(January 13, 2014 at 12:15 pm)Tea Earl Grey Hot Wrote: It's revealing to see who in this thread refused to play this game.

I cannot, with a straight face and a clear conscience, be in support of man-made religion.

Hm. The Bible is a complex document not intended and not able to be comprehended solely through reason. It is not meant to convert the unbeliever but to instruct the believer, who reads it in communion with the Holy Spirit and is thus able to discern it's true meaning. Logic and evidence alone are insufficient tools for examining a document that requires divine understanding.

(January 13, 2014 at 12:21 pm)Drich Wrote: if they did not play how do we know they refused?

Um, you're one of the ones who didn't play.

If the OP is truly serious, perhaps he could challenge an atheist to a formal debate on a central claim in which he argued the anti or atheist position, and the atheist did the reverse.

I'm sure these type of exercises have their utility in sharpening one's understanding, I just don't see an adequate payoff involved for me. If I had to, I'd likely pursue an argument from subjectivity, in line with Chad and Benny's thoughts, though perhaps that's an inappropriate side of the fence for me.

(ETA: As an interesting twist, the debaters would have to submit their arguments for their true position on the question in secret to a moderator; then afterwards, the true arguments of each debater could be compared to the devil's advocate's arguments.)

God said, I believe it, that settles it.

(January 13, 2014 at 2:16 pm)Chas Wrote: God said, I believe it, that settles it.

HELLO PEOPLE OF EARTH. I AM JESUS. WHAT OTHER PROOF COULD YOU NEED?

Come on Drich, can't you play along?