Apologists and the bible

[Bob Kelso]

I'm with Cinjin and Min on this, apologists are filthy little shits that delight in their mental back-flips and their own interests.

So your friend is intellectual, so what? That doesn't mean he can't be an idiot about religion, he's evidently thrown reason to the dogs by accepting unsubstantiated supernatural bullshit in the first place.

[sven]

I'm with Cinjin and Min on this, apologists are filthy little shits that delight in their mental back-flips and their own interests.

So your friend is intellectual, so what? That doesn't mean he can't be an idiot about religion, he's evidently thrown reason to the dogs by accepting unsubstantiated supernatural bullshit in the first place.

I'm not saying that I haven't wanted to strangle some christians with their own disemboweled intestines when I've talked to them about religion. But its a matter of tone (and avoiding very messy murders) you know.
My friend isn't an apologist like you think of them. I think he's unwittingly regurgitating some of their arguments. He's basically just a human being who has existential problems, I think.

[Bob Kelso]

Then let him be a fearful twit for a while, rebuff any proselytizing and make your position known by dismantling his bullshit when the subject comes up.

[John V]

@OP:

Seems like:

You make arguments.
Your friend makes counter-arguments.
You come here to have other atheists tell you you're doing well.

[Tonus]

I'm not saying that I haven't wanted to strangle some christians with their own disemboweled intestines when I've talked to them about religion.

I am thankful to not have met any of those particular Christians, as the worst that I've ever wanted to do to one is... I can't think of anything worse than 'smile dismissively.' Not quite the same as strangling them with their own viscera, but also not nearly as colorful. Or... wet.

Be grateful, your friend has taught you that being intelligent doesn't mean that a person will not sublimate his reasonable nature in order to make room for religion. People put aside logic to make room for insanity from time to time. He's not a Celtics fan, by any chance?

[Neo-Scholastic]

I have to ask why you feel the need to turn him into an atheist.
Has he tried to turn you to religion?
Has he turned into an arsehole since taking up religion?

Honestly, I don't feel the need to turn him into an atheist. It just irks me that he, the most intelligent person I know, is religious. So I guess I would prefer if he was an atheist. But I don't think I can turn him into one.

You guys really need to get over your feelings of intellectual superiority. Get a clue. Atheists do not have a monopoly on reason or education.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Probably the most educated and intelligent guy I know loves Jesus. Graduated first of the entire year in medicine at Oxford the year before I graduated. Passed his consultancy exams before the age of 28 whilst completing a PhD in an endocrinology field looking at diabetes in early adults part time.

And I can't even finish my PhD part time, let alone be an MD. :-(

He also happens to be good at squash, but sucks hard at badminton. 1 upmanship FTW!

[Esquilax]

Honestly, I don't feel the need to turn him into an atheist. It just irks me that he, the most intelligent person I know, is religious. So I guess I would prefer if he was an atheist. But I don't think I can turn him into one.

You guys really need to get over your feelings of intellectual superiority. Get a clue. Atheists do not have a monopoly on reason or education.

That's not even what Sven is saying, Chad. He understands- even fully admits in the post you quoted- that his theist friend is super intelligent; his problem seems to be (and do tell me otherwise if I'm wrong here, Sven ) that someone so intelligent believes this one concept that, to an atheist anyway, is so obviously incorrect.

By and large, I don't think you'll find many atheists here who'll seriously say that every single christian is stupid. Just that you're all wrong, on this issue.

[sven]

You guys really need to get over your feelings of intellectual superiority. Get a clue. Atheists do not have a monopoly on reason or education.

That's not even what Sven is saying, Chad. He understands- even fully admits in the post you quoted- that his theist friend is super intelligent; his problem seems to be (and do tell me otherwise if I'm wrong here, Sven ) that someone so intelligent believes this one concept that, to an atheist anyway, is so obviously incorrect.

By and large, I don't think you'll find many atheists here who'll seriously say that every single christian is stupid. Just that you're all wrong, on this issue.

Yes! That is my point exactly. Its frustrating and incomprehensible to me. I wish he had a hidden 'become atheist' button somewhere that I could find and push.

@ alphamale: So what if I do? Don't you seek confirmation from people who share your views?

@Tonus: I should perhaps mention that I am Swedish. The Celtics (the basketball team?) do not exist in Sweden. You do make a good point in your post, however.

[professor]

Sven, you could just continue in your friendship without fretting.

Perhaps your buddy has noticed that no one with your worldview gives a satisfactory answer to the big 3 questions of life:

Where did I come from?
What is the purpose of my life?
Where will I be in 100 years?