Apparently convinced that God is incapable of speaking for, or defending Himself, or the Bible, there are many Christians who take it upon themselves to speak for Him, and in their desperation to justify their beliefs, make fools of themselves and their religion.
In a recent post – On a book review, Frank Angle asked if there could be a reasonable discussion about the relationship of Science and Christianity. The answer is yes, if the discussion is among intelligent, knowledgeable, open-minded people.
Among these vociferous Bible-thumpers, many of whom self-identify as Christian Apologetics, it seems that, the less they know, the more they have to say about it. An American Protestant minister recently suggested to his flock that they might consider using a more up-to-date translation version of the Bible, for clarity, and ease of reading. This was immediately shot down when a religious maven in the congregation stood up, and loudly proclaimed that, “If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.”
Not only do some of these Apologetics have trouble with facts and logic, they also seem to struggle with language and definitions. One hyper-Christian seemed quite disturbed that Professors, researchers and leaders of Denominations other than his, learn about and teach things that his narrow-minded tenets won’t admit to. Finally, with a flippant wave of his hand blog-post, he dismissed all of them with the self-contradictory label of “Atheist Theologians.”
It is becoming common for Christian defenders to use the ‘Was you dere, Hymie?’ argument to any Atheist who claims to see no proof of God’s existence. They will ask, “Have you been to every place in the Universe? Isn’t it possible that God is hiding inside the Sun, or beneath the ammonia seas of Jupiter, or on some tiny planet wayyy over on the other side of the Universe?”
I immediately have problems with the idea of God needing, or even worse, wanting to hide from us. Shouldn’t He be evident in all His radiant glory? Who, or what, would God have to hide from? And this ‘hiding’ business contradicts the Christians’ claims that ‘God is everywhere, in every thing, and in every space, permeating the entirety of Creation.’ C’mon guys…. Ya can’t have it both ways.
One of the sillier claims to appear recently was from Eddie the Evangelist, who seems to believe that some people become Atheists to appear smarter. If this is the best desperate argument that Apologetics have to offer, it won’t take much to appear smarter than that.
I will admit that there are people who identify as Atheists, who smugly believe that they, and only they, have seen the truth, much like some Christians, and are therefore smarter than them. It all comes back to definitions and reality. Even if someone claims to be an Atheist because he’s angry at God for something, or to appear smarter, then he really isn’t an Atheist, because he still believes in God, the Apologetics’ claim isn’t really valid, and there’s no need of argument.
If Apologetics were absolutely, positively sure that God and salvation exists and they were right and that Atheists’ claims were false, then there would be no reason for these embarrassing, desperate claims and debates. All the egotistical fuss they make is really about the fact that everyone doesn’t agree with them. 😛
What is disappointing about both apologists and atheists is that they are missing the point of what faith is about, which is belief without proof. Faith in a higher power is a beautiful thing if one can open his or her mind to it. It eludes me, sadly.
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I think that most Atheists are very aware of what faith is. It must be very comforting to just mindlessly accept – anything. I can’t do it, because I have a head stuffed full of knowledge, cynicism, individuality, questions and stubborn.
Not having ‘faith’ can lead to sleepless nights. Is that why you’re up past your (and M’s) bedtime? Dear Lord! It’s not tomorrow already, is it? 😉
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H.E, where are you getting that definition of faith? What is believing in something that we have good reason to believe in?
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DICTIONARY:
strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
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As a US Army Lt. Colonel once told me – Please don’t feed the trolls. It just gives them an unfounded sense of vindication and further entitlement. 😉
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If by, “good reason to believe in,” you mean something with demonstrable evidence, then it can easily be shown and proved to others. If you simply mean something that you want to believe – something that makes you feel good believing, then the answer to your question is ‘Delusion,’ and sooner or later, it’s gonna bite you, and probably others as well. 😳
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A very interesting read! I can’t help but wonder why so many people spend so much time and energy trying to convince others of something which is fundamentally impossible to prove
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I’ve convinced myself that I know why – Ego and Insecurity. It’s all there in the last paragraph. 😯
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Yes I can understand that but it’s so absolutely futile. The faithful doubt their own faith and the atheists may not be 100% sure so they constantly need to reassure themselves with arguments and none of us likes to be proved wrong but that’s the point. Surely all these people must know that they cannot possibly prove themselves right or the other person wrong???? When life is so short, why waste so much time?
