10 Questions Every Christian Needs To Answer.

[Zidneya]

Christian hat off.

Good.
Now burn it.

[ignoramus]

Doesn't the answer to q10 contradict q3.
Most peoples god on this earth isn't the Christian god, so aren't you in effect taking your chances yourself just as we atheists are seemingly taking our chances.

Herein lies the paradox. Every religious person believes their god is the 1 true god.
Now you know why we atheists are "skeptical" of all religions.
We are basically NOT prepared to take our chances on something we cannot feel, measure, comprehend, analyse or see. (Either directly or implied or inferred)

[Polaris]

1. How is the method by which you became a Christian reliable?

Praying...did it many times before and it worked (Holy Spirit and such, not the answered prayers stuff you hear people talk about).

2. Apart from church dogma, how can you know what happens when we die?

I really don't care about the afterlife. I prefer to live in the here and now.

3. What if you and your silly bible are wrong and there is no heaven, hell or afterlife of any kind?

I'd just be dead and not be in any capacity to care.

4. If you are God's unthinking lacky, how can you call yourself moral? Do you really think morality is simply a question of rule following?

I just live my life according to the values I intrinsically have had...I added a few restrictions (not marrying a divorced woman, abstaining from eating blood), but that is just extra.

5. Even if there is a God, you are obviously free to do what you want. The prisons are full of Christians. Do you or do you not believe God gave man free will?

On the prisons being full of Christians, prison is a depressing place and many turn to faith because they have nowhere else to turn. It's what gets many through the misery.

6. If all you do is follow God's rules, how does your life have any meaning? What makes it your life?

There is a lot of freedom in the in-between especially since I don't have to follow a lot of the restrictions that both observant Jews and Moslems face.

7. Where did that which you believe created the universe come from? (And if anything can always have existed, why not the universe and all its prior conditions?)

I change my beliefs of the origin of the universe based upon the best scientific data that is available...collapsing universe theory was my favored before the new data on dark energy was made available.

8. What about miracles? Aside from the most ridiculous claims, wouldn't most of what technology makes possible today have seemed miraculous to the ancients? So what's the big deal?

They didn't have the technology unless you really believe in ancient aliens.

9. What’s your view of Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris? Do you read anything else but the bible?

I read outside of the Bible, but don't waste my time on people resorting to philosophy. I haven't read much from the Christian authors for that matter either, which also use philosophy to back up their points.

10. If there is but one God, then why does every society have a different religion? [Props to Jenny.]
[/quote]

The majority of the people of this world all claim to worship the same God, but do so in a way fitting with their cultural values. If you want the hardcore Fundie version, the other people worship demons.

[Whateverist]

1. How is the method by which you became a Christian reliable?

Praying...did it many times before and it worked (Holy Spirit and such, not the answered prayers stuff you hear people talk about).

But aren't you answering a how-question with a what-answer? If praying is what you did to become a Christain, then my question is what makes that reliable (ie, how can you trust it)?

2. Apart from church dogma, how can you know what happens when we die?

I really don't care about the afterlife. I prefer to live in the here and now.

Good answer.

3. What if you and your silly bible are wrong and there is no heaven, hell or afterlife of any kind?

I'd just be dead and not be in any capacity to care.

Another good answer.

4. If you are God's unthinking lacky, how can you call yourself moral? Do you really think morality is simply a question of rule following?

I just live my life according to the values I intrinsically have had...I added a few restrictions (not marrying a divorced woman, abstaining from eating blood), but that is just extra.

And that makes three good ones in a row.

5. Even if there is a God, you are obviously free to do what you want. The prisons are full of Christians. Do you or do you not believe God gave man free will?

On the prisons being full of Christians, prison is a depressing place and many turn to faith because they have nowhere else to turn. It's what gets many through the misery.

Christianity does seem to be a belief system designed to buoy the downtrodden.

6. If all you do is follow God's rules, how does your life have any meaning? What makes it your life?

There is a lot of freedom in the in-between especially since I don't have to follow a lot of the restrictions that both observant Jews and Moslems face.

That is a valid criticism, and one I thought of too when writing it. But I was mostly just trying to model the questions off of that earlier thread about the 10 questions atheists must answer.

7. Where did that which you believe created the universe come from? (And if anything can always have existed, why not the universe and all its prior conditions?)

I change my beliefs of the origin of the universe based upon the best scientific data that is available...collapsing universe theory was my favored before the new data on dark energy was made available.

