amplifiez wrote: @Goldie: (I think I saw others call you that.)
My last paragraph to Xeno was sort of my response to you as well. The Bible does tell us to defend our faith and tell others about it quite clearly, but I do see where you're coming from. I can identify with your frustration with other believers, too. I hope I'm not doing that to you right now lol. And sorry for the misplacement, I'm a noob, spare me!
amplifiez wrote: Maybe correcting those stereotypes is what we Christians should be focusing on. We can be awfully hypocritical, which doesn't escape their radar, and just reinforces their behavior as justifiable. I'm not unaware that I was a bit cynical myself in this post... I'm working on that, but I've always been thin-skinned, a little prideful, and had a short fuse, which is practically a recipe for sarcastic people. Honestly, it took me a long time to admit those things. After all, no one wants to say they're sensitive. It could be that atheists are porcupines in that sense too.
amplifiez wrote:@SmartyPants: If you don't mind me asking, what do you find nonsensical about Christianity? I'm not asking to set myself up for a rebuttal, I'm just genuinely interested. I have Plantinga's latest book: Where the Conflict Really Lies. It's a tough read. I enjoy Norman Geisler's philosophical arguments for God more. "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" was my favorite book by him. His writing is casual, not stuffy like Plantinga's. If you feel like diving back into the world of Apologetics, or just dipping your toe in to test the temperature, I'd recommend it. He has a section about how Agnosticism is a self defeating philosophy that might interest you. Paul Copan is excellent, too. Any recommendations from you? I'm always looking for some. Anyway, I think America is in a state where people are generally convinced that Christianity is being buried by science. Apologetics seems like the only shovel we've got.
amplifiez wrote:Hm, I think I like you guys lol.
@Xeno: "Dealing with" probably wasn't the best phrase to use. Unnoticeably until now, I've been viewing atheists as antagonists; probably because I've never known any personally, and have only conversed with them in combative discussion. Actually, I've probably had plenty of nice conversations with atheists, and just not known it.
Not that all of us Christians are innocent victims, but the overwhelming majority of the time, we don't pick fights with atheists. Go on virtually any Christian YouTube video and you'll see nonbelievers posting rude comments to get a rise out of people. When you're being constantly assailed, some sort of action needs to be taken. For instance, if a bunch of kids on a playground continually get harassed by another group of kids, it could be said that they need to figure out a way of dealing with their attackers. It wasn't my intention to say that all atheists are playground bullies, though.
Also, on the topic of infestation, I think Christians and atheists often times see one another as termites. I'd say there's more tension between our respective parties than there is between Republicans and Democrats.
Nevertheless, I won't sugarcoat my views here, even if it means not fitting in. I think you're similar in that sense. None of the posts I've read by you are the least bit shy, after all. Not to mention, seeing as you're outnumbered on here, I doubt you care much about being liked.
Getting back on track, I believe that atheism is wrong, and I feel that I have a responsibility to speak out against it. Am I well enough equipped to do so? Hardly. Forget inadequate knowledge, I don't even really have enough patience to be persuasive in the first place. Believe me, I'm a selfish introvert who hates confrontation. I'd like nothing more than to keep my beliefs to myself, but I can't ignore my conscience. It's like when you get woken up by a car alarm, and try to ignore it and go back to sleep, but you just can't. I'd like it if we could still get along, though. I promise not to try and fail at converting you haha. I have my own skin to worry about after all, especially as of late. I am interested in your opinions, as well. Not for the purpose of rebuffing them, like I told SmartyPants, but just because I've never talked with an atheist casually before. To be honest, and partially ridiculous, I actually feel like I'm communicating with an alien life-form haha. You atheists really are intimidating. When there's one atheist in a forum, it kind of feels like someone in a black & yellow-striped t-shirt mingling in a room full of people with bee allergies.
As I'm trying to squeeze into your shoes here, put yourself in mine for a minute. I believe there is a God, and that He sent his only son to die for our sins. As such, I believe that anyone who doesn't accept Christ is, for lack of a better word - a goner. With that in mind, it's hard to consider being friends with a nonbeliever because, to speak metaphorically, I see them as fatally ill. Bear with me here. The antidote is right there in front of them, but they won't take it. So, at first us Christians try to convince nonbelievers to take the medicine. When they refuse, we may try to shove it down their throats. It's hard to do neither and just say "okay, die then."
Christians are supposed to aim to be like Christ. Being like Christ means being loving. So, I understand where the friendship and love vibes are coming from, but is it loving to watch someone die without at least trying to help? To answer my own question, and to circle back to my original post, I think the best I can do is just share my beliefs and not become obsessed with "saving" people. So, in contradiction to mostly everything I've said so far, wanna be friends? Lol.
amplifiez wrote:And speaking of courts, watching someone die without trying to help is more or less a crime.
Vilo159 wrote:First of, I gotta say that this thread is awesome. These responses are some of the best I've seen from everyone involved, it's fantastic. It's been very helpful. Amplifiez, I think you're gonna fit in just fine here!
I don't have that much to contribute, other than to just agree with what's been said. I've definitely been in your position, and it took me a while to learn the things in this thread. I'm still working on speaking with a spirit of love; I get defensive really quickly, and it never turns out well. The greatest piece of advice I can give is to double what K. Ayato said about not telling people they're wrong. You can still tell people about your beliefs, and encourage them to learn more about them, without telling people what they believe is incorrect. You are free to believe that yourself, you can make them aware that you don't necessarily agree with his beliefs, and with some people, very rarely, you can even tell them respectfully that you believe they're wrong, but for the most part announcing it is just going to ruin things. Because as much as you believe you they are wrong, they believe they are right, so it won't make any difference on them other than to make you lose a bit of credibility.
amplifiez wrote:Apparently I offended Ante Bellum somehow.
. . . .
@Ante Bellum: It sounds like you're actually taking it too seriously. I didn't mean to spice up the chili so much, so my fault.
amplifiez wrote:we'd lose our free will
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