Using scripture as proof.

[SteveII]

Why is it that xtians / theists seem to always use scripture to prove their point? 

Are people really that weak minded that they can't think for themselves? 
Or is it that they are so scared of judgment that they will defend the idea of god without question? 
I really don't believe that being brought up in a theist atmosphere alone is enough for people to just throw rational thought out the window.

Or maybe they were just never capable of rational thought to begin with and therefor are basically a slave to their own ignorance?

I would like to hear specifically what your goal is here. It seem to me that you are asking a question as cover for a series of insults. If that's what your here for, you are in good company--there are lots of disrespectful, highly-opinionated, obnoxious people here who hide behind the anonymity a forum like this give them. 

If on the other hand, this was a false-start for you and you are here to participate in thoughtful and respectful dialog and learn various views on things, then welcome, we need more like that.

[Neo-Scholastic]

The only times I have quoted scripture have been to correct misinterpreted or misrepresented Christian doctrines. Nevertheless I do think there is a place for examining the texts as documents from a particular period or in relation to the culture at the time or to determine authorial intent.

[Harry Nevis]

Why is it that xtians / theists seem to always use scripture to prove their point? 

Are people really that weak minded that they can't think for themselves? 
Or is it that they are so scared of judgment that they will defend the idea of god without question? 
I really don't believe that being brought up in a theist atmosphere alone is enough for people to just throw rational thought out the window.

Or maybe they were just never capable of rational thought to begin with and therefor are basically a slave to their own ignorance?

I would like to hear specifically what your goal is here. It seem to me that you are asking a question as cover for a series of insults. If that's what your here for, you are in good company--there are lots of disrespectful, highly-opinionated, obnoxious people here who hide behind the anonymity a forum like this give them. 

Pot, meet kettle.

[Incoherent-Chaos]

I'll admit, was in a biased state of mind. Guess I was just venting about something that I read on here but I notice that people do it a lot. But I regress. This isn't a place for me.

[The Valkyrie]

For many religious people, their entire world revolves around their "holy" books.

This is especially true when their religion and/or religious leaders censor what books or knowledge they have access to. You'll see a lot of people who are raised in very conservative religious communities often haven't had access to literature beyond their holy books and a few approved titles. And those raised in such communities become lost when they travel into the wider world. This is part of the reason such communities become more and more insular as time passes.

However, in regards to why many religious people use their scriptures and books as evidence, it's often because they truly believe that the writings constitute such evidence and expect the rest of us to accept the world as they see it. In fact, many I've encountered seem to be at a loss why we don't accept the writings as definitive proof as they have.

This frequently leads to the circular argument, "I know the bible is correct because it's the word of god, and I know it's the word of god because the bible says so".

You'll find a similar mind-set with the creationists here and elsewhere. They will always cite non-scientific, creationist literature/websites for their promotion of creationism, while absolutely refusing to go to science sites that are peer reviewed because they're supposedly a in a conspiracy to deny the word of their deity.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Pot, meet kettle.

I think you will find that SteveII is one of the most respectful of all the members, certainly not prone to my fits of pomposity. Just compare his response to the OP.

[drfuzzy]

I think it depends on the orthodoxy/fundamentalism in which an individual was brought up.  -- And some depends upon the individual.
My brother was told from birth, as was I, that GOD wrote the Bible and it is perfect.  We were told that that the Bible holds the answers
to literally EVERYTHING.  But he was more aggressive in his questioning that I was.  He would point out contradictions, get slapped around
for his disrespectful evil thinking, and was told in no uncertain terms that there are things in the Bible that we simply can't understand, and
that God will explain it all when we get to heaven.  So I didn't start actively questioning it until after I left home.

A person who has been taught that this book is the one and only book god gave humanity from early infancy thinks that it is the only authority
on the planet.  They are genuinely confused when the response to a quoted verse isn't "Well, then, that settles it.  Thank you."  They have
not only been brainwashed from birth, but many have been punished for questioning.

[Godscreated]

I think it depends on the orthodoxy/fundamentalism in which an individual was brought up.  -- And some depends upon the individual.
My brother was told from birth, as was I, that GOD wrote the Bible and it is perfect.  We were told that that the Bible holds the answers
to literally EVERYTHING.  But he was more aggressive in his questioning that I was.  He would point out contradictions, get slapped around
for his disrespectful evil thinking, and was told in no uncertain terms that there are things in the Bible that we simply can't understand, and
that God will explain it all when we get to heaven.  So I didn't start actively questioning it until after I left home.

A person who has been taught that this book is the one and only book god gave humanity from early infancy thinks that it is the only authority
on the planet.  They are genuinely confused when the response to a quoted verse isn't "Well, then, that settles it.  Thank you."  They have
not only been brainwashed from birth, but many have been punished for questioning.

It's not right to punish someone for questioning the scriptures as long as they are not doing it out of purposeful spite. Questioning is a good way to learn and the more knowledgeable should be willing to sit down and help them to understand. This is basic teaching. I would bet your parents couldn't answer the questions and were embarrassed to admit so. Instead of a punishment they should have been willing to learn along side your brother.

GC

[Cecelia]

Using Scripture as proof is rather silly. There's no evidence that the bible was actually inspired by any gods. In fact there's evidence to the contrary. Much of the morality derived from the bible comes from the culture at the time. Which means that either:

A. The people writing the bible were inspired by god, but tampered with his message. And God had done little to correct it, except possibly through some guy named Joseph Smith.

or

B. The people writing the bible weren't inspired by God at all.

I mean just look at how seriously they don't take 'Thou Shalt Not Kill'. Allegedly god himself gave this commandment, yet they were certainly murdering people to their hearts content. If someone I believed to be god told me to do something, you could bet that I'd make sure I did it.

[vorlon13]

except that Joe Smith tampered too. Boy oh boy did he tamper. Wow, Truly amazing that Joe tampered as much as he did. Every revelation he received direct from God had to be changed. And almost all of them, changed more than once.

Bad Joe !! Bad, BAD Joe !!!!