Why do so many Chistians attack the person and not the argument when their faith is challenged.?

Question

This is a class of error called Ad Hominium.
An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin: "argument to the man", "argument against the man") consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. The process of proving or disproving the claim is thereby subverted, and the argumentum ad hominem works to change the subject.

Taken from Wikipedia.

Answer 1

Hello,

Unfortunately ad hominem, hasty generalizations, appeal to emotion and especially authority are committed a great deal by all sides in RS.

I have noticed that over the last 30 years, good educational course in Fundamentals Of Logic is noticeably lacking in much of the population. Even outside of Christianity you see these fallacies commited in politics and especially the courts.
I did not even take this course until university where it was compulsory at that time for all faculties.

Now unless you have been trained in critical thinking you will continue to walk into these fallacies and many are easy to walk into with training. The only good debates I have ever seen are the university ones or the likes of William Buckley Jr.
having it out on the educational channels.

Mike K

Answer 2

Too many people do not make an effective argument for a believer to challenge. Sometimes the way an argument or question is worded or said can lead to an invitation for a personal attack. Too many neanderthals think they can be personal in their questions on a Christian but when the tables are turned, they are the first ones to cry foul.

Answer 3

There are many people on both sides of the fence that are uneducated and can not properly defend what they believe in. I charge you to find a higher ranking catholic priest and debate religion with them if you want one of the best arguments. They are unmarried and read the Bible every night for probably over 40 to 50 years and are sure to be very well educated in it.

And lets not forget that Jesus said to his disciples that he would do more in a day then Jesus could in a lifetime because Jesus would now be with the Father. This means he was working behind the scenes from Heaven during Paul's trails.

Answer 4

You are right they should not do it. But their is a supernatural or at least they would say relational reason for such behavior.

They feel they have a very intimate personal relationship with Jesus. They in love with Him. For them religion is not an abstract idea. So, any doubting him is like insulting your Mother or Father. Also, like most children they want to please they parents so feel by striking out at his enemies or even dying for him they can win their lover's favor. They are not objective at least those from evangelical or mystical traditions.However those that reach full maturity are filled with nothing but Love.

For an objective view it might be good to see how the same impulses operate in another tradition like Yoga. As. a christian and a philosopher I apologist for what ever offense you may have suffered at the hands or mouths of my people.

Answer 5

there is often somebody who will never be satisfied with what the watch or pay attention to. the actual fact is "it is purely music". We make music for our very own leisure. some human beings, prefer to place in writing approximately politics, and terrorism, and stuff like that. Toby Keith for occasion. however the ingredient is, in this united states of america, you no longer in basic terms have the liberty of religion. you have the liberty of speech. Freedom of speech.. consists of music. however the only ingredient retaining a music back approximately how plenty they love devil, is a record producer's concern of scores. Few human beings would discover some songs like that relaxing.. yet many ought to. and additionally undergo in suggestions, the Beatles? maximum of their songs do no longer advise a blessed ingredient. yet Don McLean's American Pie, is a narrative between the strains. once you're listening to those songs you discover debatable.. look into them. a number of them do no longer make a single shred of sense, yet some have a narrative, or a cry for help interior the strains. you would be shocked. yet to be honest, i do no longer think of there is something each and every physique can do approximately it... everybody has their freedom of religion and freedom of speech in this united states of america. which ability, they'd do alot of issues... which consists of hating a faith and putting that dislike right into a music. yet this would be an thrilling question to ask a band, or a music producer. Why do you marketplace such racist and prejudice music?

Answer 6

Because having faith is the belief in things in which evidence is not seen. You can not 'prove it' to the person so you just believe. Since we are not prophets or deities we can't call or cause to incur a supernatural sign.

So people in their simple humanity attack the accuser.

The best demonstration of faith under attack would be just to smile, say a prayer for them, shake their hand and walk away.

The only thing that conquers hate .... is Love.
Peace.

Answer 7

Some christians(like others) aren't secure in their faith. There is no point in a christian arguing thier faith because you can't convince a person "mentally" of the things of God. This is why some try so hard to argue for christ and see no results.Then they get frustrated and attack the person rather than the persons point. Chistians; however arn't the only ones that do this.

Answer 8

It is difficult to argue in favor of christian dogma and theology. This is one time that research, education, and knowledge work against you.

I know because I tried it. The more you educate yourself about early christian tradition, the ,more you realize that the teachings of Jesus were supplanted by Paulist theology in the three centuries after Jesus died. This improved version of the teachings of Jesus was completed by the Romans in the forth century. In short Paul fixed all of Jesus's mistakes for him.

These are well documented facts and one need only do a bit of research to become certain of this. When one compares the actual teachings of Jesus with what has replaced it as christian theology it is obvious that these are not the teachings of Jesus.

His teachings are available and one can surely follow them, but the result is far from what anyone would recognize as Christianity.

This leaves someone who thinks of themselves as a christian in a difficult position. To defend their faith they must either argue against the true teachings of Jesus or attack the messenger.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

a classic debate tactic, deflection. Avoiding giving a direct answer when you do not have one. It can be used by anyone. Keep up with the political scene with the elections coming on. There is a lot of that by politicians when asked about touchy issues, like the war in Iraq.

Answer 10

Most arguments against faith of any kind are hard to attack/challenge/refute. Attacking the person is so much easier even if beside the point.