Why Atheists Debate With Theists

[nailit]

It was suggested in another thread that atheists who debate/contribute to R&S are obsessive and may require therapy. I cant speak for other non-believers but I can speak for myself.
I debate/contribute to R&S for the same reasons that the politically minded contribute to news, for the same reason that right wingers will debate left wingers. I have minimal interest in politics so don't often get involved in those debates. I also don't have much knowledge of politics but I do have some knowledge of religion and in particular the Bible. I am not obsessive, I have stated many times that I have fundamentalist Christian friends and that I work with Christians but the topic of faith/belief rarely crops up in day to day life and I rarely, if ever, think about it. But if questions of faith arise, I WILL, give my viewpoint - as I do on here.
I don't believe in God or some supernatural being, I don't believe in biblical prophecy and I don't believe in miracles...and will give my reasons why when asked. When the Bible is toted as truth I will give my reasons why I don't believe that. When the Bible is held up as a moral guide book I will say why it isn't.
Some people on here seem to have an 'obsessive' interest in other sections of the site. I wouldn't say that they needed 'therapy'. We all have our own interests and mine happens to be R&S mainly because its something that I know a little about.
Hope this helps ;-)

[SparklyKid]

If your mythical god created everything , just where did the parasites come from.

[tiggerblue10]

It was a rhetorical question, Khandro.

[Theland]

Cop out? Truth? You don't like it?

[SparklyKid]

I love the truth which is there is no god. You might just as well believe in pink flying unicorns.

[naomi24]

Theland, //This is not the world that God created, it is the world that Man corrupted with Sin//

Nonsense.

//I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.// Isaiah 45:7

Why don’t you believe what the bible tells you?

[Khandro]

Why do all (most) atheists insist that rationality & scientific materialism can dismiss the spiritual dimension of human existence ?

I say 'most', because quite a sad few have atheism as a default position resultant from their upbringing or lack of a decent religious education.

[naomi24]

//Why do all (most) atheists insist that rationality & scientific materialism can dismiss the spiritual dimension of human existence ? //

They don't necessarily dismiss the spiritual. They just don't associate it with an imaginary god.

[Theland]

Naomi & Nailit seem to have an unhealthy obsession with attacking the God they don't believe in.
That is really weird.

[ludwig]

I think that people who are confident in their religious beliefs don't constantly bang on about them and criticise others that don't believe. They don't feel the need to.

[Theland]

Ludwig - Yes you are right. I am confident in my beliefs and therefore don't continually bang on about them, as you seem to suggest.
I do however respond to others posts quite frequently.
If I am asked about my beliefs I try my best to answer.
If attacked I try to defend myself.
But bang on about it? Don't think so.

[ludwig]

khandro //I say 'most', because quite a sad few have atheism as a default position resultant from their upbringing or lack of a decent religious education. //

Atheism is everyone's default position. No-one is born believing in god. They're subsequently led away from the default by upbringing or 'decent religious education' as you put it.

[Theland]

Ludwig - An insatiable curiosity will lead you to God, as you realise science has failed to answer the big questions.

[ludwig]

If the 'big questions' include things such as 'why am I here?' and 'what's the point of it all?' then I don't need either science or an imaginary god to answer those.

[vulcan42]

Theland , do you have an explanation for the Bible quotation, Isaiah 45:7, that naomi offered? If the Bible is the word of God, as you state, why do you cherry pick certain passages and ignore others? In other words why do you ignore the word of your God when it suits you?

[Theland]

I don't ignore the word of God.
If there is something I don't understand, I am eager to learn.

[Khandro]

vulcan; If you want an answer & are not being simply argumentative, you might find an answer to this & many other questions on here;
http://www.starcourse.org/jcp/qanda.html

[Theland]

https://youtu.be/ydwxy9yqhzM
Isaiah 45:7

[SparklyKid]

Avatar Image Khandro


Why do all (most) atheists insist that rationality & scientific materialism can dismiss the spiritual dimension of human existence ?

Just what is this spiritual dimension. To me, the word spiritual conjures up an image of a group of deluded people wanted to contact dead people with the help of a con artist (medium) ably assisted by the ghost of a Indian Chief who was killed at the Little Big Horn.

The majority of we humans have a conscience , the ability to think and work things out and an imagination, at times a little too vivid.

[SparklyKid]

Avatar Image Theland


Ludwig - An insatiable curiosity will lead you to God, as you realise science has failed to answer the big questions.

14:57 Tue 13th Aug 2019

What exactly are gods big answers, it must have told you.

[Theland]

IN ANSWER TO NAOMIS QUERY.
Answer: Isaiah 45:7 in the King James Version reads, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” How does Isaiah 45:7 agree with the view that God did not create evil? There are two key facts that need to be considered. (1) The word translated “evil” is from a Hebrew word that means “adversity, affliction, calamity, distress, misery.” Notice how the other major English Bible translations render the word: “disaster” (NIV, HCSB), “calamity” (NKJV, NAS, ESV), and “woe” (NRSV). The Hebrew word can refer to moral evil, and often does have this meaning in the Hebrew Scriptures. However, due to the diversity of possible definitions, it is unwise to assume that “I create evil” in Isaiah 45:7 refers to God bringing moral evil into existence.

(2) The context of Isaiah 45:7 makes it clear that something other than “bringing moral evil into existence” is in mind. The context of Isaiah 45:7 is God rewarding Israel for obedience and punishing Israel for disobedience. God pours out salvation and blessings on those whom He favors. God brings judgment on those who continue to rebel against Him. “Woe to him who quarrels with his Master” (Isaiah 45:9). That is the person to whom God brings “evil” and “disaster.” So, rather than saying that God created “moral evil,” Isaiah 45:7 is presenting a common theme of Scripture – that God brings disaster on those who continue in hard-hearted rebellion against Him.