Arguing with friend on whether we're cult-like

[Anymouse]

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There is also another important reason why the same quotes and arguments are used over and over again - a reason that I have not seen in this thread yet.
This reason is because the arguments and discussions are always repeated over and over again. Always the same old canards. I mean, let's go through some of them, right?

1: Atheists have no morals because they don't have a god/bible which tells them what to do!
2: Atheism is a religion too!
3: Evolution can't be right because radio-dating gave a wrong number on this piece of fresh soil!
4: Evolution can't be right, cause have you ever seen a cat give birth to a dog?
5: Evolution is just a belief too!
6: Evolution is wrong because some scientists had some facts wrong like a 100 years ago!
7: Moondust prooves the earth is young!
8: Look, the bible/Koran has science in it (refers to very vague passage)

Need I go on?

Ask her *why* atheists should be 'silent and nice'. I mean, really, why? It is typical that many minority groups have often been told exactly that. Feminists, black people, homosexuals...

I agree that atheists often keep repeating the same stuff, and to an outsider it may come across as sort of 'cult like'. Hell, even I sometimes had this impression. And you know, like any ´philosify´ that becomes popular, there are a lot of people who just parrot along, feel themselves much better and superior for following it and not understanding anything of it. Yeah, I do believe that there are quite some atheists that just take many of the arguments and quotes at facevalue, but don´t delve into the science of it themselves. But that does not mean that everyone should shut up and-or stop using the argument that work!

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Mostly, Girlysprite, I get the impression that atheists (and others) repeat the same things over and over to Christians because they keep asking the same questions. But rarely listen to the answers.

Nowhere in my many readings of the Bible have I ever come across commandments nor parables from Jesus nor writings in Paul's epistles that say "Thou shalt not use logic," nor "Thou shalt not propound evolution," nor even "Thou shalt not think."

Any Christian who holds forth that their Scriptures, or their Bible, or their God is opposed to scientific endeavour, or evolution theory, or logic and rhetoric is putting words in God's mouth.

If their God cannot speak for himself, if they have to put words in his mouth, he is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. And if he does not have those two qualities they hold forth as the reason they are worshiping him, why are they worshiping him?

Just saying . . .

James