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Community => Life As An Atheist => Topic started by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 06:40:17 AM

Title: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 06:40:17 AM
I thought this was fun -- I've been having a good time skimming thru the answers:  Ten Questions for Atheists About Christianity (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/11/03/ten-questions-for-atheists/).

What really strikes me most about the questions is how astonishingly naive they are, makes me wonder how thick the bubble is that student is living in.

If you're just interested in knowing what the questions are, here you go:

1) Have you ever been to church?
2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Christians?
4) What do you think of Jesus?
5) What do you think of the Bible?
6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.

You can see what I mean about naive, esp. since these questions are coming from an American.  #1, 2 and 6 are particularly jaw-dropping.

It does make me wonder what questions I, as an atheist, would ask a Xtian (or any theist).  I can only think of one thing that baffles me: what convinced you that the supernatural is real?






Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Arturo on November 05, 2016, 07:41:04 AM
I would answer with this



Then this

Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: OldGit on November 05, 2016, 09:26:47 AM
Utterly naive and blinkered.  What answers do they expect to some of these?
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 05, 2016, 10:06:59 AM
:lol: They would be all the more naive if living in the Bible Belt, I would assume.

I personally think far more interesting questions to ask an atheist are, "where you once religious?" with the follow-up "what caused you to deconvert?", but I believe most religious people don't want that particular sort of insight since most seem to think their religion is perfect.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 11:38:49 AM
Quote from: OldGit on November 05, 2016, 09:26:47 AM
Utterly naive and blinkered.  What answers do they expect to some of these?

I strongly suspect not the answers she was getting.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 11:40:47 AM
Quote from: Apathy on November 05, 2016, 07:41:04 AM
I would answer with this



Then this



"Tell my wife I said 'hello'."
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: No one on November 05, 2016, 11:43:07 AM
1) Yes
2) Yes, I don't care
3) As a whole, they suck! But that is the same for humanity as a whole as well.
4) I don't
5) It's  a fairy tale.
6) Numerous times.
7) Indifferent. No.
8 ) Blind faith.
9)NOPE!
10) There is no god. There is no salvation. There is no afterlife.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 11:45:04 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 05, 2016, 10:06:59 AM
:lol: They would be all the more naive if living in the Bible Belt, I would assume.

The student, or at least the bible college, was in Arkansas I believe.

QuoteI personally think far more interesting questions to ask an atheist are, "where you once religious?" with the follow-up "what caused you to deconvert?", but I believe most religious people don't want that particular sort of insight since most seem to think their religion is perfect.

And given how many of us cited reading the bible as instrumental in our atheism, I'm not sure any of the answers will be accepted.  Xtians, at least the fundies, take it as a matter of faith that bible reading magically causes Xtianity.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 02:24:20 PM
I should go and collect answers to these questions:

1) Have you ever been to a Heathen hof?
2) Do you have any Heathen friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Heathenry?
4) What do you think of Odin?
5) What do you think of the Havamal?
6) Has anyone ever offered you mead to tell a tale of bravery and battle personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Odin? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Heathenry?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Heathenry were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Heathen?
10) Describe your beliefs about Odin, mead, Valhalla, etc.

Ya know, for comparison.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Pasta Chick on November 05, 2016, 02:48:45 PM
Quote from: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 02:24:20 PM
I should go and collect answers to these questions:

1) Have you ever been to a Heathen hof?
2) Do you have any Heathen friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Heathenry?
4) What do you think of Odin?
5) What do you think of the Havamal?
6) Has anyone ever offered you mead to tell a tale of bravery and battle personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Odin? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Heathenry?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Heathenry were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Heathen?
10) Describe your beliefs about Odin, mead, Valhalla, etc.

Ya know, for comparison.

I am now very upset that I would have to answer "no" to #6.

You can't even get mead around here. My friends and I once drove like an hour and a half to get to the closest liquor store selling it.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Essie Mae on November 05, 2016, 03:26:00 PM
It would be interesting to know if they would start wondering; not exactly doubting, just wondering, if lotsof people answered the Qs in the way the person on the link did. I like No one's replies: succinct and says it all.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 05, 2016, 06:58:41 PM
Quote from: Pasta Chick on November 05, 2016, 02:48:45 PM
Quote from: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 02:24:20 PM
I should go and collect answers to these questions:

1) Have you ever been to a Heathen hof?
2) Do you have any Heathen friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Heathenry?
4) What do you think of Odin?
5) What do you think of the Havamal?
6) Has anyone ever offered you mead to tell a tale of bravery and battle personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Odin? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Heathenry?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Heathenry were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Heathen?
10) Describe your beliefs about Odin, mead, Valhalla, etc.