Thank you for not reaching for the first-mover crapola.

8. What about miracles? Aside from the most ridiculous claims, wouldn't most of what technology makes possible today have seemed miraculous to the ancients? So what's the big deal?

They didn't have the technology unless you really believe in ancient aliens.

So you would agree that miracles are pretty much irrelevant to what Christians should believe?***

9. What’s your view of Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris? Do you read anything else but the bible?

I read outside of the Bible, but don't waste my time on people resorting to philosophy. I haven't read much from the Christian authors for that matter either, which also use philosophy to back up their points.

Oh well, most of the people on this board have some weird reason for dismissing philosophy. I have a retired mathematician friend who feels the same way. I'll let this sleeping dog lie.

10. If there is but one God, then why does every society have a different religion? [Props to Jenny.]


The majority of the people of this world all claim to worship the same God, but do so in a way fitting with their cultural values. If you want the hardcore Fundie version, the other people worship demons.

I never want the fundie version and am always rooting for theists to claim the high ground. I prefer good theology to crappy, self-congratulatory atheism. (But I will stick to the atheism, thank you very much.)

***Your response to #8 brings up a question I actually do care about. It has always puzzled me that most Christians seem to prefer to think that God works by magic. That makes God seem a little less clever or artful than He would be if He was actually working with an underlying reality. If it is all just magic, it makes it seem like God is just some cosmic force that poops galaxies. If there was some craft/technology/insight involved in His miracles, I'd actually be more impressed. Any response?

[John V]

I must confess the questions are more farcical than anything else.

OK, I'll try to remember not to respond to you in the future.

[Whateverist]

There it is. Holier than Thou. That's what makes our xtians so quaint and charming.

[Lemonvariable72]

There it is. Holier than Thou. That's what makes our xtians so quaint and charming.

I.suppose the concept of tongue in check escapes him

[Polaris]

I can't trust my praying to work for everyone because it was something I personally experienced.

Miracles don't have an impact on what I believe, but did more so when I was younger before being Christian I think. On what you called magic, even now there is so much we don't know about our universe. What appears to be random turns out not to be quite as random when we go delve into the unknown.

[orangebox21]

1. How is the method by which you became a Christian reliable?

I am innocent until proven guilty.

2. Apart from church dogma, how can you know what happens when we die?

I don't. No one has the direct knowledge of what happens when we die. All of us accept what happens 'after death' on authority.

3. What if you and your silly bible are wrong and there is no heaven, hell or afterlife of any kind?

This knowledge is unattainable. Prior to the gaining of this knowledge I would cease to exist.

4. If you are God's unthinking lacky, how can you call yourself moral?

If I'm unthinking how can I answer your question?

Depends upon your standard of morality. If we use the absolute standard of morality, then I don't consider myself moral.

Do you really think morality is simply a question of rule following?

No. The law (rule following) is our schoolmaster. It brings us to the knowledge that we are not moral.

5. Even if there is a God, you are obviously free to do what you want. The prisons are full of Christians. Do you or do you not believe God gave man free will?

We would have to define free will. When you say free will, free from what?

6. If all you do is follow God's rules, how does your life have any meaning? What makes it your life?

'All I do' isn't following God's rules, no one can nor has done such a thing.

If all your being does is follow naturalistic laws then how does your life have any meaning, or how is it your life? Isn't it natures life?

The meaning of my life should be the reflection of God's glory. If I'm not doing that, then it is to my shame.

7. Where did that which you believe created the universe come from? (And if anything can always have existed, why not the universe and all its prior conditions?)

God is eternal. I don't outright reject the assertion that the universe could be eternal, we can certainly view that as a possibility, however the Biblical and scientific evidence shows the contrary.

8. What about miracles? Aside from the most ridiculous claims, wouldn't most of what technology makes possible today have seemed miraculous to the ancients? So what's the big deal?

Please clarify the question? Are you saying that God used technology to part the red sea? Are you saying that technology could explain how the red sea parted? Something else?

9. What’s your view of Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris? Do you read anything else but the bible?

Don't know enough about those men to comment but Dawkins intrigues me. Do you have a book recommendation?

Yes, I do read books other than the Bible, mostly academic-style books.

10. If there is but one God, then why does every society have a different religion? [Props to Jenny.]

If there is but one science, why are there different theories?

