Christian Looking For Debate

[Minimalist]

He's no better at it than the schmucks we have here.

He once tried to argue that the fact that there is no evidence for the exodus is proof that it happened.

Maybe he is a little more fucked up than Waldork and C-C but that's only because he's been at it longer.

IN any case, he doesn't make any fucking sense.

[Jackalope]

He once tried to argue that the fact that there is no evidence for the exodus is proof that it happened.

Ah, the old "you can't prove it's not true, so it must be" gambit.

Fucking brilliant, that. Honestly, I don't know such people can manage to feed themselves without help.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Hello, I'm new here and I'm looking for someone who can debate with me. I am a Christian in College and I'm actively searching for truth. First, I will point out that I believe that there is no way you can 100% know that a God exists or doesn't exist and I believe that Christianity revolves on not knowing God exists. For instance I am a Christian who believes in God, but do I think God exists? Maybe, however Christianity revolves around faith in God and you receive "salvation" based on that faith. If I knew God exists then there's no faith involved therefor I am neither Christian nor do I receive "salvation." I'm not looking to convert anyone I'm simply looking for what others believe. I'm not looking to attack anyone's beliefs only to defend mine. I am open to any questions that you have for me. Finally, I will also point out that I hate ignorant Christians, and Christians who don't intelligently defend their faith with respect.
Even the bible says to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" (Luke 10:27)
and "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)
In my opinion these are two of the most ignored verses int he bible

What exactly seems to be the problem, friend?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Hey Mehmet,are you and your family safe?

[Mister Agenda]

Hello, I'm new here and I'm looking for someone who can debate with me. I am a Christian in College and I'm actively searching for truth. First, I will point out that I believe that there is no way you can 100% know that a God exists or doesn't exist and I believe that Christianity revolves on not knowing God exists. For instance I am a Christian who believes in God, but do I think God exists? Maybe, however Christianity revolves around faith in God and you receive "salvation" based on that faith.

This is an interesting point, that faith requires agnosticism. So you would be an agnostic Christian: you don't think you can know if God exists with certainty, but believe anyway.

[SeekerOfTruth]

Hey guys, its been a few days since I've posted, I haven't been at my computer for a while. Thanks for all of the responses you've given! I'm really starting to understand a lot! I have a new point to make and, just like I demonstrated before, I can concede it and formulate something more logical.

Ok let me give you an analogy of why it's not free will ...

Lets say a very wealthy man offered you a beautiful $10 million house free of charge, and he told you that all you have to do to accept this free gift was to be his friend and spend some time with him every week. However, he added, that if you don't accept this gift he would consider it an insult and arrange for you to be burnt with a blow torch every single day for the rest of your life - and there's nothing that the law could do to stop it. He than said, "hey, it's your choice. You can do whatever you want, but if you don't take the mansion and be my friend I am going to make you suffer for the remainder of your life" You see, that's not a choice is it. Neither is a child's "choice" to clean his room. Eventually that kid IS going to clean his room. As a parent you never meant it as a choice - it was a directive with a consequence. Just because you SAY it's free will doesn't mean it actually is. Make sense?

Here's the thing. If you "KNOW" that your god is real and that your religion happens to be "the one true religion" than researching REAL FACTUAL history from sources outside of the church will not be able to destroy your faith right? So do it. Delve in and let the chips fall where they may.

That is a very good point as far as free will goes and makes perfect sense. Perhaps God created free will yet we are commanded to follow Him (Garden of Eden and the fall)? And that free will is what lead to evil? I don't believe God created evil, evil is a non created thing it's simply a lack of good. For example:
Gold is a prized material and while absolutely pure gold is sought after (free will) its not desirable because there's no practicle use for such a thing (evil). It's too brittle to be used as jewelry nor is the color desirable, pure gold is a red-yellow color, It's not until silver and copper are mixed into it (no free will) that it becomes desirable because the silver and copper strengthen it and give the bright yellow color that most people desire in gold.

And thanks for the advice to research outside the church! it is great advice!

The only question that remains is 'why?'. Do you not want the things you believe to be true? You've kind of already seen the consequences in this thread of not having the facts and evidence to hand. It leads to a lot of 'Errrm....oh yeah' moments. Surely when asked the question 'Why do you believe God/gravity/evolution/the soul exists?' you would want to be able to say 'Well, here's why: [evidence]'?