Ya know, for comparison.

I am now very upset that I would have to answer "no" to #6.

You can't even get mead around here. My friends and I once drove like an hour and a half to get to the closest liquor store selling it.

I wonder how difficult it is to make mead?  Isn't it basically a honey wine?
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Tank on November 05, 2016, 07:14:31 PM
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 11:25:02 PM
Quote from: Pasta Chick on November 05, 2016, 02:48:45 PM
Quote from: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 02:24:20 PM
I should go and collect answers to these questions:

1) Have you ever been to a Heathen hof?
2) Do you have any Heathen friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Heathenry?
4) What do you think of Odin?
5) What do you think of the Havamal?
6) Has anyone ever offered you mead to tell a tale of bravery and battle personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Odin? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Heathenry?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Heathenry were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Heathen?
10) Describe your beliefs about Odin, mead, Valhalla, etc.

Ya know, for comparison.

I am now very upset that I would have to answer "no" to #6.

You can't even get mead around here. My friends and I once drove like an hour and a half to get to the closest liquor store selling it.

There's mead to be had around here but it's not cheap and the selection is a bit slim unless I hit up a RenFair, it's one of the main drinks at those things.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 06, 2016, 01:20:38 AM
Look what I found: Great Society Cider and Mead Bar (http://www.greatsocietycider.com/).  It's right across the street from the grocery store I use most often, in what used to be the Peppercorn Cafe.  This is one of those time I wish I was a drinker.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Pasta Chick on November 06, 2016, 02:00:24 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 05, 2016, 06:58:41 PM
Quote from: Pasta Chick on November 05, 2016, 02:48:45 PM
Quote from: solidsquid on November 05, 2016, 02:24:20 PM
I should go and collect answers to these questions:

1) Have you ever been to a Heathen hof?
2) Do you have any Heathen friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Heathenry?
4) What do you think of Odin?
5) What do you think of the Havamal?
6) Has anyone ever offered you mead to tell a tale of bravery and battle personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Odin? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Heathenry?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Heathenry were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Heathen?
10) Describe your beliefs about Odin, mead, Valhalla, etc.

Ya know, for comparison.

I am now very upset that I would have to answer "no" to #6.

You can't even get mead around here. My friends and I once drove like an hour and a half to get to the closest liquor store selling it.

I wonder how difficult it is to make mead?  Isn't it basically a honey wine?

I imagine it's similar to making any booze, in that the process itself ought to be relatively simple, yet it turns out that if you don't blow anything up the end result tastes awful.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 06, 2016, 02:39:10 AM
Quote from: Pasta Chick on November 06, 2016, 02:00:24 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 05, 2016, 06:58:41 PM

I wonder how difficult it is to make mead?  Isn't it basically a honey wine?

I imagine it's similar to making any booze, in that the process itself ought to be relatively simple, yet it turns out that if you don't blow anything up the end result tastes awful.

:beer:  I guess there'll be none of that, then.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: solidsquid on November 06, 2016, 03:58:45 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 06, 2016, 01:20:38 AM
Look what I found: Great Society Cider and Mead Bar (http://www.greatsocietycider.com/).  It's right across the street from the grocery store I use most often, in what used to be the Peppercorn Cafe.  This is one of those time I wish I was a drinker.

I'm intrigued by the "Kill All the Golfers" mead they have on tap...
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Icarus on November 06, 2016, 04:32:53 AM
My young friend from Lithuania brought a bottle of mead as a gift when he was my house guest. It is one of the more expensive ones in his country and he presumed that it would be appreciated. The damned stuff is awful tasting brew that is akin to swamp water. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness but I am not likely to consume it.  The name on the fancy bottle is Suktinis. It is labeled as 50% alcohol content. It contains blueberry and red currant juices and honey along with some straight ethyl alcohol according to the label.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Icarus on November 06, 2016, 04:47:10 AM
I will wager that more than one of us would be pleased to spend an hour with the bible college student.  Not to disparage them of demean them, but to explain in the friendliest possible way, what it is like to be an atheist. We could show the student that we are intelligent, moral, charitable, and happy. The author of the questions would be shocked to learn that many of us know more about the history of the bible than the vast majority of xtians do.   The ten questions are painfully juvenile. The author of the questions has much to learn. She is not likely to learn these facts at bible college.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Tom62 on November 06, 2016, 04:55:17 AM
Quote from: Icarus on November 06, 2016, 04:32:53 AM
My young friend from Lithuania brought a bottle of mead as a gift when he was my house guest. It is one of the more expensive ones in his country and he presumed that it would be appreciated. The damned stuff is awful tasting brew that is akin to swamp water. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness but I am not likely to consume it.  The name on the fancy bottle is Suktinis. It is labeled as 50% alcohol content. It contains blueberry and red currant juices and honey along with some straight ethyl alcohol according to the label.

