Forum theists: when you have a moment, please...

[Athene]

Am I only one who thinks it would be great to see more threads started by some of the established theists on these forums? 

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I'm not trying to be snooty or discourage theists that have recently joined from participating, but there has been a massive influx of new members starting threads that are just insane.

It would be nice to see more conversations started by theists who know what they're talking about and happen to be familiar with the rules of engagement. 

Just a thought.

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Yes, you are the only one who thinks that such a thing would be great.

I doubt that...but thanks for responding.

[loganonekenobi]

I've not started many threads and the ones I have, haven't been for a lot of comments. The reason I do not start threads that will be conversation pieces is because most atheist here do not want to have intelligent conversation about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or the Bible, instead they want to insult and derail such conversations. I find most atheist do not know enough about the Bible to have those kinds of conversations, this is not intended as demeaning, it's just fact. They rely on Google or whatever to get as little info as they can to make comments. Using a verse or two for these kinds of conversations is inappropriate for these types of conversations. They also use what others say as fact whether they get it from the forum or the net, they do not know enough about scriptures to form their own opinions, believe me I've tried to get original ideas from them. Again I'm not saying any of this as demeaning, it's what I've observed over the last five years. So I would rather join in on threads where I find interest.

GC

I have gone to churches and bible studies just to get a perspective on what was being taught. I tried to read the bible from front to back but the KJ version is incomprehenible to me with out understanding the english of the times. you must understand that in america most of us where raised as some sort of Christian so you cant say that all atheist just dont understand the bible. we just dont see it the way you do and apparently in your opinion that makes us ignorant to the reading of the bible.

[loganonekenobi]

There may very well be atheists here who have read and studied the Bible objectively. There are certainly several who have studied the book with bias towards it at some point...no shortage of ex-theists here. Why does understanding the Bible mean accepting it in its entirety as truth, in your eyes?

 I don't expect any atheist to accept the entire Bible, what I would expect is an honest look at what Christians say. I wanted to avoid this phrase but I guess in the end it's not possible, "cherry picking," is no way to try and understand the Bible, I've tried to avoid "cherry picking" scientific books and haven't used any such practice here. Most all the teachings in scripture cover more than one book and many cover both the OT and NT. Most atheist just get mad when accused of "cherry picking" instead of trying to understand the whole of the teaching through many verses and books. Would you use this practice in school studies, of coarse not, it's no way to learn.

GC

so you are saying that if one could link the stories in the bible then it wouldn't sound so awefull? Okay sir you have that challege. as an atheist...show me. lets start with how the creation myth of the bible differs from the creation myths of other faiths and why it should be considered true when others are not?

[Minimalist]

Hey, the prof should have plenty of time now that the rapture has crapped out for the umpteenth time.

[Silver]

He'll just make another fake proclamation that will not pan out in the end.

[Athene]

Didn't he mention hanging up his hat, if the end doesn't begin by the last day of October?

[houseofcantor]

Am I only one...

Yes.

Seriously, whenever a theist is making good points, other atheists jump in with the standard red herrings to thorw things off course. Why would I bother making threads when I know this will happen?

Your faith is weak.

[Mr Greene]

God created the laws they are his to circumvent.

GC

Why should anyone be above the law? Are you not making the case for some form of divine Magna Carta right here?

[mediocrates]

What exactly am I to look at outside a book that is based on a spiritual relationship with God...

it actually opposes some of what we understand in the physical world...

Two very good points!

There isn't anything to look at besides the one book.  That's part of the problem.  If a scientist wrote a paper that claimed that he'd found a cure for cancer in some tree bark somewhere, nobody would believe it until it was peer reviewed and replicated.  That's how proving things works.  One paper, or one book, doesn't cut it.

why?

Because it opposes so much of what we observe in the physical world!

[GrandizerII]

God created the laws they are his to circumvent.

GC

Why should anyone be above the law? Are you not making the case for some form of divine Magna Carta right here?

How I see it is that a fair God would not put himself above the law. We don't expect any human leader of our civilized countries to do so. Otherwise, they would be dictators. Why not the same expectation for God?