The Role of the Unrepentant Skeptic

Most Christians I know say that their faith is based upon reason.

That doesn't surprise me. As I said:

Seems like most Christians speak of their "faith" and will readily acknowledge that it is a faith based system of belief. In effect, they trust in their beliefs DESPITE the lack of evidence. It's not a rational choice. However, this doesn't seem to stop many from generating rationalizations in an attempt to "justify" their beliefs to themselves and others."

Wouldn't it be much more rational to acknowledge that Christianity is faith based system of belief and leave it at that?

So in essence you are saying everyone that believes in God is irrational? Wow. Would you say Sir Isaac Newton for example was irrational?

Actually what I said was that accepting the supernatural is not a rational choice. It's not the same thing as saying "everyone that believes in God is irrational" and I think you know it.

You've been making a real habit of taking what I say and twisting it into something else in a desperate attempt to refute it. It's irrational. What's more, it's dishonest. Perhaps this isn't a coincidence.

Originally posted by ThinkOfOne
[b]Most Christians I know say that their faith is based upon reason.

That doesn't surprise me. As I said:
[quote]Seems like most Christians speak of their "faith" and will readily acknowledge that it is a faith based system of belief. In effect, they trust in their beliefs DESPITE the lack of evidence. It's not a rational choice. However, this ...[text shortened]... pt to refute it. It's irrational. What's more, it's dishonest. Perhaps this isn't a coincidence.

Ah so you meant rational people make irrational choices? 🙄 If you don't want me to twist your words you should be clear with what you imply.

Originally posted by FMF
Like I said, I see it as being more a process of realization and not a decision, and, as such, different from decisions made about non-superstitious and non-supernatural things.

A realization that encompassed no weighing up of evidence or logical thought, yes you've said as much.

Originally posted by FMF
Meanwhile, I find it easy to believe that you have grown up with and/or found yourself believing in God, the Bible, Christianity etc. and that in situations like this you like to talk about how you have "weighed evidence and used logic to reach a cognitive decision" about your beliefs.

I also find it easy to believe that you have convinced yourself that your rejection of God and the Bible is not a conscious choice that you have made.

Originally posted by chaney3
Well, it seems that basing one's beliefs on what is written in the Bible could be considered "faith", in that you are trusting the words are divine, and have been translated properly through time.

Any evidence other than the Bible? Specifically to God and Jesus, and not just a Creator.

There seems to be historical and archeological evidence that the people and places mentioned in the Bible did actually exist.

Originally posted by dj2becker
A realization that encompassed no weighing up of evidence or logical thought, yes you've said as much.

Plenty of contemplation and reflection and weighing etc. But no one becomes superstitious because of a "decision".

Originally posted by dj2becker
I also find it easy to believe that you have convinced yourself that your rejection of God and the Bible is not a conscious choice that you have made.

It wasn't a decision or a choice. I eventually made a conscious decision to stop self-identifying as a Christian when I realized I no longer believed the things that Christians believed.

Originally posted by dj2becker
There seems to be historical and archeological evidence that the people and places mentioned in the Bible did actually exist.

This is the same point your compatriot Fetchmyjunk falls back on time and time again. What 'archeological evidence' is there that shows Christian claims about the afterlife and about Jesus' divinity are true?

Originally posted by FMF
Plenty of contemplation and reflection and weighing etc. But no one becomes superstitious because of a "decision".

And you know this how?

Originally posted by FMF
This is the same point your compatriot Fetchmyjunk falls back on time and time again. What 'archeological evidence' is there that shows Christian claims about the afterlife and about Jesus' divinity are true?

An empty grave? The appearance of the risen Christ and the account of the disciples he appeared to.

Originally posted by dj2becker
And you know this how?

It's my analysis and my point of view and I have already explained how I arrived at it.

Originally posted by dj2becker
[b]Ah so you meant rational people make irrational choices? 🙄

They do sir when it comes to religion.

In no way do I think religious people are irrational human beings. Indeed, some of the smartest and clear thinking people I know are theists. However, when such a rational individual takes a 'leap of faith' and becomes a Christian, Jew or Muslim, they are not doing it on the same rational basis they would for any other decision in their life, like voting in an election or deciding what job to apply for. They are making an irrational 'choice' based on such emotions as mortal fear or uncertainty rather than a rational 'choice' based on verifiable evidence.

Think of 'faith' as a blind man stepping off the edge of a cliff in the 'hope' that he will survive the fall. - An irrational decision, surely?

Originally posted by dj2becker
An empty grave? The appearance of the risen Christ and the account of the disciples he appeared to.

I asked you about archeological evidence. What archeological evidence is there that "Christ appeared" or that there is an "empty grave"?

Originally posted by FMF
It wasn't a decision or a choice. I eventually made a conscious decision to stop self-identifying as a Christian when I realized I no longer believed the things that Christians believed.

So you did make a decision after all.

And this realization somehow required no weighing up of evidence or critical thinking on your part, as you have lead yourself to believe.

Originally posted by dj2becker
So you did make a decision after all.

I made a decision as to what to say about myself in public.