It seems to go well with spicy meat dishes. It is used in cooking, marinating. Suktinis won several prices, like Lithuanian Product of the Year in 2004.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 06, 2016, 05:37:43 AM
Quote from: Icarus on November 06, 2016, 04:47:10 AM
I will wager that more than one of us would be pleased to spend an hour with the bible college student.  Not to disparage them of demean them, but to explain in the friendliest possible way, what it is like to be an atheist. We could show the student that we are intelligent, moral, charitable, and happy. The author of the questions would be shocked to learn that many of us know more about the history of the bible than the vast majority of xtians do.   The ten questions are painfully juvenile. The author of the questions has much to learn. She is not likely to learn these facts at bible college.

I'm hoping that's what she'll get from reading the answers, which will be passed on to her.  I noticed the vast majority of them were straight-forward and detailed about atheism and being an atheist, very few dismissive or harsh.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Arturo on November 06, 2016, 07:22:13 AM
One thing I always suspected was that Christians lie, and they propagate those lies. And that was semi-affirmed in the first episode of "Sex, Death, And The Meaning Of Life" on Netflix.

I won't go into detail but it talks about porn habits between religious and non-religious people and that the older religious people got, the more they viewed porn. And when they were asked to raise their hand to see if they did so, they did not. On the other hand, non-religious people raised their hand, which goes with the data that they also watched more porn the older they got.

So yes, Xitians lie, and perhaps much more than any one of us would. But one thing the show contributed to the cause of lying though was having guilt about impure thoughts.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Sandra Craft on November 06, 2016, 10:02:06 AM
Quote from: solidsquid on November 06, 2016, 03:58:45 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 06, 2016, 01:20:38 AM
Look what I found: Great Society Cider and Mead Bar (http://www.greatsocietycider.com/).  It's right across the street from the grocery store I use most often, in what used to be the Peppercorn Cafe.  This is one of those time I wish I was a drinker.

I'm intrigued by the "Kill All the Golfers" mead they have on tap...

Some things should just give their backstory automatically.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Eugeny Anatolievich on November 06, 2016, 03:46:24 PM
1) Have you ever been to church?
Yes.

2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
No. I lost my Christian friends.

3) What do you think of Christians?
They are normaly people if they don't speak about religion.

4) What do you think of Jesus?
It's a personage of one old book.

5) What do you think of the Bible?
The collect of myths of ancient Jews.

6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
Sometimes Jehowists try.

7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
I'd say 'Stop, please.'

8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
It's not truth.

9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
Why not.

10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.
I'm an atheist.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Icarus on November 15, 2016, 01:47:42 AM
I would very much like t answer that students questions in a respectful but authoritative manner, since I am a long term atheist. It would be a long shot but I, or we, might just save a functional mind from the practice of cerebral absurdity.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Recusant on November 15, 2016, 06:47:18 PM
It's good to see you here again, Eugeny Anatolievich.  :computerwave:
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Eugeny Anatolievich on November 20, 2016, 07:28:59 PM
Quote from: Recusant on November 15, 2016, 06:47:18 PM
It's good to see you here again
Me too ;D. I try to be here more often.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: existentialcrisis on December 07, 2016, 09:16:44 PM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 05, 2016, 06:40:17 AM
I thought this was fun -- I've been having a good time skimming thru the answers:  Ten Questions for Atheists About Christianity (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/11/03/ten-questions-for-atheists/).

What really strikes me most about the questions is how astonishingly naive they are, makes me wonder how thick the bubble is that student is living in.

If you're just interested in knowing what the questions are, here you go:

1) Have you ever been to church?
2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
3) What do you think of Christians?
4) What do you think of Jesus?
5) What do you think of the Bible?
6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.

You can see what I mean about naive, esp. since these questions are coming from an American.  #1, 2 and 6 are particularly jaw-dropping.

