Christian Paradox

[Minimalist]

I keep this handy in "Favorites" for just these questions.

http://www.worldagesarchive.com/Referenc...ers%29.htm

In the last quarter century or so, archaeologists have seen one settled assumption after another concerning who the ancient Israelites were and where they came from proved false. Rather than a band of invaders who fought their way into the Holy Land, the Israelites are now thought to have been an 'indigenous culture that developed west of the Jordan River around 1200 B.C. Abraham, Isaac, and the other patriarchs appear to have been spliced together out of various pieces of local lore.

If this article piques your interest you might move on to:

http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Unearthed-Ar...0684869136

[LEDO]

We could start with the talking snake. Snakes don't have vocal cords, and if they did I doubt if they would use them to speak Hebrew.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I'd like to ask any agnostics or atheist, who have previously believed in a God, what Paradoxes in Christianity, or any religion, could you identify that caused reasonable doubt?

I have not an do not claim my disbelief is due to many of the many inherent contradictions within Christianity beginning with the most blatantly obvious:The infinite qualities ascribed the Abrahamic god are mutually exclusive.I reject the exceptions used by apologists. IF you are really interested,GOOGLE is your friend.

My atheism is not a choice,or even the result of a single conscious decision. I think of my position as an inevitable conclusion. I spent over 20 years looking for evidence for god.I have never seen any evidence for any supernatural claim made by anyone. That includes the existence of any god(s), revealed truths of all kinds,the soul, the mind as separate from the body,paranormal,fortune telling of any kind,(including biblical prophecy), luck or fate.

I also freely admit the possibility of error. I will believe in gods,unicorns, leprechauns or the Loch Ness monster immediately there is some proof.My standard of proof is that used in the scientific method. I will accept nothing less. I'm aware this may sound arrogant. It's not that I don't want to believe,it's that I'm unable to believe.

[chatpilot]

The main thing that started raising doubts in mind about my faith was the problem of evil. For example I could not see how there was so much wrong with the world and god being who he is was doing absolutely nothing to fix some of the problems. Here is a list of the things that bothered me the most.
1. prostitutes and drug addicts being so fertile while honest couples that really wanted children were unable to have them.

2. Children born with birth defects such as siamese twins, rearranged organs, awkward growths on their bodies, dual sexual organs, extra or lack of appendages etc.

3. why bad things happen to good people: it seems like bad people get away with all sorts of shit and live forever and good folk who have a zest for life attract all sorts of maladies such as cancer at a young age etc. Not scientific facts just observations.

4. World hunger: why are these people in the poorest countries in the world so fertile if supposedly according to the scriptures all children come from god. If this is the case then his judgment stinks.

5. The abuse and murder of innocent children and animals the world over

These are just some examples, not to mention the many contradicting tales of Jesus death, trial, and resurrection as told in the synaptic gospels and the book of John.

[Eilonnwy]

could you please be more specific on the problem of evil?

Sure.

"Is He willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is impotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Whence then is evil?"

Source: http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?t...em_of_evil

The wiki article delves into the discussion more deeply.

In essence, Christians make certain claims about God, that he is all powerful, all good, all knowing, etc... But then you get into issues, well why does suffering exist? Why does evil exist? There are many reasons I have been given, free will, preparation for heaven, the devil did it. None of these satisfactorily answer it for me.

[Violet]

Now wait a minute... how in heaven can a pair of socks be christian?

Don't be silly, socks can't be Christian or go to heaven. On the other hand, shoes can go to heaven if they lead a good life. You see, it turns out that shoes have souls!

It's times like these that make me wish I'd installed a "thumbs down" button...

But it was FUNNY!

Jeeze :S

On topic: Why can the 'Angry Desert God' be interpreted in so many different ways without anyone really being 'wrong'?

[fr0d0]

On topic: Why can the 'Angry Desert God' be interpreted in so many different ways without anyone really being 'wrong'?

You just have to be an Atheist - they always get it wrong

[Tiberius]

"Is He willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is impotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Whence then is evil?"

You forgot the extra bit:

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

[Violet]

On topic: Why can the 'Angry Desert God' be interpreted in so many different ways without anyone really being 'wrong'?

You just have to be an Atheist - they always get it wrong

You've become a pantheist on us, fr0d0?

[fr0d0]

I have nothing against any belief Sae. Doesn't mean I also agree with them