I just had a debate with a Christian...?

Rusty The Christian Slayer, eh? Go for it. There are, sadly, a lot of misinformed or just uneducated Christians out there and they are easy pickings. By doing that to them, you will either screen them out or cause them to go deeper into their faith and learn something for once. Try out one that knows his stuff, like William Lane Craig. Even the great Ricky Dawkins and his "four horsemen" have refused several invitations to debate him. The reason is simply fear. Craig is not a fanatic, but an educated man of faith who knows all your arguments, too.

I took the opposite path from you. Though I was never an atheist, as such. I grew up Southern Baptist and went looking through the various sects in young adulthood to find what I was missing. I settled into the RCC later in life, age 41, and have not looked back.

Hi

I was a christian for 50 years until a few years back but I never argued with atheists and respected that everyone has a right to believe what they want.

Unfortunately most christians are so ingrained with the theory of Faith and trust that they will not open their eyes to the real evidence of a God and there really is no evidence that cannot be reasonably explained away.

I started looking at the so called Inspired word of God in an honest way and was shocked. I no longer believe that it was inspired and that lead me on the road away from the church (my wife is still an active christian and I do not argue with her over it because she knows there is nothing she can tell me to convince me).

The Christians who debated with you are undisciplined and obviously know little about the fundamentals of their faith in that they should know you cannot argue a person into believing.

What we should always be challenging christians with is to get them to examine their beliefs honestly and look at the evidence of a creator/God. That is all you can do because most times you are fighting an ingrained belief that has been with them since they were children.

I am an agnostic because I do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to prove OR disprove the existence of a God/Creator. I definitely believe that the world is billions of years old but whether a creative force instigated the evolution of the world - I don;t think we will ever know. I doubt that there is an interventionist God and that any "healing" are psychosomatic.

regards Mike D

Agnostic and existentialist

190912

.......And your question is what? You know this is a place to post questions, right? If you want to inform me that all Christians are evil sons of guns, then you are sorely mistaken. If we're going to say that Christians are evil, then hey, lets throw in Muslims! Wiccans! Buddhists!

It is not the belief that is evil, it is the people who chose to manipulate it or insult others with it. So you met one liberal (if I may call it that) Christian. I guarantee you not every Christian is like that.

I respect your beliefs, and I ask you do the same for mine (which is Catholicism, a similar belief to Christianity). Not everyone thinks what your friend did.

And yes, some of actually do study other religions here (I've studied several, like the Torah (1st 5 Bible books), and the Koran.

I know that you obviously don't agree with Bible values, but I'm pretty sure that boasting is universally a bad idea.

Please consider what I have said, as you could offend people of any religion with your statement.

Honestly, I'm an atheist and I believe Jesus feels like an outstanding man. Somebody I would not brain being peers with (if he were not all in opposition to atheists, I imply). I simply do not consider he used to be the son of God, considering I consider there's no God. I additionally agree that each one faiths have a proper on this global. Especially if the ones faiths advertise tolerance and know-how and love (like such a lot do). But I do not believe they have got a proper to pry into my existence and ideals after which take a look at their toughest to difference me. Personally, I do not consider I ought to be prayed for, as I real am an overly completely satisfied individual; I honestly select the proposal that existence is not a scan...and I don't have any want nor wish for "everlasting existence". I additionally do not just like the proposal of such a lot of well humans probably going to hell for whatever trivial. I do respect the sentiment, nevertheless.

I do not mean to judge harshly but you state that you have had "similar" conversations with all three. You imply that you seem to be able to stir these people up pretty good.

I am not saying that you may be the problem but 3/3 is a pretty high score.

I do not know how this is possible since you are (by your own admission) extremely versed in at least two of the religions and not really enough on the third.

I know of people who have studied Holy Books for years and have not reached such epitome of knowledge as you.

I find that Christians *can* (not all obviously) actually be really quite nasty, sometimes it's more out there, other times it's more subtle. I've seen some Christians preaching (actually they are in there in the same place often) and a lot of what they say just really disturbs and disgusts me. Personally I don't think Christianity is a religion of love at all, for one it teaches that if you don't think or believe a certain way that you will be punished for all of eternity! I also personally don't understand how Christians sleep at night while they worship a god who would do such a thing.

Seems to me you simply like to push peoples buttons to get a response, so basically what you are doing is baiting people and when they get frustrated with your ignorant ideology and bias reports they lash back and then you say " I got you "......because somehow you equate being a christian stops one from being a human being..with human emotions.....who speaks their mind and calls you what you are..Hummm...real rational huh ?......FYI Truth can not be debated !!

Seems the fanaticism lies with you. You tend to know more about the persons "religion " more than they did themselves ? LOL.... know wonder they called you an idiot and ignorant.

In other words you gather people around you who will not tell you the truth and when someone does your excuse, " I don't believe it so it's not real ",...way to go there Einstein..you just won a booby prize....

If it wasn't for science and anti-biblical fanaticism - hybridization, genetic modification, and highly toxic synthetic substances used in farming would not exist today.

If the world used regulations outlined by our Creator there would be nothing but organic farming. Seeds are not to be mingled, food bearing trees are not to be destroyed, and there is to be a Sabbath rest for the land so the soil can recuperate.

Lev 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

Deu 20:20 Only the trees that you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.

Lev 25:4 but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to YHVH. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.

Curiously, we are alike. People who instigate a debate with me always end up using ad hominem attacks and personal insults, with a great deal of irrational argument. And I have debated hundreds of people. I always win, because I know my stuff. I am a Mormon.

P.S. At least in my opinion I always win. I acknowledge that they may go away with a different opinion about who won. But...they're wrong.

Use paragraphs in future!

I dislike 'debating' with Christians- especially if they're on a "Mission" or are street-preaching- because so many of them have an extremely narrow view of just about everything (I've also met many wonderful Christian people too, who have shed many new perspectives on a variety of issues).

Have had few encounters with JW's and LDS but I got on quite well with some of the Hindu's and Muslims I've met.