It does make me wonder what questions I, as an atheist, would ask a Xtian (or any theist).  I can only think of one thing that baffles me: what convinced you that the supernatural is real?

1. Yes
2. Yes, their faith is their business. However Christian faith in particular is based on mythology and superstition.  Benjamin Franklin said: "Blind faith shuts the eye of reason".
3. Very broad question, there are many different types of Christians. Christians are people, Christianity is the faith. Two different things.
4. I never met Jesus, so I don't know. From what I have read he is a noble, kind man with the intention to reform the Jews.
5. There are no clear authors, it is not scientifically based, it has been edited an innumerous amount of times, it is laden with intolerance and violence. No hollywood movie could compete.
6. Yes.
7. People are free to do as they wish as long as they don't harm fellow humans.
8. Too many to list here. Some stem from blind faith, intolerance, mythology taken seriously, concept of original sin, mix with paganism to allow it to survive, etc.
9. Impossibility.
10. None.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Asmodean on December 08, 2016, 07:28:40 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 05, 2016, 06:40:17 AM
I thought this was fun
Yup. Me, I like.

Quote1) Have you ever been to church?
Four or five times. Hard benches, crappy stories... Mostly old people. Didn't like it much.

Quote2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
Some family. I don't care what they believe as long as they keep their beliefs away from me. All my friends are atheist with varying degrees of caring.

Quote
3) What do you think of Christians?
I do not.

Quote4) What do you think of Jesus?
At best, some two thousand years or so since dead guy. I don't care.

Quote5) What do you think of the Bible?
Toilet paper of the fiction genre.

Quote6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
Yes. Occasionally, people do try.

Quote7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
I would suffer through the nonsense, call that person an idiot, then preach back some science and knowledge and such. The identity of the person in question is irrelevant.

Quote8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
The biggest one is its central premises being false, I suppose. It's a primitive ancient religion though, and it would be wrong for me to expect anything else of it. My beef is not with Christianity the old desert religion, it's with Christianity the Bullshit Coalition of Gullibility in this day and age.

Quote9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
If YHWH did some time for raping that chic, crimes against humanity, terrorism, etc... Maybe. #notmyYHWH

Quote10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.
None.

I do not believe in gods; there is no good supporting evidence for their existence. I do not require salvation I can not provide myself with; I'm not in that much trouble. As for afterlife, I can't put it much better than prof. Dawkins when asked what happens when a person dies; "You do the thinking with your brain, and your brain will rot."

On a more general note, what I think about these concepts, is that they are a product of instinctive pattern- and reward-seeking behaviour of primitive men. Instincts are powerful, but most of us are in no immediate danger of being eaten by a higher predator at any time, so... Recognizing patterns where there are none is no longer the more dangerous of the two options. As for reward-seeking? Smoking, heroin, booze, afterlife... Most of us have our drugs of choice. Suck it in in the privacy of your home though. It's not polite to recruit others into your addictions.

Quote
It does make me wonder what questions I, as an atheist, would ask a Xtian (or any theist).  I can only think of one thing that baffles me: what convinced you that the supernatural is real?
Hmm... I might give this a try later.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Skeptik on January 30, 2017, 06:49:12 AM
I know the OP wasn't asking us to answer them, but I think I will just for fun.

1) Have you ever been to church?
I was born into a preacher's home in an extremely conservative form of the pentecostal faith.  Not snake handlers but not far from it.  I went to church every time the doors opened for the first 20 years of my life.

2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
Nearly all of my family.
As far as friends, most are believers and most do not know that I am not.

3) What do you think of Christians?
They are like any other group of people really.  Most are good hearted enough and a few are assholes.

4) What do you think of Jesus?
I hear he's a swell guy.  It would be great if his followers actually acted like him.

5) What do you think of the Bible?
The same thing I think of any other book of mythology.

6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
I literally cannot count how many times.

7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
Like I said it happens all the time.
It would matter if I knew them or not.  If I did know them, I would likely grin and bear it.  If I didn't, I'd likely tell them to fuck off.

8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
Oh not much really other than the suppression of women and homosexuals, the crusades, condoning slaver and the systematic fucking of children.

9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
I don't think so.
As horrible as the god of the bible is, even if he existed I would rather burn in hell than worship him.

10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.
I don't believe there is a god so obviously I don't believe in any salvation outside this life.
As far as an afterlife, the atoms that make up my body will one day return to the earth and will make up something else eventually.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: MariaEvri on January 31, 2017, 07:17:19 PM
sure. I dont post much but I like answering stuff

1) Have you ever been to church?
Two times at easter, and every wedding and christening till I turned 20, Then I stopped all together. At weddings and christenings I will go to the receptiion afterwards.

