Apologist Matt Slick's atheist daughter tells of her experience growing up

[Rahul]

What i find frustrating sometimes is that many skeptics feel that when they disprove the bible that it somehow proves their point god doesn't exist.

Well I self-deconverted from Southern Baptist without talking to anyone or even reading about issues with religion. Just mulling it over critically for a few years.

I didn't become an Agnostic Atheist because me not believing in Christianity any more proved anything. I haven't found any religion that makes a compelling case for a god.

That doesn't prove god doesn't exist.

It renders the whole point moot.

Maybe there is a god. But if it exists I can't seem to find anyone that knows any details about it. If it cares what we do or don't do, if it wants me to live a certain way, what might happen after I die.

So fuck it. I'm not going to waste my time worrying over it.

[Simon Moon]

Skepticism is healthy, but it doesn't constitute proof one way or another.

It's not supposed to.

To be skeptical is nothing more than to not accept a claim until it is supported by demonstrable evidence, reasoned argument and valid logic.

You are passing the burden of proof to the skeptic, when it actually resides with the person making the claim.

What i find frustrating sometimes is that many skeptics feel that when they disprove the bible that it somehow proves their point god doesn't exist. In other words they are throwing out the principles of science out the door the same as religionists.

Are you just making up these skeptics?

I have never met an atheist, or even heard of one, that claims that disproving the Bible disproves the existence of all possible gods.

It is reasonable and quite acceptable in my opinion to state that the preponderance of evidence does not support the existence of god as christians believe, but it doesn't in any way provide proof that "god" doesn't exist.

You would not be in disagreement with the majority of atheists.

You seem to have this notion that atheists are making the claim that a god does not exist, when in reality, atheism is the lack of belief that a god exists.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

Also I notice to my disappointment that many athiests are just as closed minded as Christians.

Maybe your idea of close-mindedness is inability to accept unsubstantiated claims. (like the fact that god exists/could exist/might exist/whatever)

My idea of close-mindedness is people who are unwilling to try different ways of doing things, to understand other people's points of view, or to accept different lifestyles.

Saying we're close-minded because we don't believe certain things is rather self-defeating. It sort of means unless we believe in these things you'll always think less of us, because we're close-minded. That makes you rather close-minded.

[Minimalist]

it is difficult not to believe they’re onto something.

They're on something, all right. Religion is the ultimate hallucinogenic drug.

many skeptics feel that when they disprove the bible that it somehow proves their point god doesn't exist.

Not my fucking problem. It is not up to me to disprove the delusions of various god fucks. It is up to them to demonstrate that they are not delusional.

They haven't managed it yet.

[bladevalant546]

I was a frequent to CARM, however I was not a Calvinist. I felt her pain when it came to religion. I was too educated to be critical and independent thinker. However, my parents were rarely “religious” beyond typical Christian morals. My de-conversion was purely intellectual with a hint of emotional pain . It has been a year since I took that plunge into the “abyss” and even still my emotionshave trouble catching up. I am sure a few of my posts ring of theistic leanings and has plenty of fallacies and lack of reason. You do not discount years of Christian teaching in year. Also to point out that we as a family never really had “debates” or even read our bible outside of advent season. The troubles she had reflects the same feeling that I have had. The trauma of realizing all your apologetic knowledge, sharp logic, and fear of punishment was pointless. While I learned great respect and morals from my old religion. It only suppressed my true self and my true expression of myself.

I understand that I still have plenty of logical fallacies to work through. I mean the agnostic world view is new to me, and to fully rationalize it will take time. Which is why I think atheists/agnostics need some kind of support for people to help them “detox” themselves. It really does take time, what people need to do is teach. Like I teach myself every day, you do not have to be right all the time and admitting mistakes, either logical or factual is good for growth. I think more and more “Preachers Kids” are growing up and pulling away from religoun. I think we are growing also as a species.

[Isun]

When there's inherent contradictions in the concept of the god being proposed, then the issue of it being 'real' is moot.

That is something I can completely agree. but having said that, I prefer to just keep an open mind knowing that we know very little how things work. If there was a god, I suspect it is far different then what most people think. Call it " the laws of nature" or the "laws of physics".

[fr0d0]

Good stuff.

Funny she was taught to value critical thinking, which led to her emancipation.
Her childhood sounded horrendous. Brainwashed for sure. How her parents justified that abuse is astounding.
Perhaps that's why religious activists make such a big deal about the 'devil' attacking them. What is really meant is that in that position you can easily lose perspective and your grounding. Awful when children are involved.
So sad she's run away from home and still has no contact with her dad. Epic fail Matt.

[Minimalist]

Then call it the "laws of nature or physics, Isun." Because when you lapse into 'godspeak' you drag along all the holy horseshit that believers insist on attaching to it.

There is wonder in the universe - I don't need some murderous old fuck of a god to appreciate it.

[Clueless Morgan]

Typical communal reinforcement which is all too common among religions. Most Christians I know tend to do this, surround themselves with like-minded people so that your beliefs are constantly reinforced by others agreeing with them.

The sad part to me is that people who do this, who insulate themselves in their like-minded little worlds surrounded by people who don't challenge the ideas that they hold, don't see that as a bad thing at all, they see it as affirming and positive.

[fr0d0]

Matt Slick in the story challenged the idea thoroughly. I think he thought he was doing the same for his daughter. Only he wasn't giving her a choice about it, which is why it was brainwashing.