Here are 36 GOTCHA “Questions For Atheists” that I stole. None of them seem to have anything to do with his lead paragraph, which said that most Atheists just say that there is no evidence for the existence of God, but some claim that God does not exist – as if there’s a problem or contradiction with that.
- Why is there something rather than nothing?
I don’t know – but neither do you!
- Is there any evidence that suggests the universe is eternal?
Time began when matter began, and mathematical evidence indicates that happened 13.78 Billion years ago, when the Universe unfurled during the so-called Big Bang. So far, we cannot know how, or how long, the singularity existed “before” that, because we can’t step outside the universe to find out
- If not, why do Atheists hold onto the idea and say you have debunked the Kalam Cosmological Argument?
A few Atheists might, but the majority go with the 13-Billion year Big Bang. Neither position relates to the Kalam Cosmological Argument – Everything which comes into existence must have a Creator. This is an unproven claim – which is why it is an “Argument,” not a Proof, or even a Theorem. Prove that the Universe needs a Creator. Prove that your God exists. Prove that ‘your God’ is the Creator.
- If so, why do the vast majority of scientists reject this idea?
See above.
- Why is the universe so fine-tuned?
The description “fine-tuned” implies intent. Perhaps, out of an infinity of universes, this is the only one which didn’t re-collapse, or explode, or was suitable for life to begin.
- If your answer is the multiverse, why is there no evidence for that theory?
See #2 above. We can’t step outside this universe to find evidence of others. Perhaps they no longer exist, to find evidence for.
- Is it possible that there is no natural explanation for the origin of life?
There is already at least one proposed natural explanation for the origin of life. Many ‘Good Christians’ don’t like it, and refuse to accept it, but a ‘natural explanation’ does exist.
- Where does consciousness come from?
See #1. I don’t know, and neither do you! My admission that I don’t know, is not an indication of weakness in any way. I am merely not arrogant or desperate enough to make a claim that I can’t prove.
- Do you lack a belief that God exists or would you say that God does not exist?
Yes! I find no evidence that any ‘God’ exists, and therefore lack any belief. But also, every individual definition/description of God that has ever been presented to me, is so impossible, contradictory, or somehow in error, that I do not believe it exists.
- Do you lack a belief that Zeus exists, or do you believe that Zeus does not exist?
See above. My position of belief in Zeus is precisely the same as my position of belief in the Christian God, the Hebrew Yahweh, the Muslim Allah, or any other supernatural myth.
- If you just lack a belief that Zeus exists, why are you centuries behind the rest of the world who say that Zeus doesn’t exist?
Another great GOTCHA question, Bible-thumper. Have you stopped beating your wife yet?
- Do you act according to what you believe, or what you just lack a belief in?
See above. After carefully removing the word ‘just’, the answer is Yes. I act according to what I believe. To do otherwise is defined as insanity. I also act in ways which avoid things that I don’t believe in, like rich, benevolent Nigerian princes, overdue income tax penalties that can be paid off with prepaid I-Tunes cards…. and God.
- What evidence is there that Atheism corresponds with reality?
What evidence is there that Christianity corresponds to reality? Two thirds of the world disagrees with it.
- Is Atheism a worldview?
Atheism is a position on ONE question – Is there, or is there not – a “God”? Most Atheists hold wildly varying world views, some of which are influenced by their answer to that question.
- If not, what is your worldview?
My worldview is irrelevant to any discussion of the above question. Shit or get off the pot! Can you prove that your God exists, or not?
- What would convince you that God exists?
I don’t know. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. The Bible says that God hardens my heart so that I do not believe, so the ‘God’ that you believe in should be able to reverse the spell, and would know what would convince me. The fact that this has not happened convinces me of His non-existence.
- Are you willing to follow the evidence, even if it leads to a different understanding of how the universe works?
YES! I would ask if you would be willing to do the same, but you have already declared that you would hold onto your faith.
- If Jesus rose from the dead, would you become a Christian?
With three provisos – With reliable proof, not claims, or someone else’s desperate beliefs – Depending on the word games that many Apologists play with the meaning of the term, and – I would not want to worship the Christian God, who seems to be an insecure, narcissistic, capricious, homicidal maniac.
- If you wouldn’t become a Christian, why would you ever accept that he rose from the dead?
Worry about whether or not you can prove your claims before you worry about whether or not I’ll join your club.
