You're too kind but we're glad to help. It comes with practice of debating with apologists and seeing the patterns.
If you haven't done so already, google "logical fallacies". That will help. Some of the most commonly used are "special pleading", "false dilemma", "begging the question", "circular reasoning", "non sequitur" and my favorite, the abuse of the "ad hoc hypothesis"
This is probably the most despicable part of Islamo-Christianity and what makes these religions so dangerous and so prone to violence and intolerance: The faith-based salvation scheme. The terrifying images of Hell are what drive so many believers to commit acts of violence. After all, if killing an unrepentant heathen like me will save their child like you, why not?
Here's my favorite answer:
OK, let's assume God exists.
Let's also assume there is an afterlife (the two are separate issues)
Let's also assume that we retain memory and personality in the afterlife.
Let's also assume that there's a judgment day to determine our fate in the afterlife.
All that assumed for the sake of argument, let's say we're dead. We're standing before God. On what basis is it most likely that God will judge our character? What question do you think a just and good God would ask to evaluate our worth?
1. How well did we love?
2. Is the universe better or worse off for having known us?
3. Did we conduct ourselves with integrity and respect for others?
or
4. Did we join the right church?
5. Did we have the correct but unproven metaphysical beliefs?
6. Did we remember to perform the right rituals?
It's easy to understand why the priest, pastor or mullah would tell us that faith is important. It's not clear why this is important to an attention hungry and jealous god who yet hides his existence.
These questions also underscore why a faith-based salvation scheme is neither necessary nor helpful to promote morality.
If you haven't done so already, google "logical fallacies". That will help. Some of the most commonly used are "special pleading", "false dilemma", "begging the question", "circular reasoning", "non sequitur" and my favorite, the abuse of the "ad hoc hypothesis"
(July 7, 2011 at 12:41 pm)searchingforanswers Wrote: its kinda sad really cuz i can tell they think im in some sort of otherwordly trouble. every debate ends with "well you dont know how time you have. i hope you see the light before its over."
This is probably the most despicable part of Islamo-Christianity and what makes these religions so dangerous and so prone to violence and intolerance: The faith-based salvation scheme. The terrifying images of Hell are what drive so many believers to commit acts of violence. After all, if killing an unrepentant heathen like me will save their child like you, why not?
Here's my favorite answer:
OK, let's assume God exists.
Let's also assume there is an afterlife (the two are separate issues)
Let's also assume that we retain memory and personality in the afterlife.
Let's also assume that there's a judgment day to determine our fate in the afterlife.
All that assumed for the sake of argument, let's say we're dead. We're standing before God. On what basis is it most likely that God will judge our character? What question do you think a just and good God would ask to evaluate our worth?
1. How well did we love?
2. Is the universe better or worse off for having known us?
3. Did we conduct ourselves with integrity and respect for others?
or
4. Did we join the right church?
5. Did we have the correct but unproven metaphysical beliefs?
6. Did we remember to perform the right rituals?
It's easy to understand why the priest, pastor or mullah would tell us that faith is important. It's not clear why this is important to an attention hungry and jealous god who yet hides his existence.
These questions also underscore why a faith-based salvation scheme is neither necessary nor helpful to promote morality.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