As for the "why?" behind my faith it's very personal. I was an atheist until my junior year of high school. Alot of things happened in my life that year and I had no one and nothing to turn to for help, I was in a deep depression and nearly killed myself when I was introduced to God. He was something I could lean on and made my life a little easier. I'm not trying to be "preachy" but I guess I believe what I believe because, honestly, what do I have to loose? If I'm wrong I can still say I lived my life to the fullest and earnestly sought out the truth behind everything, and if I'm right, well I had faith in God.

But regardless of "why" I just don't want to be ignorant because everyone has a piece of truth, no one should be disregarded because of what they believe and no matter what someone believes or doesn't believe I will listen to them and shape my own understanding from it.

This is an interesting point, that faith requires agnosticism. So you would be an agnostic Christian: you don't think you can know if God exists with certainty, but believe anyway.

Well you can't prove God exists to someone else so how can one know for sure that he really exists if you can't prove it to someone else?
A dream for instance: It may be real to you but you cant prove that you had that dream to someone else, you can only describe the personal experience so you cant know you had the dream only believe that you did in fact have that dream because if you 100% knew you had it you could prove it to other people. This, I believe, is a huge part of a Christian's faith. Does that make sense?

[Cinjin]

I don't believe God created evil, evil is a non created thing it's simply a lack of good.

Well you and I are in agreement. I don't think God created evil either, but your Bible disagrees with us. According to the scriptures, your god created everything and one of those things is evil ... well sort of. Because the Bible also contradicts itself and says that god can have nothing to do with evil.

2 Kings 6:33
Behold, this evil is of the Lord.

Isaiah 45:7
I ... create evil.

Lamentations 3:38
Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amos 3:6
Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Spend a little time on this site. It's a nice place to start.

[SeekerOfTruth]

2 Kings 6:33
Behold, this evil is of the Lord.

Isaiah 45:7
I ... create evil.

Lamentations 3:38
Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amos 3:6
Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Now is it safe to say that all of those verses aren't talking about "evil"? These three verses are translated in many different ways and only a few translations use the word "evil". These three verses use the Hebrew word רַע pronounced "rah" which can be translated as "disaster" and "calamity" which is different than moral evil. Additionally, In context all of these verses are indeed talking about God being involved in natural disasters and calamities rather than talking about God committing moral evils?

[ElDinero]

As for the "why?" behind my faith it's very personal. I was an atheist until my junior year of high school. Alot of things happened in my life that year and I had no one and nothing to turn to for help, I was in a deep depression and nearly killed myself when I was introduced to God. He was something I could lean on and made my life a little easier. I'm not trying to be "preachy" but I guess I believe what I believe because, honestly, what do I have to loose? If I'm wrong I can still say I lived my life to the fullest and earnestly sought out the truth behind everything, and if I'm right, well I had faith in God.

But regardless of "why" I just don't want to be ignorant because everyone has a piece of truth, no one should be disregarded because of what they believe and no matter what someone believes or doesn't believe I will listen to them and shape my own understanding from it.

Firstly, I'm glad you are sticking around. I was worried you were going, and I think you could learn a lot here.

Now, looks like you've had a bit of a rough time, and I hope you're through it. However, with that said, the fact that you found solace and comfort in your beliefs doesn't take a single step towards whether it is true or not. As I said before, do you care if the things you believe are true, or do you not? It's very important to establish this.

As for what you've got to lose, you're touching on a thing called Pascal's Wager. It's worth looking up but basically it runs that if you believe in God and you're right, you reap all the benefits (heaven etc). If you believe and you're wrong, nothing happens. But if you don't believe and you're wrong, you face the consequences (hell, perhaps). So why not believe?

There's a few problems with it, but the main one is that if you choose to follow that line of thinking, you're going to have to believe in every God that has ever been mentioned. After all, what if Allah is the one true God and you've been worshipping the Christian God the whole time?

I think I could come up with several other things in answer to the question of 'what have I got to lose?' as well, if you're interested, but I'll leave it there for now.

[Joe Bloe]

I have a new point to make

Rather than embarking on this new subject, I think you should go back to post #24 where you said,

I know what I believe

That should be your starting point. Tell us what you believe (otherwise we won't know what you are talking about).