2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
My entire family except my bro who is atheist and my dad who is nonreligious. Idon;t have any friends but when I did they were xtian.

3) What do you think of Christians?
Depends on thep person. However I consider them "false" christians because they are not following their bible rules (e.g. they are not trying to kill me and women are teachers)

4) What do you think of Jesus?
Non existant

5) What do you think of the Bible?
extreme boredom and violence

6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
Once but I droned it out so I forgot about it. It's  a superpower of mine

7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
If it was a stranger I would say no thanks and walk away. If it was a person close to me I would start avoiding him

8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
The way it treats women. The way it wants to treat unbelievers. The priests. Their god. Everything

9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
No. I would pretend to worship out of fear because the god of the bible is a monster and he doesn;t seem to know what's in the human mind so he propably wouldn;t know I was pretending

10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.
created by peple who tried to explain the world before science and somehow those fairytales stuck around
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Bad Penny II on February 01, 2017, 12:54:44 PM
Quote from: MariaEvri on January 31, 2017, 07:17:19 PMIdon;t have any friends but when I did they were xtian.

Of course you do, we've been friends for years.
No I suppose not proper friends, I never helped you move.
I would have if god hadn't fucked up designing my back.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Icarus on February 02, 2017, 03:28:29 AM
Maria: you definitely have friends even if only virtual ones. It is almost a certainty that you would have actual living and breathing friends if we met you in person.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Tom62 on February 02, 2017, 05:33:17 AM
Quote from: Icarus on February 02, 2017, 03:28:29 AM
Maria: you definitely have friends even if only virtual ones. It is almost a certainty that you would have actual living and breathing friends if we met you in person.

^Hear, hear!
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Recusant on February 02, 2017, 06:43:00 AM
Fourthed.  :) 

I'm always glad to see that you've stopped by here, MariaEvri!
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Arturo on February 02, 2017, 07:49:57 AM
You are cool Maria!
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: MariaEvri on February 02, 2017, 07:41:20 PM
Quote from: Bad Penny II on February 01, 2017, 12:54:44 PM
Quote from: MariaEvri on January 31, 2017, 07:17:19 PMIdon;t have any friends but when I did they were xtian.

Of course you do, we've been friends for years.
No I suppose not proper friends, I never helped you move.
I would have if god hadn't fucked up designing my back.

I moved 8 years ago, where were you then :(
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: MariaEvri on February 02, 2017, 07:42:29 PM
Quote from: Apathy on February 02, 2017, 07:49:57 AM
You are cool Maria!

yes im cool online I;m awesome yes
In real life i;m a snore zzz
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Harmonie on February 06, 2017, 03:50:31 PM
1) Have you ever been to church?
Yes, my family made me go to church when I was younger. I never felt what they did, so it was always boring.

2) Do you have any Christian friends or family members? If so, what do you think of their faith?
Kind of hard not to when you live in the Bible Belt. lol. The vast majority of my family and friends are liberal Christians so it's less of a point of contention. Not that I could have a point of contention, I'm not out.

3) What do you think of Christians?
They are people. They can be good or bad.

4) What do you think of Jesus?
He seemed to have some ideals that were ahead of his time (in general, not altogether), but he also had plenty of issues, and he still couldn't condemn slavery. Most certainly not a perfect individual.

5) What do you think of the Bible?
It's interesting as set of documents from an ancient culture, showing their mythological beliefs and cultural 'values' and norms. As a guideline for how to live and base one's morality from it's absolutely terrible. It should be seen from a historical standpoint, nothing more.

6) Has anyone ever preached to you personally?
I can not think of any really strong cases. I'm not out to the majority of people, so the majority probably just assume I'm a Christian.

7) How would you feel if someone tried to persuade you to believe in Jesus? Would it make a difference if that person were a stranger or if they were close to you?
I understand that they have that belief deeply ingrained in them, and they think that it's the right thing to do. They only do it because they care. However, I'd prefer them to not, because I don't want any rifts to form between us.

8 ) What are your biggest objections to Christianity?
The texts from which it is based on combined with the Christian claim that they are the bastion of morality. The Bible is NOT the "good book". It is full of blatantly immoral atrocities and the "morals" it prescribes are barbaric and absurdly wrong going by any standard of morality we could base out of avoiding what really harms other people. And no, the New Testament not only does not right all of these wrongs, and for a supposedly all-knowing, all-good God, it doesn't even make sense.

