What Would It Take To Convince You Otherwise

[nailit]

As a young, ex fundamental, evangelical Christian, what led me out of faith was an (albeit reluctant) admission that I was simply wrong. After years of wrestling with doubts, questions, voracious reading, Bible study, prayer, etc I simply had to admit that my faith was misplaced and I had NO evidence for my beliefs. I had to accept that I was wrong on so many levels.

SO...what would it take to convince you (if you are religious) that *YOU* may be wrong?

(Conversley....just to be fare...what would convince an atheist that THEY may be wrong)?

[nailit]

//I have since enjoyed a relationship with God//
And since leaving Christianity, I have enjoyed a relationship with reality!

//If you doubt whether God exists, simply ask Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. What possibly can you lose by doing this//
Did you not read my OP fiveleaves? I spent my teenage years praying for God to 'reveal' himself. He didnt then and hasn't since.

[anneasquith]

I would agree with woofs reply. Each individual is free to believe or not .

[Theland]

Prophecy?

[nailit]

//Prophecy?//
What? You want me to debunk it again?
Or is this your way of turning posts around so you dont have to answer the OP?

[nailit]

//Each individual is free to believe or not//
Who said that they wern't?

[Theland]

Its what convinced me to investigate further, and look at what was said compared to contemporary events.

Yes, debunk if you like, and remain unconvinced. Up to you.

I really can't be bothered.

[nailit]

//I really can't be bothered//
That really IS the difference between you and me Theland.
I *COULD* be bothered.
As a Christian I was bothered about the souls of my loved ones. I was bothered about people ending up in hell. I was bothered about Gods never ending vengeance and blood lust all throughout the Bible.
And now (as a non-believer) Im bothered at how people still believe this carp.

[Theland]

Then don't be.
The message of the gospel is well known here, its just that many don't believe it.
Their choice.
Your choice.
Any further discussion is purely academic.

[Peter Pedant]

//When you know someone close with an incurable deadly disease, ones belief in god's miracle cure is all you rely on//

all the people who had miracles in the Bible are dead - - - it doesnt confer immortality. but of course you really knew that

and if Nailit really HAD been a fundementalist, he cd recall that the whole of the beginning of St John involves a discussion of why there arent miracles ( coz they dont work to convert )

[nailit]

//Any further discussion is purely academic//
And any further disscusion with you is futile.

[fiveleaves]

What do you expect me to say, Nailit? Do you want me to say that you have convinced me that Christianity is a load of rubbish and I should give up my faith. The fact is I am never going to abandon my faith, never ever. I could tell you I have a pain in my shoulder. You can choose to believe me or not. I tell you I have a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ . Again you are free to believe me or not.
There's not much more I can say.
I am sorry you have had a negative experience of Christianity. I dont know what went wrong for you. There is always a way to God while we are alive on earth. Please look at God afresh

[Khandro]

nailit: I wonder if you bore God as much as you bore me!

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // I really can't be bothered. //

Er, I think you can, and there is evidence on this site proving exactly that.

You really should have the courage of your convictions.

Like all atheists, I do, like all Christians, you don't.

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // nailit: I wonder if you bore God as much as you bore me! //

Bit of a non-starter there, nailit is here, God isn't.

[archibaldy]

God would have to do some pretty special stuff for me not to think I'm the victim of a very elaborate hidden camera prank show.

Bringing someone back from the dead, stopping the sun and parting the red sea are some that would get me questioning for sure.

[royfromaus]

I could be religious if ... a god would say "hello"

[Theland]

Very childish of you Andy.
You must have the last word and score a point for good measure.
And please stop blowing your own trumpet, if you can put your music away for a while.

[birdie1971]

Facts and logic. The end.

Extended version: Religion (ie. the belief in a creator deity) is based on unquestioning faith. You are asked to believe that the entire universe, galaxies, globular clusters and solar systems were created by an entity that exists outside of time and space for the sole purpose of worshipping Him. This all-powerful creator deity [God, for brevity] apparently wants people to worship Him and believe that He exists without any proof. God, being all-powerful, has the ability to make people believe in his existence but chooses not to do so. God, being all-powerful, has not only the ability to prove His own existence but the ability to make aesthetes theists. Why would an an all-powerful God not use His powers to make those who doubt his existence moot?

Why indeed? It's almost as though God doesn't exist.

[Theland]

Birdie, your problem, not mine.

[naomi24]

Theland, //Birdie, your problem, not mine.//

I don’t believe Birdie has a problem but I think your God does. It strikes me as odd that something so very powerful is also so very needy. A weakness surely.