other than "I have faith."
It should also be noted that "I have Faith" may very well be the most appropriate answer. It's not the fault of the Christian if the atheist does not accept that answer. The reason the "I have faith" answer may be the most appropriate is because it ultimately brings the heart of the issue to the surface. In many cases, if not most, the real issue for the atheist is not intellectual, and I am not saying that an intellectual issue is not a valid one. However, in most cases the real issue lies within that person's Heart and Will. The atheist has chosen in his/her heart not to believe or have faith in a God for some particular reason. Many atheist use the intellectual defense for not believing in God because they simply do not want to submit to something outside of themselves.
Atheists do have real and valid questions that require an answer. For example, the atheist may have chosen not to believe in God because they have been hurt by someone professing to be a Christian, they are sick and tired of hypocritical Christians, or they may have been scorned and shunned by Christians whenever they posed a question those particular Christians did not like. But before a Christian provides an answer, he/she must first uncover the real intent behind the question. Is the underlying issue intellectual, philosophical, existential, moral, or faith? Once this is determined, the Christian is better able to meet the atheist where he/she is.
I pray that this helps. Be Blessed,
---Bryan
2007-12-04 04:35:47 · answer #2 · answered by mrsencere 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Faith is somehow considered to be a sacred tenant of modern religion, when it's actually just the desire to believe in something without evidence. Considering that the study of nature does not show the kind of miracles or divine intervention that our ancestors would have assumed, the intellect kind of begs the question, "what if religions are wrong and based on incorrect assumptions?"
There is no way to argue with faith. A radical Muslim has the same or even more faith than a contemporary Christian. That doesn't mean they have any clue about reality, or can defend what they have chosen to believe on emotions.
While I respect the freedom to believe in any concept whatsoever, I don't give faith some kind of elevated status. It's a cop out from actually debating religion.
2007-12-04 04:51:35 · answer #3 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. "I have faith" is the card we play when we run across something we cannot explain, particularly in the Bible.
We humans do not have the capacity to understand everything God has said, at least not yet. That's part of growing and maturing in faith for us as individuals, and part of the evolutionary process for humankind as a whole -- each generation understands a little more than the previous generation.
As for arguments with atheists, a wiser person than I once said that it is better to be quiet and let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. If I don't have an answer or a counter argument, I simply say so. I'm not going to convince the atheist, and the atheist isn't going to convince me. It's all just a waste of time.
.
2007-12-04 04:14:04 · answer #4 · answered by Stranger In The Night 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
And what of the faith card atheists pull to explain their own existence?
How did life start, let alone evolve?
Talk about a leap of faith!
"It just happened..."
.
2007-12-04 04:21:17 · answer #5 · answered by Hogie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
pretty much, but it is only because they don't want to argue with atheists. That and they don't know how to answer the questions that you ask. It makes them question their religion and beliefs and aren't accustomed to explaining their beliefs. That is it in a nutshell.
2007-12-04 04:12:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yep. If you mapped out the stages in a Christian argument, it would probably go like this:
- "Don't you love Jesus? He died for you."
- Threat of hell towards non-believers (Non-Xian response usually has to do with proof of hell and God.)
-"You need faith to understand."
-"why are you persecuting me!"
2007-12-04 04:13:34 · answer #7 · answered by The Bassline Libertine 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
And also an excuse for murder that was very popular in the past--best to take it seriously, lest they do it again
2007-12-04 04:12:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Faith is what I use to draw closer to God. And having faith gives me peace in this world of trouble.
2007-12-04 04:11:19 · answer #9 · answered by Moni B 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, and what atheists hear when they say that is, "I'm incapable of presenting a logical argument."
Your mind: Use it or lose it.
2007-12-04 04:12:01 · answer #10 · answered by Murazor 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