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Everyone believes they have a spirit, an inner conversation partner. This soul becomes eternal because of the delusion that humans (the chosen ones) are special. Ego, narcissism, delusion, fear of not knowing, et al. play a part. Religion is a scam and resurrection is a delusion. Believers are schizo and don’t like being told so. GROG
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I rarely argue religion with anyone. How can you have an intelligent discussion with people who answer every question with “you have to believe” ?
Well, I used to believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny…but that doesn’t mean they’re real.
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Apologetics claim that science doesn’t have the answer to every question – but they have the same answer to every question – GOD did it. 😕
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That is a Straw Man argument. Not only apologetics claims that science can’t answer every question. Non-believing philosophers have no issue with admitting the limitations of science. For example, science tells us nothing about making moral choices, nor can science prove science.
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With respect, science is a methodology, not an ideology. The alternative to science is superstition.
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Thanks for the comment-I do agree that science is a methodology. However, that doesn’t seem to contradict what I have said. Science is a methodology that has limitations, which is fine. I am not sure I agree that the alternative to science is superstition though necessarily.
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Speaking of willful belief, I’m reminded of a statement by talk-show host Megyn Kelly that Jesus was a white man. Well, isn’t that obvious? His picture is all over the place! (According to her, Santa Claus was too, and by the same reasoning.) I’m surprised that she hasn’t been elected to Congress already. She’d fit right in.
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Indeed! She seems highly qualified. 😉
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Too many preachers claim that “God told me…God revealed to me.” And I don’t go to church anymore.
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If people hear voices, we give them treatment and medication – unless the voice identifies itself as GOD…. and tells them to buy a handgun. 😯
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I don’t think God’s place of residence is in question any more. It’s where He keeps His throne — on the planet Kolob, somewhere in the universe. And that maven is absolutely correct. Jesus wouldn’t have written the KJV if he hadn’t meant for it to be our final source of knowledge.
God is much more specific when He talks to me about guns. I’m the proud owner of an AR15, which I take everywhere with me. Her name is Matilda. Perhaps I can introduce you some day. He hasn’t been so exacting about what kind of knife I need. Maybe you could make a suggestion.
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Shhh…don’t say ‘guns’ too loud. I’m in Canada, and we’re not even supposed to use that word.
I would love to meet (you and) Matilda. Perhaps you could show me what she can do. As for knives, one can never have too many. My everyday carry is a 3-1/2″, Gerber lockback, but the son, wife and I own about 100, from a 1″ miniature folder, up to 2 Katanas, and 2 rapiers 😀
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good point, live and let live.
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Or, ‘Be sure mind is in motion before engaging mouth.’ 😯
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You said, “If Apologetics were absolutely, positively sure that God and salvation exists and they were right and that Atheists’ claims were false, then there would be no reason for these embarrassing, desperate claims and debates.”
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The above comment is actually a No True Scotsman fallacy.
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So then the debate shifts to what can be easily shown to others? Your Straw Man does not work here- most men don’t want to believe in God, yet they do by the evidence.
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Neither I nor anyone else possesses a monopoly on truth and wisdom and neither does any ideology.
My father watched his family murdered by Nazi troops. (You don’t want to know how he survived.) I had an uncle who survived a concentration camp only to be murdered when his grocery store was robbed. On what part of the religious spectrum do you think I reside?
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[…] recently published a post titled Desperation, in which I showed the amusing and troubling problems of trying to have a calm, reasoned discussion […]
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