- Why do Atheists keep insisting faith is blind trust, when that’s not what Christians or the Bible say?
In Hebrews 11: 1 the Bible says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I’ve seen and heard dozens of Christians who have admitted that’s exactly what faith is. If there is evidence, or proof, there is no need for faith.
- Why do you want material evidence for an immaterial God?
Because many Christians insist that the immaterial God affects the material world – miracles wrought, prayers answered. I see many such claims, but no evidence of their occurrence. An invisible God is indistinguishable from a nonexistent God.
- Is there a purpose to life?
I do not find any externally-applied (objective) “Purpose To Life.” The purpose to life is what we make of it. I regard it as a fortuitous random occurrence, which I am happy to take advantage of.
- If there is, by what standard do you determine life has purpose?
The purpose of life, is to reproduce to carry the species forward into the future. Any purpose to life is whatever the person living it assigns. Some are laudable, while others are despicable, but all are decided on by the individual involved.
- If not, what is the point of listening to this video?
I believe that anyone who thought that there was no purpose to life, would not find any purpose in watching it. With all 36 silly questions carefully printed out and down-loadable, I found no point of wasting half an hour, running the video.
- Where does morality come from?
Wal-Mart! Seriously, ‘morality’ is evolution-driven empathy helping to assure the survival of our social-animal species, and individuals, through The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number.
- How do you determine what is right and what is wrong?
What is right and wrong for me is determined by The Greatest Good, but the For The Greatest Number portion quickly kicks in. I can’t be totally selfish, because of social opprobrium, banishment, and government action, in the form of fines, imprisonment or execution. Even Hitler, when he invaded Poland, did not believe that what he was doing was wrong.
- When a lion kills a cub from another pride because that’s what natural selection has raised it to do, is that morally acceptable?
Christian Apologists insist that only humans have a soul, therefore, whatever happens in the animal kingdom is neither moral, nor immoral. I regard this question as deliberate obfuscation and confusion, to cloud the issue.
- If evolution has put a sense of morality into us to help us survive, what makes our actions any better than any other animals actions?
Better in what way, and why would they need to be? We have a higher level of intelligence, and a greater ability to make others of our species aware of the consequences of choices and actions. Other than that, there is no great difference.
- Is it morally acceptable for you kill a toddler because you can no longer financially support it?
No, because there are several other, less drastic solutions to the problem. Also, to do so constitutes theft, the taking of all the potential experiences and good that the individual might have received, or given out.
- Is it morally acceptable to kill a fetus in the womb because you couldn’t financially support it?
The word ‘morally’ is adding a considerable bias to these questions. It is reluctantly, legally, socially, acceptable to do so, and will continue to be so until implantation into a willing, alternative birth-mother is medically possible.
- Is it morally acceptable to kill a baby after it has been born?
Yes! This is known as Capital Punishment. The Good Christian States of Texas and Florida have perfected the procedure. Also see self-defense and, tragically, War.
- How can you morally differentiate between a baby in the womb at 6 months and a baby born prematurely at 6 months?
The question is non-relevant, unless the writer wants to reference abortion. Morally, there is no difference. Physically, the already-born child has a greater number of people with a greater amount of evolution-generated empathy, concerned for its welfare.
- Who was Jesus?
Why do you ask? Do you not know? How is the answer, in any way, relevant to this discussion?
- Why did his disciples die saying that he rose from the dead?
Why do thousands of people claim that they have been abducted and anally probed by space aliens?? The fact that they believe it does not make it true!
- Why does the Bible keep lining up with archaeology?
Because there were places in the ancient mid-east, which were mentioned, and have been found. What about Biblical references that do not line up with archaeology, such as Noah’s flood, or the supposed destruction of dozens of cities by the Israelites under Joshua. One sparrow does not a summer make.
- Why do the three bloodiest regimes in History, (Mao’s China, Nazi Germany, and Stalin’s Russia) come from Atheistic ideas?
Simple answer?? They didn’t! Hitler was a Catholic, and every Armed Forces belt buckle had Gott Mitt Uns (God Is With Us) imprinted on it. All three of these sociopaths merely wanted to stifle the accepted state religion, and replace it with the religion of personality Idol-Worship, making themselves gods like the Roman Emperors.
This has been far longer than my usual posts. Thank you to those who had enough interest and stamina to wade through to the end. I promise something much shorter next time.
PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
PHOTO PROMPT – © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Archon's Den 