But seriously I only see two religions on the planet: the works based religion, i.e. belief in being a good person, and the Biblical religion, i.e. man cannot merit being a good person (God saves man). I would place the atheists into the works based position because while he/she doesn't believe in any permanent reward for good behavior, he/she still believes in being a 'good person'.

Do not misconstrue my point here. I'm in no way advocating a person shouldn't seek to do good and not evil, right and not wrong.

[Whateverist]

1. How is the method by which you became a Christian reliable?

I am innocent until proven guilty.

You have a sense of humor. That's a good thing.

---

2. Apart from church dogma, how can you know what happens when we die?

I don't. No one has the direct knowledge of what happens when we die. All of us accept what happens 'after death' on authority.

3. What if you and your silly bible are wrong and there is no heaven, hell or afterlife of any kind?

This knowledge is unattainable. Prior to the gaining of this knowledge I would cease to exist.

4. If you are God's unthinking lacky, how can you call yourself moral?

If I'm unthinking how can I answer your question?

Depends upon your standard of morality. If we use the absolute standard of morality, then I don't consider myself moral.

Do you really think morality is simply a question of rule following?

No. The law (rule following) is our schoolmaster. It brings us to the knowledge that we are not moral.

5. Even if there is a God, you are obviously free to do what you want. The prisons are full of Christians. Do you or do you not believe God gave man free will?

We would have to define free will. When you say free will, free from what?

6. If all you do is follow God's rules, how does your life have any meaning? What makes it your life?

'All I do' isn't following God's rules, no one can nor has done such a thing.

If all your being does is follow naturalistic laws then how does your life have any meaning, or how is it your life? Isn't it natures life?

The meaning of my life should be the reflection of God's glory. If I'm not doing that, then it is to my shame.

7. Where did that which you believe created the universe come from? (And if anything can always have existed, why not the universe and all its prior conditions?)

God is eternal. I don't outright reject the assertion that the universe could be eternal, we can certainly view that as a possibility, however the Biblical and scientific evidence shows the contrary.

---

8. What about miracles? Aside from the most ridiculous claims, wouldn't most of what technology makes possible today have seemed miraculous to the ancients? So what's the big deal?

Please clarify the question? Are you saying that God used technology to part the red sea? Are you saying that technology could explain how the red sea parted? Something else?

What interests me here is the assumption that what God wants, God gets - without any expertise or skill involved. From God's point of view wouldn't you think there was something He'd do to cause the Red sea to part. How do we know there is no underlying restraints in the problem that wouldn't need finessing by Him? Why assume it is just a wiggle of the nose or a blink and .. presto!

If there was absolutely nothing besides God how would He know He existed? Of what would He be self-aware? Don't get your hopes up. I don't actually think for even a moment that this makes any sense at all. I really don't. But if you do, why must it be magic?

[quote='whateverist' pid='708741' dateline='1405402889']
9. What’s your view of Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris? Do you read anything else but the bible?

Don't know enough about those men to comment but Dawkins intrigues me. Do you have a book recommendation?

Yes, I do read books other than the Bible, mostly academic-style books.
No, sorry I don't have any recommendations. Hitchens is amusing to watch on youtube. The other guys two are also smart as hell but their motivations and insights are suspect. Others might like to chime in with recommendations. I have no interest in reading anything by any of them. Tip of the hat to you for reading widely and being open.

10. If there is but one God, then why does every society have a different religion? [Props to Jenny.]

If there is but one science, why are there different theories?

But seriously I only see two religions on the planet: the works based religion, i.e. belief in being a good person, and the Biblical religion, i.e. man cannot merit being a good person (God saves man). I would place the atheists into the works based position because while he/she doesn't believe in any permanent reward for good behavior, he/she still believes in being a 'good person'.

Do not misconstrue my point here. I'm in no way advocating a person shouldn't seek to do good and not evil, right and not wrong.

Well I expect no reward beyond the instantaneous state of mind that accompanies each act and thought. I definitely don't anticipate any form of afterlife, do you? Neither do I expect there to be any judging.

In another sense, there is much within our psyche (soul if you like) which is a gift not owing to our own efforts or conscious power. I am thankful for good days and insight and inspiration and caring relationships. Nothing should be taken for granted but I don't spend any time thinking how to please some one or some thing beyond myself. There is lots of mystery left in our lives even without gods and certainly plenty to be in awe of when we stop to consider.