Why do you not believe in the concept of a God?

[johndoe122931]

That is a whole topic within itself that may be more appropriate on another thread.

I'm guilty of bringing that up, at the risk of derailing the thread. 

My original point was that many of the atheists here reject the Bible because they think Christians have to believe in talking snakes, etc. They are very much unaware of how hermeneutics work. As Terry Eagleton says, they "buy their atheism on the cheap," by describing a simplified caricature of Christianity, and pretending that's all there is. It's frustrating because it's ignorant.

But I'll drop it now. No more responses on that topic from me.

Yes, yes, hermeneutics, exegesis, Textual criticism, Systematic Theology. I have read it all and studied it all. I went to seminary and have a degree in Christian ministry as well am currently working on my bachelors, minor in Religious Studies, blah blah blah so on and so forth. The more I study and surround myself with all of this knowledge of Christianity and religion and with like-minded individuals I find myself drifting farther away from all those big scary theological words and ideas. As Christians, we tend to get so caught up in these things and they become folly and a stumbling block unto us and others. I feel like we tend to miss the most basic understanding of what Jesus taught. 

As for Atheist, I have pretty much given up on debating and arguing over doctrine with them. I now more so want to understand the individual and why they believe sorry not believe the way they do. I am done trying to convince atheists as to why I believe what I believe. Sure I will tell them if they ask and of course, I will be ridiculed and called names and nothing I say will ever convince them, and I'm ok with that. They have made up their mind and I have made up mine, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy their company and talk with them. 

Sorry, this is what I did not want to happen in this thread lol. I can go on and on, but again none of what I say will matter to most people. That is why instead of talking about myself and what I believe I want to truly understand others and what they believe or don't believe and why. Maybe I will start another thread on this topic and we can speak more of it there. Thanks for the post and sorry for going off OP.