The Bible has no place in modern society aside from being material to research the mythology and ethics of an ancient culture.

The way that the religion twists people's minds also really bothers me. The fact that they throw away value for this life for Heaven (this can go much severe than one might imagine). The fact that when a natural disaster kills a bunch of people, the survivors are praising God that they weren't taken. The fact that God is praised when doctors using human knowledge save someone's life. The fact that my past oboe teacher who did so much for me and got me back into school does not at all take any credit for it as she's part of a church which tells her that she has absolutely no value without God.

Also, the way which Christianity provides a cloak of protection for sexist and homophobic individuals. Absolutely disgusting.

9) Hypothetically speaking, if the claims of the Christian faith were proven true beyond a shadow of a doubt, would you become a Christian?
Well, I would naturally have to become a believer, but I would not become a worshiper. As I said above, the Bible is too immoral. I stand for what is right.

10) Describe your beliefs about God, salvation, the afterlife, etc.
There is no reason to believe in God, salvation or the afterlife. I have looked carefully at the world and universe around me, and they do not even begin to suggest a deity or an afterlife.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Icarus on February 07, 2017, 12:57:48 AM
Harmonie, that is a well done set of replies.  That you live in the "Bible Belt" is a bit of a problem but you seem to be handling it satisfactorily.

It may not be a practical matter for you to read books by Dawkins, Hitchens or other of the  in your face types of books. Judging from your answers above I think that you would like, and perhaps profit, from a book titled: The God Virus, by Darrel W. Ray. He is a shrink that writes very well. The book is not an accusatory screed. It is an insightful and educated exposition on the whys and how's that cause people to be religious. The book is innocuous and it might even be read by a hard shell Christian without  him/her having a spontaneous cranial aneurism.  Throughout the book, the author urges the reader not to antagonize or challenge  the ones that are suffering from the virus. The author is cool and his council is somewhat comforting to we secularist types.  The guy is plenty good at what he has done.

One admonition though....The book is peppered with little side bars. They are quotes from famous or infamous, as the case may be, people some of  whom are actually known in the Bible Belt.   example:" Most people would rather die than think; in fact they do so"; Bertrand Russell.  One of the tidbits is from Carl Sagan. This is a heavyweight Sagan reality that Doctor Ray is all about. " you cannot convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it is based on a deep seated need to believe."

Never mind all that stuff Harmonie. Please continue to pursue your musical ambitions. The world needs expression of art forms just as much as it needs science.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Harmonie on February 10, 2017, 04:57:02 AM
Quote from: Icarus on February 07, 2017, 12:57:48 AM
Harmonie, that is a well done set of replies.  That you live in the "Bible Belt" is a bit of a problem but you seem to be handling it satisfactorily.

Oh, I wouldn't say I'm handling it so well, actually. I'm beginning to snap. Both because of the political/religious climate and the weather climate.

Anyway, enough about that, before I go off on another rant about that (and boy could I - the imbalance of the seasons is taking a toll on me. And then I saw my state government trying to push forward a bill to put the 10 commandments in schools and on the lawns of courts. The people of the state voted against this by the way.), I'm not much of a reader. I do like to listen to the Atheist Experience, though. I believe they hosted him on their show some time ago to talk about The God Virus. It does sound interesting.

I really do love the people of that show. Listening to them really helped ground me from the kind of atheist I was as a teenager. lol
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Skeptik on April 30, 2017, 09:31:23 PM
Harmonie, I'm also in the bible belt (Arkansas) and I share your frustrations.
It is very exhausting sometimes.  There is a lot to like about living here, but that is a major drawback.
Title: Re: 10 Questions for Atheists from a Xtian bible college student
Post by: Dave on April 30, 2017, 09:41:49 PM
Quote from: Skeptik on April 30, 2017, 09:31:23 PM
Harmonie, I'm also in the bible belt (Arkansas) and I share your frustrations.
It is very exhausting sometimes.  There is a lot to like about living here, but that is a major drawback.
Arkansas? Isn't that the place where they execute people because the drugs they use have nearly reached their "Use by:" date? OK, I am not entirely anti-capital punishment and at keast "due oricess" as the law stands has been done but - a bit of an uncivilsed rush?

What are they going to use next I wonder? Seems other companies are refusing to supply drugs for this purpose.